The Sell More Books Show: Book Marketing, Digital Publishing and Kindle News, Tools and Advice

Thank you, listeners, for helping us reach this landmark episode! This week, Jim and Bryan talked tips about scheduling social media, adopting habits of successful authors, and evolving with your readers. After thanking their patrons The Commons: Book 1, Time Code, and Stalked by Flames, the publishing pair discussed using Overdrive through Draft2Digital, refining your Amazon Ads, WattPad's Tap app, virtual and augmented reality, and whale readers. This week's Question of the Week: Which is going to hit big first and why: texting-based stories or stories with augmented or virtual reality?

Direct download: SMBS_175.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

20Books Vegas head honcho Craig Martelle visited the show to talk tips and news with Bryan this week! After thanking their patrons Cold War: Alien Incursion, Shades of Treason, and Angelborn, Bryan and Craig talked tips about productivity, strong habits, and conquering BookBub Featured Deals. News stories included a Goodreads competitor, new ebook taxes in Australia and India, Kobo's preview conversion feature, KENPC version 3.0, and steps to take to become a six-figure author. This week's Question of the Week: As a reader, what makes you put down a book in the first 10%? Conversely, what makes you keep reading and read on to future books in the series?

Direct download: SMBS_174.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Is China's online reading marketplace significantly larger than the U.S. and U.K.? Find out in our latest scorching episode! After thanking their patrons A Finger in Every Pie, Awakened, and The Prosperous Writer's Guide to Finding Readers, Jim and Bryan tackled tips on starting from scratch, grading your own writing, and targeting the right readers. News stories included gender fluid pen names, potential changes in Facebook Groups, Instafreebie's app-based attempt to solve side-loading, France adopting online reading, and China's massive growth in e-reading. This week's Question of the Week: How long will it take for mobile reading to take over as the primary form of online reading in the U.S. and why?

Direct download: SMBS_173.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

What should Amazon do about its clickfarm problem? Jim and Bryan have their thoughts on that question and this week's other top stories. After thanking their patrons Faster Than Falling, Leaving Eva, and Inharmonic Fantasy, the powerful publishing pair tackled tips on author mindset, beta readers, and pricing. News stories included the BookBaby's author survey, author apps, bullying, PublishDrive, thinking small, and a click-farmed book hitting #1. This week's Question of the Week: Do you think Amazon will do anything about its click-farming problem? Why or why not?

Direct download: SMBS_172.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

How would you go against conventional publishing advice? That's what Jim and Bryan want to know in the latest episode of The Sell More Books Show. After thanking their patron Joanna Penn and her masterpiece How to Market a Book, the triple-threat-twosome talked tips on using your backlist, adopting long-term thinking, and using InstaFreebie. News stories included EU ebook law changes, the return of the Google Play Partner Center, the true price of being an indie, the need for experimentation, and the growth of Amazon Prime. This week's Question of the Week: How would you go against the conventional wisdom of self-publishing to try a new marketing or publishing experiment?

Direct download: SMBS_171.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Just how big is the ebook marketplace? Listen all the way to our top story to find out the latest estimate. After thanking their patrons, Star Flame, Merkiaari Wars, and Awakened, Jim and Bryan talked tips on engaging with audio, staying sticky in the rankings, and nonfiction book length. News stories included Amazon's six-month KU deal, engaging with your fanbase, newsletter subscribers from giveaways, going fast vs. slow as a writer, and the size of the ebook marketplace. This week's Question of the Week: Do you believe Michael Cader's estimates of the size of the ebook marketplace? Are they too high, too low, or just right, and why?

Direct download: SMBS_170.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

What do authors owe their readers? It's a question Jim and Bryan ask in the top story of this week's Sell More Books Show. After thanking their patrons, God and Gigs, Witch's Sacrifice, and How I Sold 80,000 Books, the deep thinkers of digital books discussed tips on coming up with titles, updating your website, and creating your own tsunami of content. News stories included millennials using libraries, trad pub's new deal with libraries, the 2017 Smashwords survey, Amazon's beta test without the word "kindle," and what authors owe their followers. This week's Question of the Week: "What do successful authors owe the community?"

Direct download: SMBS_169.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Lindsay Buroker joined Bryan this week to talk big news in audio and Kindle Unlimited. After thanking their patrons Gods and Gigs, WordPress Security 101, and Pirates vs. Dragons, Bryan and Lindsay talked tips about time management, email scheduling, and Facebook Messenger Bots. This week’s top stories included Amazon buying Whole Foods, Facebook Page video cover images, translation rights, KU payouts dropping, and Draft2Digital’s new partnership with Findaway Voices. This week’s Question of the Week: Would you give up the 40% royalties from going exclusive with ACX to get lower royalties but gain price control from D2D and FV?

Direct download: SMBS_168.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Bryan and Jim absolutely brought it on an episode featuring a survey of six-figure authors and discussions about Whispersync and the new KDP Dashboard (hint: Jim doesn’t like it). After thanking their patrons Sanyare: The Rebel Apprentice, The Thing Speaks for Itself, and Dark as the Grave, the sommeliers of self-publishing took on tips about BookBub pre-order announcements, Goodreads email notifications, and keyword research. Top stories included Penguin getting into merchandise, BookFunnel getting into bundles, the new KDP Dashboard, Amazon increasing Whispersync prices, and the six-figure author survey from Written Word Media. This week’s Question of the Week: When you see that six-figure authors have an average of 30 books written, does that motivate you or discourage you? What do you think you would have to do to get that many books on your backlist?

Direct download: SMBS_167.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Bryan’s back and he’s brought five news stories with him! After thanking their patrons The Final Arrangement, Taking Charge, and Shadow Raiders, Bryan and Jim tackled tips on saying no, saving up for your book, and hiring an assistant. News stories included a bump up for trad pub, more fake books on bestseller lists, ACX in Ireland and Canada, Vellum 2.0, and a six-figure audio contract for an indie. This week’s Question of the Week: How much have you paid for print formatting in the past? Are you willing to fork out $250 one-time to let you format all your future print books?

Direct download: SMBS_166.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT