Episode 341 – Social Media Etiquette, Launch Size, and Scandinavian Subscriptions

What part of your automated marketing or online presence might benefit from adding a little human touch to it?

It’s Bryans birthday! This week we have a great show for you don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcast. This week’s winner is Pockets McGee. Thank you to our featured Patrons – The Life of Magdaline Slatewood, The Reluctant Detective, and How to Write Manga. Top Tips of the week include what 5 rules every author should know when it comes to social media, how to expand your income with premium products, and what free indie author conference is coming up. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why Barnes & Noble’s Nook library is down, whats new with KDP, why you should look into digital streaming, how to figure out what kind of launch best suits you as an author, and what Facebook is adding to Admin Assist. Question of the Week: What part of your automated marketing or online presence might benefit from adding a little human touch to it? read more

Episode 340 – Using Etsy, Earning Respect, and How to Say No

If you were to win any category for your book in an indie publishing awards ceremony, what would you want that category to be?

This week Claire is joined by Ines Johnson, be sure to check out both of their youtube channels! We have a great show for you, don’t forget to leave a review on apple podcast. This week’s Best Page Forward book description winner is Patrick O’Donnell. Thank you to our featured Patrons – How to Sex Your Snake, Guild of Tokens, and Dorothy and the How to Self-Publish A Children’s Book. Top Tips of the week include whats new with Amazon’s Kindle Create, why you should give Etsy a shot to sell your books, and how to better understand Facebook ads. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what’s new with library ebook checkouts, how indies are feeling about awards, what streaming platform for audio and ebooks has come to an end, why you should look into when is the best time to send emails to your lists, and why Amazon is recommending epub files. Question of the Week: If you were to win any category for your book in an indie publishing awards ceremony, what would you want that category to be? read more

Episode 339 – Managing your time, energy, and marketing

Looking back, what was the best use of your marketing time during your first year publishing?

This week Claire is back and we have a great show for you! This week’s Best Page Forward book description winner is Bradley. Thank you to our featured Patrons – The Busy Busy Author, Leading Effectively, and Dorothy and the Cane of Destiny. Top Tips of the week include why you should have a positive mindset this upcoming season, what tricks you should know about social media to help your engagement, and how you can keep your writing momentum strong. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what’s new with Audible, how Facebook Ads are changing, how to market your book, why the pressure is on for Barnes and Noble, and what indie authors need to prepare for when it comes to Amazon. Question of the Week: Looking back, what was the best use of your marketing time during your first year publishing? read more

Episode 338 – Just In Time Learning, International Categories, and Filling the Vegas Void

What are you going to do to connect with the people that you want to connect with this year via the internet since there are no in person events?

This week Bryan is joined by Patrick O’Donnell’s and Jim Kukral! Bryan has a Book Description webinar this Thursday on the 5 mistakes authors most commonly make with their book descriptions, be sure to check that out. Check out Patrick’s website at the link provided. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Lisa M. Lilly. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Email Lists Made Easy for Writers and Bloggers, Kiss Kill, and The Sell Smarter Collection. Top Tips of the week include what to know about Kindle Daily Deals, how to find the perfect audiobook reader for you, and what Dave Chesson is sharing about Amazon categories. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how much writers can work and still be considered freelance, who is interested in buying Simon & Schuster, why Amazon’s Audible Escape subscription service is being discontinued, why 20BooksTo50K indie conference is being cancelled, and what strategies you can learn to keep yourself sane as an author. Question of the Week: What are you going to do to connect with the people that you want to connect with this year via the internet since there are no in person events? read more

Episode 337 – Using Timelines, Human Connections, and Strategic Trade-offs

Looking back on a timeline of the last six years of your successes and failures, what important insights or perspective can you take away from it?

This week we have a great show for you, we’re talking a lot about timelines. Don’t forget to check out Claire’s new course and Bryan has a webinar next Thursday on the 5 mistakes authors most commonly make with their book descriptions so stay tuned for more info on that. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Chez Churton. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Doubt The Stars, Leah’s Choice, and Plague at Snake Creek. Top Tips of the week include why to think about putting out a Christmas-related book, what getting some time in nature can do for you, and how connecting with new people helps your marketing. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what author Joanna Penn has learned in her nine years as a full-time author, where is Goodreads going, why you need to put in the time to market a good book, what Amazon’s new book clubs feature does, and why Facebook ads are getting cancelled. Question of the Week: Looking back on a timeline of the last six years of your successes and failures, what important insights or perspective can you take away from it? read more

Episode 336 – Good vs. Great, the Virtual Landscape, and Lessons from Lockdown

What’s one positive thing you’re experiencing that you wouldn’t have experienced were it not for the pandemic-related changes to the world?

This week Claire has an AMA coming up on September 10th where she will be answering all story questions and questions about her course so don’t miss out on it! We’ve got a great show for you. Don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcast. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Darren Sapp. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Inharmonic, DEAD STILL, and Pendant. Top Tips of the week include how to get a good cover for bargain prices, everything you need to know about author mailing lists, and why Pinterest could be the marketing tool your looking for. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include whats happening with Amazon’s shipping, what lessons authors have learned during the pandemic, why there is a need for virtual bodyguards for online events, what Amazon is doing to their buy button, and how a free book in your series can help you. Question of the Week: What’s one positive thing you’re experiencing that you wouldn’t have experienced were it not for the pandemic-related changes to the world? read more

Episode 335 – Up-Standing Writers, Camouflage Covers, and Subscription Audiobooks

Do you think Amazon warrants some kind of anti-trust action and should be split up into different companies to further competition? And how might that affect self publishing in the years going forward?

This week we get to hear about Claire’s new Super Charge Your Story Course that just launched so be sure to check it out. Don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcast. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Dave Core. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Not Write Now, Kept In The Dark, and Excelsior. Top Tips of the week include what four things you need for a perfect cover, why Apple Books is promoting “First in a Series Free”, and what a standing desk can do for you. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why Powell’s Books is pulling out of Amazon, what tips Chris Fox has for making your characters feel real, what’s next for Spotify, why publishers booksellers and authors are joining forces against Amazon, and how self confidence can help you grow as an author. Question of the Week: Do you think Amazon warrants some kind of anti-trust action and should be split up into different companies to further competition? And how might that affect self publishing in the years going forward? read more

Episode 334 – Audible Opportunities, AWOL KOLL, the Great Book Flood

If you were to receive a machine-based data report/diagnosis of your book, how would you treat the issues as a soulful, creative writer?

This week Bryan and Claire share their Self-Publishing Live experience with us. Claire has a new course coming out on August 31st and Bryan teases a new webinar coming in September. Don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcast. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Chez Churton. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Call of Dust, Outage Boxed Set Books 1-3, and Win For Love. Top Tips of the week include what you need for a good sales funnel, where to find a free critique for your book, and what you should know about Boook.link. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why we are saying our goodbyes to KOLL, what is happening on September 3rd, how you can create comics and role-playing games, how you can spice up online book events, and what is Audible launching for just $7.95. Question of the Week: If you were to receive a machine-based data report/diagnosis of your book, how would you treat the issues as a soulful, creative writer? read more

Episode 333 – Self Publishing Live, RPG Readers, and Scheduling Boredom

How do you get buy-in from the people you love that your non-typing writing time is also valuable to your process and career?

This weeks show is coming to you from Self Publishing Live! Bryan and Claire are so excited to be here. We have a great show for all of our listeners. Top Tips of the week include what new tool BookBub has to offer for audiobooks, why internal links might be the new up and coming feature, and what you can gain from translating your books. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what quiet time can do for your writing, why you should know several ways to bring in money as an author, how your daily writing habits make a difference in your books, why understanding your readers is an important part of being an author, and what Best Page Forward’s Bryan Cohen has to say about writing compelling stories. Question of the Week: How do you get buy-in from the people you love that your non-typing writing time is also valuable to your process and career? read more

Episode 332 – Short Stories, Generational Genres, and Evolving Book Events

What could you share through video that would forge a stronger connection between you and your readers?

This week we have a great show for you, don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcast. Claire is still running a free Indie Author Alignment: 5-Day Foundation course. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Sara Prow Blackard. Thank you to our featured Patrons – A Band Director’s Guide to Everything Tuba, Faster Than Falling, and The 30-Day Femme Manifesting Game. Top Tips of the week include how writing short fiction is good for getting started and book sales, what Abacus can do for you, and what you should know about pre-release campaigns. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include who’s reading what, how Dan can help you start writing the book you’ve always wanted, why the sales of romance novels go up during global downturns, how you can spice up online book events, and what year has been the best for print and ebook. Question of the Week: What could you share through video that would forge a stronger connection between you and your readers? read more