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

We are ending off the year with the Top 5 Stories of 2021! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The Top 5 News stories that matter most to indies this year include how indie authors and their stories are making it to film, how Apple disrupted email marketing and advertising, why BookTok is making other social media platforms jealous, wide is the new black, and lots of indies are embracing the wide-for-the-win mentality, and what few positive changes are coming from our lockdowns. Question of the Week: What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include how to pick a title that sells books, where to go to research everything, and why and how you should dictate your books. 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what the reading trends of 2021 were, whether a dedicated writing tool is for you, how to sell KU books to your non-KU readers, how to treat your designer, and how social media CAN sell your books. Question of the Week: What publishing trend do you feel most affected your business this year and why?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include how to create a universal author page for all platforms, how some are taking their offices to the backyard, and where you can learn about TikTok for authors. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how some authors are writing for the screen, why a big social media following doesn't necessarily sell books, how to burst through your writing barriers, how publishers are fighting back against library demands, and why Barnes and Noble is Barnes and Noble's biggest problem. Question of the Week: Which celebrity’s biography would you want to read?

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Happy 400th episode, we made it!! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Hildie McQueen. Top Tips of the week include how to plan your author goals for 2022, what Instagram's newest features for authors are, and how your pep talks can help authors just like you. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how New Zealand can get author copies from KDP now, how to feel more in control as an author, what indie author is bringing her books to life on tv, why you can't copyright ideas, and how to handle yourself online and how to break through your barriers to success. Question of the Week: What’s a pep talk you need to hear? Give us a little sample!

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This week we are joined by Jonathan Yanez! He is an author and publisher by day, screenwriter and producer by night. Bryan’s Kickstarter ends this Thursday! You can find all the links for this weeks episode in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Michael Thies. Top Tips of the week include how to build your author platform, what you need to know if you’re publishing a holiday novel, and what the benefits are to creating a Large Print Edition of your book. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is coming to a library near you, why you should give your two-year old backlist a second chance, what new Apple TV+ series features publishing success stories, how to navigate BookTok and what to do to reignite your fire as an author. Question of the Week: What motivates you to get the words on the page?

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We are one episode closer to our 400th where we will be hosting the show live on our Facebook page! Be sure to check out Bryan’s Kickstarter as well as his Black Friday Blurb Sales at the links provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include how to format a book without owning a Mac, how to take your books wide, and what to give the author who has everything. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is new with Amazon’s series page, what trad pub supply issues are doing to book launches, what are the results of the 2021 author survey, what is the new seismic shift in audiobooks and how to find time to write in a busy life. Question of the Week: What are you thankful for right now?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Be sure to check out Bryan’s Kickstarter at the link provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Andrew Chamberlain. This weeks Honorable Mention is Our Little Boy is Growing Up. Top Tips of the week include how to succeed with a virtual assistant, what ten steps to follow to get your book out there, and how to protect your hands from a repetitive stress injury. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why you might want to write 30 kid's books in 30 days, how to embrace your inner Frankenstein, how Vellum is upping the style game with 3.0, how to advertise books that aren't in your KDP Dashboard and what Spotify's purchase of Findaway Voices could mean to the industry. Question of the Week: What do you think about the Spotify acquisition of Findaway, and where do you think this will go in the next 1-3 years?

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This week we are coming to you live from 20 Books Las Vegas! Be sure to check out Bryan’s Kickstarter at the link provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Dave Core. Top Tips of the week include how to break down your goals to ensure your success, what you need to know about the NaNoWriMo book bundle, and how to fast draft your novel. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what to do when you find you there's already a book like yours out there, how Alexa is helping readers find their next favorite book, what those big E symbols on your Apple books mean, why the government is putting the breaks on the Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster merger and why comparisonitis with other authors is a bad idea. Question of the Week: How are you going to get out of the grind this week and take good care of yourself?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Be sure to check out Bryan’s Kickstarter at the link provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Kevin J Fellows. Top Tips of the week include how to promote when you don't want to promote, how chapter titles can help sell books, and why to ask for blurbs and beta reads even when it hurts. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is coming to AI audiobooks, what new link to use to promote your print books, what platform you should use to help go direct, how to take your buyer on a journey that increases book sales and what to do to get yourself back out there and writing again. Question of the Week: If you were to come up with a chapter title for one of your favorite chapters you’ve written, what would it be?

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This week Claire is joined by Jami Albright and we have a great show in store for you! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Kamuela Kaneshiro. Top Tips of the week include how to promote your audiobook on Instagram, when to bail on a project..or not, and how to make a fantasy world map for your book or readers. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include Why you need to have a print book not just an ebook, why your cover matters so much, what new social media platform is coming just for readers and writers, what indie author event is less than two weeks away. Question of the Week: Will you be checking out the Copper social media site, and if so, how do you see yourself using it?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Amazon Ad School is open through October 25th, sign up at the link provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Jon Auerbach. This weeks Honorable Mention is Serial Successes. Top Tips of the week include how to get your rights back from a vanity press, what are the best ways to include real people in your books without legal problems, and why going full-time can lead to less writing. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to Kickstart a project without begging for money, what KDP is doing to books to make things easier on readers, what is an easy way to find your also boughts, why three men pretending to be one woman is a problem, and how translators are fighting for recognition. Question of the Week: Do you see Kickstarter being something you might try, and if so, what kind of project?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Today kicks off The 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge, its not too late to register! Claire also has a refresh of her free 5-Day Indie Author Alignment Course which will now be called Indie Author Supercharge. You can find the link to both of these in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Jon Auerbach. This weeks Honorable Mention is Serial Successes. Top Tips of the week include how to be where your readers are, what are the best tools for writing on the go, and how to hook a reader onto your series to sell more books. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to utilize Tik-Tok to sell your books, why you should be using deeper keywords, what is being done about the fake Amazon Review scam, why audiobook authors need your help, and what you can do to support your fellow author. Question of the Week: Are you on TikTok, and if not, have you simply not gotten around to it or is there a reason you’ve decided to pass?

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This week we have a great show in store for you! Wednesday, October 13th kicks off The 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge, register now! Claire also has a refresh of her free 5-Day Indie Author Alignment Course which will now be called Indie Author Supercharge. You can find the link to both of these in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Rebecca Carter. This weeks Honorable Mention is Print and Ebook, all in one place. Top Tips of the week include how to dress up your book page, where to find helpful email prompts, and how to promo without self-promo. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why email serial is most likely still dead, how Bookbub Ads are changing due to Apple, why to consider hiring someone to run Facebook ads for you, what new book formatting tool is making big promises, and why writing connected series sells more books. Question of the Week: What tip or takeaway from this week’s show are you going to add to your to-do list for the week and why?

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This week we dive deep into going wide with western contemporary romance author Erin Wright. Erin is also one of the co-founders of the Facebook group Wide for the Win. Be sure to check out her link in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Stephen Wholesome. This weeks Honorable Mention is Three Formats, One Dashboard. Top Tips of the week include how to manage your beta readers, what are the best tools to format your books, and how to train your brain to write more. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how PublishDrive is making things easier on authors, what wide authors can use to help finance book projects, what’s new with the audiobook market, how Trad Pub is defeating ebook pirates, the latest on KDP’s worst-kept hardcover secret, and why most author advice isn’t right for authors selling wide. Question of the Week: If you've considered going wide, what's currently holding you back? If you ARE wide, what's one of the reasons you decided to go wide?.

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This week Claire is joined by author Lindsey Pogue. We will link her website in the show notes as well as Claire’s mega sale. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Elle Clouse. Top Tips of the week include how to get others to blurb your book, what a QR code can do for your books, and why its important to embrace marketing as an author. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include where to get great writing craft training for free, why Disney needs a wake up call from the author community, how B&N is making a comeback, how Audible is expanding and why Trad Pub will be suffering from a print book slow down this holiday season. Question of the Week: If you’re an Audible Plus subscriber, what do you think of the service, and what opportunities do you see for authors who put their books into it?

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This week we have a great show in store for you. Be sure to check out Bryan's Book Multiplier Webinar and Claire’s 5-day course, the links will be provided in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Patrick O’Donnell. Top Tips of the week include how to help readers review quickly, why a more accessible site will sell more books, and when to consider using a pen name. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how Susan Darlene Faw is using her indie bookstore to help other authors, what is going on with Amazon and the Big 5, how to make six figures with kids books, how to spot a suspicious hybrid publisher and how to save money while publishing. Question of the Week: What is a way you can support your fellow indie author between now and the end of the year?

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This week we have a great show in store for you. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Amy Martinsen. Top Tips of the week include how to maximize your book revenue, how to start your own author mastermind, and when is a good time to get new covers for your books. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include who is bringing back in-app ebook purchases, how KU is allowing readers more books at once, how to plan ahead for your holiday promos, what is the new reporting metrics in your KDP Reports Beta and how to hit best seller status. Question of the Week: What is one thing you would like to set up in advance to promote your books this coming holiday season?

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This week we have a great show in store for you Check out Bryan’s Q&A Session at the link in the show notes! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Andrew Chamberlain. Top Tips of the week include what makes up an author platform, how to get your rights back and use them, and what is the value of a good blurb. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what lawsuits have begun, how stacking promos can help your book launch, what are the new ad bid strategies on Amazon, what is happening between KDP and Ingram and how to write when you are not feeling it. Question of the Week: If you knew it was guaranteed to succeed the way you’d planned, what one thing would you add to your next book launch, and why?

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This week Bryan is joined by Dale L. Roberts who is an accomplished indie author and host of Self-Publishing with Dale on YouTube. The link to his channel is in the show notes so be sure to check it out! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Jay S. Willis. Our Honorable Mention is Will The Real Ghost Writer Please Stand Up! Top Tips of the week include how to get more reviews, how to make the most of your personal writing retreat, and how to get your readers to open your emails. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why you might need to rethink your Amazon Ad strategy, why Patreon is under threat, how to get readers to open your emails, how Facebook ads are shifting and why you should try swapping with like-minded authors to find new readers. Question of the Week: What do you think about the concept of ghost writers working with your characters after you own death? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

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We have a great show in store for you this week! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Sara Prow Blackard. Top Tips of the week include what books you need to jumpstart your indie author career, why these marketing strategies just won’t work, and how to stop temptation and start writing. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how you can maximize your hourly rate, why readers are willing to buy wider, what’s selling on Kobo Plus in Canada, why Goodreads is in the news for regular people not just authors and why Apple's new email privacy isn't such a big deal. Question of the Week: In the next 3 months of your business, what is the project that you’re most excited about?

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We have a great show in store for you this week! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Check out Claire’s YouTube channel for a new video every Friday! You can find the link in the show notes. The winner this week is Hildie McQueen. Top Tips of the week include how an ARC Review Team can help you sell books sooner, why you may need to prove yourself to Amazon, and what an email welcome sequence can do for you. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why newer is better when it comes to publishing, how the MFA can improve the author business, what Youtube thinks of audiobooks, how scammers are using authors names to sell books and what BookFunnel is doing for your author support team. Question of the Week: Where have you found your ARC team members, what have you offered people to get them on your main list (no review incentives!), and what are some of your wins and challenges been throughout the ARC team-building process?

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We have a great show in store for you this week! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Erik Marshall. Top Tips of the week include how to master your author bio, who is helping new authors get started from zero, and how to utilize free bonus content. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why publishers are getting into the subscription game, what subscriptions Audible is rolling out in the UK, how to use the right keywords on Amazon, how to brighten your book pages on KDP and how to find your book’s comps and sell more. Question of the Week: Have you created a list of comp authors for your books? If so, who are they? If not, what’s the first step you’ll take toward building that?

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Bryan is back this week and we have a great show in store for you, please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Houston Hare. This weeks honorable mention is Undervalued Opportunity. Top Tips of the week include why you need to protect yourself with an LLC, what to do when your book is pirated, and why to check your rights with new apps and platforms. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to succeed with email after the Apple upgrade, how BookShop.org is leading the diversity charge, what is Amazon doing with scammers, what traits of KU readers you need to know and how resting affects your work. Question of the Week: What’s one habit you can change this week to clear more time in your schedule for sleep?

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This week Claire is joined by USAToday Bestseller Romance Author Michelle Spiva. We have a great show in store for you, please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Ethan Jones. Top Tips of the week include how to market your book on Amazon, what to do when you’re not feeling supported as an author, and how to target your BookBub ads better. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what audiobooks are doing for kids and teens, who is Clubhouse competing with, what are the new domain features of Bookfunnel, how Amazon's new series feature can help and hurt and what you need to know about the Kindle Vella launch. Question of the Week: What is your five statement manifesto for your career over the coming year (“I am…” “I do…” “I have…”)?

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Get in on Bryan’s ad challenge and check out Claire's youtube channel to find some great free resources. You can find the links in the show notes. Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Randy L. Top Tips of the week include how to help readers find your book with SEO, what to do when your find your ideal reader, and where to find upcoming writing conferences. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what Amazon changed to help readers understand their ads better, how to earn multiple streams of income, who’s upset about audiobook royalties, why ebook subscriptions are taking off, and what legal siege Amazon is under. Question of the Week: How might you prepare your business for when subscription services become more prominent in the industry?

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Check out Bryan’s 5-Day Challenge on July 12th! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Brian Scott Pauls. Top Tips of the week include how to maximize your writing time, what to learn from authors that came before you, and where to start when it comes to platform. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what new types of publishers to be on the look out for, how to make the most of those bad reviews, why pirated books are outranking published versions, what changes Bookbub is making to support diversity, and what you need to know when making a publishing decision. Question of the Week: Where’s somewhere in your writing business that you might have been unintentionally exclusionary, and how might your change your processes and platform to make sure a greater diversity of voices are heard?

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Trixie Silvertale is here! She's a successful cozy author featured in an awesome case study that we talked about last week on the show. Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Michael Lauck. Top Tips of the week include what BookBub Ad you should be using, how to be twice as productive, and why you should market seasonally. This week’s honorable mention is Pointing Fingers. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to protect yourself from audiobook scammers, how Google is getting more book and audio apps created, where to find more free reviews, what are Kindle Vella’s latest updates, and why you should sell direct. Question of the Week: Do you have a marketing and production schedule that goes beyond three months? If not, how do you think your production schedule would change if it was planned out 6, 12, or 18+ months into the future?

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Welcome back to another episode! Bryan has a webinar this Thursday on how to fix the 5 most common book description mistakes so be sure to check that out. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Garrett Robinson. Top Tips of the week include how to get your book seen with Facebook ads, where to find motivation when stalled, and what is the best distribution strategy. This week’s honorable mention is New Kid on The Book Block. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is Amazon’s biggest profit source, why Apple is making it harder for email marketing, what flood might be making its way to the indie world, how to reach readers, and how Amazon Ad school is reaching the mainstream. Question of the Week: What doom and gloom story that’s circulating through the author community do you think is the most overblown?

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Welcome back to another episode! This week we dive into social media. Be sure to check out Jami Albright’s launch plan that will be linked in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Blaine Moore. Top Tips of the week include how to maximize your international sales, what TikTok can do for you as an author, and how to find the best title for your book. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what the newest publishing trends of 2021 are, why audiobook sales are increasing, how you can get started on Instagram, why you need a book plan, and how to find a reader magnet that works for you. Question of the Week: What is your favorite social media platform right now and do you think you'll use one of these new-fangled platforms to promote your books at some point in the future?

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This week we finally have Bryan and Claire together again! You can find the replay of the Craft Writing webinar that they did together in the links for this week’s show. A quick reminder that today is the final day for the Supercharge Offer so be sure to check it out. Leave a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Matthew Herrmann. Top Tips of the week include how to incorporate writing breaks, where to find free live training if you’re new to publishing, and how to market your audiobooks. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why bookstores are paying royalties on second-hand books, why Android is putting a stop to tracking for ads, how you can get bonus royalties on your series, what Maryland is doing for its libraries, and where to find a cheaper color option for your paperbacks. Question of the Week: When are you going to take your next break from your writing and publishing work, and how are you going to schedule it in and make sure you stick to it?

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This week Bryan is joined by Patrick O'Donnell, the host of the Cops and Writers Podcast and the author of the Cops and Writers duology. On June 4th, Claire and Bryan will be having a webinar on Craft Writing. All the links you need for this week will be provided in the show notes. Be sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is - Blaine Moore. Our Honorable Mention is No Brainer Audio. Top Tips of the week include where to find Amazon’s contests, who is holding a Self-Published Science Fiction Competition, and what is the alternative for Patreon and Medium. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to reboot a lagging audiobook series, what is Amazon buying, how Barnes & Noble is coming back to life, what you need to know to write faster, and why authors pay to write. Question of the Week: What are some of the things you've "earned" from being an author, including the "fringe benefits," that you wouldn't have in a normal job?

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This week Claire is joined by Mike Stop Continues and Oliver Altair, you can find their information to learn more about Site Arcade in the show notes. We have a great show in store for you. Make sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week. The winner this week is - Amanda Schiller. Top Tips of the week include why you are losing sales during your pre-launch period, how to get your author emails where they need to be, and how to get readers on your list. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what change is coming to Amazon’s e-books, what is Spotify doing with audiobooks, how to get your book seen, how to build better blurbs, and why you should optimize backlist titles for sales. Question of the Week: Would you consider using Spotify’s subscription service for your audiobooks, and how would you leverage possible ad opportunities?

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This week Claire is joined by Drew Hayes, you can find his information in the show notes. We have a great show in store for you as we dive deep into serial. Make sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week! The winner this week is - Lisa M. Lilly. Top Tips of the week include why you should get your books on as many platforms as possible, who is threatening to leave egregious reviews on Goodreads, and how super URL’s could be killing your book reviews. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what scammers are doing on Amazon, what to look at when considering indie vs traditional, what is Bookwire creating for the publishing and creator industry, what is happening with Kakao Entertainment, and where you can find helpful information when thinking about writing for Kindle Vella. Question of the Week: If you’re giving Kindle Vella a try, what are you hoping to get out of it?

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This week we have a great show in store for you. Make sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week! The winner this week is - Lisa M. Lilly. Top Tips of the week include how to choose a pen name, how to turn your work into multiple streams of income, and why you should clean up your social media. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why it pays to engage with your readers, what is going to change with personalized ads segment, where is paperback printing going to be available, how we will remember author and indie publishing leader Joel Friedlander, and what to prepare for when you end a series. Question of the Week: Who is an established leader in this industry who’s inspired you, and what qualities of theirs do you admire the most?

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This week we have a great show in store for you. Make sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week! The winner this week is - Anmarie. Top Tips of the week include how to get clicks on your ads, why to switch out your email list, and how to catch scammers. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include who is Disney refusing to pay, what is new with Amazon, how to get into the right mindset when writing, where has Kobo Plus launched, and how to take on new opportunities. Question of the Week: What sort of environmental accommodations do you make to aid your focus and get the most out of your deep-work time when you have it? 

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This week we have a great show in store for you. Make sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast. The winner this week is - Jessica Hall. Our Honorable Mention is - Non-Fungible Bragging Rights. Top Tips of the week include what freebies can do for you, how a funnel can up your marketing, and how to write a bestseller. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to make sure you don’t lose your Amazon Affiliate account, why you need to stop doubting if you’re an author, what concept is being offered to publishers of print and ebooks, who supports indie authors, and how to push on as an author. Question of the Week: What would you say you’ve learned since you started publishing about bringing people in to find out about you as an author and taking care of them along the way?

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This week we have author Monica Leonelle on the show! She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing. Claire still has some seats available for her last Indie Author Alignment Workshop on April 24th. You can check them both out at the links provided. The winner this week is - Betsy Flak. Top Tips of the week include why it may be time for you to dive into Tik Tok, what aggregator is best, and how to support your favorite authors without having to spend money. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what your sleep schedule says about you, who is the new cover design resource that just launched, what new changes are coming to Barnes and Noble, where you can track all your sales in one place, and what is Kindle Vella. Question of the Week: Are you planning on trying out Kindle Vella, and if so how are you planning on using it for your catalog?

Direct download: SMBS_368.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Claire has her last Indie Author Alignment Workshop on April 24th before she switches things up, you can find tickets at the link provided. You can still join Bryan’s April 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge, all links will be in the show notes. The winner this week is - KT Sargent. Top Tips of the week include why quality might be better than quantity for email lists, what hybrid means in publishing, and what you need to know about growing in Instagram. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how introverts feel about returning to a pre-pandemic world, what what are the 7 P’s of publishing success, why brand strategy is important, what honest truth writers need to hear when starting out, and what  advice author Ines Johnson has for you. Question of the Week: What do you want your writing to do for you (outside of making you money)?

Direct download: SMBS_367.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_366.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_365.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_364.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_363.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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 

Direct download: SMBS_362.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_361.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_360.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_359.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_358.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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?

Direct download: SMBS_357.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Welcome back to another week of SMBS! We have some great stories this week for you. This week’s winner is David Mark Brown. Author Resource of the Week is - Dear Writer, You Need to Quit by Becca Some. Top Tips of the week include what to ask yourself before publishing, what to use to get your book seen and reviewed, and where to get a 3D mockup of your book. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what you need to know about hacked books, who is giving advice on writing a book, why Spotify is jumping into audiobooks, what new book fair Publishers Weekly is holding, and how you could get out of exclusivity agreements with the Audiobook Creation Exchange. Question of the Week: If you have an audiobook in ACX, what will you do, if anything, as a result of the updates to exclusivity?

Direct download: SMBS_356.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

This week we have a great show for you. Bryan is joined by MM author Quinn Ward. Thank you to all of our featured Patrons! Top Tips of the week include how to beat formatting stress, what you need for a great Amazon ad copy, and how to break even with audiobooks. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how author Alexa Kang spiced up her free reads for her newsletter subscribers, what new ebook company Medium has acquired, why Wattpad is on the verge of being sold, who is being accused of ebook price-fixing, and what is in store for authors in 2021. Question of the Week: Where are you now and what is your goal for where you're gonna be a year from now?

Direct download: SMBS_355.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

It is not too late to join Bryan’s 5 Day Amazon Ad Challenge or Claire's Indie Author Alignment Workshop. Check them out at the links provided. Thank you to our featured Patrons - The 8-Minute Writing Habit, Writing the Past, and Love's Current. Top Tips of the week include how to let readers preview your book on Amazon, what you need for an author platform, and where to find author podcasts’. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to start 2021 on the right foot as an author, what book companies are doing to public schools, why Facebook is taking away page likes, what the pricing for IngramSparks print-on-demand paperbacks are increasing by, and how to set realistic goals for the new year. Question of the Week: What was the last book you read that made you cry?

Direct download: SMBS_354.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Happy New Year from the Sell More Books Show Team! We are hoping to have a great year of shows and are so happy to kick it off 2021 with the 353rd episode. Bryan is having his 5 Day Amazon Ad Challenge on January 11th and Claire has a Indie Author Alignment Workshop coming up, be sure to check those out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Shirish Deshpande. Thank you to our featured Patrons - Time Code, Unfrozen, and Rock Rain. Top Tips of the week include why you need an email list, what new challenge Amazon is launching, and how to avoid distractions. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why you should reach out to local media, what you need to know about scammers, what Medium is doing for your follower list, whats new with LMBPN Publishing, and how to push for categories you want. Question of the Week: What BISAC category would you want to add to the list that doesn’t already exist, and do you think it would be worth the push to make it happen?

Direct download: SMBS_353.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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