Episode 339 – Managing your time, energy, and marketing

Posted on September 30, 2020September 29, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on September 23, 2020September 22, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on September 16, 2020September 15, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on September 9, 2020September 8, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on August 26, 2020August 25, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on August 19, 2020August 19, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Posted on August 12, 2020August 11, 2020 by SMBS Team

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

Episode 331 – Healthy Habits, Inner Critics, and Demanding Readers

Posted on August 5, 2020August 7, 2020 by SMBS Team

What’s something you could stop doing that’s not moving you toward YOUR definition of success, and what’s something you like doing that you could replace the old thing with?

Bryan is back and we have a great show for you this week! Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Don’t forget that Claire is running a free Indie Author Alignment: 5-Day Foundation course. This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Eve H. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Symphony of the Wind, Trauma-Sensitive Early Education, and
The Strange. Top Tips of the week include why asking yourself hard questions can lead to the best marketing plan, how making writing a habit and not a task changes your outlook, and why to use sweepstakes in your marketing strategy. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why it is important to know what your goal is, what getting fresh eyes on your manuscript can do for you, should cancel culture be cancelled, why author Patrick Rothfuss is taking some heat, and why you should retain as many rights as possible. Question of the Week: What’s something you could stop doing that’s not moving you toward YOUR definition of success, and what’s something you like doing that you could replace the old thing with? read more

Episode 330 – Clear Strategy, Full Data Sets, Can’t Lose

Posted on July 29, 2020July 28, 2020 by SMBS Team

What metric would be a business changer for you if Amazon could provide it?

What metric would be a business changer for you if Amazon could provide it? Bryan is out this week and H. Claire Taylor is joined by Becca Syme of the Better-Faster Academy. Claire is running a free Indie Author Alignment: 5-Day Foundation course. She also has a preorder for her Supercharge Your Series course and the offer ends August 1st so make sure to check those out! This week’s Super Charger Story Course Winner is Flyover. The Top Tips of the week include why less is more when it comes to marketing, what will you tell readers when they ask why they should buy your book, and how walking can benefit your brain. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what increases in earnings are coming from indie publishing, why book cover designers are speaking up, how the lockdown sparked a popular genre, why you should enroll your books via eBook, and what has Amazon added into their Ads Dashboard. Question of the Week: What metric would be a business changer for you if Amazon could provide it? read more

SELL MORE BOOKS SHOW

with Bryan Cohen and H. Claire Taylor