Episode 366 – Children’s books, Direct Talk, Building That Audience!

When do you think that selling direct will start to surpass Apple Books as the #2 sales platform for authors?

Happy April! Claire is back this week and has an Indie Author Alignment Workshop on April 24th, you can find tickets at the link provided. Bryan’s April 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge coming around the corner, look out for that link in the show notes. The winner this week is – Bradley. Top Tips of the week include how to market your children’s books, why video is a great way to engage with your readers, and what you need to know about starting a fiction podcast. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is the PRO Act, why you should look into Medium to publish your books, what major update Scrivener is getting, what ACX needs to change about their sales reports and why you should think about going direct. Question of the Week: When do you think that selling direct will start to surpass Apple Books as the #2 sales platform for authors? read more

Episode #365 – Costco Audio, Permafree Still Works, and D2D Payment Splitting

Based on this week’s audio-related news, will you consider doing audiobook versions sooner, or do you still plan on doing audio sometime in the future?

This week Bryan is joined by Mark Leslie Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital, we have a great show in store for you. Check out Mark and Wide for the Win at the link provided. Bryan’s April 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge coming up so look out for that. The winner this week is – Abraham Benguigui and our Self Publishing Resource of the Week is Wide for the Win. Top Tips of the week include what is D2D payment splitting, why it’s important to find allies, and how spending time where your readers are is beneficial. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what new feature BookFunnel has launched, how author visits during the pandemic have changed, who is starting its own audiobook imprint, what to use to boost your book sales and what big name company has launched an audiobook store. Question of the Week: Based on this week’s audio-related news, will you consider doing audiobook versions sooner, or do you still plan on doing audio sometime in the future? read more

Episode 364- 7 Years of SMBS, Limiting Beliefs, and Business Savvy

How has the Sell More Books show helped you on your author career over the last 7 years?

Happy 7 Years of SMBS! We are so thankful for all of our awesome listeners and look forward to seven more years. Claire is holding a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass this month and there are a few tickets left, you can find tickets at the link provided. Be sure to leave the show a review on Apple podcast. The winner this week is – Bill Cokas and our Honorable Mention is – Cops And Writers. Top Tips of the week include where to start when to make your author business a company, where to find daily write-ins, and why you need to let go of limiting beliefs. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how TikTok is boosting books for authors, where to find the new Nook, why self-promoting isn’t as icky as you think, what new platform Facebook is launching for authors, and what has happened with the Sell More Books Show over the last seven years. Question of the Week: How has the Sell More Books show helped you on your author career over the last 7 years? read more

Episode 363 – Aiming Your Launch, Spotting Scams, and Side Hustles

What’s something that was a part of the indie publishing game when you started that has since been phased out?

Welcome back to another week of SMBS! Claire is holding a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass this month, you can find it at the link provided. Be sure to leave the show a review on Apple podcast. The winner this week is – Wordsmith426 and our Honorable Mention is – Know Thy Reader. Top Tips of the week include where to start when launching a book, why it pays to learn the skills of advertising, and how to spice up your Amazon author page. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what scam to be on the look out for, which day is best for a book promotion, when are pre-orders a good idea, what bill is pending in Maryland, and why we’re saying bye to mobi. Question of the Week: What’s something that was a part of the indie publishing game when you started that has since been phased out? read more

Episode 362 – Book Resurrections, Ahab Audiobooks, and the Algorithms of Lore

If there was a person with a list of all the relevant PR contacts, do you think you would prioritize?

This week we have a loaded show and we really dive into email. Claire is holding a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass this month and Bryan is doing a Blurb & Sales Page Webinar on Thursday March 11th. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. The winner this week is – Jamie Collins. Our Honorable Mention this week is – Have fun storming the castle! Top Tips of the week include how to get started on your book cover, what Gmail hacks you need to know, and how to understand the Amazon algorithm.The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is the alternative for Amazon’s ACX, how to work on your multitasking, what guide you need for publishing wide, how Author and YouTuber Dale Roberts revamped Thomas A. Bradley’s entire horror catalog, and whats going on with Amazon. Question of the Week: If there was a person with a list of all the relevant PR contacts, do you think you would prioritize? read more

Episode #361 – Avoiding Libel, Amateur Books, and Simplifying Collaboration

What stop and start habits do you currently have to transition in and out of writing & marketing mode, and which ones might you adopt to strengthen that transition?

Welcome to another week of SMBS! Claire is holding a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass this month and Bryan is doing a BookBub webinar the day this episode goes live on March 3rd. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. Our Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – DIY Book Covers. The winner this week is – Sylvester Barzey. Top Tips of the week include how to make your co-writing process smoother, what you can do to catch a readers attention, and how to avoid libel charges. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to have a clear content strategy, how Overdrive is making it easier to know your competition, what is Atticus, why making a fake commute may be just what you need, and how to tell if a book is a “Amateur Self-Published Book”. Question of the Week: What stop and start habits do you currently have to transition in and out of writing & marketing mode, and which ones might you adopt to strengthen that transition? read more

Episode 360 – Glorious Calculators, Clubhouse for Authors, and Copywriting

If you could have a magical calculator that could import data from any variables, what would you want it to calculate for you?

Welcome to another week of SMBS! Claire tells us about a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass that she is holding next month. Bryan is also holding a Webinar on Thursday, February 25th with Alana Terry on Facebook Ads. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. Our Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – BkLnk. The winner this week is – Amy Martinse. Top Tips of the week include where to start with custom ads, what calculators you need to know about, and why it is helpful to know your ideal reader. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what you need to know about the new platform called Clubhouse, why Amazon has some explaining to do, where you can now stream Audible audiobooks, how Six Figure Author Lindsay Buroker is selling her audiobooks, and how to balance your mental health and social media. Question of the Week: If you could have a magical calculator that could import data from any variables, what would you want it to calculate for you? read more

Episode 359 – Brand Blunders, Success Stories, and Indie Incentives

When you receive criticism, how will you field it and how will you rebound to keep writing?

There is some great words of wisdom at the end of the show so be sure to listen till the end! Claire is holding a Enneagram & Character Motivations Masterclass and you have a chance to win a free ticket on her Instagram page. Bryan is also holding a Hook & Email Webinar. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Steve Moretti. Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores by Mark Leslie Lefebvre. This weeks honorable mention is Our Little Thorn is Growing Up. Top Tips of the week include what hidden features are on BookBub, how to get more engagement on author blog posts, and why having a strong brand can make all the difference. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why you should consider going the indie route, how to build an author email list, and what way books are evolving, how you could get 10% bonus on your March royalty statement, and why you need to develop thick skin as an author. Question of the Week: When you receive criticism, how will you field it and how will you rebound to keep writing? read more

Episode 358- Platform Power, Rumor Mills, and Building Support.

What’s one thing you can do this year to get more control over your business?

We have a great show in store for you this week. Claire is holding a Enneagram & Character Motivations Masterclass and you have a chance to win a free ticket on her Instagram page. Bryan is also holding a Hook & Email Webinar. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Eustacia Tan.Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – Book Craft: Cut the Fluff. Keep the Magic By Derek Murphy. Top Tips of the week include what does it mean to be good at marketing, what tips Findaway Voices has on boosting sales on Apple Books, and what great advice we learned from the Blurbs Sell Books Podcast. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include where to find a workshop on legal advice for publishing, why it is important to create your own platform, why authors need a support system, what the new rumor is about Kindle Unlimited plans, and why Jeff Bezos is stepping down as Amazon CEO. Question of the Week: What’s one thing you can do this year to get more control over your business? read more

Episode 357 – Down Days, Book Refreshes, and Owning Email

If you had to pick one marketing channel to use exclusively (besides your email list) what would you pick for YOUR business, and why?

Welcome back to another week of SMBS! Claire has a Enneagram and Character Motivations Master Class coming up on February 20th so check that out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Chez Churton. Our Honorable Mention Is – Who will watch the watchmen? Author Resource of the Week is – Write to Market: Deliver a Book that Sells by Chris Fox. Top Tips of the week include how to organize an ARC team, what the latest in email design trends are, and how to build engagement. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what author Julia Quinn shares about her book turned Netflix show, how to evaluate your own writing, why to update your back matter, what is new with Barnes & Noble, and why to put all your energy into one or two ways to market. Question of the Week: If you had to pick one marketing channel to use exclusively (besides your email list) what would you pick for YOUR business, and why? read more