Book Marketing Success Podcast: Recent Episodes
Book Marketing Success Podcast
If you want to be successful, be unique. This ballad is adapted from an email I got yesterday from John Castagnini of ThankGodI.com. His email was as least five times the length of this ballad. I pulled out his statements that most lend themselves to lyrics for a song. I hopes you enjoy the song, the lyrics, and intent.
Unique lyrics
Truth welcomes questionsOnly beliefs hide from themThe moment we stopStop examining our beliefsThe search for truth diesBefore we can hear anythingQuestions must come from within
We experience reality through a filterShaped by emotion, belief, and experienceFear narrows awarenessSocial pressure silencesCertainty closes the mindThe more invested we are in a worldviewThe more difficult it becomes to question it
What separates peopleWho recognize patterns early?Not IQ but curiosityThe courage to questionThe humility to be wrongEvery battle begins in the same placeThe way we perceive reality
When we are centeredOur inner world and outer world alignWe see beyond our biasesWe challenge our assumptionsAnd we gain humilityTo follow the evidence wherever it leadsEven when it challenges what we believe
Shape perceptionAnd you shape the world people live inThe greatest battlefieldIsn’t the world around usIt’s the world within usBecause whoever shapes perceptionRules the battlefield
It is about mastering yourselfFinding balance betweenFear and fearlessnessPride and humilityPeace and conflictWhen the brain becomes balancedIt becomes impossible to manipulate
The state of balance we carry insideEquilibrium is not something we createIt is something we return toIt exists throughout natureIn the laws of thermodynamicsAt the center of every circleAnd within the human mind
When emotional noise falls awayClarity emergesPurpose awakensThe path becomes visibleThe world does not need more peopleMore people trapped in reactionIt needs warriors grounded in equilibrium
Nature made each of us uniqueNo two snowflakes are the sameEven twins are not identicalYou have what no one else can bringA unique purposeA unique contributionA unique role
Be uniqueStay uniqueDo not bendDo not surrenderKeep your spiritNurture your spiritCelebrate your spirit
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Here is some writing advice from Thom Merrilin, a storytelling character from A Memory of Light, book 14 of The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. I put it into a song. Source: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/writing-advice-from-the-wheel-of-time-series
Great Ballads lyrics
If you use the words people expectthey grow boredA great ballad needs to be unexpectedNever be expectedNever be expected
When people start to expect youwhen they start to anticipateYour flourishes and your bowsTo look for the ball you had hiddenThrough sleight of handOr to smile before you reachedThe twist line of your tale
When such are the expectationsit is time to pack up your cloakbow once for good measureand stroll awayAfter all, that was whatthey’d least expect you to dowhen all was going well
If you use the words people expectthey grow boredA great ballad needs to be unexpectedNever be expected
A great ballad needs to be unexpectedStroll awayStroll awayStroll awayA great ballad needs to be unexpectedGood-byeGood-bye
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I love how I can transform poetry, my own or someone else’s, into a song using Mureka. Check out this country gospel version of a portion of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself, where he talks about the origin of all poems (and which I, in turn, made into the origin of all songs.
You can create songs like this with your poetry, fiction, and even nonfiction!
Origin of All Songs Lyrics
Have you reckoned a thousand acres much? have you reckoned the earth much?Have you practiced so long to learn to read?Have you felt so proud to get at the meaning of poems?
Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems,You shall possess the good of the earth and sun, (there are millions of suns left,)
You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books,You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,You shall listen to all sides and filter them from your self.
Stop this day and night with meand you shall possess the origin of all songs,You shall possess the good of the earth and sun.
Stop this day and night with meand you shall possess the origin of all songs,You shall possess the good of the earth and sun.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Celebrate Father’s Day with this song inspired by Ward Clark’s ode to his father (Real Men, Real Impact: The Essential Role of Fathers in Society — https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/06/21/real-men-real-impact-the-essential-role-of-fathers-in-society-n2203567).
My Father, My Hero lyrics
Who is my biggest hero?That’s easy. My Dad
My Dad is a rocka good mana great mana man of iron integrityand enormous personal strengthMy Dad is a rock
I strive to live up to himAnd will do so for the rest of my life
As he keeps telling meWork comes firstYou never stop being a parentYou are the prime exampleYou are the one they followYou are the one they love
I strive to live up to my DadAnd will do so for the rest of my life
He is my prime exampleHe is the one I followHe is the one I loveHe is the one I value most
I strive to live up to my DadAnd will do so for the rest of my life
Happy Father’s Day!Happy Father’s Day!
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Listen to this country ballad when you need a little lift as you write, publish, market, and promote your books, products, and services.
I Got This lyrics
Sometimes the strength withinIsn’t a big fiery flame for all to seeSometimes it’s just a tiny grinThat whispers ever so softlyI’m in, I’m in, I’m in!Keep going, I got this
Rules that she wroteFirst, be patientDon’t rock the boatKeep your head downKeep the benefits you noteGo with the bird in the hand
Don’t get into the muckKeep your head up highNever stay stuckKeep on truckin’Don’t trust in luckGo with what you love.
Don’t get wrapped in vinesKeep your edges sharpLook for all the signsHone the skills you haveDraw outside the linesYou can reach on high
Sometimes the strength withinIsn’t a big fiery flame for all to seeSometimes it’s just a tiny grinThat whispers ever so softlyI’m in, I’m in, I’m in!Keep going, I got this
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Perhaps I should call my new program AI Storytelling because AI is the key selling point for almost all programs and courses in today’s world. But, alas, my course isn’t really about AI. It’s about the human touch, the stories we pass on to each other that make people respond.
Well, sadly, I didn’t make the case for the value of my Storyteller Secrets course. Obviously, that’s my problem.
The reality is that it’s not worth it to me to present a long, complex, and life-changing course if I’m not recompensed. I have many other things I can do. We all make choices.
I know the price of $497 is high for many of you in this world of high gas prices and high food costs.
So, I thought I’d at least give you the opportunity to buy the first lesson in the course for only $10. Check out here: https://shorturl.at/9LbiS
https://bookmarketing.mysamcart.com/checkout/storytelling-secrets-sample-lesson
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Today we’re diving straight into a concept called the narrative edge, and we’re going to look at mastering the art of persuasive storytelling.
Do you want to change someone’s mind? Yeah, it sounds simple, right? But honestly, it is notoriously one of the toughest things to do in any human interaction. Think about it.
Read more: https://bookmarketing.mysamcart.com/telling-stories
You know the drill. You gather all your evidence, you organize your logic, you present this totally airtight case, and then what happens?
Well, they push back. They find that one tiny little hole in your argument, and they just anchor themselves right there.
This exact friction point offers a radically different way to overcome that stubborn skepticism.
In the professional world, our default setting is the data dump. We’ve all dreaded it, just completely drowning our audience in statistics, bullet points, charts, and figures.
We trick ourselves into thinking, hey, if I just provide enough data, the sheer weight of it is going to force them to agree with me. But we need to shift entirely over to emotional resonance. We’ve got to stop dumping data and start actually striking a chord.
If you take absolutely nothing else away from this podcast, let it be this core idea right here. Facts tell, but stories sell.
Whether you’re trying to sell a product, pitch some brilliant new initiative to your boss, or literally just trying to get your friends to agree on where to eat, next time the pressure is totally on and you desperately need to change a mind, what is your default going to be?
Are you going to fall back into that trap of the data dump, just hoping that an avalanche of facts will somehow win the day? Or are you going to take the narrative edge?
Will you remember the burnt toast, bypass all their skepticism, and tell a story that they can actually feel? The choice is totally yours, but facts only tell, it’s the stories that actually sell.
Read more: https://bookmarketing.mysamcart.com/telling-stories
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Discover the Secret Storytelling Formula That Turns Words into Sales
Unlock The Storyteller Secrets and turn boring unprofitable marketing into messages people remember, trust, love, and buy from. Make your business unforgettable in just a few minutes.
The Storyteller Secrets helps anyone selling any book, program, or service to tell stories that help them sell more, promote more, and build trust with strangers as well as followers.
Read more: https://bookmarketing.mysamcart.com/telling-stories
A Publishing House Needs Stories
My first AI pass-through on this sales letter included no stories. That happens so often with AI.
But stories are important if you actually want to make sales. Stories convince people. Stories give people confidence in what you have to sell.
When I consulted with Unity House, the book publishing division of Unity Church, I was surprised that they weren’t selling more books. They published a small magazine, Daily Word, with 4 million subscribers. They published another magazine with 200,000 subscribers. And, yet, they were selling few than 10,000 copies of most of their books. After reading six of thei books, I discovered why the books weren’t selling. The authors did not tell stories. Without stories, the books had little to no word-of-mouth. Without stories, no one was telling their friends - Hey, you gotta read this book. It’s incredible! The books weren’t being passed along.
Without that word-of-mouth, they sold a lot less books than they had expected to sell.
Sell Benefits, Not Features
I have another client who keeps adding new features to his offer. As a result, he never actually launches his product (a good product, by the way). He has kept adding features for over two years!
I keep telling him. Stop adding features. Start selling benefits!. And the best way to sell benefits is to tell stories. Stories provide heart and soul to your sales letters, blog posts, podcasts, videos, courses, and more. Stories invoke trust.
And, of course, launch your course. Launch it now. Even if it’s not perfect yet. Give people a chance to buy into your offering. You can always make it better. You can always upgrade it.
Summit Presenters and Speakers Need Stories
Last week, I attended a summit. One of the things I’ve noticed about summits is that two or three of the speakers or presenters are good at telling stories and giving examples. The other 10 to 15 primarily talked about abstract ideas and facts with few or no stories.
I quickly learned which speakers were storytellers and which people simply presented facts. Guess which speakers I will be following, which speaker’s emails I’ll pay attention to, and which speaker’s offerings I am most likely to sign up for (and pay for!).
Double Sales — Tell Me What It Will Do for Me!
AppSumo is a wonderful online store that features various apps, software, and services that can help individuals and businesses to do things in better ways. Sadly, to sell these services, AppSumo creates videos that talk about the programs and services they sell, but their videos focus on what the app does, what it does, what it does. Over and over again, all features, few benefits.
I swear, if they simply featured more stories on how people are actually using these programs to change their lives or build their businesses, they’d double sales!
Sell High-Ticket Courses and Services with Stories
My friend, Mike Koenigs, has been selling high-ticket items for more than 25 years. He does that by telling success stories — how customers are using his courses and services to get more done in less time, to sell more products and services, to build their success to the highest order.
His stories inspire customers to buy his services. His stories move people to act. His stories make a difference. Your stories can also sell. Your stories can also make a difference!
Read more: https://bookmarketing.mysamcart.com/telling-stories
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These lyrics were inspired by a comment from a singer and songwriter bemoaning the creation of AI slop in music. I understand his concern, but there is another side to this story: AI allows me to create music and strong performances for the lyrics I write (or uncover). As a writer, I love writing lyrics — and now I have a way of presenting them effectively to other people.
I know many of you subscribe to this newsletter for book writing and publishing and marketing news, but I feel you also need to see and hear the power of AI. I believe that AI-created-and-performed songs can be a great tool in marketing books as well.
But also the songs I’m sharing in this newsletter also have messages. Today, the message is simple:
Tell the truth, don’t lie, confessBut never bore, never bore, never bore
Telling the truth is crucial to creating great books AND selling great books. You should make truth-telling a strong habit. It will make an incredible difference in your life, in your work, and in your success.
The Ancient Dance lyrics
Artists that care really careEngage as always in an ancient danceWrite, record, and perform as they dareSongs that come from God and chance
Bad actors reveal themselves through slopGood actors reveal themselves from withinIt’s time to perform the very best popAnd get the sought after win, win, win
It’s time to optimize that holy processOf writing, performing, and moreTell the truth, don’t lie, confessBut never bore, never bore, never bore
Artists that care really careEngage as always in an ancient danceWrite, record, and perform as they dareSongs that come from God and chance
Bad actors reveal themselves through slopGood actors reveal themselves from withinIt’s time to perform the very best popAnd get the sought after win, win, win
It’s time to optimize that holy processOf writing, performing, and moreTell the truth, don’t lie, confessBut never bore, never bore, never bore
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Enjoy this new country ballad about taking action. What you do matters. It matters a lot.
Do something every day for the things and people you love. Every day.
You Do lyrics
The biggest problem you hadWas taking actionAlways over analyzingComing up with excusesNever moving forward
Then when you startYou make mistakesYou have frustrationsThings that don’t workThey never workThey never work
When you see someone who’sNot internet famousNot a rocket scientistNot a bajillionaireActually, kinda normalKinda quirkyKinda not got it all figured outYou feel like,Dang if this dude could do itSurely, I can too
So you keep learningYou keep testingYou keep showing upYou keep doing and doing
And remember:Success isn’t just strategyIt’s who you becomeIt’s who you areIt’s who you do and do and do
Success isn’t just strategyIt’s who you becomeIt’s who you areIt’s who you do and do and do
Success isn’t just strategyIt’s who you becomeIt’s who you areIt’s who you do and do and do
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I’ve been testing various video programs. In this case, I tried a lip-synching feature in Video Express AI. In the past I’ve had relatively good success with this feature, but this time it’s only passable. Every once in awhile in the above video, my lips actually do synch with the song. But this lip-synching feature works much better with words rather than lyrics.
Video Express AI is a great program and getting better all the time. And the people behind it are wonderful people. Find out more here: https://videoexpress.ai/secret. Note: that’s not an affiliate link. I just like the people behind this program. Right now they offer the service for a small one-time fee. No subscription or on-going payments.
Note: In this video I’m lip-synching badly a song I wrote about the Ford F-140 pickup truck. Enjoy the song.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Remember: When things feel overwhelming, just do one task at a time, one step at a time. Just breath, and keep plugging away.
Listen to this song to encourage you to keep going, even when it gets tough. One day at a time.
Just Breathe lyrics
One second at a timeOne minute at a timeOne hour at a timeOne day at a timeOnce in a lifetime
When things feel overwhelmingRememberOne thought at a timeOne step at a timeOne task at a timeJust breathe, just breathe
Life is a series of momentsBoth big and smallThat add up to something beautifulAppreciate the journeyCelebrate the highsLearns from the lowsEach step is a blessing
Every day, you have two choicesTo focus on what’s wrongOr to embrace what’s right
Choose gratitudeChoose kindnessChoose joyChoose truthChoose to see beautyIn little thingsAnd big things
Make every moment countLife will become even more incredibleMore incredible than you imagine
Make every moment countLife will become even more incredibleMore incredible than you imagine
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You, too, can be a bestselling book author attracting the attention of a lot of influencers, a lot of readers, a lot of business owners, and a lot of people who want to change their lives. Use this song as a motivational tool to inspire you writing a bestselling book and selling it like hotcakes!
You As a Bestselling Author
Once the words “bestselling author”Gets attached to your name, to your name,You are no longer just another coach,You are no longer just another consultant,You are no longer just another expert,Or just another business ownerTrying to get attentionYes, you as a bestselling author
You become a credible personThe person people trust right awayThe person they listen to again and againThat means you have more authorityThat means you get better leadsThat means you have higher perceived valueThat means you have an easier timeTurning attention into revenue
This is not about writing a bookJust to say you wrote oneThis is about using a bookUse a book as a business assetUse a book as a credibility builderUse a book as a trust shortcutUse a book as a lead magnetUse a book as a client-converting tool
Yes, you as a bestselling authorYes, you too can be a bestselling authorYes, you too can be a bestselling authorGet in on the action now!Yes, you too can be a bestselling author
Learn more how you can write, publish, and market a bestselling book in 90 days or less. Check it out at https://protopublished.com.
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Writers can make a big difference — not just in their own lives but also in the lives of those around them. Your ideas are worth sharing. No one is you. That is your super power. Believe in yourself!
Writing Love Lyrics
Write for self-reflectionMake more sense of your emotionsProcess your experiencesCelebrate what you love
Writing forces you to be clear and deepWriting brings structure for your ideasWriting brings focus for your ideasWriting helps you grow
Give advice freely and widelyThe more advice you shareThe more trust people will have in youAnd in your ideas and thoughts
Your ideas are worth sharingNo one is youThat is your super powerThat is the value you add
Your ideas are worth sharingNo one is youThat is your super powerThat is the value you add
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following article and above video are based on a song I wrote several months ago. You listen to the song, Move with What You Love, here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/move-with-what-you-love-with-derek-hunter-music-video.
The Creative Stagnation Trap
Inspiration is a byproduct of movement, not a prerequisite for it. Most creators have it backward: they wait for a visceral emotional shift or a sign from the universe before they dare to put pen to paper or brush to canvas. This passive waiting isn’t just a delay; it’s a slow-motion execution of your potential. The hard truth of the creative life is that the stuck feeling you’re nursing is actually a symptom of your own stillness. To change your perspective, you have to change your position. Movement is the only reliable driver of change.
The Action Paradox — Why Seeing Isn’t Enough
We are often told that art is about observation, but John Kremer’s I Tell You Poetry collection presents a more aggressive reality: perception without participation is a dead end. Many creators stall because they are waiting to feel moved by an external spark. This is the great Action Paradox — we wait to be moved so we can act, yet the source proves we must act so that we, and eventually our audience, can be moved.
You cannot watch your way to a breakthrough. Momentum is not something you find; it is something you manufacture by becoming the catalyst of your own work.
“No one is moved by what they see, People are moved by what they do.”
Bravery as a Rep — The Power of Small Wins
If the thought of a grand opening or a magnum opus paralyzes you, then stop thinking big. The transition from stagnation to success begins with the baby steps Hunter describes in his lyrics. These aren’t just minor movements; they are the fundamental building blocks of a professional practice.
Treat every act of creation as just another rep in a lifelong workout. By viewing bravery as a repetitive exercise rather than a singular, terrifying event, you normalize the stakes. You do the thing you fear not to conquer it once and for all, but to turn courage into a habit. Success isn’t found in the giant leap; it’s found in the cumulative weight of daily repetitions.
The Limits of Language — When Words Aren’t Enough
Even for the most skilled wordsmith, the reality is that sometimes words just can’t describe how you feel. Plain text has its boundaries, and in a modern creative landscape, ignoring the multi-sensory experience is a strategic error.
Graphics add a touch that says so much more, bridging the emotional gap where vocabulary fails. Whether it is a tip-o-graphic or a carefully selected image, visual elements are not mere decorations — they are essential tools that communicate the gifts from above and the whispers of inspiration that words alone cannot carry. To move an audience, you must engage more than just their inner monologue.
The Walcott Blueprint — Self-Publishing Your Way to the Nobel Prize
Waiting for permission is the hallmark of the amateur. If you need proof that doing beats waiting, look at Derek Walcott. He didn’t wait for a legacy publisher to validate his voice; he wrote his first poem at 14. By the time he was 20 — an age when most are still finding themselves — he had already self-published his first collection and produced his first play.
Walcott’s early commitment to moving with what he loved created the foundation for a career that culminated in a Nobel Prize for Literature for his masterpiece, Omeros. His trajectory shames the creator who is waiting for the right time. The right time was years ago; the second best time is today.
The High Cost of a Bad Name — Strategy Over Aesthetics
Motion is essential, but blind motion is expensive. In the marketplace of ideas, moving with what you love requires the cold, hard discipline of strategy. There is a specific, quantifiable risk to ignoring the business side of creativity: creators regularly risk spending up to $4,000 on a cover for a book with a bad title.
This is where the strategist overrules the artist. Investing $150 in a professional book title critique is a small but vital rep of bravery. It ensures that your financial and creative energy is built on a foundation that resonates with an audience. True success isn’t just about the art; it’s about ensuring the art has a name that allows it to be found.
From Observation to Motion
Creative success is never a spectator sport. It is a result of moving with what you love rather than watching it from the sidelines. Whether you are self-publishing your first collection like a young Walcott, using graphics to amplify your message, or simply showing up for your daily rep of bravery, the message is clear: action generates the electricity that observation never will.
If you stopped watching and started doing today, what rep of bravery would you perform first?
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This video and post repurpose an article I wrote a number of years ago: Self-Publishing Tips: How Do I Get My Books Published?https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/how-do-i-get-my-books-published.
Thanks for reading Book Marketing Success! This post is public so feel free to share it.
Stop Seeking Permission: The Surprising Truth About Getting Published Today
I am bombarded weekly with the same anxious inquiry from aspiring creators: “How do I get my books published?” It is a question born of a legacy mindset, where authors imagine themselves standing outside a locked gate, hoping a benevolent gatekeeper will finally turn the key.
The uncomfortable truth is that the gatekeepers haven’t just moved; they have fundamentally changed their business model. For the modern writer, the traditional path of seeking an agent first is no longer the most effective — or even the most profitable — route to market.
To succeed in this digital era, you must stop being a supplicant and start being a strategist. This guide outlines a sophisticated and transformative approach to taking full control of your literary career.
- Traditional Publishers Aren’t Looking for New Talent
The reality of the current market is that traditional literary agents and publishers are no longer in the business of discovery in the romanticized sense. They are risk-averse corporations looking for guaranteed returns on their investment.
Today, the burden of proof has shifted entirely onto the shoulders of the author. Publishers are searching for individuals who bring a ready-made platform to the table — a pre-existing tribe that ensures a book will sell before the first copy is even printed.
“In today’s world, you shouldn’t wait for a book publisher or literary agent. Both agents and publishers are currently looking primarily for books by celebrities or well-known people or authors with ready-made platforms.”
- Your Best Move Is the Reverse-Engineering Approach
For approximately 97% of authors, the most logical and pragmatic path is to self-publish immediately. This isn’t a fallback plan; it is a high-level strategy to de-risk your project for future partners.
By taking your work directly to the marketplace, you provide the data that big publishers crave. If you can prove your market and build independent sales momentum, you transition from a risky bet to a proven asset.
Once you have established this success, you can explore selling reprint rights to the Big Five. At that stage, you aren’t begging for a deal; you are negotiating from a position of power while agents and publishers compete for your established brand.
- You Are the Only Publishing Company You Need
There is a pervasive myth that you must hire an expensive self-publishing company or a full-service firm to enter the market. These services often charge thousands for tasks you can — and should — manage yourself as the CEO of your own brand.
True self-publishing is about radical autonomy and maintaining a lean operation. You don’t need a middleman to validate your work or manage your files; you simply need the right tools and a professional mindset.
“The answer is simple: YOU. Yup, the only good self-publishing company is yourSELF. That’s what self-publishing is all about.”
- The No-Cost (and Low-Cost) Entry Points
The modern author’s minimalist tech stack allows for professional global distribution with almost zero overhead. By utilizing two specific platforms, you can reach every corner of the digital and physical book market.
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Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): This is your essential starting point for the Amazon ecosystem. If you have a well-formatted Word document, you can publish a Kindle ebook and a print edition for free, capturing the world’s largest book-buying audience.
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Ingram Spark: This is your bridge to global distribution beyond Amazon. For a flat fee of $49, you can set up your title as both an ebook and a print-on-demand book. Note: Ingram Spark no longer charges a fee for uploading to their service.
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Promotion Isn’t a Chore — It’s the Fun Part
Many authors view marketing as a heavy burden that distracts from their real work. In reality, building an audience is an inevitable part of authorship, regardless of whether you are self-published or signed to a major house.
Reframing marketing as human connection changes the entire experience. It is about building meaningful relationships with website owners, magazine editors, TV producers, and social media leaders who serve your specific niche.
Instead of shouting into the void, you are simply finding and interacting with the people who are already looking for exactly what you have written. This engagement is the heartbeat of a successful long-term literary career.
“That’s the fun part: Finding and interacting with your audience, the people who will love your book.”
Conclusion: The Author as Entrepreneur
The transition from aspiring writer to published author requires a fundamental identity shift. You are no longer a passive seeker of permission; you are an active creator of a brand.
By mastering these platforms and taking the lead on your own distribution, you empower yourself to bypass the gatekeepers and reach your readers directly. The tools are ready, the distribution is global, and the audience is waiting.
If the gatekeepers are gone, what is actually stopping you from sharing your story with the world today?
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this song full of Irish blessings. Enjoy and pass it on.
Irish Blessings Lyrics
May love and laughter light your daysAnd warm your heart and homeMay good and faithful friends be yoursWherever you may roamMay peace and plenty bless your worldWith joy that long enduresMay all life’s passing seasonsBring the best to you and yours
May the dreams you hold dearestBe those which come trueAnd the kindness you spreadKeep returning to youMay your heart be light and happyMay your smile be big and wideAnd may your pockets always haveA coin or two inside
May you never steal, lie, or cheatBut if you must steal, steal away my sorrowsIf you must lie, lie with meAll the nights of my lifeAnd if you must cheat, cheat deathBecause I could never live a day without you
For each petal on the shamrockThis brings a wish your wayGood health, good luck, and happinessFor today and every dayLike the warmth of the sunAnd the light of the dayMay the luck of the IrishShine bright on your way
May your pockets be heavyAnd your heart be lightMay good luck pursue youEach morning and nightMay your troubles be lessAnd your blessings be moreAnd nothing but happinessCome through your door
May you never steal, lie, or cheatBut if you must steal, steal away my sorrowsIf you must lie, lie with meAll the nights of my lifeAnd if you must cheat, cheat deathBecause I could never live a day without you
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Check out this post:
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For the current episode of her Sponsorship Talk podcast, Roberta Vigilance interviewed John Kremer on how he went about getting sponsors for his book, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.
John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, joins Sponsorship Talk to share his experience with book sponsorship and how he secured sponsors for his book.
In this episode, we explore what book sponsorship looks like, what authors should understand before approaching sponsors, and how positioning plays a key role in success.
You can listen in via the video above or through the Spotify podcast player below:
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Every book, every author, deserves sponsors for what they offer to their unique and wonderful audiences.
In this podcast, John Kremer and Roberta Vigilance, author of How to Secure Sponsors Successfully, talk about how authors should go about getting sponsors for their books and events.
Check out the transcript on Substack if you’d rather read this podcast than listen in. Thanks for joining us!
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This song reminds all of us that we have so much to live for, so much to do if we choose to do it. As writers, we have so much we can share.
Live More Lyrics
We are all calledTo grow and evolveTo be moreMore of who we are
Then share what we learnWith those we loveAnd those we knowAnd those who come after us
Kindness, like chocolate,Is best when sharedOne dayOne actOne smile at a time
Fear less, hope moreWhine less, breathe moreTalk less, say moreHate less, love moreAnd all good things are yours
Are you ready to be more?Are you ready to live more?Are you ready to love more?Are you ready to share more?
Be moreLive moreLove moreShare more
We are all calledTo grow and evolveTo be moreMore of who we are
Are you ready to be more?Are you ready to live more?Are you ready to love more?Are you ready to share more?
Start todayToday is the day
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I translated my friend Steve O’Keefe’s recent poem, Magic Lever, into a folk song. I hope you like it. And I especially hope that Steve likes it.
Poems make great songs. Any poet can write songs like these.
Magic Lever Poem
Everyone’s lookin’ for a magic leverLookin’ for a button to pressLookin’ for a phrase to utterTo get us out of this mess
Everyone wants a silver bulletOr a magical sword that slaysOr else they want a magic potionTo take the mess away.
I’m lookin’ for a new solutionSomething bigger than ever beforeOne spin that changes the worldA whisper that becomes a roar
I’m lookin’ for a magic leverSomething no one’s ever seen beforeI’m listenin’ for a secret signalThe whisper that becomes a roar
I’m lookin’ for a magic leverSomething no one’s ever seen beforeI’m listenin’ for a secret signalThe whisper that becomes a roar
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Thanks for reading Book Marketing Success! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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If you want to be successful in writing and marketing a book, the first fundamental is simple: Change your attitude. Control your attitude. Your attitude is the only thing in all of marketing a book that you have any control over. Be sure to keep it positive.
This book marketing tip and the song lyrics for Changing Attitudes are adapted from a speech by Charles Swindoll.
Changing Attitudes Lyrics
The longer I live, the more I realizeThe impact of attitude on lifeAttitude is more important than factsAttitude is more important than the past,Than educationThan moneyThan circumstancesThan failureThan successThan what other people think or say or do
Attitude is more importantThan appearance, giftedness or skillAttitude will make or breakA company…a church…a home
We have a choice every dayAbout the attitude we embraceWe cannot change our pastWe cannot change how people act
We cannot change the inevitableThe only thing we can do is playOn the one string we haveAnd that is our attitude every day
Life is 10 percent what happens to usAnd 90 percent of how we react to itWe are in charge of our attitudesWe can make or break every dayIt is our choice. It is our gift.
Life is 10 percent what happens to usAnd 90 percent of how we react to itWe are in charge of our attitudeWe can make or break every dayIt is our choice. It is our gift.
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The Author’s Guide to Strategic Sponsorships
The principles of sponsorship apply directly to book authors planning launches, tours, or large-scale promotional projects. Drawing from the strategies used by major events and industry experts, here are the top 10 reasons book authors should seek sponsors.
- Get Substantial Financial Support
Sponsorship provides authors with direct funding to cover essential costs that might otherwise be unaffordable. This cash sponsorship can be used to fund a book tour, rent larger event spaces, or hire high-profile speakers and entertainers for a launch party. Financial sponsors provide these funds in exchange for promotional benefits and visibility, allowing an author to scale their projects without paying entirely out of pocket.
- Enhance Credibility and Legitimacy
Partnering with well-known or respected brands can legitimize an author’s work in the eyes of the public. When a reputable company aligns its identity with your book or event, it signals to potential readers and attendees that the project is high-quality and worth their time.
- Access In-Kind Goods and Services
Authors can reduce their overhead by securing in-kind (trade) sponsorships. Instead of cash, sponsors might provide the venue for a reading, catering for a launch event, or high-value technology and equipment. These partnerships allow authors to offer a premium experience to their readers while shaving off significant event expenses.
- Reach New and Targeted Audiences
Sponsors often provide an author with a platform for discovery by introducing the book to their existing customer base. By identifying sponsors who share a similar target demographic, an author can tap into new networks of readers that they might not reach through traditional marketing alone.
- Increase Media Coverage
Securing a media sponsor—such as a newspaper, magazine, or radio station—can lead to free advertising and live reporting on an author’s activities. This kind of sponsorship is specifically designed to boost awareness and attendance, potentially resulting in skyrocketing engagement and website visits.
- Improve Attendee Experience
Sponsorship allows an author to provide exclusive perks that enhance the reader’s experience. This can include anything from providing free merchandise and goodie bags to hosting interactive activations that make a book launch more memorable and immersive.
- Capture Leads
Sponsored events are excellent environments for capturing attendee data and generating leads for future book sales. Authors can use sponsorship to gain deeper insights into their audience’s demographics and interests, which is a valuable asset for long-term marketing strategies.
- Network and Build Long-Term Partnerships
A single sponsorship deal can be the first step toward a multi-event collaboration or a strategic partnership. Building long-term relationships with brands provides authors with a stable foundation of support for future book releases and career growth.
- Boost Social Media Exposure
Many sponsors look for opportunities to improve their own digital performance, which results in increased social media mentions for the author. Partnering with influencer sponsors can further amplify this effect through social media takeovers or shout-outs to a captivated audience.
- Increase Revenue and Sales
By using sponsors to attract more people to an event, authors naturally generate more revenue through increased book sales. Sponsorships allow authors to keep ticket prices lower for their fans while still ensuring the project is a profitable business rather than just a donation.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Coming next week, I’ll showcase an interview with Roberta Vigilance about getting sponsors for your podcasts, books, and events. You can find out more about Roberta, her books, and her courses at https://robertavigilance.com.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
One of the biggest cultural events on the planet, South by Southwest, will be coming up soon in Austin, Texas (beginning on March 12). More info: https://sxsw.com.
This video showcases how SXSW became so big, by using its own marketing playbook.
So what exactly is SXSW? And how did it get so big?
With an attendance of just 700 people, SXSW started back in 1987 with a goal to help creative people achieve their goals. Fast forward to 2019, and that number had exploded to over 417,000 people from 106 countries.
So, what is this gathering really all about? It’s not just one event. South by Southwest, or SXSW, is really built on three core pillars: Ideas, culture, and connections.
Ideas
SXSW is essentially a pop-up university featuring 5,000 speakers spread over 2,000 sessions — all spread across 20 different programming tracks.
Culture
Then you have the second pillar, which is really the cultural heart of SXSW. It’s where it all started, the legendary film and music festivals. SXSW is a global stage for discovery. In 2019 alone, there were 133 feature films and almost 2,000 performing acts from 62 countries.
Connections
SXSW hosts more than 350 official parties and networking events. This is the glue that holds the whole shebang together, where a random chat or a line for a taco can turn into a million-dollar deal.
People
Who are the hundreds of thousands of attendees that make this whole thing tick?
SXSW features almost a perfect 50-50 split between male and female attendees with 62% of attendees between the ages of 26 and 44. They make up a who’s who of people in creative and innovation industries, including marketing and advertising, film and TV, books and music, technology and media.
Almost 60% are there to find new business. 42% want to connect with their clients.
This is why brands like Mercedes-Benz, Uber Eats, and McDonald’s show up in a huge way.
The big question: What’s the next big idea that’s will come out of this wild gathering in Texas?
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In the last episode, I showcased a country song based on John Donne’s famous poem. Some people asked if I sang the song. No, I did not.
The lyrics of the sonnet are by John Donne with a few modern tweaks made by me. The music and singing are done by AI.
I used a program called MurekaAI. If you decide to explore this AI program, please use my affiliate link: https://www.mureka.ai/?utm_source=rewardful&via=7aa6dd.
Why? Because it helps me pay for doing this newsletter and podcast. That simple. So, if you like your trial with MurekaAI and decide to sign up for a paid account, use the affiliate link above. Thanks1
Now, I’d like your feedback on the above version of Death, Be Not Proud. And I would appreciate knowing how you like this version versus the one from the last episode (featured below):
Death, Be Not Proud by John Donne
Death, be not proud, though some have called theeMighty and dreadful, for you are not so;For those whom you think you overthrowDie not, poor Death, nor yet can you kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but your pictures be,Much pleasure; then from you much more must flow,And soon our best men with you do go,Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
You are slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,And also with poison, war, and sickness dwell,Poppy or charms can make us sleep as wellBetter than your stroke; why swell you then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternallyDeath shall be no more; Death, you shall die.
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I create a song based on John Donne’s famous poem.
Death, Be Not Proud by John Donne
Death, be not proud, though some have called theeMighty and dreadful, for you are not so;For those whom you think you overthrowDie not, poor Death, nor yet can you kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but your pictures be,Much pleasure; then from you much more must flow,And soon our best men with you do go,Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
You are slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,And also with poison, war, and sickness dwell,Poppy or charms can make us sleep as wellBetter than your stroke; why swell you then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternallyDeath shall be no more; Death, you shall die.
A sonnet and song for those who love life and poetry!
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This country song is adapted from Guy Kawasaki’s newsletter Remarkable People. Start small. Make a tiny win this week. Then another. Then another. Until you are making big changes that can impact how you write and market your books.
One Tiny Win Lyrics
Pick one tiny win this week.Not ten. Not five. Just one!
Here are a few tiny winsA 10-second habit.An anchor activity you already do.A celebration that makes you smile.A friend who keeps you accountable.
Start small. Stay consistent.Let the wins compound.
Here’s to a year built on tiny habits,Here’s to a year built on smart design,And here’s to the grit to keep goingone small step at a time!
Start small. Stay consistent.Let the tiny wins compound.
Start small. Stay consistent.Make change stick.
Start small. Stay consistent.Make change stick.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This rock song and post is excerpted from Guy Kawasaki’s newsletter Remarkable People. Start small. Make a tiny win this week. Then another. Then another. Until you are making big changes that can really impact how you write and market your books.
And always keep a pocketful of joy to spread around to all the people you come in contact with.
One Tiny Win Lyrics
Pick one tiny win this week.Not ten. Not five. Just one!
Here are a few tiny winsA 10-second habit.An anchor activity you already do.A celebration that makes you smile.A friend who keeps you accountable.
Start small. Stay consistent.Let the wins compound.
Here’s to a year built on tiny habits,Here’s to a year built on smart design,And here’s to the grit to keep goingone small step at a time!
Start small. Stay consistent.Make change stick.
Start small. Stay consistent.Let the tiny wins compound.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following country song features an excerpt from a passage in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
Lyrics from Walden
If one advances confidentlyin the direction of his dreams,and endeavors to live the lifewhich he has imagined,he will meet with a successunexpected in common hours.
He will put some things behind,will pass an invisible boundary;new, universal, and more liberal lawswill begin to establish themselvesaround and within him;or the old laws be expanded,and interpreted in his favorin a more liberal sense,and he will live with the licenseof a higher order of beings.
In proportion as he simplifies his life,the laws of the universewill appear less complex,and solitude will not be solitude,and poverty will not be poverty,and weakness will not be weakness.
If you have built castles in the air,your work need not be lost;that is where they should be.Now put the foundation under them.
In proportion as he simplifies his life,the laws of the universewill appear less complex,and solitude will not be solitude,and poverty will not be poverty,and weakness will not be weakness.
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Testimonials as Songs - Gospel Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/testimonials-as-songs-gospel-version
Living for the Real with Derek Hunter: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/living-for-the-real-with-derek-hunter
Find a Way Home, Country Music Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/find-a-way-home-country-music-version
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A few months ago one of my friends called me desperate for advice. For years he had a top-rated website for his brand, key words, and all his great content. Google and other search engines sent him hundreds of targeted leads for his products and services. Every day!
Then it ended. Poof, his traffic was gone. Well, there was still a trickle but, for the most part, he had no real traffic.
His traffic was decimated. Gone. Kaput. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
But why?
Because Google, Bing, and even Duck Duck Go decided to keep that search traffic for themselves.
At first, the search engines made their AI searches optional, but it wasn’t long before they decided that they could make more money running ads on their own AI-generated search results pages.
Google, Bing, and Duck Duck Go are allowing AI answers to take over their searches. And now the PerplexityAI Comet and OpenAI Atlas browsers will take over any remaining searches. And, that’s without the 50% of search traffic that has already been taken over by ChatGPT, ClaudeAI, and other chatbots — all offering such friendly and competent answers to user questions.
Do you realize that in less than six months your website visibility will go to zero?
The days of search engines being your lifeline to visibility well end. By April. April 2026. So long. Good-bye!
Many websites have already experienced a 70 to 80% drop-off in traffic. Now. Not in four months. But today.
AI adoption is exploding. According to one person, 105 million adults will use generative AI this year. That is such a low, low estimate it’s almost not worth noticing. The truth is that everyone will be using AI for search in the coming years. Everyone. Not one single holdout.
Do you want to survive — and prosper! — during this SEO AI apocalypse?
You can!
Sign up now for an early-bird alert.
And be eligible for a 50% discount when The AIO Revolution event is launched in another month.
Yes! Sign up now and get half off The AIO Revolution when it is launched.
You also get the Excelsior upgrade for free at launch!
It’s a win-win-win no-obligation signup for this early-bird notice. It’s absolutely free to sign up for the launch notice.
At launch, you’ll get a 50% discount.
At launch, you’ll get the Excelsior upgrade for free!
At launch, you’ll be offered the chance to be an early-bird launch affiliate — with exclusive membership privileges and premium affiliate opportunities.
Bonus! You may use the exact same wording as this offer in your upcoming launches. Word for word. Offer for offer. Exactly as I have done.
Join The AIO Revolution today! It’s free. No obligation. An incredible value.
Just leave your best email in the article below.
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Happy holiday season to everyone.
One thing I’d like you to focus on or understand is how important it is to share greetings to your customers, your fans, your visitors, etc. Wish them Merry Christmas. Wish them Happy New Year. Wish them Happy Valentine Day. Wish them happy Mother’s Day. Wish them Happy Independence Day. And so on.
Do it through your social media. Do it through your website.
As you’ll notice in the graphic below, 7 of the top pages on my website during the week of Christmas 2025 were pages where I share holiday greetings with my website visitors, newsletter subscribers, and social media followers. Over the years, I’ve sent many such greetings. And, as it happens, those greetings send me more visitors year after year — visitors who want to share greetings via their various social media profiles.
You can do the same. You can even repost the graphics I’ve shared over the years, and even brand them as your own. What are you waiting for?
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Testimonials as Songs - Gospel Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/testimonials-as-songs-gospel-version
Living for the Real with Derek Hunter: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/living-for-the-real-with-derek-hunter
Find a Way Home, Country Music Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/find-a-way-home-country-music-version
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I received a wonderful testimonial today — and then created a gospel music version of that testimonial. This, of course, is another way to use music to promote you and your book. By the way, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
John’s guidance brings clarity when ideas feel scattered. The insights he shares are practical and thoughtful. They help turn vision into action. 1001 Ways to Market a Book has been a real resource for me. Clear, useful, and easy to apply. I’ve gained confidence, direction, and real results. And I continue to grow through his work. I’m grateful for his support, his knowledge, and his generosity. Looking forward to learning more and building even further. — Roberta Vigilance, author, Sponsorship Now, Sponsorship Misconceptions, and other books on getting sponsors for events, online and IRL
Here is the testimonial laid out as lyrics for the gospel song above. As with most songs I create with AI, I repeat some lines as a chorus to make it more song-like.
Testimonial as Lyrics
John’s guidance brings clarity when ideas feel scatteredThe insights he shares are practical and thoughtfulThey help turn vision into action
One Thousand and One Ways to Market Your Books has been a real resource for meClear, useful, and easy to apply
I’ve gained confidence, direction, and real resultsAnd I continue to grow through his workI’m grateful for his support, his knowledge, and his generosityLooking forward to learning more and building even furtherBest regards, Roberta
One Thousand and One Ways to Market Your Books has been a real resource for meClear, useful, and easy to apply
Clear, useful, and easy to apply
Note: I had to spell out the title of my book so the AI performers would pronounce it correctly. So, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books became One Thousand and One Ways to Market Your Books.
I’ve been creating these songs with my lyrics or content while the music and performance are created by MurekaAI: https://www.mureka.ai/?utm_source=rewardful&via=7aa6dd
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
For years he had a top-rated website,key words, and all the great content.
Google and other search enginessent hundreds of targeted leadsfor his products and services. Every day!
Then it ended.
Poof, his traffic was gone.
Decimated.Kaput.Nada.Zip.Zilch.
Do you realize that in less than six monthsyour website visibility will go to zero?
Do you want to survive — and prosper!during this SEO AI apocalypse?
You can!
Sign up now for an early-bird alert.
Sign up for The AIO Revolution.
More to come …
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Check out this wonderful new song from Derek Hunter. Note: I wrote the lyrics for this song based on a podcast episode I wrote several years ago.
Lyrics
Don’t trade your soul for a golden chainThe clock keeps ticking but love remainsHold your dear ones close at nightLet your eyes dance in the firelight
Living for the real, walking where the wild winds blowLiving for the real, where the river sings soft and slowFeed your heart with morning dewThe world shines brighter when you do
Spend time with those you care forPlay with your children and let them scoreLaugh hard. Walk in the wood.Be kind to everyone. Do the good.
Run with your dogs, play with your catsStop your work, take off your hatsBe real. Be true. Be full of joy.Play hard. Play long. Play ships ahoy!
Living for the real, walking where the wild winds blowLiving for the real, where the river sings soft and slowFeed your heart with morning dewThe world shines brighter when you do
Living for the real, walking where the wild winds blowLiving for the real, where the river sings soft and slow
Source: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/telling-stories-makes-everything
Never sacrifice your real life for your work. If you are like me, you can’t not work, but make sure you fit in some real life as well. Spend time with those you love. Laugh hard. Walk in the woods. Play with your cats and dogs and children. Be kind to everyone.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
You can create songs from your children’s books. Listen in to the song above, Find a Way Home, with the lyric excerpted from the end of Gail Berry’s children’s book, Little Fox and the Golden Hawk.
I used Mureka to create the song from Gail’s text (Mureka: https://www.mureka.ai/?utm_source=rewardful&via=7aa6dd).
You can use the song or songs to promote your book, whether a children’s book, a novel, poetry, or a nonfiction book. In the next few days, I’ll share a song from each genre that I’ve created.
Note: The lyrics below were formatted like a poem or song so the sentences and paragraphs break different from the way they appeared in the book.
Lyrics (from the book)
It is said that on the summer solsticewhen the moon is full and high in the sky,a child may see a red fox walking in the shadowsand a golden hawk flying low.
But there is more,for this is the only legendthat ends with a promise.
The Mountain Goddess promised Little Foxthat every soul that Little Fox lovedwould find a way home.
The legend says that deep in the mountainsby the stream of crystalline waterswait Little Fox and her Golden Hawk.They wait by the stream of crystalline waters,and they call each name.So, when the moon is full, listen.Listen and you may hear them whisper your name.And, finally, you may go home.
Chorus Added
The Mountain Goddess promised Little Foxthat every soul that Little Fox lovedwould find a way home.It’s your turn today to go home.
I added the chorus to make the text a little more song-like since most songs return to a key line or lines as a chorus.
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Through the past two issues of this newsletter and podcast, I’ve been saying two things.
-
The best presentation of an idea or story is the one that reveals YOUR perspective on the story or idea. So, always include YOU in your podcasts, articles, newsletter issues, and books.
-
Merry Christmas. May you experience the peace and joy of the holidays in all do.
Both The Drummer Boy and Hallelujah celebrate life, joy, and abundance.
If you missed the past two issues of the newsletter, here are links to both of them:
These are two of my favorite songs. Always have been, always will be. Enjoy!
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The Origin of All Songs song featured here is just one version of an excerpt from Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself. The version featured here is a country song. Did you ever think you’d here Whitman’s Song of Myself as an actual song?
And, if you listen to the following YouTube playlist, you’ll hear The Origin of All Songs as folk music, pop, more pop, rock, Christian, rap, and reggae.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmBDUpR8MYIVCMZlHKtzjy2W8F6tt6pT
I shared the above playlist because I want you to see how many versions of a song can be built from your poem, blog post, podcast episode, or book excerpt. Your songs, generated by AI, can supercharge your exposure on YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook reels.
And you can create songs from every one of your blog posts, book pages, podcast episodes, etc.
The program I’ve been using to create songs from my blog posts and poems is Mureka.AI (https://www.mureka.ai/?utm_source=rewardful&via=7aa6dd).
A number of people commented on the last song I shared (Something True. One called it the best motivation he has had in 2025. Note: I wrote the lyrics for that song and used Mureka to add the music and performance.
You can do the same with your book excerpts, poems, etc. I am now a songwriter or, at least, a lyricist!
The Origin of All Songs Lyrics
Here are the lyrics for The Origin of All Songs excerpt from Whitman’s Song of Myself:
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,And what I assume you shall assume,For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loaf and invite my soul,I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
My tongue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air,Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,Hoping to cease not till death.
Creeds and schools in abeyance,Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never forgotten,I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,Nature without check with original energy.
Have you reckoned a thousand acres much? have you reckoned the earth much?Have you practiced so long to learn to read?Have you felt so proud to get at the meaning of poems?
Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems,You shall possess the good of the earth and sun, (there are millions of suns left,)You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books,You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,You shall listen to all sides and filter them from your self.
Stop this day and night with meand you shall possess the origin of all songs,You shall possess the good of the earth and sun.
Stop this day and night with meand you shall possess the origin of all songs,You shall possess the good of the earth and sun.
Notice that I included two choruses of three lines that were not in the original poem, but which make the excerpt more song-like.
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Check out this wonderful new song from Derek Hunter. Note: I wrote the lyrics for this song based on a blog post I wrote many years ago.
Something True with Derek Hunter
Paint your world with colors bold,Don’t just blend them like a mold.If you use words people know,They’ll lose interest, so make them grow.
In every song, add a twist,Make sure your fun is never missed.If you stick to what is clean and plain,Your voice and meaning will never wane.
Be unpredictable. Be one of a kind.Don’t use the words people expect,They’ll grow bored, be testy, and blind,So be surprising and unchecked.
Reveal something new.Reveal something true.Reveal something you!Something out of the blue.
Draw with strokes no one has seen,Let your heart decide, don’t make a scene.If you follow the path they ask for,You’ll lose your way, you’ll bore.
Write with passion, let it flow,In every line, let your spirit glow.If you play by someone else’s test,You’ll lose your touch, get outguessed.
Destroy the mold, shatter the chain,Let your spirit set you free again.If you use the words they speak,They’ll forget, so keep it fresh and sleek.
Be unpredictable. Be one of a kind.Don’t use the words people expect,They’ll grow bored, be testy, and blind,So be surprising and unchecked.
Reveal something new.Reveal something true.Reveal something youSomething out of the blue.
Just dare.Be rare.Do share.Say a prayer.Be fair.Just care.
Reveal something new.Reveal something true.Reveal something youSomething out of the blue.
You can order this tune for your music library here: https://payhip.com/b/VUCY5
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The following song was developed from an excerpt of a poem in my I Tell You Poetry collection (to be published soon).
No one is moved by what they see,People are moved by what they do.Do the thing you fear,Move with what you love.
Lyrics for Move with What You Love
I saw a sky full of stars, so bright and clearBut I knew I had to step out, leave my comfort nearThe world was quiet, no one was aroundYet I felt the courage to make that first sound
I heard a whisper, soft and lowIt said, “Just try, let it go”I thought about the things I loveAnd all the gifts from above
No one is moved by what they see,People are moved by what they do.Do the thing you fear,Move with what you love
I started small, with baby stepsEach one a victory, just another repNow I’m running free, with a smile on my faceMy heart full of joy, my spirit in place
No one is moved by what they see,People are moved by what they do.Do the thing you fear,Move with what you love
No one is moved by what they see,People are moved by what they do.Do the thing you fear,Move with what you love
Move with what you loveMove with what you love
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This song is based on a blog post I wrote a few years ago. You can read the entire blog post at https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/john-kremer-on-aiming-large.
If your aim is small, the results will be small. If your aim is large, the results will be large. Very simple math. But absolutely accurate. — John Kremer
Dream Big with Amy G. Walker — Lyrics
Set your sights on the stars so brightDream big dreams, let them take flightIf you aim for the sky, you’ll reach new heightsSmall aims bring small gains, big aims bring big bites
Big ambitions, big achievements tooThe scale of your goal, it’s what you pursueAim high, and the rewards will accrueIt’s simple math, it’s true, it’s true
When you dream big, the world opens wideEvery step forward, you’ll see your prideWith great aims, great things will truly beJust watch your dreams turn into reality
Start with a plan, then stick to the scriptEach day brings progress, never a slipKeep pushing, never give up the fightAnd soon enough, you’ll hit it right
From the tiniest seed, a mighty oak will growSo plant your seeds of ambition, let them showThe bigger the dream, the greater the schoolIt’s all about scale, it’s a fact, it’s a rule
Big ambitions, big achievements tooThe scale of your goal, it’s what you pursueAim high, and the rewards will accrueIt’s simple math, it’s true, it’s true
When you dream big, the world opens wideEvery step forward, you’ll see your prideWith great aims, great things will truly beJust watch your dreams turn into reality
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This song video is based on a blog post I wrote several years ago. Source: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-authors-memo-to-self
Here’s what I wrote:
Do something every day to further your passions. Start today. And don’t miss out on your life as you pursue your dreams. — John Kremer
Here are the lyrics for the song:
Wake up every morning, eyes wide open,Got a fire in my belly, won’t let it wow.Take one step today, make it count,Don’t wait for tomorrow, let’s make it now.
Every day a chance, every day a choice,To chase the dream, nothing else planned.Start with small steps, keep pushing on,Turn your visions into something grand.
No more hesitation, no more delay,Life’s too short, time’s slipping away.Make each moment count, let nothing stop you,Pursue your passion, let your heart rule you.
Do something every day, make it real,Passions grow when you take that deal.Start today, don’t miss a beat,Chase your dreams, let them run your feet.
Write down your goals, see them come true,One step at a time, you’ll no longer be blue.No more dreaming, it’s time to act,Let’s turn our hopes into a fact.
Every night before bed, reflect on what you did,Was it enough? Did you do what you said?If not, get up, start again,Keep moving forward, never say when.
No more hesitation, no more delay,Life’s too short, time’s slipping away.Make each moment count, let nothing stop you,Pursue your passion, let your heart rule you.
Do something every day, make it real,Passions grow when you take that deal.Start today, don’t miss a beat,Chase your dreams, let them run your feet.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The above video and audio were created based on a blog post I wrote a number of years ago. The post read:
We can all make friends. It’s a talent we’ve had since we were little children. Use it. Take time out today to make some new friends — not just acquaintances, but real friends. You can start with your social networks and eventually branch out to creating professional relationships that are made up of real friends.
Lyrics
Here are the lyrics to the song (sung by Amy G. Walker):
In my circle, I weave connections tight,From my social media, I find my delight.LinkedIn’s where I meet new faces,Networking’s how we build our bases.
Coffee shops are where I start to grow,Chatting with colleagues, sharing a dough.We laugh, we learn, we grow together,Friendship’s what we sow, and it blossoms sweeter.
Building bonds, let’s start today,In every corner, a friend is waiting to play.Through ups and downs, we’ll stick together,With every handshake, we’re stronger together.
Building bonds, let’s not delay,Reach out, extend your hand, say good day!In every heart, a friend can find,Let’s make these connections shine.
A smile can open doors wide,A kind word can change someone’s tide.In every face, a story lies,Let’s listen, let’s embrace, let’s build ties.
At work, at play, we share the scene,In every moment, a friend is seen.From the small talk to the big deal,Our friendships grow, are always real.
Life’s a journey, full of twists and turns,But with a friend, we can always learn.Together we face life’s every test,Hand in hand, we’ll never rest.
Building bonds, let’s start today,In every corner, a friend is waiting to play.Through ups and downs, we’ll stick together,With every handshake, we’re stronger together.
Building bonds, let’s not delay,Reach out, extend your hand, say good day.In every heart, a friend can find,Let’s make these connections shine.
Source: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-essence-of-book-marketing-making-real-friends
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I Love Books Recommends: Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand by Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh
Through Blessings Abound, you will discover blessings in human and divine love, in unassumed places, in the natural world, in music, and in everyday life. The power and awe of blessings come in waves as you realize the unlimited nature of all that you encounter, even aspects of life you may think of as painful or trite.
Here are just a few reasons readers will want to read and buy Blessings Abound:
Blessings Abound is a comforting companion for trying times.
“This book is a great companion for those seeking renewal, spiritual grounding, or a reminder of life’s beauty.” — Mogul review
As proteges of bestselling authors, Katherine and Eileen will do what it takes to promote their book to bestseller status.
“Whether read cover to cover or explored in short bursts, this book reminds us that blessings truly do abound—if only we awaken to receive them.” — Likely Story
“In today’s world of constant noise and comparison, Blessings Abound is a soothing call to gratitude. It reminds us that abundance is not something we chase—it is something we awaken to.” — Khyati Gautam, GoodReads
“Bought one for a friend, too. A must buy!” — Lakers review
· “Through an engaging blend of inspirational quotes, spiritual insights, and poetic reflections, the authors guide readers to shift their mindset from lack to abundance, and from distraction to presence.” — Book Viral
“Inspiring readers to approach life from a place of awe, wonder, and appreciation, rather than fear or uncertainty, this subtle but profound compendium of wisdom succeeds where other strict self-help manuals do not, encouraging us to see beauty and opportunity in all things.” — Self-Publishing Review
Blessings Abound: The Book
Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand
Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh, authors
56 pages, softcover, 5.06 x 7.81 inches
Paperback: ISBN: 978-0974855011, Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3LDZicp $8.99
Kindle ebook: https://amzn.to/48i3d7i $2.99
Publication date: May 31, 2025
Publisher: K & E Innovations LLP
Eileen Bodoh email: eileenbodoh@charter.net
Telephone: 414-347-1165
About the Authors
Eileen Bodoh and Katherine Scherer
Eileen Bodoh has been involved with various Austrian cultural events in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received the Decoration of Merit from the Republic of Austria. Eileen created a successful holistic health conference and served as a hospice volunteer influenced by her studies with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Eileen is a retired professional legal secretary.
Katherine Scherer was trained in counseling at Family Service and the Women’s Crisis Line. Having been an active community volunteer facilitating self-improvement and parent education groups, she also served as an elementary and high school religious education teacher. She is a past protégé of authors Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen. Katherine is retired as a partner in a 30-year-old family business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Both Katherine and Eileen participated in The Twilight Brigade/Compassion in Action training founded by Dannion Brinkley. Katherine and Eileen are authors of Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love. Together with 100 other authors, including Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Julian Whitaker, they were contributing authors in 101 Ways to Improve Your Health published by SelfGrowth.com.
Through their writings, Katherine and Eileen hope to inspire a new appreciation for life’s everyday blessings.
Order the paperback edition of Blessings Abound from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3LDZicp. Order the book for yourself and as a meaningful gift for the holidays.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In order for us to change things, stories ae at the center of it all. To give people light and joy within the messiness: it is the flower that grows out of the concrete. …
To have a movie that entertains and has a message is a delicate dance. If I go all the way in on just entertainment, the reason to do it goes away. And if I go all the way into just meaning and no one comes to see it, then what’s the purpose? — John M. Chu, director
Source: an interview in Time magazine
John Kremer is the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, mentor to authors who have sold over a billion books, and founder of the Billion Book Initiative to help the next generation of book authors sell another billion books. Over the past 40 years, he has helped thousands of authors, both major celebrities and neophytes, to sell more books! Lots more books!
John Kremer, 76, lives with his wife Gail and dog Poe in the Mohave Desert community of Dolan Springs, Arizona. His neighbors are no more crazy than he is. It takes one to know one.
John Kremer is the creator and host of the Book Marketing Success podcast at https://bookmarketing.substack.com/podcast.
John Kremer is the editor of the Book Marketing Success newsletter at
John Kremer is a consultant on writing, publishing, and marketing books. He charges $400 per hour for his consultations. He has consulted with authors and publishers around the world.
John Kremer has created courses on Pinterest Marketing, Book Marketing Success, How to Create a New York Times Bestseller, and other courses. He is currently co-creating and promoting the Pro to Published course with Peter Johnson at https://www.protopublished.com.
John Kremer has spoken on book marketing, book writing, internet marketing, and business in London, England; Singapore; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Accra, Ghana as well as in every major city in the United States.
John Kremer is the webmaster, author, editor, and curator of the following websites:
https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
https://www.MyIncredibleWebsite.com
https://www.BookMarket.com/bookstore
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The point of story is to reveal the human person as he or she actually is: contradictory, particular, sometimes wrong, often glorious. …
A story without the courage of the person behind it isn’t a story. It’s a press release. And a culture that feeds on press releases will forget how to recognize the truth when it hears it.
Jamie K. Wilson (executive editor, Conservatarian Press), author, How Publishing Lost the Plot: The Writer’s Dilemma
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This video was created using NotebookLM from Google based on a podcast recording of me with Judith Briles and a text document on 10 key book marketing tactics. I like this video better than a similar one created and posted yesterday. Why? Because the graphics are more engaging. And that’s because I learned how to edit output from NotebookLM.
Be Heard: Create Your Content Engine
Host your own podcast.
Be a guest on other podcasts.
Create short content-rich videos.
Build Your Tribe: Community and Direct Reach
Own one social network.
Host your own online summit.
Participate in other people’s summits.
Send a weekly email.
Go Big: High-Impact Outreach
Speak at events. especially offline.
Pitch major TV shows.
Pitch major magazines.
I share the main points for this podcast. But not the entire transcript (which you can access at the top of this podcast entry).
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A powerful 10-point strategy gives you a clear, actionable plan to market your books. Four manageable strategic phases build on each other.
- Build the Foundation: The Stuff You Own and Control
First things first, the foundation: Building the stuff that you own and control. This is your content engine that’s going to establish you as an authority in your space for the long haul. So what’s the key here? It’s how these three steps work together like a well-oiled machine.
Your weekly podcast is the heart of your content engine. It’s where you have your deepest conversations.
Then, pull out shareable video clips from that podcast.
And finally, pick one social media channel and focus on sharing those clips to pull people back to your main content.
It’s a smart interconnected system. This is where the magic is.
For your podcast, feature people you want to honor. It’s not just about getting interviews. It’s about building genuine relationships.
Your videos should be short and sweet but packed with value. Post them everywhere: YouTube, Rumble, Vimeo, and all your social networks.
For social media, don’t try to be everywhere at once. Pick one network like Instagram or TikTok and get really, really good at it.
Your own content engine should now be humming along,
- The Expansion: Tap into Other People’s Audiences
It’s time for phase two, the expansion. You’ve got your own valuable stuff now, so the strategy shifts a little bit.
Start tapping into other people’s audiences. It’s all about leveraging platforms that other people have already built. How? Be a guest on other podcasts. Use tools like ListenNotes.com and Matchmaker.fm to locate the most targeted podcasts to reach your audience.
You should also speak at events, both online and in person. Note: While online speaking is great, there is absolutely nothing that beats a live in-person speech for making a real connection.
This plan also has a cool two-sided strategy for summits. You can host your own, or you can be a guest at someone else’s, or both! If you host your own summit, you’re in the driver’s seat. You control the whole conversation and you build your brand as a leader.
But being a guest, that’s a fantastic shortcut to a built-in audience without all the logistical headaches. Which one’s right for you? That depends on where you’re at right now.
- The Email Connection: Own Your Relationships
We’ve covered building your platform and borrowing other people’s, but this step is about owning the relationship with your biggest fans. It’s about creating a direct line to them that no algorithm or social media platform can ever mess with.
Social media is rented land. Your website could get buried by Google. But your email list is your direct, unfiltered line to the people who want to hear from you. It is the most valuable and bulletproof asset you can build as an author.
How to use this direct line is simple: Send one email, every single week, no matter what. Send out emails that are short, packed with value, content rich, and inspirational. You’re not just trying to sell them something, you’re serving them consistently.
- The Amplifier: Pitch to the Major Leagues
The final and most ambitious phase of this book marketing plan is the amplifier. Once you’ve got your foundation built, your expansion strategy working, and you have a direct connection to your tribe, you are ready to pitch to the major leagues.
Take your message and scale it up, big time. Getting attention from major media isn’t about getting lucky with one great pitch. It’s about engaging in a persistent professional effort. And. as this timeline shows, the plan is to send a new idea, a new proposal, to your target outlets at least every two weeks.
This steady drumbeat shows the media that you are serious, creative, and not going away. The rules for this final phase are all about focus and relevance. Pick one national TV show and one major magazine to start with.
But here’s the kicker. Your ideas have to be newsworthy. Connect what your book is about to what people are already talking about right now. Link your expertise to current events. That is what makes a producer’s ears perk up.
Conclusion
This table sums it up perfectly. You’ve got 10 individual tactics, but they all funnel into these four core strategies.
You build your foundation with your content. You get expansion by leveraging other platforms. You forge a critical connection with your weekly email. And, finally, you become the amplifier by pitching the major media. It’s a complete, integrated book marketing system where every part supports the others.
This 10-point book marketing plan is so much more than a to-do list. It’s an author marketing blueprint for building a career. Looking at this book marketing system, the question you should be asking yourself isn’t, how can I possibly do all of this at once? It’s much simpler than that.
The real question is, what is the very first brick you’re going to lay for your author platform starting today?
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Note: The attached video is one of three videos created by NotebookLM from Google using the 10 Ways to Market Your Books report created by the Comet browser from Perplexity AI as input. I shared the first two videos in the past few days/ It’s interesting to hear how each of these videos approached the 10 Ways.
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Building Your Foundation: Author-Owned Assets (website, email marketing)
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Engaging Your Community: Dynamic Social Proof (social media, reviews, buzz with teasers and giveaways)
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Amplifying Your Reach: Leverage Audiences (partner with another author, podcast recommendations)
-
Driving Sales: Convert Interest into Action (paid ads, author events)
x
How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)
The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Note: The attached video is one of three videos created by NotebookLM using the 10 Ways to Market Your Books (via the Comet browser from Perplexity AI) as input. I shared one video yesterday and will share the third video tomorrow). It’s interesting to hear how each of the videos approach the 10 Ways
The top ten most effective ways to market a book in 2026 combine digital footprint, author community, and direct outreach to maximize reach and sales.
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Digital Footprint - Be Findable Online
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Author Community - Strategies to Build Trust
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Direct Outreach - Ensure You Are Heard
Read the transcript and my comments on this video here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/top-3-book-marketing-strategies-for-2025
How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)
The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following ten points were written by the Comet AI browser based on the following question: What are the ten best ways to market a book in today’s world?
I would quibble about the results of the AI’s recommendations — and I will do so in a later podcast episode. I would also use most common language in making these points. Too many long words and too many long paragraphs.
Note: The attached video is one of three videos created by NotebookLM using the following words as input. In the next two episodes, I’ll be sharing two additional videos created by Notebook LM in a few minutes.
The top ten most effective ways to market a book in 2026 combine digital engagement, community-building, and strategic partnerships to maximize reach and sales.
1. Social Media Marketing
Using platforms like TikTok (BookTok), Instagram (Bookstagram), and X (formerly Twitter) to engage readers with authentic, behind-the-scenes content helps authors build visibility and brand loyalty. Choosing one or two platforms that align with your audience ensures consistent engagement rather than scattered efforts.
2. Influencer & Partnership Marketing
Collaborating with book bloggers, podcasters, and relevant influencers helps authors reach engaged audiences through trusted recommendations. Relationships built on shared interests and authenticity are more impactful than broad, transactional promotions.
3. Email Marketing & Author Newsletters
A consistent newsletter or mailing list is one of the most reliable long-term assets for authors. By offering exclusive content, early previews, or discounts, writers can nurture loyal readers outside of unpredictable social platforms.
4. Book Blogs, Podcasts, and Media Outreach
Appearing on book blogs and podcasts, or sending press releases to targeted outlets, expands a book’s visibility across established communities. This strategy works especially well for authors who wish to reduce reliance on social media.
5. Building an Author Website and SEO
A dedicated author website acts as an online hub for readers, containing book details, press information, and blog updates. Optimizing it for discovery through Google Search Console, Analytics, and SEO best practices ensures sustained organic traffic.
6. Amazon and Meta Advertising
Running targeted ads on Amazon and Meta platforms remains a powerful driver of sales. Promotional pricing campaigns (like temporary discounts) attract new readers and improve visibility in algorithms and rankings.
7. Speaking Engagements and Author Events
Participating in literary festivals, book signings, or conferences helps authors connect personally with readers. Hosting workshops or talks about the book’s themes can lead to immediate sales and future opportunities.
8. Reader Reviews and Testimonials
Encouraging reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and BookBub boosts credibility and discoverability. Sharing positive reviews on social channels and websites reinforces social proof.
9. Cross-Promotions With Other Authors
Partnering with authors in similar genres to share audiences through joint emails, giveaways, or bundles amplifies exposure while minimizing costs.
10. Book Teasers, Giveaways, and Promotional Graphics
Creating visual content—like teaser trailers, quote graphics, or giveaways—helps generate pre-launch excitement and viral sharing, especially when timed with major milestones or seasonal events.
These ten approaches together form a balanced, multi-channel marketing plan adaptable to both indie and traditionally published authors in 2026’s competitive marketplace.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)
The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Passionate about the environment? Write a book! Passionate about inner city health? Write a book! Passionate about gun violence? Write a book! Whatever cause you support, you can support it more effectively by writing a book versus donating money or time.
And create more impact than doing a simple video or podcast.
Website: https://www.ProToPublished.com
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)
The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
There’s no better way to build and nurture a career than to start by writing a book. Books open doors. Books get respect. Books get you promotions. And books get you job offers, again and again.
Website: https://www.ProToPublished.com
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)
The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.
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Books are the best business card you can carry. Your book is a business card on steroids. You can create a very big business card that will get the attention of your customers and prospects. That is how you create more business and more sales in everything you do.
Website: https://www.ProToPublished.com
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
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The best way to develop great customers is to give your book to prospective customers. Those prospects who read your book and like it will become your best customers.
Just write a book that answers the top 20 questions that prospects ask you again and again. Prospects always ask better questions after reading a book. If they ask the right questions, they will hire you and keep hiring you. That’s the best kind of customer.
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Website: https://www.ProToPublished.com
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The following story is taken from a tweet a few days ago sent out by The Redheaded Troublemaker (https://x.com/try2underit).
I’ve Been Banned from Tractor Supply
Yesterday I was at my local TSC store buying a large bag of my dog’s food for my Australian Cattle Dog. I was in the checkout when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog?
What did she think I had an elephant? So, since I’m retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina Dog Diet again.
I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but I’d lost 10 pounds before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with dog nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry.
The food is nutritionally complete so it works well, and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked me if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off the curb to sniff an Irish Setter’s ass end and a car hit me.
I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. I’m now banned from Tractor Supply. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of things to say.
And they are incredibly good at telling stories.
Here’s the tweet: https://twitter.com/try2underit/status/1974678659261706527
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Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
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I recently saw a viral video featuring the strategies dogs use to get snacks from their humans (see the video here: https://www.myincrediblewebsite.com/dogs-know-how-to-manipulate-humans-for-food-food-food).
With the right techniques, almost any person can be persuaded to share their meal. Here are a few of the most effective strategies of dogs, along with my comments on how anyone can entice anyone else to do what they want.
1. Position yourself in your human’s direct line of sight.
The first step in getting what you want from someone is to get yourself in front of them — by email, social media, fax, phone call, podcast invite, letter, postcard, or more.
2. Lower your ears enough to look like you’re starving. Place your paw on top of your human as if to say, “I hate to interrupt but I will.”
The second step: Let your target person know your need — what it is that you want from them. Be very clear. Be firm. Be persistent.
3. Channel the tragic energy of a dog who’s never seen food before even if you literally just licked your dinner bowl clean.
Be passionate in pursuing your dream. Be passionate in communicating what you want. Be passionate in reaching out to anyone who can help you. Ask. And ask again.
4. Release a small dramatic sigh every time your human takes a bite while maintaining unrelenting eye contact.
Again, be persistent. Keep making contacts. Maintain eye contact, ear contact, touch contact, email contact, phone contact, letter contact, real person contact. Be dramatic at least some of the time. Be clear the rest of the time.
When used in combination, these techniques have been known to produce a 92% success rate. That’s probably a fake statistic, but possibly accurate nonetheless.
The key to success in marketing is building relationships with key influencers. Use the strategies of dogs to help you build those relationships. Bow WOW!
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority
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The tips for today’s podcast came from a recent Time magazine article on 5 Ways to Make Small Talk When You Have Social Anxiety.
Practice in low-stakes settings.
Start by speaking at your local library, bookstore, Rotary Club, or a friend’s house (or your own).
Script some go-to phrases.
Practice telling some stories from your own experience.
Use the echo technique.
Encourage your audience to ask you questions that you can answer, drawing on your experience & knowledge.
Find an anchor.
When speaking to a crowd, focus on one or two receptive people in your audience. Talk to them.
Have an exit strategy ready.
End your talk with a great sales pitch for your book, your products, or your services—or someone’s product or service you can recommend.
Book Author Authority: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com
Book Marketing Bestsellers: https://www.bookmarketingbestseller.com
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The above video was created from a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation created with the help of Microsoft Copilot. It essentially expanded on the presentation I created in the last video (based on an article by Jamie K. Wilson, The Death of Enchantment).
I was actually, for the most part, disappointed with this creation—too abstract, almost devoid of life. But I thought you should be able to compare my original video at https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/what-hollywood-sadly-has-forgotten with the above video created by PowerPoint and Copilot but vocalized by me.
I suspect I won’t be using Copilot anymore to create videos. Not good enough by my estimate.
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The following is excerpted from an article by Jamie K. Wilson, The Death of Enchantment (https://pjmedia.com/jamie-wilson/2025/08/26/the-death-of-enchantment-why-hollywood-no-longer-holds-us-n4943034).
The spell of story is not complicated, but it is sacred:
Trust the writer.
Trust the director.
Trust the story to carry its own truth.
And most importantly: Trust the viewer.
Hollywood has forgotten that the audience is not a passive consumer but a participant. A story isn’t finished until it’s received — until the viewers buy into it, suspend their disbelief, and join the communion. But today’s studios no longer trust the viewer. They treat audiences as problems to be managed, as minds to be manipulated, as children to be lectured. …
But the cure is the same as the cause: trust restored. Allow stories to be stories again, and the spell will hold. The lights will go down, the screen will flicker to life, and once more, strangers will gasp together in the dark.
Thanks for reading Book Marketing Success! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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Introduction
I discovered another AI app that you can use to create slide show presentations (and videos like the one above). The app, Microsoft Copilot, allows you to create slide shows using PowerPoint. Both Copilot and PowerPoint are part of a Microsoft 365 subscription ($99 per year, personal edition).
I started with three lines of information, as shown below. I entered these lines into the Create with Copilot option that comes up when you start up PowerPoint. Within a few minutes, Copilot and PowerPoint generated a sixteen-slide presentation that became the basis for the above video.
Writer’s Block: In Case of an Emergency, Break the Glass
There really is no such thing as writer’s block or any other block to getting things done. Blocks only exist if you let them. If you move on, they melt away.
As the blue collar comedians, say, “Get ‘er done!” Move on!
The text for the video is showcased below. Note how Copilot took three lines and made sixteen slides with the following extensive content.
Microsoft Copilot and PowerPoint
Today I'm showcasing another presentation program you can use, Microsoft PowerPoint combined with Copilot, to create another version of my writer's block information.
So we're going to talk about understanding the concept of writer's block, debunking the myth, the reality of writer's block, practical strategies to overcome perceived blocks, and cultivating long-term productivity and creativity.
Writer's block is commonly defined as an inability to generate new ideas or work, causing creative paralysis.
These beliefs influence how writers view their creative struggles and shape their response to overcoming challenges.
The creative blocks such as this are often portrayed in literature, where creative blocks are often depicted as a mysterious curse impacting writers, especially novelists, symbolizing an insurmountable barrier to creativity.
Film and media portray creative blocks as unavoidable challenges that dramatically affect artists and writers' work.
Anxiety can cause mental blocks by creating fear and stress that hinder creative thinking and writing flow.
Perfectionism leads to unrealistic standards that prevent progress and increase fear of failure in writing tasks.
Also, unrealistic expectations create pressure that can block creativity and cause frustration during the writing process.
Writer's block is basically a myth.
Many experts believe blocks are not a real condition but misconceptions about creativity. Creative pauses are often temporary challenges, not permanent stoppages in writing or creative ability. Also, lack of motivation can cause writing delays mistaken for writer's block.
Prolific writers maintain consistent work habits, regardless of obstacles, highlighting consistency over inspiration.
Discipline is crucial in overcoming challenges and driving steady creative output among successful creators.
Persistence outweighs mysterious creative blocks, enabling writers to produce work consistent with their story.
Viewing creative struggles as normal helps writers maintain motivation and reduces frustration during the process.
Believing challenges are solvable fosters resilience and encourages persistent effort towards progress.
A positive mindset helps sustain continuous progress despite encountering creative blocks.
Practical strategies to overcome perceived blocks.
Embrace imperfection. By accepting imperfection allows progress by reducing the pressure of perfectionism in creative work.
Avoid overthinking. Moving on without over analyzing every detail prevents stagnation and fosters creativity.
Set goals. Some of the techniques for maintaining momentum is to set goals.
Break tasks into small goals to sustain momentum and make progress manageable and rewarding.
Use timed writing sessions to reduce pressure and encourage focused, consistent work intervals.
Employ free writing techniques that promote creativity and flow by removing constraints and allowing spontaneous ideas to emerge.
Use humor. Humor eases stress and makes creative work more enjoyable, helping to overcome mental blocks.
Simplify tasks, reducing overwhelm and making creative work easier and more approachable.
Cultivate long-term productivity and creativity.
Build resilient writing habits, first by establishing consistent writing routines to help you maintain discipline and overcome creative challenges effectively.
Develop writing habits that anchor productivity by creating dependable pathways to sustain creativity and output.
Embrace imperfection and continuous progress. Recognize that first drafts are not perfect and that helps reduce pressure and fosters creativity. Be ready to do ongoing revisions to help refine your ideas and improve the quality of work over time.
Embrace imperfection enables sustained effort and growth in creative projects.
Learn the lessons from blue-collar comedians. Get her done. Blue-collar comedians embody a straightforward practical mindset focused on action rather than excessive planning. The key lesson is to begin tasks promptly to overcome procrastination and build momentum.
Conclusion
Emphasize completion without overthinking to ensure productivity and success in any endeavor.
Recognize that writer's blocks is often a mental barrier rather than an actual inability to write.
Dispel common misconceptions about writer's block to foster a healthier writing mindset.
And then implement actionable techniques—practical strategies to unlock your productivity and sustain creativity in writing.
Gamma Vs. Microsoft Copilot and PowerPoint
Both programs produced informative slide show presentations and videos. Personally I preferred the output from Gamma because it included actual examples and stories that enlivened the presentation.
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Websites: https://BookAuthorAuthority.com and https://www.BookMarket.com/bookstore
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I discovered a great AI app that you can start using for free and then pay $5.00 per month for an upgrade. This app, Gamma (https://www.aippt.com), allows you to quickly create slide show presentations. And then use the presentation to create a video like the one above.
I started with three lines of information, as shown below. I entered these lines into the Gamma app and within a few minutes, Gamma generated a ten-slide presentation that became the basis for the above video.
Writer’s Block: In Case of an Emergency, Break the Glass
There really is no such thing as writer’s block or any other block to getting things done. Blocks only exist if you let them. If you move on, they melt away.
As the blue collar comedians, say, “Get ‘er done!” Move on!
The text for the video is showcased below. Note how Gamma took three lines and made ten slides with the following extensive content.
In case of an emergency, break glass. The truth about writer's block.
Writer's block isn't about what you think it is. It's not an immovable barrier, but rather a temporary obstacle that only exists if you allow it to.
This presentation explores the reality behind the myth and provides practical solutions to get your creativity flowing again.
The Myth of Writer's Block
Jerry Jenkins puts it bluntly, writer's block is a myth. No other profession accepts a block as a legitimate reason to stop working. If you wait for motivation or inspiration to strike before writing, you'll be waiting forever.
Creativity doesn't appear on demand. What we call writer's block is actually a combination of fear, procrastination, and perfectionism, masquerading as creative stoppage.
Rather than accepting blocks, successful writers develop strategies to push through the resistance.
Famous writers who struggled and won.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge experienced what he called an indefinite, indescribable terror that prevented him from writing for an entire year in 1804.
Paul Sylvia, a psychology professor and author on motivation, went nine months without making progress on his own book about motivation.
Despite these profound struggles, both men eventually overcame their creative paralysis by fundamentally changing their mindset and establishing new writing habits.
What really causes writer's block?
This pie chart showcases from Research Insights, a 2024 University of North Florida study.
Psychological factors including stress and anxiety. That's the big dark purple pie slice on the right.
Next, fear of criticism, the lower, more lavender pie slice.
And then perfectionism, which is the next as we rotate around.
Procrastination.
And then other factors.
Two main types of blocks.
There are two main types of blocks, plot block and life block.
Plot block occurs when story logic stalls. Character or plot feel stuck.
This is a craft problem fixable with patience, restructuring, and narrative technique.
Life block results from personal issues that can drain creative energy. It can require addressing deeper needs, self-care, mental health support, or lifestyle adjustments.
Recognizing your specific block type is a crucial first step to implementing the right solution.
Practical hacks to break the block.
You can schedule writing. Treat writing like a job. Paul Sylvia committed to two hours daily. No excuses. Consistency builds momentum and trains your brain for creativity.
Step two, you can do free writing. Set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes of unfiltered, unedited writing. This bypasses perfectionism and often produces unexpected insights.
And you can change the environment. So if one place isn't working, work at a cafe or park or library. Environmental novelty stimulates new neural connections and fresh perspectives.
These practical approaches work because they shift focus from outcomes to process, making writing a habitual action rather than a high stakes performance.
Embrace fear and imperfection. The best writing is born of humility. That's from mystery writer and thriller writer Dean Kuntz.
Fear is natural and justified. Embrace it as a motivation.
Perfectionism kills progress. Done is better than perfect.
Writing imperfectly today creates a foundation for better writing.
The most prolific writers aren't fearless. They've simply learned to write despite their fears.
The power of mindset.
Move on and melt the block. Blocks only exist if you let them. Writer's block is a construct we create and maintain.
Recognize it as a temporary state, not a permanent condition. As the blue-collar comedians say, get 'er done. Simple forward motion is often the best solution. Action creates its own momentum.
An act of faith: Writing requires belief in your ability to figure it out as you go. Trust the process and keep moving forward.
Your mindset determines whether obstacles become barriers or stepping stones. Choose to see blocks as temporary challenges rather than immovable obstacles.
Motivation is not a gift, it's a choice. Waiting for motivation is like waiting for a bus that may never come. You have to start walking.
Here's the motivation equation.
Traditional belief: motivation inspires action, which inspires results.
The reality: action inspires results, which increases motivation.
Motivation is generated by the act of writing itself. The more you write, the more you want to write. Start small, but start today.
Your emergency glass, smash it and write.
The world needs your story, so get ‘er done.
Writer's block is a temporary illusion. It dissolves the moment you decide to move forward despite uncertainty, fear, or imperfection.
Your words matter. Break the glass, pick up your pen, and start writing right now.
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In a column for PJ Media, publicist and novelist Scott Pinsker wrote that there are no happy endings. As readers and listeners, we never want a good story to end.
Here is what Scott wrote:
One more time: There are no happy endings!
After all, when a story is truly great, we don’t want it to end. We need the story to go on and on forever — and for the adventures to continue. When it’s finally time to say goodbye, we mourn the loss.
And mourning isn’t happy.
But it’s par for the course in storytelling; the immoveable yin to the irresistible yang. Can’t have one without the other. As American genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist Tony Stark noted before his death:
“Part of the journey is the end.”
I remember when the hand-picked substitute author massacred the ending of The World of Time series by Robert Jordan. There were and are so many stories still to tell of that world, but the replacement author simply let the story peter away. So disappointing.
But, of course, he didn’t have the inspiration or vision that the original author had. He couldn’t tell the stories. BUT the publisher should have found some fans that would have loved to continue those stories, to continue celebrating an incredible world populated by very interesting people. I hope there are some fans that will tell those stories. They have my permission — and encouragement — to do so.
As authors, we should all have fans that are inspired to continue telling our stories — whether fiction or nonfiction.
Stories are always worth continuing. They shouldn’t have an end. Why not tell more of your story today? You have the time!
And when your time ends, I encourage other courageous writers to continue your stories. Stories without end. Stories that live on and on. Stories that change lives. Stories that move us to greater things.
Move on!
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The following tips are adapted from an article in Woman’s World magazine.
Trust your vision. A sense of independence sparks unique visions.
Balance wonder and rigor. Daydream a little. Relax to spark your wonder. Then focus on the details.
Tap into positivity. Reveal your passion. Study: People who write for the joy of it produce more creative work.
Unleash your inner child. Having fun spurs active listening, curiosity, improvisation, and collaboration.
Take a chance on yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Explore your own voice.
Bounce ideas off a friend. A good friend can allow you to test ideas. Note: Just don’t let them become too critical. You want their help, not their negativity.
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Web: https://bookauthorauthority.com
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Why give away your books when you can sell them instead? Here are ten reasons why you might want to give away your books as a strategy for making more sales of everything you have to offer.
- Entice People to Action.
If you want a potential customer to act, you can give them a free book as an enticement. Many websites offer free reports or books to encourage people to sign up for their newsletters or podcasts. A key reason: Books are still valued by consumers.
- Make an Upsell.
If you are using your book to sell a higher-priced course, webinar, or summit, then giving away the book is a good strategy for convincing people to buy your upsell.
- Offer a Sample.
Give away a shorter book to give readers a taste of your larger, more expensive book.
Note: A similar strategy is to sell a shorter book on Amazon for a very low price to give people a taste for your more expensive books, your longer books, or any additional books in a series.
- Give as a Prize.
Give your book away to charities as a prize. Books as prizes are a great way to promote your business or service or higher priced products.
- Offer Speaking Take-Aways.
If you are speaking at a conference, a summit, or another group event, giving away a book is an easy way to have attendees take you (or your ideas) home with them.
A free book builds credibility and provides audience members with your contact details so they can follow-up on any of your services or products they want to buy.
- Create a Moon Book Club.
Offer your books as monthly mailings to key contacts for coaching, consulting, speaking, and other high-paying engagements. In this situation, you mail out copies of print books to your key contact list as a tool for establishing your credibility with these key people.
- Offer 99 Cent Specials.
Books under a dollar are considered just like free books for most readers. So, offering low-cost books for sale are a way of setting a value for the book but essentially keeping the book as “free.”
Bestselling author Robert Allen recently offered his #1 Bestseller: How You Can Become a Bestselling Author in Only 30 Minutes a Day as an ebook for only 99¢ via Amazon. He used it to introduce his high-priced service to help writers become bestselling authors.
- Introduce Readers to a Series.
One of the best ways to introduce readers to your series of novels is to give away the first book in the series. If they like that book, they will buy into the entire series.
- Publish a manifesto.
Write and share a manifesto that proclaims your new vision for society, the environment, the world, the universe, or your key topic. Manifestos are generally given away to build the widest possible readership for your new vision.
- Share Your Book.
You can give away your book to anyone and everyone simply because you want people to benefit from what you’ve written.
If you give away books, never give away junk. Never give away AI creations as your own work. Whatever you give away must represent your work, your writing, your ideas, your creativity, your thought processes, and the higher priced services and products you offer.
If your giveaways truly represent what you offer, you’ll be able to upsell recipients to anything else that you want to create. And at a higher and higher price. Great content inspires great fans.
Order Book Marketing 263 here: https://amzn.to/3TM6CDs on Amazon.
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Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, and book marketing expert John Kremer deliver a fast hour of 10 plus strategies to deliver book marketing success in 2025 on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Your takeaways include:
Overall strategies to leap forward.
Why every author should have a newsletter.
Tips for creating your own Summit and why you should.
How to start your marketing offline.
Why magazines are still hot and how to target/pitch to them.
Why you should reach for a national TV show.
Why being a podcast guest is a must do and two sources to use.
And, of course, much more.
Tune in for lots of ideas and how-to tactics via the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.
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John
Today I'm interviewing Connie Bennett, author of I Blew My Diet, Now What? She's going to tell us a little bit about how to get to speak at a TEDx event.
TEDx is a local event produced in different cities around the country. TEDx talks are a really great opportunity to expose you and your book to a book buying audience.
Connie
I'm an author and I've been a long-time fan of yours since my first book, Sugar Shock, came out. Later, I came out with a book called Beyond Sugar Shock. And now I just came out with I Blew My Diet, Now What?
I am a former sugar addict and also a former carb addict. For years I did really, really well. I ate very, very cleanly. But more than a decade ago after my mom passed away. It was a difficult year watching her lose a battle to cancer. I blew my diet.
Hence, the new book. I come clean at last to the world about what I was doing, which was hanging out in movie theaters and in my home and secretly stuffing my face with crunchy, greasy, salty movie popcorn and other carb garbage, what I now call carbage.
John
I know that you recently spoke at the TEDx conference in San Diego, If you’d like to watch her TEDx talk, check it out here:
I wanted to find out from you. Connie, how did you get in to do a TEDx talk? Because I know that it's not always easy to get to do a TEDx talk.
Connie
Well, the very first thing I did was I decided that I was going to do a TEDx talk, come hell or high water, I was going to do it. So, my first step literally was deciding that I was going to do it.
So then I began to research. I even took a course or two about how to get a TEDx talk.
Then one day it hit me. I had moved to San Diego. I had been living there for a number of years. Then I thought: Why don't you just volunteer at my local TEDx? I don't even know how I got the idea, but I did. So I volunteered at the local TEDx.
I watched the speakers and became friendly with them. I think, yeah, I want to be up there just like them. So that was my first step, volunteering.
Then the next year, I actually applied to my local TEDx San Diego and I got turned down. But I did make it through round one. So, round one you submit something in writing and then round two you had to submit a video. I made it that far but was rejected that first attempt.
A few months later, TEDx had auditions yet again, so I applied again and got turned down again. Then I got an email saying, hey, would you be interested in doing this special thing that we're doing with TEDx San Diego? And that is what let to my talk.
Going local was the way to go because after the first time they turned me down, they knew me.
I've met several people who'd been through a similar situation. They had applied, and they had been turned down. They tried again. They applied, and they got turned down again, and finally they were accepted.
You can apply for TEDx talks in other cities, but it's good to start first with the TEDx event closest to where you live.
John
Actually, I think that that's two incredible pieces of advice that you really talked about.
One was simply being persistent. You have to knock on the door more than once. You can't take it as a rejection. It's just they have to know you better.
Connie
The other part of it is you have to be very gracious. They turn you down. You do not want to write to them and say, why was I turned down? You've got to be really careful about the way that you're persistent.
You want to be politely persistent. But you don't want to get turned down and then all of a sudden send an email and say, hey, why didn't you accept me? So you need to be very, very careful and walk this fine line.
John
But I am convinced that that going local is the way to go.
I also thought it was really wise of you to volunteer. It's an incredible way to get to know the people behind the local TEDx. It's a really great opportunity, as you said, to meet the speakers and get to talk to them.
Connie
It was it was totally fun. And it also it stoked me. It got me like really excited about doing like I want to be one of those people,
But I volunteered to get to know more about the talks and the people behind the local TEDx talks. I was like, I want to know more about this.
I know I want to do a TEDx talk at some time. I hadn't set my sight on doing it in San Diego. But the actual act of volunteering, it was just so exciting to see these speakers do their thing. You just learn so much just watching what they went through.
Now my talk was less than seven minutes. A lot of TEDx talks, they're a little bit longer. And I went even a little long. I'm telling you, every single word counted.
I've heard of a lot of situations where people give a TEDx talk and then it goes so viral that it could lead to a book.
John
That's one reason that speakers want a TEDx talk, because they're more likely to get an offer from some publisher saying, wow, I saw you and I liked what you did. A TEDx can open doors. Such talks give you great credibility and it gets a lot of attention.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
How can you tell if you’re a professional writer?
Professional writers do three things:
-
They don’t write anything until they’ve sold it.
-
They sell their work more than once.
-
They write every day without fail.
That’s it. That’s how you become a professional author.
Are you professional? Or are you an amateur?
Now you know how to tell which you are.
Be honest.
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I'm sharing a note from somebody that I'm newly following on Substack, Yana G.Y.
I've been doing episodes about stories lately. And the key thing about stories is you've got to be real. You've got to be human.
The title of this episode is The World Needs More Humans.
The subtitle is Are You Ready to Write Relatable, Raw, Vulnerable?
And here's the note that Yana G.Y. shared, I believe, earlier today.
The world doesn’t need more noise.
It needs more humans.
Raw. Relatable. Vulnerable.
Keep writing. — Yana G.Y.
That's from Yana G.Y.. I encourage you to subscribe her Substack newsletter.
And that’s how your stories should be written—with passion, with vulnerability, with a human touch. Raw. Relatable. Vulnerable.
Are you ready to write like this?
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. And get the next 10 books in the Write a Book in 10 Days or Less series free!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Do you have a nonfiction book out now or one coming out soon?
If so, you’ve probably wondered, "How can I sell as many books as possible in the limited time I have?"
After working with more than 15,000 non-fiction authors and helping launch such bestsellers as Rich Dad Poor Dad and Chicken Soup for the Soul, my friend Steve Harrison has learned what works (and doesn’t) when it comes to selling books.
Sell More Books Crash Course
He’ll reveal strategies and tactics successful authors use in a special event on Zoom, next Thursday, May 1st, called the Sell More Books Crash Course.
It will run from 12 noon – 8 PM Eastern (9 AM – 5 PM Pacific) and you may attend for free.
To reserve your spot, at no cost to you, just click the link below:
https://m164.isrefer.com/go/sellmorecrashcourse/A10005/
Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll get:
A personalized 2-to-3-page game plan designed to give you greater confidence and clarity so you can focus on the things that matter.
The most critical decision to make in order to sell a lot more books.
Five ways to sell more books on Amazon most authors know nothing about.
Case studies of authors who’ve sold thousands – even millions – of books via bulks sales of 100… 1,000… even 10,000 copies or more in a single order.
How to enjoy telling people about your book without being sales-y.
The one-page document that gets your family and friends to help promote your book.
How to launch your book to bestseller status.
The strategy one author used to get over 20,000 reviews for his book on Amazon.
What it takes to get on national TV.
How an author who felt intimidated by social media grew a large following.
Sign up here: https://m164.isrefer.com/go/sellmorecrashcourse/A10005/
I’m proud to be one of Steve’s compensated affiliates because I know this event could make a big difference to your book sales!
The average author releases a book with high hopes, but only ends up selling fewer than 250 copies.
Don't let it happen to you! Join Steve on Zoom next Thursday:
https://m164.isrefer.com/go/sellmorecrashcourse/A10005/
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following is excerpted from a newsletter Guy Kawasaki, the Apple and Canva evangelist, sent out about a week ago. I love his advice. I’d recommend you follow it when appropriate.
Facts tell, but stories sell. If you want to change someone’s mind, skip the data dump and share a story that resonates emotionally. When I was evangelizing the Macintosh, I didn’t just talk about specs—I told stories about how the Mac empowered creatives to design, write, and innovate in ways they never could before.
Stories bypass skepticism. They’re not something people argue with, they’re something people feel. Whether you’re pitching a product or convincing your boss to greenlight your idea, craft a narrative that makes your audience see themselves in the story.
By the way, I wrote a revised and updated edition of my book Wise Guy—it’s new name: Wiser Guy. Don’t miss a new collection of honest, humorous, and heartfelt stories! You can preorder it here: https://amzn.to/3GmUbdL.
Appeal to Emotion, Not Just Logic
People make decisions emotionally and justify them logically. If you’re trying to win an argument, tap into what your audience cares about most. When I pitched the Mac, I didn’t just say, “It’s user-friendly.” I said, “It’s the computer for the rest of us.” That phrase hit people in the gut—it made them feel included, empowered, and part of a revolution.
Think about what your audience values. Is it security? Freedom? Belonging? Frame your argument in a way that aligns with their emotional priorities.
Handle Skeptics Like a Pro
Skeptics are inevitable, but they’re not your enemy—they’re your opportunity. The key is to listen, not argue. When someone doubted the Mac, I didn’t try to bulldoze them with counterpoints. Instead, I asked questions to understand their concerns and then reframed my argument to address those doubts.
For example, if someone said, “The Mac is too expensive,” I’d respond, “It’s an investment in your creativity and productivity. What’s the cost of not having the best tools?” By reframing the conversation, I turned objections into opportunities.
Make It About Them, Not You
Here’s the secret sauce: people don’t care about your argument—they care about how it affects them. When you’re evangelizing an idea, focus on the benefits to your audience, not the features of your product or point of view.
For instance, when I pitched Canva, I didn’t say, “It’s a graphic design tool.” I said, “It’s the easiest way to make your ideas look amazing.” See the difference? One is about the tool, the other is about the user.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I'm correcting something that happened yesterday on Easter. Some people had trouble downloading the book, How to Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 books you can write fast — with examples.
So I switched the book from being a Word document to a PDF document. That should make it a lot easier for you to download. This is the link to download the document now as a PDF: http://bookauthorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Book-Authority-Guide-on-Writing-a-Bestseller.pdf.
I hope the PDF document will help you get access to it much more quickly.
The link is also available on my podcast website (right here: (bookmarketing.substack.com) so you can click on the link there to download the PDF (see the link above).
How to Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less will be available for one week after the International Day of the Book, also known as World Book and Copyright Day. It's on April 23rd, the anniversary of William Shakespeare and Don Miguel Cervantes' deaths. It's a day when many people around the world celebrate books.
One week later would be the 30th of April, just so you know. So the book will be available for free download until then.
You are welcome to share the link for the free download so you can share the book with anybody you want, as long as you share it in one piece. Don't cut part of the book out and share it with people. Share the entire book with them.
On May 1st, the book will go on sale on Amazon and Gumroad.
Yesterday, I also told you about another free offer: The Book Authority Guide to Why You Should Write a Book. Here the link to download that book freely as well: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-why-write-a-book.
It's actually better to share documents as a PDF anyway rather than as a Word document.
I really would like you to get a free copy of both books. So I hope that you will download them and I'm hoping that you will benefit from both of them.
They're really great books and they're really the beginning of an entire series that I'm going to be announcing over the next few weeks that you will be able to buy.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I want to introduce you to my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 books you can write fast — with examples.
This week, I'm making a special offer. You can download the book for free at this URL: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-what-to-write.
That link will give you an immediate download of the book as a Word document so that you can play with it if you want.
I wanted to make it easy for you to get and it's absolutely free. You don’t have to leave an email. You don’t have to pay anything.
You can just download the book. And, maybe more important, you can share it with your friends. You can give it away to them. You can send them this link so that they can download it for free themselves: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-what-to-write.
Be sure to read the book first before you decide to share it with your friends. That way you’ll know that you really want to share it. Again, the book is free to you and to your friends.
This free offer is good for one week after the International Day of the Book, also known as World Book and Copyright Day.
After that one week, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less will be for sale via Amazon and Gumroad, and that will be the only way that you'll be able to access it—to buy the book. And, of course, it's well worth it.
Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less is already for sale as an e-book (https://amzn.to/4cBGnYU), a print paperback (https://amzn.to/42zc14J), and a print hardcover book (https://amzn.to/4jmaVR8) via Amazon.com.
And I don't mind if you want to buy the book on Amazon. I don’t mind the extra income. But you don’t have to buy it.
You can download it for free, again, at the download URL: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-what-to-write.
Late last year I shared with you a different book that I wrote, The Book Authority Guide on Why You Should Write a Book. That book is also available for free as a download at https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-why-write-a-book.
The Book Authority Guide on Why You Should Write a Book will be available indefinitely. At some point, of course, it will be for sale only (as it is already on Amazon.com).
So, you can download both books for free for at least the next week or so: Why you should write a book and how to write a bestseller in 30 days or less.
If you go to my podcast portal at https://bookmarketing.substack.com, you can click on the links to access the book without having to write down the long links.
Again, once you download these books, you can share them with anyone you want. Share it freely! As long as you keep the book exactly as I wrote it.
I hope you’ll take advantage of this offer and learn why you should write a book and what sort of books you can write—and write fast!
Happy Easter! He is risen1
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Drop Everything and Read Day is coming up on April 12th! Get ready to celebrate!
D-E-A-R Day, which stands for Drop Everything and Read, is a national celebration of reading designed to remind families to make reading a priority in their lives.
It's celebrated every year on April 12th, which is the birthday of Beverly Clearly, the author of the Ramona books. A main feature of the Ramona books was the DEAR Time, a reading practice where everybody would drop everything and read for a while.
I'm giving you advance notice to celebrate Drop Everything and Read Day on April 12th by inviting your followers, your email subscribers, and your social network to celebrate the day with you and drop everything and read your book.
Or if you don't want them to read your book, then have them read my book 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.
Either way that's fine with me: Your book, or mine!
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I encourage you to think about telling more stories — to entice people to read your books, to interact with you on social media, or to become an advocate for you.
The more stories you tell, the more listeners will become involved in what you have to teach and what you have to share.
All good stories are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished listening to one, you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you: the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places, and how the weather was. If you can get so that you can give that to people, then you are a storyteller. — Ernest Hemingway, novelist
And if you are a storyteller, then you really are somebody that people will pay attention to, that people will listen to.
Comment on this storytelling episode and receive a free copy of my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less 111 BooksYou Can Write Fast — With Examples!
Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Folks say that the best stories of the South are written in recipes; you hear it so much it begins to sound like just something to say. But I have seldom listened to my people speak of the past without talking, sooner or later, about chicken. We honor people with it. — Rick Bragg, humorist and storyteller
Almost every great culture tells incredible numbers of stories through the foods that they serve, the foods that they eat, the foods that they cook, and the recipes they create.
Think about that in terms of how you go about marketing your books, your services, your other products. Learn to tell a story. Create a great recipe.
And the recipe doesn't have to be about food. It can be about how to get something done. Just start to share some of the best stories you can possibly share.
Comment on this video post and receive a free copy of my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less 111 BooksYou Can Write Fast — With Examples!
Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Today, I want to share something from Dan Nikas, who's the founder of GearBunch. He said,
My journey from Detective Sergeant to founding GearBunch, an e-commerce brand that hit nearly $5 million in its first year, has taught me the importance of authentic storytelling.
When you tell a story, tell it authentically. Tell a real story and tell it from your heart. Tell it from what you actually have experienced, what you hear, what you see, what you are! So become an authentic storyteller.
Comment on this video post and receive a free copy of my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less 111 BooksYou Can Write Fast — With Examples!
Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Welcome to another Book Authority video minute. Today I want to feature a quote by Issa Rae, an actress, director, producer, and all-around wonderful person.
Storytelling is forever.
Make no mistake, but sometimes the stories get detached from the storytellers.
The best stories do.
Doesn't that make sense? Don't we often detach a story from who the storyteller was?
And really, as a storyteller, it really doesn't matter because what is important is the story. Get ready to tell your own story over and over again.
Leave a comment here and receive a copy of my new book: Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 Books You Can Write Fast — With Examples!
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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Start writing your own story today. Don’t wait! Take control of your life and set the direction you want to take.
Do the same with your writing. Take control today. Don’t let AI be your voice. Use your own voice. Your voice is what leads to better writing, more powerful writing, writing that moves people, writing that sells.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I wanted to take the time to introduce you to a new series I'm doing of Instagram videos (which I will also share on other social media websites).
In this new series I will talk about why you should write a book. Note: there are many good reasons to do so. And I will also talk about how you should go about marketing your books.
So, I’m going to be doing short videos, one or two minutes long, every day. That’s my goal, as part of my new Instagram marketing plan!
This is the first episode of that series where I just wanted to introduce you to the concept of this Book Authority Video Series.
If you comment on this video post, I will send you a copy of my new book: Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 BooksYou Can Write Fast — With Examples!
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In an hour-and-a-half Meetn session, John Kremer answered questions from book authors on his birthday (76 years old as of January 16, 2025).
Here are a few of the show notes from that session:
Meetn.com
Meetn.com is a less-expensive alternative to Zoom, with more capabilities. Rick Raddatz is the founder and CEO of this service.
Stream Simultaneously to Multiple Social Media Platforms — Meetn grants you the ability to live stream to many social media platforms at the same time with its unique one-click Start-Streaming button.
Video Share with One-Click Simplicity — Meetn provides the capability to upload and share your videos, PowerPoint presentations, or testimonials…faster, better and easier.
Title Events Before You Start Recordings — Meetn allows you to name your virtual webinars with one click so you’ll never lose a recording again.
Persuade Your Participants to Buy Faster — Meetn's CTA function gives multiple options that make it a more comfortable alternative to monetize webinars and live events without forcing you to type hyperlinks inside the chat.
Custom Web Page Popper — This monetization tool makes it easy to pop-up web pages during your presentation so none of your participants leave your Meetn room and get distracted from your Call-To-Action.
Custom Exit Page — This monetization tool makes it seamless for your early abandoners to experience and take advantage of your re-engagement message that historically leads to 15-25% more automated profits.
Custom Featured Button — Imagine creating any call-to-action button and display it on your Meetn toolbar for your participants. It could be a Donation button, an Application button, or any other button of your choice.
Custom Call-to-Action Pop-up — Meetn allows you to create any custom pop-ups with your own headlines, subheadlines, photos, pop-up backgrounds, and call-to-actions with a single clickable button inside your presentation.
You don’t get the above features with Zoom.
Clip Champ
Clip Champ is the Microsoft Office program that allows you to create videos, including videos featuring AI narration that is very human like. You have this program if you subscribe to Microsoft Office.
Check out these two videos I created for novels using Clip Champ:
Thrall Conspiracy: Genesis by John Sorflaten — https://tellmeastory.substack.com/p/thrall-conspiracy-genesis-by-john
Life by Chance by John Graves — https://tellmeastory.substack.com/p/life-by-chance-by-john-graves
Book Publicity Opportunities for Book Authors Via Email Newsletters
Book Industry Online Newsletters: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/pitch-your-book-story-to-book-industry-publications
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
If you subscribe to Microsoft Office, you have access to the new Microsoft Clipchamp program for creating videos using AI, images, videos, and text to speech.
Above, I showcase a text to speech video I created using the words and image from my previous newsletter. To create this video, I used Microsoft Clipchamp.
Check it out!
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Host a Podcast and Be a Podcast Guest!
John Kremer: Every author should have a podcast. I still believe that. I've been promoting it for a long, long time.
I still really believe that because I think podcasting is one of the most powerful tools you have for getting the word out about yourself.
The neat thing in today's world, it's easy to create a combined audio-video podcast that you can syndicate on 40 or 50 platforms.
Judith Briles: How many people come in and start a podcast with absolutely amazing intentions? Kind of like when people are going to do a blog and then within six months the blog is dead. Is there any stats on the startup for podcasts that start petering out?
John Kremer: I don't know of any specific stats, but I do know from my own anecdotal experience that probably 80 or 90% of podcasters give up on their podcasts within six months. It becomes too much work. It's too hard. It's every week.
But the thing is, you don't always have to do a podcast that's going to be a forever podcast. You could do a limited edition 10-episode podcast.
Some of the most popular podcasts in the world are limited podcasts. They cover a true crime case, and then once you're done covering it, the podcast is done. But the podcast lives on in all the podcast syndication sites. It lives on in Audible. It lives on in Amazon. It lives on in lots of places.
Judith Briles: Some of the news shows I'll pick up once in a while, they have both the ongoing, like in perpetuity, like ours has been, and we're seven years old now. But they also have limited edition episodes, almost like a serial book and then it's over. And then maybe they'll come back again when they have a new serial to start up.
John Kremer: Even a limited podcast series still gives you the benefits of a podcast, especially the power of syndication.
One of the incredibly powerful things about podcasts is that it puts you on 30, 40, or even 50 of the major websites on the Internet, including Apple, Amazon, Audible, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, and more!
You know the power of a podcast because you built up a listenership for your podcast, and you've had millions and millions of listens and possibly views because I know you also put it up on YouTube.
Podcasts not only allow you to syndicate it to all these powerful websites, but it also gives you the opportunity to exchange views and podcast episodes with other podcasters.
Ask key influencers and authors this question: I'd love to interview you for my podcast, but I would really like it if you would also interview me for your podcast. I think we have complimentary audiences that would like to hear both of us talk on each other's podcasts.
The Book of the Month Club
John Kremer: I'm going to talk about the Book of the Month Club. Now, this isn't the old line Book of the Month Club, which died a sad death.
Judith Briles: So, how do we create our own Book of the Month Club?
John Kremer: I met somebody once at one of your seminars, and I'm still trying to track down his name now because I seem to have misplaced it in my move to Arizona.
But he offered a book of the month club. He was a business speaker and consultant to corporations. What he did is he wrote 12 short books. I'm talking about short books, 96 to 128 pages, somewhere in there.
Then whenever he'd go out and speak or whenever he attended a convention, whenever he met somebody that might be a potential client or customer or speaking agent, he added them to his book of the month club.
Once a month, he mailed out real books to his prospect list, a list of about 500 potential customers. He kept adding people to the list as he spoke in different venues and met people on planes, in hotels, or at convention sites.
His book of the month bluc not only justified him printing hundreds or thousands of copies of his books but it also impacted his speaking engagements and his corporate consultations.
From a business standpoint, his book of the month club made perfect sense for him because he picked up all kinds of coaching clients, speaking engagements, and corporate programs that he would do.
To be successful with such a club, first you have to write 12 books. And you can't produce junk. You have to produce real content worth reading, something that would showcase your experience and help to sell people on other products and services you have to offer.
The neat thing is that at the end of every book, of course, he included a pitch for his coaching and his speaking and his corporate programs.
His book of the month club was designed for a business audience. But the thing is, novelists, memoir writers, cookbook authors, and other writers could release five to 10 pages per week instead of releasing a book a month.
One chapter per month, a recipe per week, something like that. They could email it out. Or they could podcast out episodes. They could even do YouTube videos.
I just ran across an old friend of mine, Peggy Glenn, who's now doing videos under the name Grandma Potty Mouth where she shares fun recipes. She's a little spicy in her videos. They're entertaining and fun. She obviously enjoys it. And she actually got a book deal with a New York publisher to publish a cookbook.
It wouldn't be that hard for any author, regardless of what kind of book they're writing, to offer a book of the month club or pages per week club or something like that.
As you share, be sure to collect listener email address so you can email out the episodes or posts or videos to your list.
It means that you don't have to invent new content for your email every week. You can simply be podcasting a book. Or email out a book a few pages at a time.
The classic case of this is the novel, The Martian, which the author originally released as a series of blog posts. The story became so popular that Andy Weir ended up self-publishing his book before he got a contract offer from a major publisher to publish the book. Of course, it got made into a movie. He ended up making millions of dollars on what began as a simple blog.
Judith Briles: Many authors sell their ebooks on Amazon, but they don't go any further.
John Kremer: The neat thing is now with Amazon Kindle, you can do a paperback and a hardcover as well. And they actually encourage you to do those now. And an audio, an AI-generated audio that's actually not bad.
Give Away Your Book
Judith Briles: Yeah, it really can make a powerful difference to have different versions of your book.
Authors are too often afraid to give away their book. I really think it's important to get rid of that mindset because I think in some ways giving away pieces of your book.
John Kremer: For novelists, I recommend giving away your first book because I know you got three more books in you. I don't know any novelist other than Harper Lee and Margaret Mitchell that don't have a dozen novels in their heart and soul.
One of the best ways to market the second novel is to give the first novel away.
Offer the 1st Book in a Series to Sell the 2nd Book
Judith Briles: Here's a little trick I found when I've been in bookstores. I have a historical fantasy fiction book called The Secret Journey. Book two is The Secret Hamlet and book three, The Secret Rise.
When people meet you for the first time, they usually want to start with book one. If they like it, they'll come back to the trough. I typically tell a bookstore to order 20 to 25 copies of my book. I’ve learned to ask booksellers to order 20 to 25 of the 1st novel in a series and a dozen of the 2nd novel.
In one instance, I asked readers, “How would you like to read book one for free if you buy book two?” That got their attention.
So I said, “Do you ever read e-books? Are you on Amazon's Kindle? Let me sign book two for you and you can go up on Kindle Unlimited and download book one for free.” Within five minutes, I sold another five books of book two.
Reach Out to Influencers
John Kremer: The first step to marketing your books is to reach out to influencers in your topic area.
Judith Briles:; How do we find the influencers?
John Kremer: It should be easy for you to find influencers in your topic area. If you don't know who they are, you're probably not writing on the right topic— because you should be a fan of that topic if you're writing in it.
For example, I think it's terrible to write science fiction if you've never read science fiction. It's terrible to write a business book if you don't read business books.
That's a crucial element in researching your audience, researching your topic, and making your book 10 times better.
Work with Your Competitors
Judith Briles: Many times I talk with authors and I ask them, who are their competitors? One author told me, “Well, I don't have any competitors.”
I said, what BS? She just looked at me startled.
That is total BS. We all have competitors. Ask yourself, what are the names of authors who are comparable to what you write? Or, who is competing for your services? Who is competing for your wisdom? Who's out there trying to get people to buy their books that have storylines in your genre? Those are your competitors.
So I don't actually call them competitors. I call them friends or potential friends. And they can become friends, right?
John Kremer: Back when I started out, Dan Poynter had written The Self-Publishing Manual. We partnered together, and he sold thousands of copies of my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. And I sold thousands of copies of his self-publishing manual. I did the same for Tom and Marilyn Ross with their Complete Guide to Self-Publishing.
I didn't see them as competitors at all. I saw them as people who were offering great content, and I could sell their content. So one of the first things you should do is ask your competitors is: “Can I sell your books?”
Via the Amazon affiliate program, you can easily sell competitor or compatible books.
You can also publish a catalog that you send out to customers when they order your books direct from you. That's how I created my first catalog. If you create a catalog to send out to customers who order your book direct from you, you can generate lots of extra orders. With my catalog, I ended up selling thousands of other authors' books that I stocked in-house.
Potential competitors should be cooperating with each other. One of the best things that writers can do is work together with other people writing similar books to reach out to their audiences and expand each author's audience.
The Audience as Super Fans
Judith Briles: You're talking about the audience as super fans. Who are these unique animals out there? Number one, they're mostly women, but they devour anything in the genre because they're always on the prowl looking for new things. So, why not create a cooperative collective of other authors like you?
Or you can create a collection of related author books on Amazon and collect referral fees for encouraging such sales.
Earlier when we were talking about the Book-of-the-Month Club, we both said we miss them because they were curating books. And there's still room for curators.
John Kremer: I could see you doing a science fiction podcast that interviews your favorite SF authors and promotes their books. Any author can do that.
When authors tell me that they can't think of anything to podcast about, I'm going, duh. All you have to do is interview people. Just interview your favorite authors.
If you started interviewing a few famous authors, you can also start to become famous by associating and interviewing those celebrated authors. You start to become well-known. Their audience starts to seek you out because they say, wow, this person seems to know what they're talking about.
Back in the day, I would have loved to interview Isaac Asimov or Jerry Pournelle or other science fiction authors. I went to a couple of world science fiction conventions and actually got to sit down with some authors and talk to them. In today’s world you could easily go to the next world science fiction convention and record a whole year's worth of podcasts.
And that’s just the first half hour of the podcast. Listen in for even more great ideas!
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Resources
The I-Don’t-Have-Any-Time Hour-a-Day Book Marketing Plan: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-i-dont-have-any-time-hour-a-day-book-marketing-plan
51 Ways to Help a Book Author You Love: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/36-ways-to-help-a-book-author-you-love
The Ultimate Guide to Social Media Hashtags for Book Authors (439 author hashtags): https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/423-social-media-hashtags-for-book-authors
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The first secret of success is very simple: Tell the truth. That is how you build relationships with potential customers. This first secret does not change, no matter how successful you become. You must always tell the truth. — John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books
Truth is the easiest thing to sell. — Daymond John
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. — Socrates
Be truthful, gentle, and fearless. — Mohandes Gandhi
Web: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Web: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Have you thought of creating videos to market your books, writing, and other products and services? If so, here are a few statistics that should encourage you to do more with video in the coming year.
Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% in text.
More businesses are now using video than ever before. 90% of businesses plan to use video for marketing in 2024.
85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound.
66% of people will watch the full video if it’s less than 60 seconds.
1 in 4 consumers have made a purchase after seeing a video story on Instagram.
The sweet spot for video ad length is 6-10 seconds. Short-form videos offer a great return on investment.
80% of consumers want to see more short-form videos this year.
For American adults, the average daily social media time for video is plateauing. Still, video consists of 60% of social media time among American adults.
84% of people claim to have visited a website after watching a video promoting a product or service.
Video production is often outsourced. Many marketers also use AI to create marketing videos.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I’ve just completed a new book, A Is for Asterisk * - An A to Z Guide to Punctuation and Related Symbols (from the new ABC Book Series).
According to the grammar experts, there are either 14 or 16 primary punctuation marks, but there are also mathematical operators, newly invented punctuation marks, emojis, and other symbols that are becoming popular as people write and post to social media.This new book is an A to Z guide to many of these punctuation marks and symbols. Enjoy!
My hope is that this short book will help you become a better writer. I think you'll enjoy the book.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
One of my readers shared another key idea for back cover copy: testimonials. Linda Condrillo had a suggestion for the back cover:
Visualize what you want on the back cover—including rave reviews from prolific authors. Then send your final (perfect) manuscript to those authors, or other prominent people you admire or even know. Ask them to write a review for your back cover (and also have a sample of suggested text waiting, just in case they ask you for it).
You may be very surprised at the responses! I did just that. Voila!
Linda’s strategy outlined above is the same strategy I’ve used on the back cover of my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. Here’s the latest version of my back cover:
If you collect the right testimonials from a variety of people talking about how they use your book in a variety of way, those testimonials can really sell a book. Are you convinced by any of the testimonials above. I know that I get inspired by the testimonials whenever I read them. They keep me going.
Web: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Web: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
First, a few notes from yesterday’s podcast episode.
-
The author of Power and Petroleum died shortly after I reviewed her back cover copy. Apparently her book was never published.
-
I write promo copy for all authors, no matter where they are on the political spectrum. My job is to write great copy for any author who hires me to copywrite for them.
Here’s my copywriting on environmental policy and promotion:
If you want people to be worried about global warming, don't talk about global warming.
Too big. Too hard to grasp. Too hard to figure out how to help.
Tell the story of one lone polar bear cub who is losing its home as it melts around him.
We will respond to that.
- I have no problem with people speaking Spanish. For the past 18 years, I’ve lived in two bilingual states: New Mexico and now Arizona. I interact with Spanish speakers all the time. I studied Spanish in college. It’s a beautiful language. But in the context of the sales copy for the book, I did essentially denigrate Spanish. I apologize for that.
A Novel of Ancient Rome
This novel had a front cover that looked much more like a nonfiction academic title than a novel. It needed fixing.
The back cover read: “A thought-provoking story that is truly original — Copernican in nature. The premise meshes well with historical evidence, which lends startling merit to a sequence of events exquisitely revealed in this gripping novel. The theory proposed will inspire intriguing debate among readers, historical scholars, and theologians for decades to come.” That’s it.
There's nothing in the back cover copy to draw the reader into the drama of the novel. Is the novel truly gripping just because the back cover says so? The cover also says other things — none of which indicates the novel is gripping. The rest of the copy says that the book is a theory, an academic think piece. Nothing wrong with an academic think piece, but think pieces are not novels. Not ever.
My guess — and it is only a guess based on the jacket — is that this book has a great story to tell, but where is it? Stories involve people, not ideas. Focus first on people. Then focus on the plot. Only then can you move on to tell stories about those people struggling with ideas or conflicts.
Besides better descriptive copy, the back cover needed a few testimonials or reviews. The copy was too sparse to sell the book to most readers.
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
As you may know, I critique book covers as part of the consulting services that I offer. A number of years ago I had the challenge of reviewing a number of book covers for a client. One of the books was titled Power and Petroleum. Now, the front covers of the books were okay, but the back cover copy was terrible. In this episode, I’ll critique the back cover of Power and Petroleum.
First, the title is boring. It has no power to convince people to pick the book up.
The back cover of this book was too focused on abstract ideas rather than immediate impact. Here is the original back cover copy:
A Wake-Up Call!
Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is the successor to Fidel Castro as the enemy of the United States in the Western Hemisphere!!
Read quotes from Chavez's speeches to know his intentions: To absorb Colombia and form La Gran Colombia, with Castro as his guide; and with China assisting in future adventures!
This warning is by a former resident of Venezuela, and former advisor to the Venezuelan oil industry.
In writing the above copy, the author used four exclamation points. There’s only one reason why the writer used so many exclamation points: The copy was weak.
Note: Exclamation points do not create excitement. Details create excitement. If you don’t believe me, read my rewrite below:
In the coming years, gasoline prices will triple.
Cocaine will be on every street corner.
Cuba will dictate U.S. policy in the Americas.
South America will be ripe for revolution.
Mexico will fall.
Communists will be knocking at our door.
Terrorists will be streaming in through our porous borders.
You will be sitting in jail—along with three of your children.
No one will be safe.
Are you listening?
If Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, has his way, the above headlines will be the norm in just a few years. Venezuela and Columbia will join with Cuba and China to create a new reality for the Western Hemisphere. It's time Americans woke up.
In Power and Petroleum, Emma Broussard, a former adviser to the Venezuelan oil industry, reveals the hidden intentions of Chavez and his cohorts. You have a choice: Read this book, or learn how to speak Spanish and keep your head down.
Notice how the details above created more drama, more urgency. Now that’s drama (whether it’s a true projection or not). It gets attention. And it’s not out of line with what the old cover copy hinted at.
Whether the book matches the back cover copy, that I don’t know. I didn’t read the book. But I could certainly sell lots of copies with a back cover with the drama outlined above.
How is your back cover copy?
Ask yourself:
Does your back cover copy get readers excited about picking up your book and buying it?
Does it make them want to start reading the book right away?
Does it create urgency and excitement?
If it doesn’t, rewrite it. Add more details. Create more urgency. Give people reasons to open your book.
If your back cover copy does succeed, congrats. You’ve take the first step in selling more copies of your book.
Website:https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com
Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I’ve just published a new book on why you should write a book. It’s called The Book Authority Guide on Why You Should Write a Book by John Kremer. It’s now available on Amazon in Kindle ebook format ($2.99), paperback ($12.99), and hardcover ($19.99).
But you can get the book free as a PDF by clicking here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Book-Authority-Guide-on-Why-Write-a-Book.pdf.
Enjoy. It’s my gift to you! It’s a full-color ebook as well as a full-color print book available on Amazon. The PDF, of course, is also full-color!
Want to know more? Just call me at 928-767-4022. Or email me at JohnKremer@BookMarket.com.
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I just loved this video I created and then pinned to Pinterest:
It combines a testimonial video from Jack Canfield along with a gif of my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. I think it’s fun.
“We love 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. We followed it to the letter. Without his book, we wouldn’t be where we are today at the top of the bestseller list.” — Jack Canfield, co-author, Chicken Soup for the Soul series
And here’s the transcript from Jack’s testimonial:
Read books on marketing books.
John Kremer wrote a great book called 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.
When we did Chicken Soup for the Soul, we took about 900 of those ideas that we thought were relevant, made a post-it for each one. I had two staff people writing them for days.
We put them on a wall about 12 feet long. Every day we took a post-it off and did it. It took us two years to get through all those post-its.
But by the end of that, we were #1 on the New York Times list and we stayed there for three years.
When the second book came out, it was #2 on the list. At one point, we had #1, #2, and #3 on the New York Times list because we kept doing those things.
You can watch this video on Pinterest as well. Check it out here:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913942730196
Or watch another video on Rumble:
https://rumble.com/vg2xaj-jack-canfield-on-1001-ways-to-market-your-books-by-john-kremer.html
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
On January 16, 2024, John Kremer hosted his 75th Birthday Bash with a Book Marketing Q&A session. In this session, he answered participant questions on marketing books, publicizing books, and more.
Sources: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com and https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Free Book Offers
Five of the participants in the Q&A webinar made free offers to anyone listening in. Here are their offers.
Freddy Niagara Fonseca offer a free ebook for poetry lovers, Nature Poems for a New Dawn. It’s packed with witty and mystical poems you can read on your phone wherever you go. When you join Freddy’s email newsletter, you can download his book here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/427947/107845540909155533/share.
You can download a free copy of Explore Vancouver Washington by Patty Grasher by going here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/uo5x82nbrj
Keith Wilhelm offers a free ebook, Self-Love Unleashed. You can have and give all the love you want. Download it here: https://parentinghappydance.com/free-stuff.
You can purchase a free copy of Sara Freeman Smith’s Action Planner and 30-Day Gratitude Journal by clicking here: https://www.urgems.com/store/p/action-planner-30-day-gratitude-journal
John Kremer offers a free ebook, Marketing in 501 Words or Less. Download the free book here (at the bottom of the page): https://www.bookauthorauthority.com.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In mid-December, Judith Briles and John Kremer recorded a podcast episode on How to Market More Books in 2024.
I thought I posted this last week but, alas, the tech zombies chewed it up.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
To celebrate my quarter century on Earth (75th birthday!), I’m hosting a free Q&A session on marketing, promoting, and selling your books.
What? - John Kremer’s Birthday Bash Q&A on Book Marketing
When? - Tuesday, January 16th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Where? - https://meetn.com/bookmarketingsuccess (nothing to download, just come to the website and join the meeting)
Join me tomorrow for a good time, great questions, incredible answers, and a celebrity event of wonder and delight!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The key to getting what you want is really simple. If you want love, you have to give love. If you want happiness, you have to give happiness. If you want abundance, you have to share abundance. If you want money, you have to give money.
But there is one caveat.
You can't give with larceny in your heart. You can't give with an expectation of reward. You must give with a generous heart. You must give freely and openly, without pause, without hesitation. You actually must be a genuinely good person.
You might remember the one question that Santa asks every child when they are sitting on his knee, giving him the list of what they hope to receive for Christmas. What does he ask? He asks them just one question. Have you been good this year?
If you become a genuinely good person, miracles happen. When you give generously, everything comes your way. I call this the multifold secret.
It's very simple.
Whatever you give out to the world will come back to you multifold. The universe is generous if you are generous. It's a fundamental law of the universe. It all comes back to you in ways that multiply what you give out.
When I was a child, my mother would plant gardens wherever anyone would let us plow a part of their lawn. And we planted many things, but the one thing I remember so vividly is what happened when we planted a kernel of corn. That kernel grew up into a plant that gave us two to three ears of corn. And each of those ears of corn featured hundreds of kernels of new corn, delicious corn, sweet and juicy corn.
That's the multifold secret at work.
It's how nature works. It is a universal law. Go with it.
So this has been the introduction to the Book Authority Guide to Getting What You Want.
In the coming lessons, I'll be sharing tips and secrets from some of my friends and mentors. People like Zig Ziglar and Jack Canfield, Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey and Earl Nightingale, Les Brown, Marcy Shimoff, Phil Town, Lisa Nichols and Stephen Covey.
You're going to love the course. I hope that you'll join me in the rest of this course.
You can sign up for the course at https://bookauthorauthority.com/why-you-need-the-book-authority-course-to-getting-what-you-want
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
You can make anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000 before your book is published if you know just a few secrets. Here are four ways that you can make money before your book is published.
One, you can coach or consult. Focus on the topic of your book. You can make anywhere from $30 per hour up to $1,000 or even $2,000 per hour. I charge $600 an hour for my consulting and I get it.
Two, you can make bulk sales to corporations, associations, and catalogs. You can make anywhere from $200 for a case of books up to $200,000 if you're somebody like the authors of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul which sold over a million copies to one of the pet food companies before the book was even published.
Three, you can make pre-sales of your book to your tribe, subscribers and fans. When I first came out with 1,001 Ways to Market Your Books, when it was called 101 Ways to Market Your Books, I sold over $50,000 in books before I'd even written the book.
But then I had to deliver. But it was nice because I had the publication of the book all paid for by the pre-sales. And I told people exactly when I would deliver the book, and I did deliver it. It took a lot of work, a lot of typesetting and writing and proofreading, all at the same time essentially. But I got it done and I delivered the books on time to the people who had bought ahead of time.
Point four, you can sell sponsorships for your book or advertising in your book. In many editions of a 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, I sold sponsorships. I sold between 20 and 30 sponsorship with each edition. Companies and services paid to be featured in the book. They also wrote an article for me and got a credit line at the bottom. And I made over $30,000 on those sponsorships. And that paid for the printing of the book.
So essentially, I was making money from the beginning when the book started to sell because the books didn't cost me anything. Because I had sold $30,000 in sponsorships.
I've used these four methods to make as much as $50,000 per book before my books were published.
You can too!
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Last month I reported the results of just one pinned image I shared via Pinterest on August 21, 2023. Since that time, the pin has received more than 4 million impressions! Yup, that’s correct: over 4,000,000 impressions. In fact, the pin has received 4,150,000 impressions and counting!
Plus, it has generated 115,070 clicks (interactions) as well as 19,810 saves and, most important, 19,110 clicks to my main website.
Check it out at: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/everybody-somebody-anybody-and-nobody-who-are-you.
My previous article: 2 Million Impressions and 11,000 Clickthroughs: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/2-million-impressions-and-11000-clickthroughs
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or, better yet, paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Several weeks ago I shared the story of how Terry McMillan promoted her first novel, Mama, when her New York publisher failed to do much for her book. If you remember, the key action she took was to promote her book to more than 3,000 bookstores, libraries, organizations, and other groups.
My question to everyone who listened to that episode of my podcast: Did you act on this advice?
Did you contact people who might be interested in your book—especially people who could influence other people to buy your book?
Did you contact more podcasters?
Did you contact more bloggers?
Did you contact more booksellers?
Did you contact more librarians?
Did you contact more social media influencers?
If you really want your book to sell, you must do the work. You must reach out to a number of key influencers, friends, or helpmates.
In my experience, most authors start by reaching out to 5 or 10 people and then give up because they received no positive responses. That doesn’t work. You have to stick with it. You have to continue reaching out to people who can make a difference with selling your book.
Check out the articles referenced below. Choose at least one action to carry out.
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Reach out to 3,000 influencers by following the Rule of 3,000.
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Carry out the 6-week book marketing program described in the I-Don’t-Have-Any-Time Hour-a-Day Book Marketing Plan. or …
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Ask your friends to help you. Show them 51 ways they can help you as a book author to sell more books.
References
The Rule of 3,000: How to Become a Bestselling Author: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/the-rule-of-3000-how-to-become-a
The I-Don’t-Have-Any-Time Hour-a-Day Book Marketing Plan: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-i-dont-have-any-time-hour-a-day-book-marketing-plan
51 Ways to Help a Book Author You Love: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/36-ways-to-help-a-book-author-you-love
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In marketing your book, product, or service, you can't be afraid to approach famous people or busy people or even untouchables. It's better to go out of your comfort zone and out of your way to reach out to people. It's even okay to be strange.
We're all strangers until we are friends.
Why not take the chance today and make some new friends? Reach out to a stranger and make that person a friend.
Then reach out to another stranger and make that person a friend as well.
In my experience, we can never have too many friends. I have friends all over the world: in Australia, in India, in Italy, in Switzerland, in Ecuador, in South Africa, in England, in Norway, in Russia, in Ghana. And so many thousands of friends here in the United States and Canada.
Those friends are my storehouse of wealth, my storehouse of happiness, my storehouse of meaning.
Reach out today. Make at least one new friend today!
Never be afraid to stand up and advocate for yourself. This is your life. You dictate which story is told. — Admiral Horace Kilbride, character in NCIS: Los Angeles TV show
There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met. — William Butler Yeats, poet
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Today I want to talk a little bit about what really matters in marketing a book. And I'm going to do it by telling a story that I've told before, but apparently people haven't gotten the message. So I want to tell it again.
It's a story about Terry McMillan, now a bestselling novelist who had several movies done with Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
But her first novel was published by a large New York publisher, but they didn't do much with it. This was in 1987. They sent out press releases. They sent out some review copies. But Terry was a first-time novelist, so media didn't care. Nothing much happened.
The publisher did their normal low-level promotion for first-time authors. So Terry decided that she would take her promotion of the book into her own hands.
What she did, the thing that really is vitally important for all of you to hear, and I hope you'll actually take it to heart, was simple: She wrote 3,000 letters. Actually, more than 3,000 letters. She wrote them to bookstores, college stores, chain stores, African-American groups, college professors, other groups, all asking them to either stock her book or promote her book.
Now, this was before the internet. If she were to do promotion in today's world, she probably would have asked bloggers and podcasters, social networked with others, and creating Youtube videos.
What she did, however, was write 3,000 letters to the key audiences for her book. She offered to do readings wherever they would give her space and she'd be happy to give a talk. She would ask different actions of them depending on what audience she was addressing at the time
Again, she wrote 3,000 letters.
The response was so great that she ended up doing a 39-city book tour. Her efforts gained her plenty of rave reviews for her book as well as two reprintings in six weeks. That's a major success for a first-time novelist.
Her publisher got behind her once they saw that the book was selling, and it was worth reprinting again and again.
The key point to this story is not who Terry sent letters to, but how many letters she sent. It's a numbers game, and what happens with most authors, even though I've told them this story many times, is that they ignore this crucial advice.
Write a lot of emails.
Write a lot of letters.
In today's world, I would have at one point told you to send out emails to people, but my experience in the last six months is that emails don't do the job. People aren't reading their emails anymore. So you should send out real letters via the post office.
Obviously, it takes time to write 3,000 letters. It takes a lot of time to write even 100 letters.
Now, most of the letters can be the same thing. Or if you're writing a postcard, it's just a short little scribbled note on the postcard to your directed audience asking them for something specific.
You should write 3,000 letters. That is the most important thing you can do in marketing a book. Nothing else can replace that personal attention from you to people that could have an influence in the marketplace, who could potentially bring your book to the readers you want to reach.
Again, write to bookstores, college professors, African American groups, in Terry's case, other groups that you might want to reach out to depending on what kind of book you've written.
Now, she promoted a first-time novel. I want to encourage you, every novelist, especially first-time or second-time novelists, to take this advice to heart.
Write letters. Write 3,000 of them.
If you write 10 letters a day, it'll take you about a year to write 3,000 letters. If you write 30 letters a day, it will only take 100 days. And, if you take some time off for good behavior, it would take you about four, maybe five months.
If you wrote 50 letters a day, obviously, it would go much quicker.
Maybe you could get your friends involved with this so that it's not just you writing letters. They could help you write some of the letters or stuff the envelopes and put on the stamps.
And again, your letters have to be handwritten. Escept if you did a postcard, it should be handwritten.
In today's world, you might be writing to bloggers as well, bloggers who write about books like yours, review books like yours, interview authors like you.
Sent letters to podcasters as well—podcasters who might be very happy to interview a new first-time author or second-time author.
Writing letters is really a strategy that even applies to people who have published 10 or 20 books.
When you're launching your new book, really think about writing a lot of letters. Take it to heart. Do more promotions. Write to the people that you think could make a difference in your book—even if it's only 10 letters a day,
It's going to take you a long time to write 3,000 letters. That is a year's worth of time if you write every day 10 letters.
Make your letters personalized. Even a handwritten note even on those letters would be worthwhile. You can easily customize 20 or 30 letters a day if you take a half hour to an hour to set aside to promote your book.
It's a numbers game. It really does matter.
I know this is not an easy ask. I know that it's hard to write that many letters. I know it's hard to find that many addresses. I know it's not an easy thing at all. But it's the most important thing you could do to promote your book.
Terry’s novel Mama did not become a New York Times bestseller, but Waiting to Excel and When Stella Got Her Groove Back become bestsellers and movies.
But Terry had to start somewhere. She was a first-time novelist. Mama, that was her book. That was the novel that she wrote. That is the one that she chose to promote right from the beginning. She was a 36-year-old first-time novelist. She was trying to reach out to people who could make a difference with her book. In her case, that was bookstores, colleges, African-American groups, and other groups that she thought could help to promote her book.
In today's world, that list would also include podcasters, bloggers, people with websites that address an audience you want to reach out to. It might be people that do YouTube book reviews. You might reach out to social media influencers that might make a difference, reach out to them, write them a letter.
I would, if I could, try to get people's addresses and send out a letter, a physical letter that will have much bigger impact in today's world. It's hard to ignore a beautiful postcard or a handwritten letter hand-addressed to that person.
That can make a big difference. So try it.
Maybe you can't do all 3,000. Maybe it becomes overwhelming. So start with 300.
300 you can easily do in a month. Once you've done that, the next month, do another 300. And the next month, do another 300. And pretty soon, you'll have reached 3,000 people.
It really is a numbers game.
It really does make a difference how many people you reach out to.
It's not a simple thing of emailing somebody and going, oh, okay, they didn't respond and that's it. And I did it to 10 people. Or I made phone calls to 10 people and I didn't get through, so I gave up trying to reach out.
It doesn't work. You have to reach out. It's hard. Absolutely. It is very hard. But writing your book was also hard. Getting it published was also hard. Formatting it, editing it, getting cover design, working with a publisher, working with a publicist, etc. All of that is hard.
Some people have spent five or ten years writing a book, and then they don't want to spend a year promoting that book. Why not? Is your book important to you?
If it's important to you, do the work. And I know it is work. It's hard work.
Now I'm going to give you one little tip. It's a sort of selfish tip on my part, because if you want to reach 950 independent bookstores, I have a database of those bookstores. And I'll sell it to you for $50, really cheap. But it'll give you your first 950 stores to reach out to with addresses, phone numbers, emails, social media, people's names. You can order it here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/top-900-independent-bookstores.
Now I didn't do this video to sell that database. I did this video because I really want you to succeed. I want you to create an impact with your book, whether it's your first book, your second book, or your tenth book.
It's a numbers game. You really have to reach out to people and knock on their doors. Terry did it with 3,000 letters. You can do it with 3,000 letters and it's worth doing. It really is worth doing.
It could make the difference between you having the opportunity to write a second book or a third book or really get the notice that your book and you deserve.
But you have to put the work in. I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
I'm telling you now, if you've watched this video, and you've listened to it, please take it to heart.
Contact 3,000 people. Write 3,000 letters.
It'll make a difference in your world.
It'll make a difference for your book.
It'll make a difference for you and your authority as an author.
It could set you up as an expert. It could make a big difference.
Besides writing letters as Terry did to bookstores, colleges, and other groups, write letters to major newspapers, book review sections. You can get their free addresses at https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/newspaper-book-review-editors. That's free. There's about 50 newspapers there with their addresses and you can just say, attention book review editor.
You can do the same with Google searches to discover the key magazine editors you want to reach out to, TV producers you want to reach out to, radio producers you want to reach out to.
There are over a thousand live local radio shows every day in the United States). These radio shows are looking for people to interview, interesting people to interview. An author is almost inevitably an interesting person to interview.
So you have bookstores, you possibly have colleges, you have groups you want to target, blogs, podcasts, radio shows, TV shows, magazines, newspapers.
The world is open to you, but you have to knock on the door to get it answered.
Write those 3,000 letters. Start today.
Source: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-mama-bestseller-video.
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Five days ago I shared the results of one of my most popular pins during the past two months. See the detailed results in the graphic below:
In the first 60 days of this pin (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913939285987), it received 2.1 million views, 67,860 pin clicks, and 11,250 visits to my main website at https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com.
Well, I just checked the Pinterest stats for this particular pin and over the past 5 days (while I was away on a medical checkup trip without internet access), the pin has generated the following additional results:
As you can see by the Pinterest stats, this pin has received 220,000 new impressions in the past five days, more than 5,000 new pin clicks, and more than 1,000 additional clicks to my main website at https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com. Again, all in the past five days!
In the next ten days (through November 2nd), the number of impressions increased by another 360,000 to 2.68 million views. The number of pin clicks increased by almost 9,000 clicks to 83,110. And the number of visits to my main website increased to 14,060 — more than 1,800 additional visits to my main website!
I can’t guarantee similar results, but during the past week several people have asked me if I offer Pinterest Marketing services. So, I decided to offer a limited time service where I will create 10 Pinterest images/videos for you, your book, your product, or your service and then pin them to my Pinterest profile which gets 1.8 million views per month. And do that all before the holidays!
My fee for this incredible Pinterest Marketing service is only $300.
You will have full rights to the 10 pins I create for you. You can pin them to your Pinterest profile (if you have one) as well as to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other social networks. You can also use them in other online or offline promotions you do for your book, product, or service.
If you are interested in this unique and effective Pinterest Marketing service, email me at johnkremer@bookmarket.com and I’ll let you know how to sign up for this new service.
Please note that because of the time required to create unique powerful pins, I can only offer this service to the first ten people who sign up.
The Book Marketing Success newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Pinterest has sent more than 11,000 people to my main income website (https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com) in the past 60 days. How did Pinterest do that? Because one of my pins has gone viral during the past two months. It has received more than 2 million impressions in that time.
1.4 million views in the past month and more than 2.1 million views in the past 60 days:
And here are the Pinterest numbers for the past two months:
As you can see from the above statistics taken from Pinterest, since I pinned the image on August 21, 2023, it has generated 2.1 million impressions, 67,860 pin clicks, and 12,860 pins (saves). And, most important, it has generated 11,250 clickthroughs to my BookMarketingBestsellers website—all for free! All that traffic goes to one page on my website where I encourage people to buy my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books via Amazon.com.
How many of your social media posts have generated that kind of activity. And it’s not the only Pinterest pin I’ve created that has generated traffic to my websites. While most of my pins don’t generate millions of impressions, they do generate thousands of impressions and anywhere from 200 to 500 visits each and every day to my money website as well as my hobby websites.
I get 1.8 million monthly views for the pins I’ve generated over the past few years. That’s a lot of views (which are more than merely impressions) that generate tons of clickthroughs to my websites. That’s big traffic!
You can generate similar traffic with a consistent creation of interesting pins linked to key pages on your website where people can sign up for your newsletter, buy your books, and inquire about your other services. Join me on Pinterest today: https://www.pinterest.com/johnkremer.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I was recently invited to do a podcast interview with another author. But, when I tried to give her some kind critiques of her book cover (something I do as a paid consultant all the time), she turned me off completely. She decided not to interview me and essentially stopped talking to me.
I didn’t mean to offend her, but I obviously did. I was just trying to be helpful.
There were what I considered major problems with her book cover.
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The cover design was not related to her topic. It didn’t address the expectations of her target audience. You would not know what the book was about by glancing at the cover. My advice: Meet the expectations of your target audience.
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It violated a basic principle of cover design by having each word of the title single file down the front cover, making the title hard to read at a glance. My advice: Make the book title easy to read.
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The colors of the cover were not dynamic. The cover would fade into the background in any placement of books on a shelf. My advice: Don’t let your book cover fade away.
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The typeface was not a strong display typeface. My advice: Use a strong display typeface.
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The book title was not brandable or memorable. My advice: Whenever possible, create a book title that is memorable and brandable.
I would have been more gentle in critiquing her book cover if she had been willing to listen. But the above critique features advice that any author should follow to create an effective book cover.
As it is, she has done some great book marketing, so I hope the book sells despite the cover.
The above, of course, is not the actual book cover I’ve been discussing. It’s just a place holder.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
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Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In 2020, almost $68 billion was spent on cosmetic surgery in the U.S. That same year, only $25.7 billion was spent on books.
What does that say about our priorities in this country?
One thing it says is that we place more value on looking good versus thinking well.
In marketing your books, you might be able to take this comparison between looking good and thinking well to promote your book more effectively.
Because a good book is worth a lot more than a good nose.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode, I want to talk a little bit more about creating Pinterest videos and TikTok videos from YouTube videos.
Here's an example of one that I just imported. One of the criticisms I got from one of the listeners was that, well, you're distorting way too much. And as you can see in this one that I just imported, that it clearly is distorting people.
Some videos you could get away with distorting by just simply stretching them. But you can't get away with it every time.
Sometimes you want to have a video that's literally a YouTube size video and you can bring it in or you could possibly stretch it a little bit but you don't want to stretch it a lot because then you get the distortion, people don't look right, things like that.
But here's an example of how you can take this YouTube video, horizontal in appearance, and still create a Pinterest or a TikTok video by putting in some headlines.
You can insert some text just like we did yesterday in the video that I made using a talking head video. Add a headline via text and then additional text below the video to explain it more.
After adding the text boxes, you can adjust the video and text boxed to give them all some breathing room. And then add your website URL at the bottom of the slide to brand your video.
Note: The neat thing is that I have found the Pinterest really showcases videos and that videos with headlines get more views, repins, and clickthroughs to your website.
So you have the value of a video on Pinterest, but you also have the headlines that people can read.
Two Key Points
One is, this reformatting of videos for Pinterest and TikTok allows you to recycle content you've already created. So you don't have to create new content to have good posts on Pinterest, TikTok, and so on.
You can recycle videos you've made before.
Now the neat thing is, and I wanted to show you this, this is what's happened with these three videos in less than 20 hours on Pinterest, one of them got over 472 views, 8 pins, and 8 click-throughs to my website.
Another one got 213 views. It doesn't have any repins yet, but it does have 4 people that clicked through to my website.
And then this one, which was the first video I did, the stretched one. You can see that it doesn't have a good presentation because there's no headline, there's just a blurry image there. So it's still got 170 presentations and a couple click-throughs, but not nearly as much as ones with headlines.
So I uploaded these three videos last night to Pinterest, and I already have 850 views from just these three videos.
That's because Pinterest favors videos. And that's why I want to recommend that you repurpose some of your previous YouTube videos to make them into videos that work on Pinterest because you'll get a lot more views.
Check out the video I made on TikTok. So far my four new vertical videos have had more than 900 views on TikTok in just one day (24 hours).
Check out the video on Pinterest here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913945856728. My four vertical videos on Pinterest have gotten 1050 views in under 24 hours! So, between Pinterest and TikTok alone, I’ve had almost 2,000 views in 24 hours!
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Today I want to show you how you can take a talking head YouTube video formatted in horizontal format and make it into a vertical Pinterest or TikTok video.
I showed you one example where basically you took a video and you stretched it to fit in a vertical PowerPoint template.
I'm going to take a talking head YouTube video that I just made and I'm going to bring it into a PowerPoint template. As you can see, it's a small video right now but what I'm going to do is make it into a talking head Pinterest video.
You can drag, drop, and stretch your video to fit the size that you want it to fit.
The PowerPoint video template features just my head, not all the background. I’ll place the YouTube video at the bottom of the template featuring only my talking head and then I’ll insert a text box at the top of the new vertical video.
First rule, always give more than you get. And that's what the video is going to be about. I’ll make the text box colorful with white type.
Now, what I'm going to do is the same thing I did in the previous podcast, which is to save as this PowerPoint slide as an MP4 video.
You can take other videos where you're not just distorting them to be tall and thin, but you're actually taking a part of the video, a part of the landscape of the video, and putting that into the new vertical video that you're creating.
PowerPoint offers a very simple way to take a YouTube talking head video and format it to a vertical Pinterest video. This is a very simple way to take a wider video and still make it tall and narrow.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Check out the new video on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913945853248
And check it out on TikTok as well:
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Check out the video on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913945852328
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode, I'm going to show you how to take a typical YouTube video, 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall, and turn it into a TikTok video that's 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall.
First I show you a sample of a video I created for YouTube.
Then we’re going to use PowerPoint to take that YouTube video and make it into a TikTok video.
Now, I have PowerPoint open, and what you do is select a slide size using the design function.
Now, normally, the slide size is going to be a simple horizontal slide size, generally speaking, widescreen, 16 by 9.
But what we're going to do is use the custom slide tool and create a slide that is 1080 pixels wide and 1920 pixels tall.
That turns out to be 11.25 inches wide and 20 inches tall when translated from pixels into inches.
Now, obviously, on the screen, it's definitely not 11.25 inches wide and 20 inches tall, but that's because PowerPoint fits it into the window you are using, and that's fine.
Now this is, again, 1080 wide, 1920 pixels tall, the standard size for a TikTok video that also works really well for a Pinterest video.
So now what I'm going to do is take the video that I made for YouTube, and I'm going to drag and drop it into the PowerPoint slide. Then I basically just stretch the video until it fits.
Now the video is going to be slightly distorted but not so much that it really matters. You’ve now stretched the YouTube horizontal video to fit a TikTok vertical video.
Note that you can now play the video in PowerPoint to see how it looks. Then you save the video by going to the option File, Save As, and save the slide as an MP4 video.
It take about 5 minutes for PowerPoint to save the slide as an MP4 video. Once saved, you now have a tall thin video that you can upload to TikTok and Pinterest.
And once you have it saved, it becomes an actual MP4 video that you can upload to Pinterest and to TikTok as a tall, thin video.
See how simple and easy it is to change video sizes using PowerPoint!
Here’s the video of this podcast:
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Check out the video on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913945852328
And here is the resulting video:
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
We are all descended from kings. You got to live your own life. Be your own man. — Carl Elias’s stepmother in Person of Interest TV series
John’s book marketing tip: I love this idea. We must all feel like we are worthy of being kings and queens and emperors and more. Market your book like you are the greatest author around, worthy of the attention, worthy of the sales, worthy of the impact your work can make on others.
Writers are the ultimate rulers. We are the ones who can truly change the world. We are the ones who can truly make a difference. We are the true rulers of time and space. Never forget that.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Find something you love to do, and figure out a way to get paid for it, and you will have a third of your life kind of solved. — Dennis Quaid, actor
John’s book marketing tip: Writing books (and selling them) are a great way to spend a third of your life. If you love writing and sharing, become an author.
But don’t become a silent author. Do something every day to sell what you write.
And a few other of my favorite quotes from Dennis Quaid:
All of us have a relationship with God, whether you're a Christian or not. — Dennis Quaid, actor
Love. Families need a spiritual bond with one another and with God. God is the only way you're going to make it in life, the glue that holds everything together. — Dennis Quaid, actor
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Lazy is a very strong word. I like to call it selective participation. — Snoopy and Woodstock
John's book marketing tip: You can't be lazy in marketing your books, but you can be selective in what you do. And you should be selective. Do the things you love to do in marketing your books. Do the things you can afford to do. Do the things that you have time to do.
Note: You can't do everything, so do the things that make you happy and actually result in helping you sell more books and change more people's lives.
Source: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/selective-participation-find-something-you-love-to-do
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Join Gerald Leonard, John Kremer, and Celeste Jonson for a Book Launch Streaming Event! On August 1st, we hosted two book launch events streamed live to LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and StreamYard.
We answered questions about Gerald’s new book A Symphony of Choices and the book's relevance to business leaders, evidence of the book’s effectiveness and unique value, as well as how the book addresses the specific needs of the primary audience, i.e., anyone interested in optimizing their decision-making, project management, and workplace engagement skills and improving their overall performance at work and in life.
You, too, can launch your new books using StreamYard.com to stream a live video event to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch, and other RTMP platforms. Streaming a live event to multiple social media platforms can be very effective at getting attention for your books, courses, and other creations.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Follow me at . . .GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing — Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Today, I’m featuring a podcast episode from Amy Porterfield of Online Marketing Made Easy. Listen in!
Imagine this scenario. You’re an author who works one-on-one with clients. You love what you do, you have a lot of knowledge to share, and you’re making money. Most of all, you love the feeling you get from helping your clients achieve their goals.
But the thing is, you’re starting to get the feeling that one-on-one work is holding back your growth potential.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase time is money—and in a lot of business models, this old saying rings true because your ability to change more lives and make more money is totally dependent upon the number of hours in the day.
But the thing is, it doesn’t have to be like this—and creating a digital course is one way that you can significantly scale your impact and your income without maxing out your calendar.
In this episode, Amy Porterfield shares four telltale signs that one-on-one work is holding you back, along with true stories of how some of her students have scaled their businesses with a digital course.
[04:16] The first sign 1-on-1 work is holding you back is that you technically work for yourself, but you still feel burnt out.
[07:09] Online courses allowed me to step away from my laptop and live the life I truly want to live. I can continue to make money even when I walk away.
[10:10] Jessica Burke had so many 1-on-1 clients that she became burnt out. She realized she could put all of her sleep knowledge into a digital course.
[16:19] Even if what you’re doing is working well, imagine how you could serve in an even bigger way.
[16:58] The second sign is that you feel there’s a cap on your income, because you’ve completely maxed out your time.
[20:21] Yoga teacher Kelly McHugh was limited by her studio space. She started a course showing other instructors how to set up a successful yoga website.
[23:10] The third sign is if you have an extremely inconsistent workload. A digital course is a great way to even out your revenue.
[26:23] Dog walker Corrine Gerheard leveraged her Goldendoodle expertise to scale her business. She started a podcast and a digital course.
[28:15] The fourth sign is feeling discouraged that you’re not able to help more people.
[30:35] Casey McGuire Davidson wanted to help more women with their sobriety issues. Creating a digital course enabled her to scale.
[31:26] Darcie Milfeld was a coach helping people break the paycheck to paycheck cycle. With a digital course, her impact was 2 to 3 times more.
[33:36] 1-on-1 work could be holding you back if you feel burnt out and overwhelmed, you’ve hit an income cap, you have an inconsistent workload, or you feel discouraged that you can’t help more people.
Learn more about Amy Porterfield and what she offers at https://www.amyporterfield.com.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing — Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMa
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Listen in as John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, and Judith Briles, host of Your Guide to Book Publishing, discuss what you should do for 2023, 2024, and beyond to better market your books!
Your takeaways include:
More book marketing tips for 2023 to start doing now
Why your core message is an essential component in your book marketing
How to take advantage of being a featured guest on a podcast
Why authors must be proactive in marketing their books
What sparks the interest of book readers
3 essentials that every book cover must have and do
How to be a social media powerhouse
How to test social media ads
Easy peasy way to become a guest on even the best podcasts
Are you ready to start?
Listen in and get ready to rock the rest of the year AND sell more books.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A year ago I wrote the following post in answer to a question from several authors. Last week I decided to test the post below against a number of websites that claim to be able to tell whether a blog post, article, student paper, or other writing was written by a human or created by an A.I. engine. Below my blog post, you’ll see the results of my little experiment on the questions: Am I a human? Or am I just an A.I. bot?
Book Marketing Question: Why is marketing my book so hard?
During the past few weeks I’ve had a number of authors write me to complain about how hard it is to market a book. Well, gosh, it is hard.
It’s hard to write a book. It’s hard to publish a book. It’s hard to carry out a book marketing plan. It’s hard to do Internet marketing. It’s hard to keep up with social media. Life is hard.
If it were easier, everyone would write a book. If it were easier, everyone would publish a book.
Thank God, it isn’t easy. Otherwise there would be so much competition that marketing would be even harder. Social media would be even harder. Everything would be harder.
Thank God, it’s just hard, not harder.
Now, having said that, don’t forget that I’m the Book Marketing Ambassador of Fun!
If you don’t want writing a book to be hard, then write from your heart.
If you don’t want publishing a book to be hard, then publish from your passions.
If you don’t want marketing a book to be hard, build relationships from the heart.
Share with others. Accept their offerings of help. Help others in return. Give, give, and then give some more. That’s the most fundamental law of marketing books.
A.I. Results
Below are five highly touted websites that are supposed to be able to tell whether something is written by a human or by an A.I. bot. How did these five website view my blog post above? See for yourself:
Content Scale: https://contentatscale.ai/ai-content-detector reported that my blog post is 100% human created. Give Content Scale an A!
Copy Leaks: https://copyleaks.com/ai-content-detector reported that my blog post is human text. Give Copy Leaks an A!
GPTZero: https://GPTZero.me reported that my blog post is almost all written by A.I. Give GPTZero a big fat F!
Undetectable: https://undetectable.ai reported the following: Your content is detected as written by A.I. Give Undetectable a big fat F!
Zero GPT: https://www.zerogpt.com reported my blog post as 23.15 A.I. generated, Give Zero GPT a B at best! But probably a C would be more appropriate.
Do you write as a human? Or as an A.I. bot? You can use the above websites to find out how your writing rates. Just beware. 3 our of 5 of the above services judged my writing as A.I. created. A big mistake. I am not a bot!
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Book MarketingSuccess is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this podcast episode, John Kremer interviews Mustafa Ammar, author of Time to Move On: The 7 Career Myths Keeping You from Finding Your Dream Job, And What to Do About It.
It’s never too late to pursue your dreams—you just need to know when it’s time to move on. Welcome to the future of working: career shapeshifting. Career shapeshifters pursue life on their own terms, based on their individual circumstances and passions.
Just because you have spent years in one occupation doesn’t mean you can’t pursue something new, something you are truly passionate about. Time to Move On is the roadmap you need for your journey.
Note: The audio and video end a little abruptly, but all the content from the interview is featured in the audio above.
Resources
Book website: https://www.MustafaAmmar.com
Author website: https://www.thepassionmba.com
Author email: DreamCareer@ThePassionMBA.com
How to Be a Career Shapeshifter: https://thepassionmba.com/become-a-career-shapeshifter-how-to-be-a-career-shapeshifter
Book Marketing Bestsellers by John Kremer: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This first-time novelist forced her publisher (against their normal practice) to reprint her book twice within six weeks of the novel’s release. The novel became a New York Times bestseller, won the Doubleday New Voices in Fiction award, and also won an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation.
Her subsequent novels became #1 New York Times bestsellers, sold millions of copies, and were made into top-grossing movies.
Who was this author?
What was the title of her first novel?
And what was the one thing she did that any first-time book author can do?
Terry McMillan was the author.
Her first novel was Mama.
Terry played the numbers game. She wrote thousands of letters to all sorts of people to get readers and stores excited about her new novel. Any unknown author can follow Terry’s example by playing the same numbers game.
When Terry McMillan’s first novel Mama was published in 1987, her publisher only sent out press releases and review copies—their standard low-level effort for first-time authors. So Terry took the promotion into her own hands.
She wrote more than 3,000 letters to bookstores, colleges, chain stores, African-American groups, and other groups asking them to stock and/or promote her book. She offered to do readings wherever they would give her space.
The response was so great that she ended up doing her own book tour to 39 cities. Her efforts gained plenty of rave reviews for her book as well as two re-printings in six weeks.
The key point of this story is not who Terry sent the letters to, but how many she sent. It’s a numbers game, and few book authors or even Internet entrepreneurs make full use of the numbers game.
For an ebook (rather than a print book), you would send 3,000 emails or letters to online book sites, ebook reviewers, book bloggers, potential JV partners, and other authors who write books like yours.
If you send out 10 emails or letters per day, you’d reach more than 3,000 people in one year—and that’s with time off for good behavior!
First rule: The Numbers Game. Send out lots of letters and emails!
Second rule: Create relationships with those people, websites, and stores who respond.
Third rule: Build from there.
The above story has been excerpted from About the Author by Alfred and Emily Grossbrenner.
A friend on Facebook shared this information after seeing the above video: “My friend got books in nearly 100 libraries by sending approximately 400 emails.”
Website: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-mama-bestseller-video
Again, note that during the next week or ten days, I won’t be reachable via email, phone call, or social media. But I will be back! — John Kremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This first-time novelist forced her publisher (against their normal practice) to reprint her book twice within six weeks of the novel’s release. The novel became a New York Times bestseller, won the Doubleday New Voices in Fiction award, and also won an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation.
Her subsequent novels became #1 New York Times bestsellers, sold millions of copies, and were made into top-grossing movies.
Who was this author?
What was the title of her first novel?
And what was the one thing she did that any first-time book author can do?
Listen in to tomorrow’s podcast for the answer to this puzzle. And a great tip on how you too can be successful selling books and building a bestselling reputation as a book author.
Please note that I will not be available via email, phone calls, or social media for the next week or so. But I will return!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A secretary at an insurance agency in a small Midwestern state self-published a book and then did one thing, over and over again, for more than a year—something that any book author can do as well.
She ended up selling over 30,000 copies of her book in that first year and then went on to become the bestselling book author on the QVC home shopping channel, selling well over a million books.
Who was this author?
What was the title of her book?
And what was the one thing she did over and over again for more than a year?
JoAnna Lund was the author
Her book was the Healthy Exchanges Cookbook.
JoAnna spent the first year after self-publishing her book promoting it via radio, TV, and newspaper interviews in her home state of Iowa and parts of western Illinois.
She did interviews at least several times every week. She became one of the most well-known people in Iowa during that year and sold over 30,000 copies in Iowa, out-selling every other book during that time (even the Bible!).
Authors: You, too, can become a star in your own state. Most media covering statewide or local news are hungry for unusual news or interesting people to interview. Find an angle and promote the heck out of yourself.
When life handed me a lemon, not only did I make lemonade, I also wrote the recipe and then sold that recipe! — JoAnna Lund, author, Healthy Exchanges Cookbook
In my new book (a work in progress), Book Marketing Success Stories: How to Become a Bestselling Author (As Revealed by the Stories of Bestselling Book Authors), I reveal even more book marketing secrets JoAnna shared with me during our many talks. She was a wonderful sharing woman, full of joy and inspiration.
Of course, in my new book I’m also be revealing all the stories and more even details that I’ve been sharing in this series of podcasts. Here’s a link to download the work in progress for only $30: https://buy.stripe.com/dR66s608f0dJavS8wz. Note: I’ll be updating the book as I continue to work on it. You’ll get all updates for free!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A secretary at an insurance agency in a small Midwestern state self-published a book and then did one thing, over and over again, for more than a year—something that any book author can do as well.
She ended up selling over 30,000 copies of her book in that first year and then went on to become the bestselling book author on the QVC home shopping channel, selling well over a million books.
Who was this author?
What was the title of her book?
And what was the one thing she did over and over again for more than a year?
Want to know more? Listen in to tomorrow’s podcast.
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Website:
https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
If you have trouble asking people for money, don't ask for the green stuff. Ask for the beautiful purple Australian dollars—with flowers!
Always ask people to pay for your book or other content. Yes, you can give some content away for free, but the really good stuff you should charge for. People value the content they pay for. And, when people discover good things, they like to share those good things with other people. They are far more likely to share the things they've paid for.
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer.
Listen to my Book Marketing Success Podcast: https://bookmarketing.substack.com.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs.
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing. Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec.
Become my patron for all good things: https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing.
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
One year before their book became a New York Times #1 bestseller, two authors committed to doing one thing to promote their collection of short stories—something that any other book author can do.
Who were these authors?
What was the title of their book?
And what was the one thing they did faithfully every day for one year?
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were the authors.
Chicken Soup for the Soul was the book, the beginning of an incredibly bestselling series.
Jack and Mark committed to doing one interview every day for a full year. At the end of that one year, their book was a #1 bestseller and launched the series that has sold over 800 million books thus far.
Note: Jack and Mark focused at that time on getting radio interviews and TV interviews. In today’s world, most authors would now focus on getting podcast interviews. There are hundreds of podcasts eager to interview book authors on almost any subject. Seek those podcasts out. Start looking for the podcasts you want to be on by joining https://www.matchmaker.fm and creating a guest profile there.
Video: The Chicken Soup for the Soul Book Marketing Campaign
Listen to Jack talk about how he and his co-author Mark Victor Hansen took hundreds of ideas from 1001 Ways to Market Your Books and placed them up on a wall as Post-It notes. And then took the notes down as they implemented the ideas. It took them two years to carry out all the ideas but by then their book was at the top of the New York Times bestseller list.: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/jack-canfield-on-how-he-used-1001-ways-to-market-your-books.
Connect with John Kremer
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
One year before their book became a New York Times #1 bestseller, two authors committed to doing one thing to promote their collection of short stories—something that any other book author can do.
Who were these authors?
What was the title of their book?
And what was the one thing they did faithfully every day for one year?
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Before publishing his book with an independent book publisher, this author took two key steps—two steps that any author can follow to create a better book.
Who was this author? And what were the two key steps he took to make his book a bestseller?
Dan Gookin was the author.
DOS for Dummies was the book.
What two steps did Dan take to make his book a bestseller?
First, Dan created a brandable and memorable title, DOS for Dummies.
Booksellers at first refused to feature the book because they claimed that no readers would ever intentionally call themselves dummies. Well, the booksellers were wrong. Hundreds, then thousands of readers marched into bookstores to find the book.
Second, Dan created a user-friendly design that caused his computer primer to stand head and shoulders over any other computer manual.
DOS for Dummies ended up selling millions of copies and established a brand that has sold over 700 million copies of additional titles.
When writing a nonfiction book, you can follow Dan’s example. Start by coming up with a memorable and brandable title. That’s actually easier than you might think.
Second, come up with a design for your book that is both approachable and effective in conveying information. Ask yourself: What design elements would make your book easier to read and to use? What graphical elements would you include?
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Before publishing his book with an independent book publisher, this author took two key steps—two steps that any author can follow to create a better book.
His book became a New York Times bestseller and formed the basis for a series that has sold over 700 million copies.
Who was this author? And what were the two key steps he took to make his book a bestseller?
Want to know more? Listen in to tomorrow’s podcast.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Follow me at . . . GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
For writers and authors looking for inspiration for your next book, your next story, your next podcast episode, your next blog post, your next social post, or your next talk, here are a few sources of inspiration . . .
34 places to look for inspiration . . .
In the music you hear and the songs you sing
Through the lens of a camera
In a great neighborhood bookstore
In a garden where you can dig for it
Through the eyes of a friend
In the laughter of little kids
On the shelves of your local library
In the conversations around you — Listen in!
Via movies, TV shows, and Rumble videos
In the sound of a burbling spring
On the beach, on the street, or on the subway
In the faces of lovers and strangers
Via Craigslist, Buzzfeed, Reddit, or Mix
In People, Vanity Fair, Wired, Woman’s Day
On Facebook, on Twitter, on LinkedIn, on TikTok
In a great retail gift store
Via Tumblr, Medium, Flickr, Substack, etc.
In your notebooks, junk drawers, or diaries
On a random street or highway
In the wag of a dog’s tail
Via a podcast, a webinar, or a Facebook Live
On the pages of Amazon, Ebay, Wayfair, etc.
In one of your old blog posts
Up in your attics and down in your basements
On the pages of your favorite bloggers or podcasters
In WalMart, Target, Home Depot, Whole Foods, or Lowe’s
Through the hearts and minds of your friends
Via a Google or Bing or Duck Duck Go search
Amid the hustle and bustle of your office
On Pinterest, Instagram, or Snap
In a book, a poem, an essay, a manifesto
On the dark side of the moon
In the stillness of the night
Via the deepest inkling of your soul
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Follow me at . . .
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnfrederickkremer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkremer
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/johnkremer
Rumble: https://rumble.com/register/BookMarket
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@bookmarketing
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/johnkremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Where Do Author Ideas Come From?
Here are a few of the activities that book shepherd Judith Briles identified recently as tools for coming up with great ideas for books, blog posts, podcast episodes, webinars, and more:
Goofing off.
Doodling.
Watching a movie or TV show.
Listening to a podcast or a radio show.
Reading an article.
Showering or hot tubbing.
Daydreaming.
Hiking or taking a walk.
Getting dressed or undressed.
Having lunch with a friend.
Shopping.
Reading. Reading books. Reading magazines. Reading blog posts. Reading people.
The list is endless ... what isn’t endless is you. Ideas are like tides that ebb and flow—moving in your direction and flowing away. What you do with ideas when they arrive is what makes you an author.
So, are you jucilating? Creating new ideas? Catching the eyes and ears of your potential audience?
Notice: Judith's copyright notice on the above image is an invalid copyright notice. Valid copyright notices require a date (year).
I’ll be sharing my own list of 24 sources of inspiration tomorrow. Meanwhile, enjoy and be inspired by Judith’s list!
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Follow me at . . .
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnfrederickkremer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkremer
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/johnkremer
Rumble: https://rumble.com/register/BookMarket
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@bookmarketing
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/johnkremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
When the Shelf Awareness Pro newsletter interviews book authors, they often ask them to complete the following instruction: Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:
That’s how many words you generally have to tell someone about your book as you ride down a hotel elevator. Hence, the name, an elevator pitch.
Here’s how Amber Brown and Danielle Brown described their new thriller, Someone Had to Do It:
A fun, sexy, cat-and-mouse thriller set in the glamorous New York City fashion scene, dripping in social satire where privilege and prejudice intersect.
Now, I’d read that book! Sexy. Fun. Glamorous. Thrilling. Dripping in satire. Good enough for me!
How would you describe your book in 25 words or less and make someone want to buy and read it?
Please email me with your 25 words and, if I like it, I’ll pass it on to my readers and listeners here on this podcast as well as on my 5 Things I Love About Books podcast.
Email: johnkremer@bookmarket.com. Subject: 25 words for my book
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
You have a choice when writing the sales copy for your book. You can use something like the following generic points, or you can create sizzling sales copy. Your choice.
-
A strong powerful message about mental health
-
Inspiring
-
Raw and Authentic
-
Lets people know they’re not alone when having mental issues
-
Gives people hope
-
Lets public understand job as a Wildland Firefighter
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It is relevant, a true story and extremely motivating
Now, the above are certainly descriptive of the author’s book, Above the Ashes, but most of the points are too generic to create much impact and motivate people to buy the book, either for themselves or for people they love.
Here, on the other hand, are a few of the sales points I wrote for his book as part of a promotional letter to indie bookstores. Note: I got a lot of this content from his book, his Instagram feed, and his Amazon book page.
Here are just a few reasons readers will want to buy Above the Ashes and a great bookstore will want to stock the book:
If you loved You Can’t Hurt Me by David Groggins, or Wild by Cheryl Strayed, or Thirst by Heather Anderson, you’ll love this incredible memoir.
One of the best ways to help readers and booksellers to identify books they might be interested in is to associate your book with other well-known or bestselling books.
Mental illness is a serious condition. More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetimes. 1 in 25 Americans lives with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. You can help them by giving them this book!
Identify a key audience for your book by citing relevant statistics. Such statistics can also help other people to understand the importance and value of your book.
Kevin has been interviewed on local affiliates of CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC around the country as well as on podcasts such as Anchor Point and Chats with Fire.
Show readers and booksellers that you are media savvy and worthy of attention by demonstrating your media appeal or by pitching media-worthy story lines or interview possibilities.
In the first 30 days, Kevin sold more than 500 copies of Above the Ashes. He’ll work with you to sell many more copies. Just give him a chance!
Show that you as an author can sell your books and are willing to go out of the way to help others to sell your books as well. If you have an author street team, a social media tribe, or other partners, showcase them.
“This is the story of a man who saved his own life. Reading it could save yours or that of someone you love.”
Strike the heart strings of your potential readers by quoting a reader, telling a brief story, or excerpting a short statement from your book.
There is no quit in the soul of a wildland firefighter. There is no it’s too late, it’s too early, it’s too steep, it’s too hot, it’s too heavy. Above the Ashescontributes to the many, many firefighters who work to save your homes and your lives.
You can showcase another potential audience or topic. In this case, I did it with a very short excerpt from the book that the author also featured on his Instagram feed.
“Wow, this was a tough one to put down! Loved following Kevin on his journey across the United States. Also very insightful to hear more behind the scenes about what it's like being a wildland firefighter. True heroes. Couldn't recommend this book enough.” — Iron Tazz
If you have some specific and/or moving testimonials from Amazon or other readers, feature at least one quote in your sales letter.
Also in your sales letter feature your book cover, a photo of the author, and any other engaging photos (like the one above featuring the author on his ride across America).
You can find the complete sales letter I created for Above the Ashes on my other podcast site: Five Things I Love About Books at https://ilovebooks.substack.com.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Jim Meade, host of the End Anxiety Podcast and author of End Anxiety! Proven Benefits of the Transcendental Meditation Program, interviewed me, John Kremer, for his podcast. Check it out.
It’s amazing to have John Kremer with us today. He’s an author and a book marketing expert. He’s not just behind millions of books being sold. He’s behind billions, including many bestsellers including the Chicken Soup books,
Whether you’re a writer or not, if you've struggled with being discouraged, with lack of confidence, or with too many obstacles to your success, John Kremer is your guy. He’s been there and, boy, has he come through it.
John is also the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books in which he shares some of his remarkable marketing knowledge.
You can also visit his website for more information at http://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com.
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
John Kremer joins Dr. Judith Briles for a lively kick-off New Year session for Book Marketing Strategies for 2023.
Get ready for an hour with two masters of book marketing and what you should be doing for 2023: John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book, and Judith Briles via the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.
Your takeaways include:
Hot tips for 2023 to do starting now.
3 things to do for your book marketing starting today.
Why being a podcast guest is so crucial and how to take advantage of it when you are the featured guest.
Learn an easy-peasy way to become a guest on a podcast.
Discover why TV coverage has less pop.
Note how libraries can be a sweet spot for your book.
Why the local weeklies should still get your attention.
Why newsjacking is an ideal publicity window.
Discover the MeetCopper app, a promising new platform for authors and readers to connect!
Are you ready to start? Join in ... you will learn a lot!
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service I offer via SnipFeed: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a personalized video.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee if you like what I offer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
If you want people to buy from you, don't just sell, sell, sell. Let people get to know you as a person as well. This story of my dog's death tells all of you of where my heart is.
Share your heart with your readers, your fans, your social media followers!
In the early morning of Tuesday, December 27th, my dog Becky, aka Lady Beck, died. She was a wonderful dog who I loved very much. Several hours before she died, she touched her nose to my nose and looked at me with luminous eyes full of love and trust.
Lady Beck has my vote for dog of the year, even dog of the decade!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Your attitude is the one thing in your life you have full control over.You can change it in an instant.Now.Not tomorrow.Not next year.This instant.Now.What are you waiting for?
— John Kremer
You’ll be more effective in promoting your books if you keep on marketing regardless of the ups and downs of responses. No matter what happens, only you have control of your actions in responding to the ups and downs.
Your job is simple: Keep doing the things you need to do to market your books.
Promote your books until you discover the actions that really produce results for you. For example, book sales that make a difference for you. Then keep doing those actions.
Stay positive. Keep promoting. And you’ll make more book sales than those authors who give up too quickly. Don’t give up!
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Thanks!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here are a few of the things that are infectious, very infectious, during the winter holidays, especially because of Christmas.
optimism
joy
kindness
courtesy
charity
generosity
gratitude
selflessness
compassion
forgiveness
faith
Enjoy the holidays! Remember: “Faith is infectious. Life isn’t always perfect, you know, but sometimes things work out for the best if you just have faith.” — Abby Sciuto, NCIS character
You can use these holidays to renew your book writing, book publishing, and book marketing efforts. Go forth into the new year with a renewed mind and body. Be sure to enjoy what you are creating and producing!
Have a great new year!
John Kremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this Book Marketing Success Podcast episode, I interview Fitz Koehler, a cancer survivor and author of Your Healthy Cancer Comback: Sick to Strong and the accompanying Healthy Cancer Comeback Journal. She is also author of My Noisy Cancer Comeback: Running at the Mouth, While Running for My Life.
In this podcast episode, we talk about the reasons she went from traditional publishing to begin self-publishing her books.
I've gone from learning the hard way to learning the smart way and am committed to self-publishing top-notch professional products that look the part, sound the part and create a solid profit. — Fitz Koehler
Listen in as we discuss her cancer comeback, her desire to teach other cancer patients the importance of fitness in helping people survive cancer, and her love of self-publishing as a way to reach the people she wants to reach.
It was a great interview. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Check out her website at https://www.fitzness.com/blog.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The #1 bestselling book in all of Amazon a few years ago was a self-published blank book by Michael J. Knowles: Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide. Author Knowles beat out George W. Bush, Tony Robbins, and J.K. Rowling.
Listen to this audio episode from Daniel Hall’s Real Fast Results podcast to discover how Michael made his book into a #1 bestseller.
The book is described as the “most exhaustively researched and coherently argued Democrat Party apologia to date” as well as “a political treatise sure to stand the test of time.”
It did have a Table of Contents and a Bibliography as well as a number of chapters. The chapters were blank, but the Table of Contents and Bibliography were full text.
Knowles told Fox and Friends that “what’s really great about this book, you can go cover-to-cover in about 15, 20 seconds. It took a very long time to research this book.”
You can order Michael J. Knowles's Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide by clicking on the title. Yes, the book is five years old, but still as up-to-date as the lastest bestsellers.
And here is a summary of the podcast audio at the top of this page: http://realfastresults.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Episode-90-Michael-J.-Knowles.pdf.
If you like this podcast, consider buying me a cup of coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bookmarketing
Book Cover or Book Title Critiques: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Connect with me here:
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/johnkremer
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Start writing today. Use the button below to create your Substack and connect your publication with Book Marketing Success
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Anchor.fm — This free podcasting platform offers all the recording, editing, hosting, and distribution you need to start a successful podcast.
Free Hosting – Anchor offers unlimited free hosting with no trial period, no storage limits, no catch.
One-Click Distribution – Make your podcast available everywhere most people listen: Apple iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and more. All with just one click.
Record from Anywhere – Record via your desktop, iPad, or mobile apps.
Monetize Your Podcast – Add a button to your profile so listeners can support your work with recurring monthly payments.
Straightfoward Analytics – See at a glance how your prodcast episodes are doing so you can grow your audience.
Podcast with Friends – Record your podcast with friends or cohosts. Or take voice messages from your listeners to include in your episodes.
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world … but it requires people to make the dream a reality. — Walt Disney
This is great book marketing advice from Walt Disney. You can never self-publish or market a book alone (even though that’s what self-publishing means). You can’t sell your book on your own. You can’t market your book on your own.
You can always use help from fans, followers, tribes, partners, fellow authors, booksellers, and your family. When you self-publish or go about marketing your books, don’t ignore relationships. Book marketing is ultimately relationship marketing. Short and simple.
If you like this podcast, consider buying me a cup of coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bookmarketing
Book Cover or Book Title Critiques: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Connect with me here:
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/johnkremer
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnfrederickkremer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkremer
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/johnkremer
Rumble: https://rumble.com/register/BookMarket
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@bookmarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be. If we do our best, we are a success. Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have. — Zig Ziglar
What does success mean to you? Especially when marketing your books? Let me know what book marketing success means to you by commenting below. Thanks!
If you like this podcast, offer me a coffee or pizza tip: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/tipping/TGlua0Jsb2NrOjYyMWVmYWRhMzJiNjdmMDAxNzUxMTIyMg==
Book Cover or Book Title Critiques: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Connect with me here:
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/johnkremer
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnfrederickkremer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkremer
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/johnkremer
Rumble: https://rumble.com/register/BookMarket
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@bookmarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this Book Marketing Q&A session, John Kremer answers questions on book marketing, online marketing, and book publishing. John answered questions on exclusive book distribution, selling online (especially if you're not selling via online bookstores), and how to market to old fictional genres.
What are the pros and cons of an EXCLUSIVE book distribution deal with a company like Small Press United? — Judah
Judah emailed me the question in more detail after the Q&A session. Here is my answer to his more detailed questions:
My concerns include that I've heard horror stories of books getting poor performance under exclusive distribution deals giving the publisher no recourse. Also, I’m unsure if SPU reaches the MBS marketplace or if their library and academic distribution is any good. I further need to pin down whether an SPU contract would prohibit distribution deals for other countries and continents (latest book has a global market).
As for your questions and concerns voiced above, you have to do your due diligence. Ask SPU client publishers what their experience has been about poor performance, whether SPU reaches the MBS market, if their library/academic distribution is good or not, and whether you can do deals in other countries.
Now, the first three concerns should be answered by other client publishers. Reading your actual contract should answer the international distribution question. If the contract is unclear, negotiate the contract to make it clear.
Hi, John. I'm frustrated with policies and revenues at many online booksellers. So, without abandoning them, I'm investigating several ways to sell, directly and mostly directly, audiobooks, signed books, downloaded ebooks, short stories, etc. — Dan
In my answer I described how you could sell direct on your website using Paypal links and buttons. Paypal allows payments direct via Paypal or via credit cards. It’s relatively easy to set up payments via Paypal. Of course, you can also use ecommerce websites like Shopify to set up payments and fulfillment as well.
But I’d also favor selling via Amazon and other online booksellers because they offer additional discovery possibilities. If you have a store only on your website, you have to push awareness of your website via ads, publicity, and other promotion.
How do you market to an odd genre? I have a series of political novels that deal with public policies, government reforms, etc. with a little romance? It is a cross between the movie, The American President, and the hit TV series The West Wing. The first book in the series is now on pre-order on Amazon Kindle. — Richard
In my answer I described how to target readers and book buyers via Amazon ads as well as how to target exposure for your book via other places where your potential readers congregate.
I also answered a question about marketing online when you hate social media.
The key tip is not to spend time on social media if you feel it is toxic, but still post to key social media that your audience likes to use. You can post to Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest without spending any time on those social media. Or, in some cases, you might have to spend a minute or two to make your post but you can then jump off that site and go about your happy business.
In addition, I gave some tips on getting on major TV shows, major podcasts, and major magazine websites. I also explained how you can brand your keyword (mine is book marketing) via social media and websites like BuyMeACoffee.com or Patreon.
If you like this Q&A, consider buying me a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing.
Or become an on-going patron of my work by going to https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing.
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess.
I also provided details on two key podcast and podcast guest listing services. I included a key tip on how to maximize your listings on those two websites. Check my podcast and me on Listen Notes and Matchmaker.fm:
Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/book-marketing-success-podcast-john-kremer-dCp2hqScloa - Note my 10 Elsewhere links on that profile.
Matchmaker.fm: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast/book-marketing-success-podcas-60d7a1 - Note my 10 Discover More links on that profile.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Don’t forget to send in your questions for today’s Book Marketing Q&A session. Even if you cannot attend live, you can listen in on the replay and get answers to your book publishing and book marketing questions. Email: johnkremer@bookmarket.com with the subject line: Book Marketing question for John
Join me for this session live on today, December 16th, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific at https://meetn.com/bookmarketingsuccess.
See you then!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode, I talk about the difference between a great TV show and a very ordinary possibly insipid TV show, the difference between the incredible Game of Thrones and the very ordinary House of the Dragon.
As I recently streamed The Game of Thrones, a remarkable and popular HBO show from several years ago, I fell in love with at least a dozen characters. I speculated about which ones would survive the slaughter that accompanies any game of thrones. Most of my favorite characters did survive until the end of the current game. Only two of my favorites did not survive.
The show had detailed story lines, a cast of wonderful characters, and a satisfying ending.
On the other hand, the plot of House of the Dragon first season was intensely boring. The characters were boring and so similar that few stood out. The main character of the first season was the king, who was so insipid and low energy that I hoped he would die in the second episode. Alas, he didn’t. He held on until the tenth episode.
The only interesting character was the daughter of the king. As a young teen in the first few episodes, she was interesting. I wanted her to succeed. But then a different actress took over, and she was not a character I cared about.
The difference between the two shows (by the same writers and showrunners) shows how important it is to create great stories and interesting characters—not just for novels, but also for any stories you tell in your nonfiction books. Stories are important. They matter. Make sure you tell stories and create characters that people want to root for or, at least, care enough about to keep reading.
Don’t forget to send in your questions for Friday’s Book Marketing Q&A session. Even if you cannot attend live, you can listen in on the replay and get answers to your book publishing and book marketing questions. Email: johnkremer@bookmarket.com with the subject line: Book Marketing question for John
Join me for this session live on Friday, December 16th, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific at https://meetn.com/bookmarketingsuccess.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here are a few free online tools you can use to create interesting graphics to promote your books, podcasts, websites, and social media.
Eclipse Crosswords: http://www.eclipsecrossword.com — A Windows downloadable program for creating crossword puzzles.
EZ GIF: http://www.ezgif.com — Allows you to make GIFs from images or videos as well as optimize GIFs, jpgs, and pngs.
Flixel: http://www.flixel.com — A downloadable app for iOS to create cinemagraphs (repeating videos that showcase movement in only part of the video, somewhat like a GIF).
Gfycat Free Motion Background GIFs: https://gfycat.com/gifs/search/free+motion+background — Moving background GIFs that you can use in your videos and in creating new GIFs with graphic overlays of the background GIFs.
Imgur: http://www.imgur.com — A directory of the most viral images on the Internet, sorted by popularity. Meme Generator: http://imgur.com/memegen. Video to GIF: http://imgur.com/vidgif.
Memegenerator: http://www.memegenerator.net — Allows you to create new memes based on popular meme characters and images. It's the easiest meme generator online.
Online Image Editor: http://www.online-image-editor.com — This online editor allows you to resize and crop animated GIF images, add text to animated GIFs, make a GIF with their GIF maker, add borders, add a mask or picture frame, and more. Also allows you to add speech bubbles, rain GIFs, glitter text, and more. An incredible graphic tool.
Water Effect: http://www.watereffect.net — Allows you to create a water ripple mirror image of any graphic image, from book covers to podcast images.
This week on Friday, December 16th, I will be hosting a free Book Marketing Q&A session. Join me for this session live at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific at https://meetn.com/bookmarketingsuccess. This session will be limited to one hour.
You can send questions ahead of time by email to johnkremer@bookmarket.com. Subject: Book Marketing question for John
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Not everything that counts can be counted.
You can count sales. You can count fans and followers. You can count pins and tweets.
But you can’t count passion. You can’t count commitment. You can’t count engagement. You can’t count real relationships.
But you can be passionate. You can make commitments and ask others to commit as well. You can engage with other people: fans, readers, booksellers, wholesalers, bloggers, podcasters, bookstagramers, TikTokers, YouTubers, and many, many others. And you can begin to create real relationships that make a difference in your life or in the marketing of your book.
If you like this podcast, offer me a coffee or pizza tip: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/tipping/TGlua0Jsb2NrOjYyMWVmYWRhMzJiNjdmMDAxNzUxMTIyMg==
Book Cover or Book Title Critiques: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing - Check out this service: Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
When I was a little kid, I made a deal with the universe. If I was able to manifest my dreams, then I would try to do good in some way. — Jessica Alba, actress and entrepreneur
Have you made your deal with the universe yet? If you do decide to make a deal, what would it be?
If the universe is too big for you to deal with, make a deal with your spouse, your friend, your dog, your parents, a business associate, or the cashier at your local food market.
Note: The deal is for you, not for them, so don’t worry with whom or what you make your deal. Just make the deal!
And, here are a few other inspirational quotes from Jessica Alba:
Dream big. Be authentic. Trust your gut. Reach for the stars. Laugh out loud often. Live in the moment. Be open. Be creative. Stay inspired. Big Kiss! — Jessica Alba, CEO of The Honest Co. and actress
A lot of people give up at the first roadblock. But for entrepreneurs, if there isn’t another road, we create it. We break concrete; we throw dynamite; we figure it out. — Jessica Alba, CEO of The Honest Co. and actress
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5- If this link doesn’t work (you get an error), then just cut and paste the link into your browser and hit return. The link definitely works, but Substack might not be processing it correctly.
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Next week on Friday, December 16th, I will be hosting a free Book Marketing Q&A session. Join me for this session live at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific at https://meetn.com/bookmarketingsuccess.
You can send questions ahead of time by email to johnkremer@bookmarket.com. Subject: Book Marketing question for John
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
There are many ways to tell a story to make a book better, to enchant a live audience, to make a website better, to enliven a podcast episode. Or to explain what happened last week when I missed three planned episodes of this podcast.
Often when we are in the middle of writing a book or carrying out a marketing plan or producing podcast episodes, our personal lives interrupt. That’s what happened to me. My 13-year-old dog Becky would not eat anything on Tuesday.
When I took her into the vet on Wednesday, I found out she had a huge mass growing in her abdomen area. Apparently not cancerous, but still growing. X-rays and an ultrasound showed that an operation might not save her. We’ll talk to another vet to get a second opinion, but there’s a good chance that Becky won’t live long.
Fortunately she’s eating well now so she won’t waste away, getting weaker and weaker by the day. As with many pet lovers, I love my dog. She has been my companion for more than 13 years. I will miss her when she is gone.
Never sacrifice your real life for your writing or your work. If you are like me, you can’t not write, but make sure you fit in some real life as well. Spend time with those you love. Laugh hard. Walk in the woods. Play with your cats and dogs and children. Be kind to everyone.
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Garden & Gun Magazine, The Allėe Group, 700 East Bay Street #115, Charleston SC 29403; 843-795-1195. A bimonthly lifestyle magazine featuring gardening, cooking, home, decor, nature, and hunting/fishing. Their December issue featured reviews of Duck Walk: A Birder’s Improbable Path to Hunting as Conversation and How It Went: Thirteen Stories of the Port William Membership. They feature more book reviews and excerpts online.
Email: editorial@gardenandgun.com.
Web: https://www.gardenandgun.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardenandgun.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenandgun.
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gardenandgun.
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/gardenandgun.
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/gardenandgun.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gardenandgun.
David DiBenedetto, Editor in Chief. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davedibenedetto. Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davedibenedetto.
C.J. Lotz, Senior Editor (and Book Editor). G&G Reads, their online book club: https://www.gardenandgun.com/ggreads.
Emily Daily, newsletter editor
Elizabeth Florio, digital editor
You can also submit books and other news items to the following G&G newsletters:
Talk of the South: Get the latest news from around the South.
The Skillet: Enjoy the best of Southern food and drink.
Good Hunting: See top-of-the-line products chosen by G&G editors and contributors.
Fieldshop: Shop products inspired by the pages of G&G.
G&G Events: Join us for unforgettable experiences at first-class destinations.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The first step in book marketing has nothing to do with marketing; it has everything to do with creating a great product. Write a book that actually helps people, or entertains them, or inspires them. Write the truth. Write honestly. Write with passion.
If you want to see how to do this, check out the Real World Edition of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.
Listen in to this review. You want reviews like the following:
I’ve been reading the ebook edition and enjoying the way you write…
…and eagerly awaiting the paperback so I can flip pages and pepper it with Post-Its and all the other things one does with such a useful, helpful book.
I especially like what you say at the end…
…about how you’ve learned that what you do doesn’t matter as much as how what you do makes people feel…
You make me feel very happy.
Very few authors do.
Especially on the subject of selling more books.
When I read their stuff, I get the oddest feeling that they’re not telling me the whole story.
You, on the other hand, recommend taking a 3-year approach to selling more books… and that’s just the minimum!
In all the books I’ve read on the subject of selling more books, not once have I come across that recommendation…
…but as soon as I saw it, I knew I could trust you.
warmest regards…
Elizabeth Adams, a true fan
Write the book you love, not the one you think you should write. If you’re creating something you aren’t head-over-heels in love with, you’ll peter out before page 50. Make something you’ll be proud of for a lifetime. — Nathan Bransford, author
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
All businesses should include love for their customers as part of their brand strategy. Also love for employees, partners, suppliers, etc. — John Kremer
If you love your readers, your readers will love you!
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmark
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity. — Douglas Adams, novelist
Don’t you want great service from others? Then offer great service to others. No matter what you do, you can offer great service, real service.
You can write so well that you move people and create incredible change. You can market your books better than anyone else. You can do the things you need to do to bring more people into your target audience to be part of your fan club, your street teams, and your word-of-mouth army.
Offer great service to everyone that you meet. You’ll amaze most of them and create fans of them as well.
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmark
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather the wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea. — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
And, if you want to sell books, don’t drum up humdrum followers. Teach your fans to yearn for what your book offers. Teach them to yearn for your knowledge, your experience, your entertainment, your passion.
Teach them also to yearn for their own passion. Show them that your book fulfills that passion.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmark
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Who does not thank you for the little things will not thank you for much. — Estonian proverb
In marketing your books, the little things matter as much as the big things. It’s the things you do day by day that make a difference.
Do you want to sell more books? Then spend more time every day creating new relationships or nurturing old relationships. It’s really that simple.
Pick up the phone and call someone.Return a phone call.Write a letter.Write an email.Make a comment on a friend’s blog post (or that of a fellow book author).Share a Facebook post.Recommend a fellow author on Twitter or Facebook.Retweet someone on Twitter.Pin someone’s blog post to Pinterest.Record a short podcast episode like this one.
Do something every day. Even a little thing.
And, always, give thanks.
By the way, thank you for listening to this podcast episode.
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Start your own Substack newsletter and podcast. Learn more here: https://substack.com/refer/johnkremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Life is too short not to be thankful for all that passes our way.
Keep it simple. Do what you do best. And be thankful for the rest.
Let others help you. Always.
I admit I’m not always good at doing this myself, but I do know that those who are really successful are really good at accepting the help of others.
Ask for help. Accept the help that is offered you. Go out of your way to help others.
And, of course, be sure to thank anyone who helps you.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In yesterday’s podcast, I advocated telling stories to help people connect with your book, your own story, and your cause. The best way to get readers to share your book with other people is tell them stories.
People don’t always remember the facts and stats and lists from your book, but they will always remember the stories you tell that make them laugh, or make them think, or make them cry. Those are the stories they will share when they tell people about your book.
Want to learn how to tell better stories, check out How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. This New York Times bestseller is a detailed guide on how to tell an unforgettable story.
Here are just a few of the ways you can benefit by learning how to tell better stories:
Deliver the perfect wedding or event toast.
Share great stories during your speaking engagements.
Incorporate stories into your books for more impact.
Wow clients at a business dinner or Zoom conference.
Give a moving eulogy or an inspirational introduction.
Ace a job interview.
Connect more deeply with those around you or new people you meet.
Entertain and inform more effectively when being interviewed on podcasts.
Here are a few storytelling tips shared by the authors of How to Tell a Story:
Every story needs stakes (why people should care about your story).
Change is vital. Transformation is key to a great story that people will remember. Change can happen when you learn something new or when you break an old habit.
Think cinematically. Show people your story. Draw a picture so your story comes alive.
Don’t leave out the details. But don’t overload with dates, names, or other gratuitous facts.
Focus on the turning point in your story. Be honest and speak the truth. Let people know what you learned from the experience.
Leave on a high note. Don’t let your story fizzle out. Let it end with enthusiasm, rooted in the change you experienced.
Note: The best stories are based on your experience or on how you learn from your observations gained from other people’s stories.
True to its title, How to Tell a Story is a wonderfully practical and thoughtful guide to turning your own experiences and epiphanies into engaging tales. The book is very Moth-centric—‘Moth stories are true and told out loud, in the first person’—but there’s also advice about telling stories during job interviews, business presentations and toasts. Everything here could be easily adapted by classroom teachers or (one can hope) by relatives you see once a year at Thanksgiving.” — Washington Post
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
On Sunday, I got a chance to visit with my oldest sister and her husband. They had been driving Route 66 from the middle of Illinois all the way to Albuquerque (they plan to make the rest of the Route 66 trip in January, all the way to the ocean). My sister realized how close they were to Taos, so she called me and invited my wife and me to have lunch with them at the Farmhouse Cafe in Taos.
We had a wonderful visit, but one of the key points I learned in our conversations was how important stories are to communicate ideas and concerns. My brother-in-law even said I should collect my stories into a book. Many of these stories, while entertaining in many cases, could apply to marketing books. I’ll share some of them during the next few weeks.
In one story I spoke about a college friend who had two girlfriends at once. Now that doesn’t always work out. In his case, he ended up marrying one of them—and 50 years later they are still married.
But trying to maintain two major relationships at the same time often doesn’t work out. And that is true in distributing and selling books as well as many other areas of life. If you divide your attention while marketing your books between two major audiences or markets, you could well miss out on both of them.
My advice is to focus on one market at a time. Do it well. Make it work for you. Once it’s going well, you can start marketing to a second audience.
Don’t divide your mind. Focus on the most important or viable way to market your book based on your experience, your knowledge, your relationships, your talents, your likes and dislikes, as well as how much money and time you have for marketing.
And, possibly most important, do the actions you like to do, those that you enjoy, those that make you happy. You are a far more effective advocate for your book when you enjoy what you are doing.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
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Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmark
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I have this philosophy that out of the problem comes the next opportunity.
Getting something wrong just means that something else is supposed to happen.
We accept our mistakes.
I just keep going.
I’m an optimist. — Eileen Fisher, fashion designer
Book Marketing Tip: Keep going
Out of every missed opportunity comes the next opportunity. This is especially true in marketing books, webinars, reports, and more. Never give up. Just accept any rejections and keep going.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmark
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Carolyn Wilman, the Contest Queen, is the author of two award-winning books: You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter and How To Win Cash, Trips, & More!
Helene Hadsell asked Carolyn to carry on her legacy of teaching others her famous Select It - Project It - Expect It - Collect It manifestation system. After being out of print for over 30 years, Helene’s world-famous, bestselling book, The Name It & Claim It Game, was updated and republished by Carolyn for a new generation to enjoy and prosper from.
This podcast interview covers how to implement Helene’s Select It-Project It-Expect It-Collect It system for creating the things you want.
As a book author or publisher or internet marketer, you’ll learn a lot during this podcast interview. Listen in!
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Diane Pfeifer sold over a million copies of her Gone with the Grits cookbook and other books (GritsBits.com).
How did she do it? Her answer follows:
Just a combo of wholesale gift shop sales, gift catalogs, on-site retail including holiday shows, special sales (Quaker Grits), commodities catalogs, in-office/school lobby sales and, of course, Amazon and many bookstores via Ingram.
And a lot of hustle. She’s been doing this for years and been doing it well.
Why not follow her example?
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Venmo me if you like this podcast episode. Just click on the link below: https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This podcast (and video below) demonstrates how to set up a Venmo account to accept donations and payments from your podcast listeners and book readers. Follow the steps outlined here to set up a Venmo account.
Then use Venmo in these ways:
Ask people to Venmo you because they like a podcast episode.
Ask people to Venmo you to support the publication of a new book.
Ask people to Venmo you to show appreciation for the content of your book.
Ask people to Venmo you to purchase your book.
Ask people to Venmo you to purchase supplementary lessons, PDFs, reports, or other items related to your book.
Ask people to Venmo you to support the on-going production of your podcast, video series, Facebook Lives, etc.
Ask people to Venmo you in appreciation to the answers you give to their questions.
If you like this podcast and want to support it, Venmo me here: https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess. Your choice on how you want to support this podcast.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
You can sell a lot more books if you work with other authors than if you try to do everything all by yourself. — John Kremer
Here are a few tips on how to work with other authors:
Interview them for your podcast. Ask them to interview you for their podcast.
Blog about their books. Ask them to blog about your book.
Do joint promotions with a group of authors of similar books.
When you are interviewed by someone, invite them to interview your other author friends as well.
For more ideas, check out 51 Ways to Help a Book Author You Love.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
As many of you know, I’m very big on authors doing podcasts (and being guests on other people’s podcasts!). It’s one of the best ways to reach your target audience and create an on-going mutually beneficial relationship with your readers.
While consulting with a client this past week, I realized that I need to demonstrate how to do a podcast. So I wrote a detailed article on how you can create a podcast you will actually produce and promote.
You can find that article here:
. Note: You have to be a paid subscriber to this newsletter to access the full article.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
But here is a free idea on how you can go about creating a podcast that draws more and more listeners, readers, and potential customers: Create a calendar that you stick to for producing your podcast episodes. Commit to one episode a week. Or three episodes a week. Or whatever works for you.
Here’s my commitment for the rest of the year for this Book Marketing Success podcast. I’ll create 5 episodes a week released at 9:00 a.m. every day. Each daily episode will have a theme:
Mondays — Motivational Mondays will feature short quotations and comments to motivate you for the coming week. Episode length: about 5 minutes.
Tuesdays — Quick Tip Tuesdays will feature a key book marketing tip with comments. Episode length: about 5 minutes.
Wednesdays — Wicked Resource Wednesdays will feature a book marketing, social media marketing, or internet marketing resource to help you sell more books, courses, webinars, etc. Episode length: about 5 to 10 minutes, possibly with videos to showcase the resources.
Thursdays — Story Time Thursdays will feature a success story from authors and publishers, stories that you can emulate to market your books. Episode length: 5 to 10 minutes, possibly with a video as well.
Fridays — Interview Fridays will feature an interview with an author, marketer, social media superstar, or publisher that will provide detailed information on how to master an action or create a key item in your marketing plan. If you can share some great book marketing ideas and stories, I’d love to interview you! Email: bookpromotionexpert@gmail.com to schedule an interview.
Q&A Fridays — Once a month or so, Friday will future a live Q&A session with me rather than an interview.
Make sure you don’t miss an episode!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Book Marketing Success podcast, I interview Michal Stawicki, a self-published author from Poland who write self-help books in English.
When I first connected with Michal, he wrote me that the one secret book marketing hack that he could share was actually very simple: Connect with other book authors and collaborators. That’s how Michal went from no sales to over 80,000 sales of his 19 books.
Michal is the author of Making Business Connections That Count: The Gimmick-free Guide to Authentic Online Relationships with Influencers and Followers as well as The Remarkable Power of Consistency: My Slight Edge Journey to Success.
As he noted after the interview, “The more you give, the better the connections you can make.”
Michal is also the founder of Resurrecting Books (https://resurrectingbooks.com) where he helps other authors to sell more books via Amazon by optimizing their book descriptions, keywords, and more. Check out his website for more details.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Michal shared one other key resource for helping you to connect with other authors and podcasters. I will be sharing that link in an exclusive post to those who subscribe to this newsletter as paid supporters. Watch for that link tomorrow.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Dave Rubin, with 1.72 million YouTube subscribers for The Rubin Report podcast, interviewed bestselling book author Robert Kiyosaki, author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series as well as his new book, Capitalist Manifesto.
Appearing on top-rated popular podcasts can help any author sell a ton of books. My bet? As a result of this one podcast appearance on The Rubin Report, I bet Kiyosaki sells at least 10,000 copies of his new book, Capitalist Manifesto.
Now, smaller podcast appearances won’t produce the same big numbers, but every appearance on a podcast builds the recognition of you and your book. The more podcast interviews you do, the bigger your audience becomes for your current book and any new books you are writing.
If you want to get more interviews on podcasts, contact podcasters and invite them to be on your podcast. Offer to interview them and they will often reciprocate with an interview on their podcast. The best way to become a great guest is to start by being a great host.
How can we counter communism taught in our schools? By teaching capitalism in our homes. — Robert Kiyosaki, author, Capitalist Manifesto.
To learn more about creating an effective podcast and starting to create more attention for you and your book, check out my Substack Sensation and Podcasting to Millions course below:
The above podcast page features an index of the many many lessons featured in the Podcasting to Millions course. Let me know what you think.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Paid subscribers get complete access to the entire Podcasting to Millions course.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I am still very fatigued from Covid exposure, but I am recovering and reopening for business and consultations.
If you would like to schedule an appointment during the next week for consultations, podcast interviews, etc., please note that I will be available after Noon, Mountain Time, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I’ll be available after 3 p.m. Mountain time (so I can fit in my wife’s medical appointments). Note: My wife Gail is doing much better, but she still needs to track her blood tests, etc. And she still needs some help with normal everyday life.
I am doing better after the Covid exposure in the hospital. But I am still fatigued in the mornings. I still need a lot of rest. But most days I will be available from Noon Mountain Time to 10 p.m. Mountain Time — by appointment!
Email me at johnkremer@bookmarket.com to arrange a time to speak.
Resources from John Kremer
Book Marketing Bestsellers website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book Title Critiques by John Kremer: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Check out my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Become my patron to support all my book marketing work, especially the Billion Book Initiative: https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Join my Book Marketing Success Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Sara Cannon shares a quick little Southern phrase that will help you get off a phone call or Zoom session or even an awkward in-person meeting—especially when you don’t have a ready excuse to leave.
Here’s the powerful little phrase that polite Southerners use: “Well, let me let you go.”
Easy-peasy, yes?
Try it sometime when you need to extricate yourself from a boring meeting or a lengthy Zoom session or a phone call that simply won’t end.
You’ll be amazed by how more effective your book marketing will be when you move on from a boring meeting or an ineffective phone call. Move on with a simple little phrase, “Well, let me let you go.”
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Resources from John Kremer
Book Marketing Bestsellers website:
https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book Title Critiques by John Kremer: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Check out my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Become my patron to support all my book marketing work, especially the Billion Book Initiative: https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Join my Book Marketing Success Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
When former ad executive James Patterson submitted his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, it was rejected by 31 publishers. But it was eventually published! And it won the Edgar Award for best first novel! Persistence matters!
As James noted: “I could’ve given up, but I didn’t. You may not have a career as a ballet dancer, but it doesn’t mean you can’t love dancing, and keep dancing. You stick with it because you love it—that’s what makes you a dancer.”
My advice: Keep dancing! Keep writing! Keep doing the things you love!
At a certain point, you’re going to realize this whole thing is absurd, but look at the sunny days, the blue skies, and just go with it. Because a lot of life just doesn’t make sense, but nobody’s going to be able to solve that for you. You may find your solace in God, or the universe, or blue skies, but mostly, you just have to accept things and move forward. — James Patterson, bestselling novelist
Keep on trucking! Keep on moving forward! Never give up. An entire new world awaits you!
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
How to Sell More Books: An Audio Series
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Selling More Books Audio Series (includes more than 15 hours on book marketing). Only $67. Order here via Paypal or credit card: https://py.pl/IIHGm.
Or find out more about this audio collection here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/selling-more-books-audio-series.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In a world full of tens, be an eleven. — t-shirt saying
So many of us settle for a five or six when we shouldn’t be settling for anything less than an eleven—or even a twelve!
If a t-shirt can figure this out, so can you!
My wife says I only have two faults: I don't listen and something else. — t-shirt saying
Ha, my wife can list at least ten faults for me, and only one of them is that I don’t listen! But it is true that I often forget the other nine faults. Alas.
Touch my coffee and I’ll slap you so hard even Google won’t be able to find you. — t-shirt saying
For many people, Google not finding them would be a blessing. But, for those of us in the public sphere, especially those of us with something to sell, Google’s gotta find us or no one else will! At least 50% of the people who make it to your website and book sales page probably got there via one of the search engines.
Or via a ton of costly ads.
So, most of us spend time on search engine optimization (SEO) so Google, Bing, and Duck Duck Go can find us.
It’s worth spending that time. Do it today!
Be sure to check one of my previous podcast episodes on search results: Jason Barnard: The Brand SERP Guy: How to optimize your brand SERP and your brand knowledge panel.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Treasure House Books & Gifts, John Hoffsis, Owner, 2012 S Plaza Street NW, Albuquerque NM 87104; 505-242-7204.
Email: treasurehousebooks68@gmail.com
Web: https://treasurehousebooks.net
This local bookstore features gifts and books about New Mexico and the Southwest: cookbooks, children's books, history, travel, fiction, mysteries, gardening, nature, memoirs, and more.
They do a lot of book signings with both local authors and national authors (even featuring books from or about other states!).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treasurehousebooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treasurehousebooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/treashousebooks
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
How to Sell More Books: An Audio Series
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Selling More Books Audio Series (includes more than 15 hours on book marketing). Only $67. Order here via Paypal or credit card: https://py.pl/IIHGm.
Or find out more about this audio collection here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/selling-more-books-audio-series.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
How do you sell a ton of books?
Here, according to Seth Godin, is step one of marketing a book:
Sell one.
Find one person who trusts you and sell him a copy. Does he love it? Is he excited about it? Excited enough to tell ten friends because it helps them, not because it helps you?
Tribes grow when people recruit other people. That’s how ideas spread as well. They don’t do it for you, of course. They do it for each other. Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work. If Fred’s book spreads, then he’s off to a great start. If it doesn’t, he needs a new book. …
Step 1 says: If you don’t have a book that can galvanize a tribe, if you don’t have a product that will spread, if you don’t have a service that will generate passion among a group of people, you must stop what you’re doing and start over. …
What we see, over and over, is that the brave but cheap leadership that leads to passionate movements always (always!) defeats the top-down, mediocre, slow-moving and very expensive techniques we all grew up with.
For more inspiration and guidance, check out the rest of Seth Godin’s manifesto on How to Sell a Book (or Any New Idea): https://cdn.porchlightbooks.com/legacyassets/system/manifestos/pdfs/000/000/261/original/50.01.Tribes.pdf.
Book Marketing Note from John Kremer
The main job of a book author is to start creating word-of-mouth advocates. You do that one person at a time until you reach a tipping point where more and more readers self-select themselves as your book advocates.
You build a tribe one advocate at a time. You can start today. With the person right next to you.
How to Sell More Books: An Audio Series
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Selling More Books Audio Series (includes more than 15 hours on book marketing). Only $67. Order here via Paypal or credit card: https://py.pl/IIHGm.
Or find out more about this audio collection here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/selling-more-books-audio-series.
Connect with John Kremer here:
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/johnkremer
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnfrederickkremer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkremer
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/johnkremer
Rumble: https://rumble.com/register/BookMarket
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@bookmarketing
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/johnkremer
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user135683864
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnKremer
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it. You can influence it. You can build your own things that other people can use. — Steve Jobs
This is not only true about computers, software, iPhones, iPads, and other technology. It’s also true of novels, poetry, screenplays, books, ebooks, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, websites, blogs, and other information products.
You can build things that other people will use and value.
You can write books or create podcasts that entertain people.
You can write books or create podcasts that educate and inform people.
You can write books or create podcasts that inspire people.
You can write books or create podcasts that alert people to changes that need to be made in their lives or in the world at large.
You can write books or create podcasts that enlighten the world.
What do you want to do?
What will you do?
Listen to my Book Marketing Success Podcast: https://bookmarketing.substack.com
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
While walking with my wife during our vacation in Kingston, New Mexico, I discovered an amazing little fact: We are not designed to walk down rocky slopes or to run down steps, especially uneven or bouldery steps. Our bodies are not designed to handle downward movement as safely and securely as upward movement.
Our bodies are designed to move on up! We are destined to go onward and upward! It’s inherent in the design of our bodies.
Sure, moving upward can be more work because we have to carry our weight and any baggage up with us. But that’s surely easier than toppling down the mountain because our weight and additional baggage unbalance our movement and down we fall.
Our feet, our legs, our hips are all designed to allow us to walk upwards much more securely and safely than walking downwards, especially on steps or rocky slopes.
Now, think about that the next time you feel unworthy for any success you are aiming for. Remember this: We are designed to move on up! We are designed for success! And that means, ultimately, that we are destined for success!
How to Sell More Books: An Audio Series
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Selling More Books Audio Series (includes more than 15 hours on book marketing). Only $67. Order here via Paypal or credit card: https://py.pl/IIHGm.
Or find out more about this audio collection here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/selling-more-books-audio-series.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
As I’ve said in previous episodes, one-sheets are an incredible way to introduce yourself and your work to media, key influencers, podcasters, bloggers, and more. Be sure to create at least one one-sheet that you can use to provide people with a clear idea of what you have to offer. You can, of course,
To Book Podcasts as a Guest, Create a Podcast One-Sheet: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/to-book-podcasts-as-a-guest-create
One-Sheets for Nonfiction Book Authors: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/one-sheets-for-nonfiction-book-authors
One-Sheet for a Children's Book: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/one-sheet-for-a-childrens-books
One-Sheets for Novelists: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/one-sheets-for-novelists
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This 7-week program provides an insider’s look on how to market romance novels—and any other books. This a recording I created for the 2022 Luv-a-Palooza program. While this video was designed to educate romance novelists on how to market their novels, it really is useful to any book authors, no matter the genre, no matter the topic, no matter the audience.
Watch the above video or listen in to the podcast audio to learn more about this 7-week step-by-step program on marketing books (or other products and services!).
Here’s a link to the original article: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-i-dont-have-any-time-hour-a-day-book-marketing-plan.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Write Publish Profit 5.0 Infostack loaded with incredible ebooks, full-length courses, A-rated services, and more from bestselling authors, publishers, coaches, and editors.
Find out more here: https://bookmarketingbest--infostack.thrivecart.com/wpp5
Below are a few of the ebooks, courses, and services offered via the Write Publish Profit 5.0 Infostack:
Yolanda Allen's Author Essentials Planner — $39.00 value. Designed to help you get clear about your goals, (and focused on completing those goals), keep track of your promotions to help you get your book visible to the public, and help you manage your finances and budget when you get paid!
Ray Brehm's Anthologies for Authors — $297.00 value. Learn an easy and proven way to add authority to your author name, make connections, and add books to your author library.
Winter Brooks's Get Published! — $27.00 value. A guide for new writers to learn the basic principles of how to write, market, and publish your book.
Sue Campbell's The Pages and Platforms Book Marketing Workbook — $27.00 value. Learn how to grow your author platform and how to keep your audience engaged and eager to buy your books.
Dale Darley's Write Your Life Story or Memoir: An Online Course — $147.00 value. Learn how to bring your story to life with this guide that takes you through the process step-by-step.
Connie Dowell's Easy and Fun Newsletters for Authors: An eCourse — $60.00 value. Email marketing doesn’t have to be just a task on your to-do list. When done right, it can feel like an enjoyable chat you have with your readers.
Philip Duncan's A Roadmap to Your Best Novel — $297.00 value. Turn your novel into a bestseller with this proven step-by-step roadmap.
Emma Estacio's Bestseller Launch Made Simple — $48.00 value. Ever wondered how other authors hit bestseller status when they launch? With this simple, step-by-step process proven to optimize your book's Amazon listing, you too can widen your reach and launch with a bang!
David Farland's Kickstarting Your Career — $199.00 value. In this masterclass series of lectures, Dave shares some of the steps you need to take in order to build your successful career as a writer.
Karen Ferreira's Self-Publish Like a Pro: An eCourse — $99.00 value. Step-by-step walkthroughs to publish your books like a pro on KDP and IngramSpark.
Camille Flores's A Beginner's Guide to Book Marketing on a Budget: An Ecourse — $49.00 value. If you are an author who wants to sell more books but has a small marketing budget, this course will show you how to successfully market your books and keep the costs low.
Kimberley Grabas's Believe, Plan, Act: A Platform and Productivity Planner for Writers — $37.00 value. This complete author business planning system is designed to specifically address the needs of writers working to build their platforms and author businesses.
Steff Green's Rock Your Novel School — Value $393.00. Features 10 weeks of course content on every aspect of writing and editing a novel, including the hook, characters, plot, structure, scenes, voice, emotion, getting the words done, editing, proofreading, and preparing for publication.
Dianna Gunn's Author Planning Bundle: 4 Printable Workbooks — $15.96 value. Features an Author Career Planning Workbook, Branding for Fiction Authors, Twitter Planner, and Content Subscription Planner.
Rebecca Hamilton's The Six-Figure Author's Advanced Categories and Keywords Training: Put Your Book Sales on Autopilot — $499.00 value. Learn how to select categories that establish you as a leader in your genre as well as choose keywords that skyrocket your organic visibility and sales.
Donna Kozik's Create Your Sizzling Author Profile: A Masterclass — $399.00 value. Learn how to attract readers like bees to honey with a swoon worthy dating profile for your book!
John Kremer's Blogging 105: 105 Ways to Blog and Podcast as an Author, an Expert, and a Real Person — $12.99 value. Features real-world content proven to drive visitors, buyers, and browsers to social networks, websites, sales pages, and buy links.
Scott MacMillan's Entrepreneur to Author: An eBook — $9.99 value. Learn how to write and publish an expertise-based book that will build your authority and grow your business.
Kevin Mullani's Blue Ocean Positioning for Authors: Training Videos — $47.00 value. Turn your expertise into an outstanding book where your message serves your readers and supports your business.
JoEllen Nordstrom's Write, Edit, Publish, and Profit — $149.95 value. Learn the different levels of editing so you can achieve success via self-editing or professional services.
Gabriela Pereira's From Brain to Book: Package Your Expertise into Book Form — $49.00 value. Learn a step-by-step process so you can take the material you have already created on a blog, podcast, or other creative outlet and package it into a book.
Dale Roberts's The Amazon Self-Publisher: 3 eBooks — $9.99 value. Get concrete and proven strategies for publishing on Amazon via three ebooks: Amazon Keywords for Books, Promotional Strategies for Books, and Amazon Reviews for Books.
Kris Safarova's 43 Ways to Make Your Book Work for You — $297.00 value. Increase awareness of your brand, attract new readers and dream clients, connect with your audience, build your career, generate more revenue and build a thriving business simply by leveraging a book.
Isabel Sterling's Create Better Characters with Coaching: A Masterclass — $25.00 value. Learn how to create a character-driven plot and lay the foundation for brilliant midpoint and finale plot twists that will help you write stories that sell.
Plus dozens of more valuable and useful ebooks, courses, and webinars.
Click here to find out more: https://bookmarketingbest--infostack.thrivecart.com/wpp5
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This coming week, Infostack will be launching a new writing and publishing infostack featuring tons on incredible content. Meanwhile …
Because Infostack partners with the top thought leaders and experts in the writing and self-publishing space, they have rare access to a high level of smart people: USA Today bestselling authors, New York Times bestselling authors, award-winning writers, and more. Incredible people.
And it occurred to them that they had access to a treasure trove of wisdom. So what they’ve done is curated some of the most inspiring self-publishing stories, courtesy of their amazing A-list lineup of contributors to this year's Write Publish Profit 5.0.
And they compiled it into a new FREE guide for indie authors.
Get the free ebook, Your Hero's Journey: Overcome the dragons of dread, doubt, and defeat, and release your creative power as a writer by clicking on this link: https://bookmarketingbest--infostack.thrivecart.com/wpp5/6273ce4c73b62.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Book Author Question: What key experience is required to become a bestselling author?
John Kremer’s Book Marketing Answer: The key experience required of anyone who wants to become a bestselling author is to read. Read other authors. Read the top books in your genre or field. Read and read some more. And, of course, buy books!
As Ernie Zelinski recently wrote in the Book Marketing Success Stories Facebook group:
I'm amazed by the number of people I have encountered who want to be bestselling authors and don't read other people's books.
When I discover a bestselling book in the areas that I write in, I promptly buy the book to see what makes the book so successful.
And no, I will not take it out of the library. That's for losers. If you won't buy other people's books, why would you expect other people to buy your book?
My advice: Read the best books. Buy the best books. Encourage other people to buy and read the best books. And make sure your book is one of those best books.
In Ernie’s post in the Book Marketing Success Stories Facebook group, he started by showcasing two books he bought in the early 1970s that got him on the right track in life: The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches by Joe Karbo and The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment by Thaddeus Golas.
As it turns out, those were two books I bought and read as well back in the 1970s.
And, as you can see, those two books inspired one of Ernie’s own books, The Lazy Person's Guide to Success : Financial Independence and Personal Freedom Too!
More Resources from John Kremer
Book Marketing Bestsellers website:
https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book Title Critiques by John Kremer: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Check out my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Become my patron to support all my book marketing work, especially the Billion Book Initiative: https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Join my Book Marketing Success Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Question: Can any book, no matter the content or quality of writing, be sold with your book marketing plans?
John’s Answer: A bad book can’t be sold no matter how good the plan of action. You can sell a few copies of a bad book, but once the word gets out — and it always does — then you will sell few additional copies.
Content is important in book marketing. The quality of writing is important in book marketing. The cover and design of the book are important in marketing a book.
The fundamental first step in marketing books is to create a good book in the first place. That involves the author in writing a good book — both in content and in the quality of writing.
Then the publisher takes over by editing and designing a great book — with a great cover.
Only then will marketing produce the results you hope it will.
Source: Book Marketing FAQs – Book Marketing Answers to Help You Sell More Books: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-marketing-faqs.
More Resources from John Kremer
Book Marketing Bestsellers website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
Book Title Critiques by John Kremer: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-title-critiques
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Check out my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Become my patron to support all my book marketing work, especially the Billion Book Initiative: https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Join my Book Marketing Success Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Book Marketing Success Podcast, I got the chance to interview Jason Barnard, author of The Fundamentals of Brand SERPs for Business: Google Is Your New Business Card and It Is Up to You to Optimize Yours.
Brand SERPs are search engine result pages generated by Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo when users type a set of words into a search engine to discover more details for information they seek.
Jason Barnard, The Brand SERP Guy, teaches people how to convince search engines to showcase the optimal details about themselves, their companies, or their brand names. As Jason notes,
Google is key to managing the online presence of your business. Think of the Google search results for your brand name as a digital business card—the single most important online representation of your brand message.
In The Fundamentals of Brand SERPs for Business, Jason uses exclusive insight from his business, Kalicube, to explain why Brand SERPs are a vital part of any digital marketing strategy.
Google reflects the world’s opinion of your brand, so learning how to tailor your Brand SERP elevates brand credibility, audience engagement, and overall success. With other brands leaving their online reputation to chance, now’s the time to make your Brand SERP sexy so you can surpass your competition.
Among other occupations, Jason has been a musician, a screenwriter, a songwriter, a digital marketer, a software developer, and a blue cartoon dog.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
About John Kremer
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Listen. You have to do the thing that scares you the most. Whatever that thing is, go find it. Kick down the door. Look it right in the eye. — Will Packer, producer
Sometimes you've just got to do something that scares you. That's the only way you'll move forward and grow. Why not do it today? — John Kremer, author
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things - https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
Connect with me here:
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/johnkremer
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173511.John_Kremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here are just a few of the quotes and resources featured in the article, “The Power of Podcasting,” in my alumni magazine, Macalester Today: https://www.macalester.edu/news/2022/04/the-power-of-podcasting.
Podcasting officially became a thing when Adam Curry began sharing audio recordings of his everyday life in 2004. Many people consider his podcast, Daily Source Code, as the first podcast.
But many listeners began seriously listening to podcasts ten years later when Serial, a true crime podcast, first became available in 2014.
51% of Americans over the age of 12 listened to a podcast in 2021 (Edison Research).
32% of Americans listen to at least one podcast every month.
There are about a million podcasts being created and distributed daily, weekly, monthly, or for a limited series (10 to 12 episodes).
Because podcasts are portable and many episodes are moving or informative, podcasts can create a real intimacy between the podcaster and the listeners.
Podcasting has the power to deliver exceptionally good stories. Many of the most listened-to podcasts feature stories. That’s why podcasts of novels and works-in-progress can generate such large audiences and dedicated fan groups. If you are a novelist, you should be podcasting your stories as you write them (or podcast previous novels, one page or one chapter at a time).
Audio communication fills a unique niche for people, with podcasting in particular lending itself to engaging and deeply investigative storytelling. — Curtis Gilbert, correspondent, American Public Media
Students find podcasting fun, flexible, and interactive. Plus, it’s relatively easy to do. … Podcasting helps students build digital literacy skills while learning to communicate information to a broader, more general audience, rather than a strictly academic one. — Tamatha Perlman
Podcasting, especially audio drama, gives storytelling a different dimension than TV or books. It’s an engaging, immersive experience that’s intimate, close, and allows you to be an active listener. If it’s done well, you don’t want to miss a minute. — Davy Gardner, curator of audio storytelling at Tribeca Enterprises
Podcasting is a step toward helping Global Teck Worldwide up our branding. My advice? If you own a business and you’re not podcasting, you should be. — Rolando Rosas, founder of Global Teck Worldwide
My advice? If you are a book author and you’re not podcasting, you should be.
Need help with recording and editing your podcast? Check out The Podcast Shop, founded by Katharine Heller, another Macalester alumnus.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, become a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Book Marketing Success Podcast, John Kremer interviews Janine Bolon, author of Author Podcasting, on being a great podcast guest as well as creating your own podcast.
Janine Bolon is the author of Author Podcasting: Be a Stand-Out Guest While Taking Your Book on a Virtual Tour. Available at Amazon: https://amzn.to/393xUB6 or free with shipping at https://book.authorpodcasting.com/free-sh.
Author Podcasting is a guide to the author who wishes to promote their book without coming off as salesy. There is so much more to you, your book and your message that you can share with podcast hosts and their listeners.
Download the free media kit checklist here: https://authorpodcasting.com/checklist.
Connect with John Kremer here:
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Phil Singleton, host of the Local Business Leaders Podcast and co-author of SEO for Growth, interviews Jon Schram, chief marketing officer of the Purple Guys tech support company.
Why Write a Book?
The key points on becoming a bestselling author on Amazon start at 11:35. Why write a book: Up your E-A-T score for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
10 Steps to Create Authority
Here are the 10 steps to creating authority for you and your book using an SEO-driven authority campaign. Use blog posts to write your book, section by section. Or use podcast episodes to record and write your book, section by section.
11 Steps to Optimizing Your Book on Amazon
And here are eleven steps to optimizing and marketing your book via Amazon. They use the example of Jon’s book, I.T. Support Selection Made Simple: How to get friendly, reliable support for a more productive day.
Here, again, is Jon Schram’s book, I.T. Support Selection Made Simple: How to get friendly, reliable support for a more productive day:
Connect with John Kremer
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Or become my patron for all good things: https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Book Marketing Success podcast, I interviewed Dr. Rachel Noorda, assistant professor at Portland State University, and Michele Cobb, executive director of PubWest on the new report about book distribution options, Publishing Distribution Practices: How the Future of Publishing Distribution Can Be Forward-Thinking, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, and Profitable.
Here are a few of the questions answered during this podcast episode:
How can the book industry decrease the return rate for books?
What does efficient delivery of print books to readers look like going forward?
What needs to be done to make book printing truly carbon neutral by 2050?
What’s stopping the industry from embracing POD as the preferred means for printing?
What shortcomings in the book industry were most exposed due to the pandemic?
And here are a few of the insights gained from the report:
Local buying can restrict supply chain disruptions caused by outsourcing and can support cost-effective delivery
Trade organizations such as IBPA and PubWest are vital for creating systems and alliances for the best publishing distribution practices.
Reduced print runs and more effective book marketing and promotion are key to minimizing returns.
Pre-orders (especially direct-to-consumer) can be particularly effective for combating returns and accurately determining print runs.
Distribution Practices Report
To read the entire Publishing Distribution Practices: How the Future of Publishing Distribution Can Be Forward-Thinking, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, and Profitable report, click here: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/docs/DistributionPractices.pdf.
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, IBPA leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the United States. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit https://www.ibpa-online.org.
Attend the IBPA Publishing University live in Orlando, Florida on April 29 to 30. Check out the details here: https://www.publishinguniversity.org.
Portland State University (PSU)
PSU is more than Portland’s public research university. It’s a place to test ideas and projects that show the world how different is done. Their innovative approach combines education with creative problem-solving and collaboration across campus for maximum impact. Nestled in the literary hub of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the Book Publishing Program at PSU equips students with skills in writing, editing, design, and marketing that prepare them for work inside and outside of the publishing industry. For more info, visit https://www.pdx.edu/english/mams-book-publishing.
Contact Dr. Rachel Noorda, assistant professor, via email at moorda@pdx.edu.
Publishers Association of the West (PubWest)
PubWest, a national trade organization of publishers and publishing-related members, is dedicated to offering professional education, publishing-related benefits, and opportunities for their members to do business as well as advocating for members, recognizing outstanding achievement in publishing, and providing a forum for networking to our members from across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit https://www.pubwest.org.
Contact Michele Cobb, executive director, via email at executivedirector@pubwest.org.
Sign up for the PubWest Webinar on the Publishing Distribution Practices Report to be held on June 22nd at 11 a.m. Pacific, 2 p.m. Eastern. Click here to sign up: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RrArIoI6Sj2WNnKzD97d7g.
Listen to my Book Marketing Success Podcast: https://bookmarketing.substack.com
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
I love this recent interview of Jackie Lapin, founder of SpeakerTunity, by J.V. Crum III of the Conscious Millionaire Podcast Network.
It’s a strong, detailed, useful interview on How to Get Booked as a Speaker (or Podcast Guest!).
Also, check out Jackie’s speaker packet which you can model to create your own speaker packet: http://www.jackielapin.com/wp-content/uploads/OfficialSpeakingPacketGeneral.pdf
Michelle Nedelec of Awareness Strategies and the Business Ownership Podcast interviews Jackie Lapin, founder of SpeakerTunity, on The Art of Getting Booked. Another great interview.
Connect with me here:
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/johnkremer
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Offer me a coffee or pizza tip: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/tipping/TGlua0Jsb2NrOjYyMWVmYWRhMzJiNjdmMDAxNzUxMTIyMg==
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
450 million people listen to podcasts every month. You can reach those millions of people via a daily, weekly, or limited podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and many other Podcast apps, directories, and platforms. Plus, with a simple modification, you can syndicate your podcast as well through video and social media platforms.
30% more people listen to podcasts now than in 2020. That’s a big growing audience!
Podcasting is expected to reach a billion listeners by 2028. So the growth in the potential audience will more than double in the next six years!
People like listening to podcasts while they drive around town, while preparing and eating meals, while gardening or walking or doing other outdoor activities. Podcasts are easy to consume.
A number of podcasts reach several million people every day.
One of my friends, Judith Briles, has had 10 million podcast downloads in six years—and been exposed to ten times as many people via syndication and video.
The Bible in a Year podcast has had more than 238 million downloads, thus becoming the #1 podcast in the United States. It features two men from Minnesota reading the Bible for about 20 minutes a day.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here is the audio and text content from one of Judith Briles’ new 3-minute videos featured in her Author & Publishing Tips in 3 Minutes or Less playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhXzmXm7u15joaoEPy23ASD2mCXtW-c-f). That playlist currently features 37 videos. Here’s one that got my attention:
Use Amazon Search Inside to Add to Your Book
How many of you have used Amazon? I bet most of you do.
Have you ever looked inside the book when you're looking at the details? Most books have the look inside or search inside feature in the book listing.
Now, go to a comparable book like yours, a bestselling book on your topic? Take a peek at how the look inside feature is laid out. Usually it has a table of contents, or what we now call the contents page.
Take a look. Does any of that book’s content match what you're thinking about including in your book? We're not talking about doing a copy paste, copy paste of content. We're looking for noodling. Is there something maybe you hadn't thought about to include or something that sparks your thinking?
You know, that seems so old, everyone has it? Maybe I need something with a unique twist. The search inside feature is very, very helpful on Amazon to spur your own thinking and planning for a book
I would also read the back cover to look for bullet points that pop out at me. Does any of the back cover copy speak to me in what I'm writing about?
I can't tell you how many times I've watched movies or a TV show, and there's a line in it that pops out and reminds me that I need to include something like that in my book. And then I end up writing an entire chapter on eight words that I heard that became the golden egg.
And now that you’re read the edited text and listened to the podcast audio, watch Judith tell the same story in her YouTube video:
Judith is using the power of YouTube playlists to showcase a series of related videos and, in essence, creating a YouTube podcast via an integrated playlist of related videos. Cool!
I might steal this idea from her or, more likely, copy some of her idea to create a new playlist for myself. You could create a series of related short videos as a playlist for your nonfiction book, novel, memoir, children’s book, or podcast.
Here are my two main playlists about book marketing:
Book Marketing Success Podcast (a playlist that syndicates many episodes from my Book Marketing Success Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmBDUpR8MYLB0AIBTk3Zau82aW0Y9cZ5.
Book Marketing Tips Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmBDUpR8MYJccMHTCuq-loHZ5ORYPso3.
Listen to my Book Marketing Success Podcast: https://bookmarketing.substack.com
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Welcome to this episode of the Book Marketing Success Podcast.
Let’s talk about marketing as storytelling. All marketing, ultimately, is about telling stories. Become a storyteller if you want to sell more copies of your books.
For example, in my own experience, I often tell the story of why I wrote and published 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.
The story is short and simple. I first created a Directory of Book Printers. People loved it. But then they would come to me for help on how to get the books they’d printed out of their closets, their spare rooms, or their garages.
Well, that was easy for me. I knew at least 101 Ways to Market Your Books, which was the title of the first edition of my book on selling books. Now the book is titled 1001 Ways to Market Your books, and it’s still a lie, because there are more than 1001 Ways.
Telling the story of how and why you came to write your book is a good way to market your book.
You can also talk about other reasons why you wrote the book.
You want to help people.
You want to entertain people (if you've written a novel).
You wanted to change people's lives.
You want to let people know how to do something.
So tell stories when you're marketing your books.
I was recently listening to the Social Media Marketing podcast where they reported that long videos are no longer working on Facebook. Facebook is a highway of fast-moving cars, of users moving from one post to another with hardly a glance.
If you go over two minutes on a video, you’ve gone on way too long.
I’ve gone on over two minutes here, but I’ve still kept it short.
Tell stories. Keep them short. Have fun. And move on!
This is John Kremer, with your book marketing tip for the day!
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Rumble: https://rumble.com/register/BookMarket
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user135683864
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnKremer
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here is the edited transcript of most of this episode:
John Kremer: I want to welcome everybody to another episode of The Book Marketing Success Podcast. Today I'm featuring my great friend, Judith Briles. She's the author of many books, including How to Create a Million Dollar Speech.
She will talk about speaking both as a tool for promoting yourself has an author as well as using speaking as a great way to create content.
Judith Briles: It's a dual edged sword. There are so many things that you can do with speaking. And, the number one thing is you can sell a boatload of books.
That's what I call the cash cow two-step, combining your words and your speaking. Together, they're dynamite.
Ask yourself: Who are you writing for? Who are you reaching out to? Once you figure that out, that connection is already off and running. And when you can now bring the verbal side to it, and the how to, or the storytelling, or whatever it is that you as an author are writing about. It's the way to really connect—and where people want to take you home with them. And since they can't usually physically take you home with them, your book would be the next best thing in most cases.
John Kremer: Another way that it works is that they can also take you home, via the audio and videos that you create, from your speaking engagements and your podcast episodes. I mean, I take you home every week via your wonderful podcast.
Judith Briles:
I think that is an evolution. I actually started out as a speaker before I ever wrote anything. At the time, there was no such thing as blogging, there was no email. But I would write articles.
When my first book came out, which was going to be the one and only—no one told me that books bred by themselves. Then people said, well, we want you to come and talk on your book. And it was a while before I really got that this is the way to move.
I am a recovered New York publishing snob. I used to believe that “Oh, only legitimate authors are published in New York.” I did 18 books with the big boys before I finally crossed the bridge.
It all started because of speaking. I was speaking to a group in Seattle, and I got a call and they said, “Judith, could you reach out to your publisher and ask if we could get maybe a little discount if we bought a few of your books?”
Well, I had just taken back the rights to the book. I bought the remaining stock, which consisted of 60 copies. And I said, “I'm sure I can make an arrangement. How about if I could get you a third off?”
And they say, “Oh, that'd be so great. So tell them we'd like 1000 copies.”
Well, that was the giant goal. I actually needed to do a revamping of the book. And that's how I crossed the bridge. And once I did that, and figured out how much faster and timely and how much I could control it. And, oh, I can make more money. I never looked back. Never look back.
John Kremer: Right. It's really great, especially in your case where you ended up having to print more books, which a publisher would have taken weeks and weeks and possibly years to do?
Judith Briles: Yes, I had to do the rewrite. And then I had to find a cover designer, and I had to find a layout person. I had to do all that and I was totally ignorant.
The only mistake I made in that process was that I knew nothing about manufacturing and printing books. And I probably paid twice as much per book to do that. But I was able to negotiate enough books. I had a 2,000 copy first run for the book. They wanted 1,000 copies. Then they immediately came back and wanted 500 more copies. And, you know, I was in the green.
John Kremer: That's one of the really neat things about speaking: not only can you get paid to speak, but you can sell your book as well. And they will often buy copies for everybody in the audience, or all the members of their association.
Judith Briles: Well, I had the formula down. I was a traveling store by the time this thing really got rolling. And we knew, depending upon the time of day, how many books we would sell, for the audience, for the time of day, if I was opening in the middle, if I was the keynote, or I was a workshop person, or if I was the closing person. I mean, they could love you, you could rock the roof, but half of them are already gone, because they just want to go home. And, if you’re the evening speaker, rarely did you sell much in books, because they may love you but they wanted to get home.
I have always been very transparent on what my book sales and speaking fees are. I sold over a million books this way. I grossed over $2 million dollars. At the same time, I made over $3 million more in speaking fees. So I think people are nuts not to be speaking on their expertise.
John Kremer: I agree with you on that. When I talk about ways to market your books, probably my number one way is speaking.
Judith Briles: Number one, number one.
John Kremer: Because you control it for the most part. You don't have to rely on the bookstores to sell your books or a catalog to pick up your book or TV appearances or anything. You just start booking yourself as a speaker.
Judith Briles: And when you sell your books, you get paid on the spot and nobody returns them. That's an author's dream.
John Kremer: Non-returnable is definitely an author's dream. I remember selling my book sometimes when people would come up with cash. My book was $19.95, but they would give me $20. I made five cents extra.
Judith Briles: No, we always rounded our numbers. But the other thing I told people at gigs, because you're there, you're there to sign your fabulous book. You're not discounting, sweetheart. Why should you discount? So my books were marked at $20 and $25. I actually raised prices on books. I did have one book that went for $35. I had one book for $29.
Once you start having multiple books, you could put bundles together. We offered a six pack. And then it was like they got a free book in the six pack via the price and we would bring that down. We were like a traveling store. It made a lot of difference. It really helped.
I started pre-selling a book six months before I ever had it in hand. Six months I was starting to collect money.
John Kremer: That's one of the things I really liked about self-publishing. When I first came out with 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, it was called 101 Ways to Market Your Books. I actually pre-sold three books in a deal. And so I had to write them (because I hadn't written any of them when I offered the deal). 1,000 people paid me up front for the book deal.
Judith Briles: And that pays for your whole print run. It pays for so much when you're ready to go. But you know, you do have to use the money for what you're going to deliver people. And the only deal I offered for the presale group is I covered shipping. I would eat the shipping cost.
John Kremer: Can you tell us some of your inside secrets of how to book a speaking engagement and to get the ones that buy 1000 copies?
Judith Briles: Well, at first, I didn't know that they were going to buy 1,000 copies. But it was the topic. I had three distinct areas that I spoke on. One was from a financial background, when I was with EF Hutton, long ago, the token woman stockbroker. That's how I started speaking. Someone asked, “Hey, can you come over and speak to a group of us in the East Bay?”
And I said, “Yeah, I could.” And, I did so many things wrong from a presentation side of it, but I realized I knew a lot of stuff. Once I figured out how to start doing this structure and get it sequential, it was hot. So I started in the financial area
I then went back to school and earned my doctorate. My thesis was on ethics. And the topic was: Do women undermine other women? I discover that was going to be the ultimate lemonade stand. It propelled me into major media, from the Wall Street Journal to the National Enquirer, an unbelievable media magnet
I thought I was writing for the corporate woman, but I was actually writing for the people who would buy my services. Corporations were scared to death of me. I said to them, “I don't get this. You do programs on sexual harassment. But it’s often women undermining women.” Men don't discriminate was one of my pitch lines.
Contrary to popular belief, men don't discriminate. They will equally shaft anybody. Women, though, are more inclined to undermine their own gender. But that idea was taboo.
But, then, my audience came and found me. It was called health care—a predominantly female dominated workplace that had toxicity woven through its blood veins. They always wanted zapping conflict in the workplace or sabotage: how to deal with the pitfalls skunks snakes scorpions insolence in the healthcare workplace. And anybody who worked in healthcare knew exactly who I was talking about. The book sold itself.
That was what carried me for a long time. And then other things, came along. I've transitioned because I've always helped people with books, introducing people to my agent, etc.
Then I got injured in a hotel accident, slipping on the marble floors, and ended up with a brain injury. I couldn’t do the work I used to do. For a while I was wheelchair bound. I couldn’t travel. I couldn’t do math.
How was I going to take care of my family? Well, when I was able to start speaking again, I began helping people with their books.
The gift that came to me is when I'm talking to someone about their book, I see it. I see how it's supposed to lay out. I see how it's supposed to structure. I see it. So that was the new gift that came to me.
Do I still speak when I'm asked to? Absolutely. I love to speak. I love to share. I love to talk about kick-butt book marketing. I love to try to inject the fun that marketing is instead of feeling like it’s overwhelming all the time.
John Kremer: I think people are often afraid to speak. And I think there are a lot who say, “Oh, I don't want to do that. I would shake in my boots.” But in my own experience, if you've done it a few times, you start to really enjoy it. And I think that most people that start to speak and get used to it, actually start to enjoy it. I started pushing people off the stage to get to speak. They took too long to introduce me!
Judith Briles: Some people would rather die than speak. But the public needs to hear that you wrote this book. Why should you speak? Because you're a problem solver. I've always said that it's not money that makes the world go around. It’s problems. We authors are problem solvers. We're problem solvers.
I had an epiphany. If you don't start taking some of your own ideas and write about them or speak them, other people will. …
Part of my speaking contract specified that I had an educational table—and not in the back of the room where I was speaking, but out in the exhibit area, near the bathroom or registration where the traffic was. My record in five hours: I sold 560 books, one book at a time. And that was a gross income of $16,000 and some change.
For the nonfiction writer, here is how you create a speech. You have chapters. Each chapter is a key point. Then ask what's your point? How are you going to reinforce it? Is it going to be with an alarming statistic? Is it going to be with an awesome story? How are you going to set it up? And then, are you going to have an activity or an exercise within it? …
It's always smart to have an opening story and a closing story. Tell stories that are yours, not anecdotes from other speakers. Tell signature stories that are your own.
When, for example, I'm talking about conflict, I often tell a story about how I ran into the back of an elephant because I wasn't paying attention. Then I would compare it by saying that some of the people you have to work with are equivalent to running into the rear end of an elephant. Hey, point made. Now move on. …
John Kremer: It’s easier to sell when you're in control of the pace of what you're telling. Q&A really interferes with that rhythm. That's why you always go back to make that one final point. So you're back in control.
Judith's website: https://thebookshepherd.com
AuthorU: https://authoru.org/april.html
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
One of my friends, Roberta Vigilence, author of How to Secure Sponsors Successfully, Third Edition Revised—Funding For Events, sent me a Facebook notice about a video released just a few days ago. Here’s her message:
Guess whose book got a shout out. Yours did. I told Loni Mendez about your book. She purchased it and here is what she said.
Listen in, especially, at the 8:38, for a wonderful and sweet message about 1001 Ways to Market Your Books:
In the above Grounded Jeremiah video, Loni tells her story as an author, going from one book to three books over a few years.
Special thanks to this amazing author Yolanda-Loni Mendez for sharing her inspiring journey with the women of Grounded.
Check out Loni’s store on BigCartel: https://lonismerch.bigcartel.com where she features her current three books.
You can also find her latest book on Amazon here: Nurture the Soul: Inspiring Words from My Heart to Yours.
Big Cartel Online Stores
If you don’t have a store online, check out BigCartel.com where you can sell your books as well as custom merchandise as screenprints, resoprints, clothing, wood, tote bags, or original art. For five products, it’s free to set up a store. Or, for up to 50 products, the cost is $9.99 for your online store. Big Cartel has an Alexa rank of 4,529 so it has a lot of traffic that might help people to discover your online store.
So, I took a half hour to set up a little store on Big Cartel. You can find it here: https://bookmarketing.bigcartel.com
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Introducing the brand new book Marketing Counts by Shreya Banerjee and Paul Counts — an important new book that digs deep into all the information entrepreneurs and marketers really need to know.
Why everything you’ve learned about marketing is wrong
How to identify your perfect customer
Master messaging to your audience, and much more.
With tips on everything from effective landing pages, SEO, and email marketing hacks to a deep dive into every kind of advertising available on platforms today, Marketing Counts is an essential, must read for anyone in the field.
Marketing Questions and Answers
These questions were answered during the podcast episode.
What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to how marketing is taught and implemented?
Explain why the letters FTE will literally transform a business or organization?
Why do businesses market themselves like they are promoting a hobby instead of a real business?
How are businesses holding themselves back from true success?
How can your mindset influence your marketing for the better?
How can you position your business as the leader in a crowded marketplace?
Free Report on Emailing
For a free report on email, Boost Your Sales With These 26 Powerful Email Marketing Tips, click here: https://www.emailmarketingcounts.com.
About Paul and Shreya
Shreya Banerjee & Paul Counts are co-founders of Marketing Counts, serial entrepreneurs, tech startup founders, fractional CMOs, and advisors to the influencers.
They are teachers at heart who have a passion for helping entrepreneurs and students alike grasp proven marketing concepts.
They created a marketing curriculum that has been in over 140 high schools.
They have also taught marketing to numerous colleges throughout the country.
Their client list includes a who's who of the personal development and influencer world, and their marketing can be seen on display with Fortune 50 companies and Publicly-Traded organizations.
They bring a process-based approach to marketing stemming from Shreya Banerjee's Six Sigma Black Belt experience.
For more information, email paul@marketingcounts.com.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In this Book Marketing Success Podcast, John Kremer interviewed Elizabeth Backman of Wildflower Social Media. Elizabeth gave a ton of tips on how to create a great Instagram profile and post images and videos that get results. Listen in for all the details. Or watch in the video below.
Liz creates social media strategies tailored for book author and their books. For most authors, she focuses on using Instagram as the major social media tool for promoting books. She teaches authors how to leverage themselves to promote their books as well as Instagram best practices that are often missed or simply overlooked.
Look at all the wonderful graphical elements she has on her Wildflower Instagram profile at https://www.instagram.com/wildflowrsocial:
You can watch the interview as well:
And here is my new LinkTree profile which Liz recommended in the video: https://linktr.ee/bookmarketing. When you go to that link, you can also create your own Link Tree profile.
Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.com
Listen to my Book Marketing Success Podcast: https://bookmarketing.substack.com
1001 Ways to Market Your Books: https://amzn.to/3ICjpAs
SnipFeed: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing
Ask me a question and I'll answer back with a video: https://snipfeed.co/bookmarketing/shoutouts/U2hvdXRvdXQ6NjIxZjBmNDFkNTVjODUwMDIzZWQxMzk5
Book me as a podcast guest or be a guest for my podcast. Connect here: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast-guest/john-kremer-bd46ec
Or just buy me a cup of coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing
Connect with me here:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookMarketingSuccessStories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnfrederickkremer
Here's the video of the podcast on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/videos/189191-book-marketing-success-podcast-marketing-authors-and-books-on-instagram
Here's the video of the podcast on Vimeo:
Here's the video of the podcast on Rumble: https://rumble.com/vz0i8u-elizabeth-bachman-how-to-use-instagram-to-market-books.html
And here's the podcast on Twitter:
And here's the video on LinkedIn (first 15 minutes): https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johnkremer_bookmarketing-instagrammarketing-activity-6914864001428455424-oWPI
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
For this episode of the Book Marketing Success Podcast, I interview Grant Ferry, the author of The Innovation Opportunity: Getting started with business innovation and moving beyond survival!
Here are a few of the questions we covered in this podcast. Note: Most book authors are owner-operators. That means that they need to innovate to create the best books, publish those books in a new way, and market those books with new passion and foresight.
In basic terms, what is innovation?
What is the innovation imperative?
Why do owner operated businesses innovate less than larger business?
What are the biggest mistakes made by owner operated businesses when it comes to innovation?
What are the biggest weaknesses smaller businesses have when it comes to innovation?
What strengths do smaller businesses have when it comes to innovation?
What are the key elements of engaging in effective and efficient ongoing innovation?
What is the innovation opportunity for owner operated businesses?
How should owner operated business get started with innovation?
What should book authors do to innovate?
Listen in to hear Grant’s answers to these questions!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
How do you get your videos out to more and more people via YouTube? Here's what Shaun Letang of Music Industry How-To has to say about that:
Well today I’m going to share a big secret you can use to get your videos out there more: Optimize them for YouTube’s search and suggestion engines!
If you didn’t know, YouTube videos can be found in one of a few ways.
Send Viewers Directly
First, you can send people there directly. Unless you already have a big audience, you won’t get many views this way.
Keyword Optimize Your Videos
Next, you can optimize your videos so they get found when people search for specific things.
As a very basic example, if someone searches for the words California rapper (California rapper being the keyword), you want your video to show up for that YouTube search. In order to maximize the chance that happens, you’ll need to optimize your video for that term and other related terms (aka keywords).
To optimize your videos, put the words California rapper (your keyword) in your video description, the video title, in the actual video, and more. This will show YouTube you’re relevant for this search term and increases the likelihood they’ll show your video when people search for that keyword.
That’s an overly simplified description of how to optimize for a search term.
By learning and doing these optimizations, you can get many people consistently finding your videos when they search for specific terms. Imagine making a bunch of videos, optimizing them, and having them bring you new subscribers and fans every day. Well, this is exactly what can happen!
Video optimization is so underutilized in the music industry (and the book industry) it’s crazy. So, by default, optimization is still open for you to take advantage of. Every musician and book author who’s serious about doing music or writing full time should learn YouTube optimization.
Get YouTube to Suggest Your Videos
A final way you can get traffic from YouTube is by YouTube suggesting your videos to its users. This won’t normally happen until you get an existing subscriber base on the platform, and YouTube knows that people like what you’re doing.
From there, YouTube will test your videos by sending them out to new audiences, and if these viewers like what you’re doing (which YouTube will measure via watch time, engagement, and more data), YouTube will keep pushing your video out to more and more people over time.
Get a free ebook, 5 Steps to a Profitable YouTube Music Career, by going here: https://www.musicindustryhowto.com.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Listen to this this story of how Shaahin Cheyene ended up getting massive national publicity for his business selling Herbal Ecstasy. You can find the complete story in the Dropping Bombs video below:
In Cheyene’s Amazon Mastery, Amazon FBA Seller Course, he helps individuals and business owners to create predictable recurring revenue with his bulletproof Amazon systems that never fail, putting you ahead of 80% of all Amazon sellers.
Find out more about his course here: https://fbasellercourse.com.
Find out more about Shaahin’s book Billion: How I Became the King of the Thrill Pill Cult by clicking here: https://amzn.to/3D88Iod.
I think there are things to learn from Shaahin about persistence, audacity, integrity, authenticity, and influence. That’s why I shared his interview and quotes.
Words of Wisdom from Shaahin Cheyene
Here are a few of Shaahin’s quotable words of wisdom featured in the above video showcasing Brad Lea of Dropping Bombs interviewing Shaahin Cheyene.
I was motivated to put my own dent in the universe. — Shaahin Cheyene
At the end of the day, it all comes down to two things: Authenticity and Influence. — Shaahin Cheyene
People can sense a natural hunger for success. — Shaahin Cheyene
Once I set my mind to something, nobody can tell me no. — Shaahin Cheyene
Riches are in the niches. — Shaahin Cheyene
The more you think about the negative stuff, the more it will be affirmed. — Shaahin Cheyene
If you’re not focused on making your money now, someone else is. — Shaahin Cheyene
I've never been one to chase money. You chase excellence, not money. — Shaahin Cheyene
If you can learn how to influence people, you will never go hungry. — Shaahin Cheyene
Check out Shaahin’s Hack and Grow Rich podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/hack-and-grow-rich-podcast-shaahin-cheyene-DenFP24ySfd.
And, finally, here is a link to many of the podcasts that have featured interviews with Shaahin Cheyene. If you have a business book or story, these podcasts might be interested in interviewing you as well.
https://www.shaahincheyenne.com/podcasts/collaborations
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The above podcast is courtesy of Brendan from MasterTalk on YouTube.
Public speaking, much like leadership, is NOT something you're born with, but rather something you learn over time if you know exactly what to work on.
- Master Silences
Silences are the biggest difference between great and exceptional public speakers. The top speakers in the world use this technique to make their presentations better instead of seeing them as a sign of weakness. That's why it's absolutely crucial that you learn to master the art of silences.
- Master Filler Words e.g. ah, uh, eh
Saying filler words in a presentation detracts the quality of your entire pitch, so it's very important that you learn to remove them altogether before you think about giving an exceptional presentation. By replacing these filler words with silences, you'll be able to get one step closer to mastering this.
- Master Your Audience
The quality of your presentation is solely determined by how much your audience LOVES you. Thus, it is important that you're always thinking about how to craft your presentation in a way that your audience will be able to fully understand what you're saying and get behind you.
What is the goal of your presentation? Teaching, motivation, entertainment?
Understand the needs and desires of your audience.
Communicate their needs back to your audience to get them excited.
Tell stories and analogies.
Stay energetic.
- Master Eye Contact
Eye contact is a tricky subject because it varies based on the space you're in, the number of people in the audience and your ability as a speaker. But don’t look up to the ceiling. Look at the people in your audience (but don’t focus on just one person).
- Master Posture
Most students assert they don't need coaching on posture, when in reality, most of them make two big mistakes when speaking: legs are too far apart and the famous leg tick, where they frantically move their feet for no reason. Brendan always recommends Sticking Together, where you essentially glue your feet together to avoid these problems until you're in a comfortable position to present.
Bonus Video: 5 Advanced Public Speaking Tips
We explore the powerful tools that the best communicators in the world utilize to make their presentations perfect in this week's episode of MasterTalk.
- Master Impromptu Speeches
I do not know what I'm going to say next as much as you do. But, through my way of speaking, I'm going to CONVINCE you that I do so that with some practice, you will too.
Speakers who have mastered the art of presenting anything to anyone with no preparation have mastered the following three things.
They use silences to masterfully buy time. Instead of standing up and worrying about what to say next, they raise their glass, confidently look at the room, and say nothing to buy time.
They have strong facial non-verbal cues. Through their face, they convince you that they’ve practiced their speech 100's of times.
They keep eye contact with their audience at all time to never hint that they have no clue what’s coming next.
- Master Vocal Tone Changes
Vocal tones have nothing to with singing or being a news reporter, but rather deciding in advance where you want to change your tone, in other words, artificially using them to grab the attention of your audience.
For speaking tones, have a few honest friends tell you if they enjoy hearing your voice to figure out how to adjust your voice for a mass audience.
High Tones project optimism, positivity, something amazing happening at the company, or an exciting future for the organization moving forward. I usually use high tones when I present a solution to a problem or when I’m presenting what MasterTalk is to prospective clients.
Low Tones are mostly used to emphasize the key message of your presentation, or the moments that really matter that can be somber, extremely vital, or emotional to hear.
- Master Audience Obsessively
Take your level of obsessiveness with your audience to the next level. It is the only way to master any of these tips. Here’s a trick you can use to really bring it to the top 1% of speakers.
Practice talking to an audience that doesn’t exist. When I would participate in business competitions, most of them consisted of a judging panel that was NEVER from the actual company. In order to win, I needed to pretend as if they existed in the flesh which meant being inspired by what they are doing, raving over the mission and embodying that in full, Then, when the audience was real, it was easier for me to present.
Get a friend to act like your audience and point out every flaw that you don’t understand about them and their needs.
- Master Your Pace
Mastering pace means understanding how you normally speak and aligning what you normally do with the way you present. This is known as aligning. Most people speak faster in presentation mode than if they are conversing at lunch. That because they have a different mindset in presentations (get over it as fast possible). The key in speaking is to speak at the same speed for both.
- Master the Unknown
From my experience in theater, I’ve learned that some of the best performers were also the most fearless. The best presenters can give a keynote under any circumstances, no matter what challenge is thrown at them.
Fall in love with disaster. No matter what happens, whether it’s a broken mouse or projector, or forgetting to put your slides on a USB so you have to present without them, don’t let anything falter you.
For business or one-on-one public speaking coaching inquiries, you can reach Brendan at brendenkbusiness@gmail.com.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Listen in as Anthony M. Turner of Biz Success Radio interviews Grant Ferry, an innovation expert from Australia. They talk about innovation as a mindset and how even the smallest innovation steps can ensure the survival of your business.
Grant Ferry’s first book is The Innovation Opportunity: Getting Started with Business Innovation and Moving Beyond Survival!, available on Amazon. I love this cover (but, alas, survival is misspelled as survuval).
Fortunately, the actual book cover doesn’t have that problem:
Also, check out Grant’s video about innovation.
Note: The description of this video on YouTube should have featured Grant Ferry’s name in the title (The Innovation Opportunity by Grand Ferry) as well as in the description so people could find it via his name.
Plus the description shows where to buy his books, but do not provide links. Why not?
To purchase the books visits:
-
www.fortitudebusinessconsulting.com.au
-
Amazon:
-
Audible:
-
Kindle:
It looks like they intended to add links after the colons, but that didn’t happen.
And to make www.fortitudebusinessconsulting.com.au a clickable link on YouTube, you have to add the https:// like below:
https://www.fortitudebusinessconsulting.com.au
Also, of course, list the full titles of both books in the description, with links to both books on Amazon, Audible, and Kindle.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Michele Cobb, host of the Behind the Mic podcast published by Audiofile magazine, interviewed bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell to talk about audiobooks, podcasts, and the meeting of the two.
Gladwell is the host of the Revisionist History podcast. Check out his latest audiobook, Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know. Gladwell is the president of Pushkin Industries, an audiobook and podcast production company.
Discover more audiobook recommendations at https://audiofilemagazine.com.
As Malcolm writes his books, he’s always think about the audio experience as well. What will the audiobook sound like? What extra content can he add to the audiobook?
His company creates what he calls 5-star audiobooks that offer an immersive and enhanced listening experience. As he notes,
“When … you start with the audio in mind and then move toward the print, I think the writing really does change. I think your writing is necessarily more conversational. You spend a lot more time on character and emotion and those kinds of things. But you tend to do a little bit less of the things that print is good at (print is good for complicated, analytical kinds of stuff). Hard to do that when you're talking. So I think it does change the shape of books.”
When he writes a book, he does a table read of the entire book, listening for how it sounds. And then he often rewrites the draft to make it more concise, more interesting, more attractive to the ear. He’s also done public performances of parts of a book to get audience feedback.
His company, Pushkin, originally focused on podcasts but quickly moved into producing audiobooks as well. As Gladwell notes, the difference a podcast and an audiobook is slight. You pay for one, the other is free (in most cases). The other differences are mainly technical, which most listeners would not notice.
John’s Comments
If you are doing hour-long podcast interviews, you are essentially creating short audiobooks and print books with each session. And you can create even longer books and audiobooks by interviewing the same person or other experts in a series of related podcasts.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Thank you!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following is another podcast episode from Book Marketing Mentors hosted by Susan Friedmann.
This episode features Tina Dietz sharing her treasure trove of tips and techniques to get your message heard by creating a great audiobook.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following is a podcast episode from Book Marketing Mentors hosted by Susan Friedmann. This episode features David H. Lawrence on how to record an audiobook.
Why you should turn your book into an audiobook …Where having an audiobook fits into marketing a system …Whether or not some books are better than others in the audiobook format …
If you should or shouldn't be the narrator of your audiobook …
The first step to take to get started converting your book into an audiobook …
Common audiobook mistakes to avoid …
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This episode and the previous one are courtesy of my friend, Judith Briles and her Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.
Audiobooks are leading the publishing industry in terms of growth. Smart authors and publishers are getting into the game as quickly as they can. This episode is all about taking your audiobook presence to a higher level with key marketing and distribution tips!
Becky Parker Geist and her company, Pro Audio Voices, work on projects ranging from single narrator to full cast with music and sound effects to author-narrated books in all genres from children's books to novels to textbooks to memoirs.
Your takeaways include:
Tips on how to leverage your audiobook production from the inside out.
Tips for driving traffic to your website so your audience can continue to engage with you.
Tips on what makes a great listening experience and some key things to watch out for.
Tips on how to use the existing audiobook files to help spread the word in new ways you can only do with audio.
Wowsa tip on how to open your audiobook to 50 distribution platforms at once.
Discover a way to earn higher royalties than you can get from any existing retail platform while retaining more control over pricing and customer information.
and, soooooo much more.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
This episode and the following one are courtesy of my friend, Judith Briles and her Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.
Audiobooks are leading the publishing industry in terms of growth and smart authors and publishers are getting into the game as quickly as they can.
Most find there is a lot more to producing and marketing audio than they thought before getting into it. Much of it is different from publishing other formats, and the learning curve is steep.
Your takeaways include:
Tips to use your existing audiobook files to build your author platform
Tips on how to increase your royalty payments
Tips on how to increase the price of your audiobook
Tips on narrating—you or someone else
Tips to drive traffic to your website via your audiobooks
If you want to take you and your work to another level, then the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is for you. Judith Briles and her guest, Becky Parker Geist of Pro Audio Voices have lots to share in this episode.
Thank you for reading Book Marketing Success. This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A little over a week ago, Joanna Penn interviewed John Kremer on book marketing for 2022 and beyond. Here are a few of the points I made during that interview:
Your goal is to stay out there long enough that the people that need you or want you or hope to find you actually do find you.
A lot of us end up writing a book because we actually need the information in the book. Or we're looking for a really interesting novel that will entertain us. So we write it.
The key thing in marketing books that you need to still do is connect with people that can help you. Connect with the distributors, the editors, the producers of TV shows, the bloggers, the podcasters, and so on.
I recommend that you connect with people through email. That's something that even us shy introverts can do. You start by checking out their social media. Start commenting on what they're writing about, what they're doing. You try to make some sort of connection.
The reality is that that magic process doesn't work unless you make it happen. So, you do have to persist. You have to connect. If you don't connect the first time, you try again. You really have to be a little bit obnoxious, and patient!
The minute you connect with one person, the magic can start to happen. There is actually some magic that, if you connect with one top influencer, and they write about your book, chances are that other influencers follow that influencer, and they go, ‘Okay. If he's going to interview him on his podcast, I want him on my podcast.' And that kind of thing happens, and they start to reach out to you.
You're not really passive marketing when you're advertising on Amazon, which I think almost every author should do, especially an unknown author, because it's one way to get people to notice you.
Hire professionals to help you if you can't or don't want to do it yourself?
The neat thing about advertising on something like Amazon, or Facebook, or Google or wherever you might want to advertise, is that most online marketing, you can set a budget, even a small budget, $10 a week or $25 a week, and at least test the market and see if by advertising you make book sales, or you make connections, or in some way, it helps you move along in your goal to become a bestselling author.
It's about also staying out there long enough that people notice what you do, or they eventually look for what you do.
it's about also staying out there long enough that people notice what you do, or they eventually look for what you do.
Once you create a podcast and you set up the syndication, all you have to do is create more episodes, because the syndication will take place automatically. And that's one of the really, really neat things about doing a podcast.
Audio is hot, and the neat thing is that with a podcast, you can also do a video version of your podcast, and put it up on YouTube and Vimeo, and a key source right now is Rumble.
How do we know when we need to give up one way of marketing and find another one? When it's not producing results is one of the best ways to know. If you're not selling books any longer through that particular platform or whatever you're doing, nobody's discovering you, nobody's emailing you, things like that, then you know that, ‘Okay. What I'm doing now isn't working.'
If you know how to pin, if you know what to pin, you can get a lot of traffic through Pinterest.
I think all authors should be connecting with other authors, and doing some sort of co-op marketing where you help each other.
I think a podcast tour could work. In other words, you connect with 5 or 10 key podcasts, people who are podcasting in your area, and I would probably approach those podcasters by first saying, ‘I'd like to interview you,' which is what I did with you, and then you said, ‘Well, I want to interview you.'
The neat thing is that Substack, besides that email capability, and the paid version, which is like a membership site, they also offer podcasting. So you can do your podcasting on Substack, for free. No charge, and it's up and running, and you can syndicate it.
Note: I said that Andy Weir podcasted his book, The Martian, but he actually blogged about it, one short episode at a time. You can read more about Weir here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/how-to-create-a-bestselling-novel-and-movie.
The most successful authors don't make all their money just from book sales.
Part of my content that I do in some of my websites has nothing to do with marketing or books in general. It's just a way of attracting people to my website, so they can discover, because I believe almost everybody has a book inside them. So the world is my audience for how to market a book.
The key thing is, if you're going to do marketing, do at least one thing a day.
If you do one thing a day, whether it's send out an email, do a podcast episode, get interviewed by somebody else, over time, that's 365 action items a year.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
For the entire transcript of this podcast, see: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/02/07/book-marketing-tips-for-the-long-term
Joanna Penn is the author of Audio for Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting and Voice Technologies.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Joanna Penn is the author of Audio for Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting and Voice Technologies and a number of other writing and publishing books, including these:
How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge into Words
How to Make a Living with Your Writing: Turn Your Words into Multiple Streams of Income
Successful Self-Publishing: How to Self-Publish and Market Your Book
Public Speaking for Authors, Creatives and Other Introverts
Here are some of the questions we covered in this podcast
What criteria should an author use to decide which books to publish as audiobooks as well?
Is it easy to create an audiobook on your own as an author? Or would you recommend working with a professional narrator?
Would you caution authors about producing their own audiobooks?
How should an author price an audiobook versus Kindle ebook, paperback, and hardcover?
How do authors position their books to take advantage of an increasingly audio world?
How easy is it for an author to start up their own podcast?
And why should an author start up a podcast, especially as a tool for marketing their books?
What is the best type of podcast for an author to start? What are some of the options?
How do authors find the best podcasts to pitch as guests?
What does an author do to be a great podcast guest?
Anything new on the voice technologies like AI, speech to text, and text to speech?
Audio for Authors
Do you want to create, publish and market your audiobooks?
Are you ready to use podcasting to grow your author brand and reach more readers with your books?
Audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment in publishing with double-digit growth in markets across the world. Podcasting has gone mainstream with listeners consuming audio on mobile phones and in-car devices, as well as through smart speakers. Advancements in voice technology continue to expand possibilities for audio creation and marketing.
With such rapid growth in opportunity, how can you position your books in an increasingly voice-first world?
Audio for Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, and Voice Technologies by Joanna Penn: https://amzn.to/3z7IRe5
As Joanna has noted, I've been podcasting for over a decade as well as narrating and producing my own audiobooks since 2014. I'm an avid consumer of audio content and I'm also experimenting with AI voice technologies. In this book, I'll share everything I know so you can position your books and your author brand for the next shift in reader behavior.
Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here are a few more facts that I hope will convince you to start your own podcast. As I said before, podcasts are hot, hot, hot. And big, big, big!
Spotify Podcasts
299 Million Listeners — Spotify has over 299 million listeners (172 million paid listeners) across 92 markets worldwide just waiting to discover podcasts like yours.
2 Podcast Audience — Spotify is the second most popular place to listen to podcasts in the world—and it’s growing fast. iTunes from Apple is #1, but I believe Spotify will catch them soon!
Double the Audience — Spotify’s podcast audience has nearly doubled since the start of 2019.
Revenue Driven by Podcasts — Spotify’s advertising revenue jumped by 75% in just a year, much of that revenue driven by podcasts. And you can get in on that revenue.
299 Million Listeners — Spotify’s ad team is testing a new ad format, a clickable call to action visual ad, that plays after their audio ads on original podcasts.
The King of Audio — Spotify wants to be the king of audio, so it’s expanding its exclusive podcast and audiobook offerings. It has signed deals with Bad Robot, Higher Ground Productions, Joe Rogan, Dax Shepard, and others.
$100 Million Podcast — Joe Rogan was paid $100 million to keep his Joe Rogan Experience podcast only on Spotify. His podcast gets over 10 million listeners per episode.
Other Podcast Pluses
The New York Times recently paid $25 million for Serial Productions, a podcasting firm. The Times also bought the audio subscription service Audm for $8.6 million. They expect podcasting to grow much bigger in the next few years.
The iHeart Podcast Network reaches 32 million people every month with 392 million monthly downloads.
The Rubin Report with Dave Rubin has 1,660,000 subscribers on YouTube alone. He has had 423 million views of his podcast since 2012.
Newsmax, a major media company (with a magazine and a TV channel), launched its first podcast recently, The Newsmax Daily with Rob Carson.
Judith Briles, author of How to Write a Million Dollar Speech, has broadcast over 350 podcast shows on Your Guide to Book Publishing with more than 9 million downloads so far.
Listen in on one of her latest podcast shows featuring an interview with me: https://www.toginet.com/podcasts/authoruyourguidetobookpublishing/AuthorUYourGuidetoBookPublishingLIVE_2021-12-3.mp3
These are just a few of the reasons you should start your own podcast NOW!
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Thank you for reading Book Marketing Success. This post is public so feel free to share it.
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I just finished a coaching call with an author. And at one point I asked her this question (actually, two questions): How can you fall in love with your readers? And how can your readers fall in love with you?
The thing is, these two questions are probably the two most important questions you can ask yourself as an author.
Perhaps you don't like the word "love" and, if that's the case, use a different word.
But, regardless, the most important thing you can do to market your books is to really care for those you write for. If you care, they will care.
As Rick Blaine said at the end of one of my favorite movies, Casablanca, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Join me if you can on my birthday book marketing Q&A via Zoom. It's tomorrow, January 16th, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain time, 6:00 p.m. Eastern time (U.S.).
Click on this link to join: https://zoom.us/j/93353375853?pwd=QkRaYVBGWXN4anhPcUZncTNWVVJHQT09
It could be the beginning (or continuation) of a beautiful friendship. I hope to see you there.
Thank you for reading Book Marketing Success. This post is public, so feel free to share it. Thanks!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Get ready for an hour with two masters of book marketing and what you should be doing during 2022: John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book and Dr. Judith Briles via the AuthorU - Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.
Your takeaways include:
Hot tips for 2022 to do starting now.
Rediscover why superfans are your sweet marketing spot.
How to serialize your book via Amazon Vella.
New tips for creating the “CliffNotes” version of your book.
Discover Substack.com and how to use it to publish your email newsletters and more.
Why authors should be using Pinterest.
Are you ready to start?
Book Marketing Success Updates is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my on-going work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
You can also listen to this podcast via a few other podcasting services:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b06bb3b2-1ad2-40fc-adbc-d704c0a7cb4c/episodes/daa8b267-8bd0-46fc-94be-82e1a71809ef/author-u-your-guide-to-book-publishing-book-marketing-2022-with-john-kremer-12-30-2021
Thank you for reading Book Marketing Success. This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
As noted a few days ago, Brian Feinblum wrote a blog post on 22 things book authors should do in 2022 (https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/12/22-things-authors-should-do-in-2022.html). I thought I'd post his recommendations along with my riff on his ideas. Here are two more of his ideas.
- Join online groups. Join LinkedIn and Facebook groups connected to writing books, especially those targeted to your genre or topic. There are writing groups for romance, science fiction, self-help, memoirs, travel, food, business, and more. Plus, of course, there are groups targeted to any topic you write about, groups that might not be about writing, but might bring in fans, advocates, bloggers, podcasters, etc.
Online groups are one of the best ways to discover insider secrets for researching, writing about, and publishing on your topic as well as marketing and promoting to your target audience or audiences.
Here are just a few of the writer groups on Facebook that I discovered several years ago. I joined many of them. Check them out and see if they work for you:
Creative Designers and Writers – 322,267 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativedesignerswriters – No rules, promotions allowed.
Writers’ Group – 40,572 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/memberswritersgroup – Writers of all skill levels and experience are encouraged to help each other through problem spots in their writing, bounce ideas off other members, and talk about the latest news affecting the industry/craft; exchange leads to discovery.
Content Writing, Writers – 37,993 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/copy.content – This is an exclusive place on Facebook for writing professionals into advertising, brand management, promotion and digital marketing to share and contribute with their experience and exposure in writing.
Books, Books and More Books!!! – 35,192 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/320356974732142 – Where authors and readers can post to help promote their books and giveaways.
English Writers – 33,823 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/English.Writers – Any post containing a link (and nothing else) will not be approved (when you post a link try to specify it to open in a new window so that it does not take the user away from the Facebook page). So not send quotes. A member can advertise his own book.
Writers Unite! – 32,576 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/145324212487752 – IF YOU HAVE A BOOK FOR SALE OR SERVICES TO OFFER (book cover, editing, etc.): we put up a bookstore on the pinned post that stays up from Friday morning until Monday morning. . . . IF YOU WANT TO POST A LINK TO: your blog/vlog, author's page, personal YouTube video, Facebook/Twitter page or anything of that ilk, post it in the comments of the pinned post from Monday through Thursday. Please remember, only one post per day for each link. You may post more than one link per day as long as it is not the same link. DO NOT POST LINKS IN THE REPLIES TO OTHER LINKS.
Book Promotion – 31,839 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookPromotion – The purpose of this group is to enable authors to promote their books, to readers of all tastes. What it is NOT for is the promotion and sale of anything other than books. If you post ads for anything else, you and your post will be removed – permanently. Author pages and other posts related to publishing and book business are permitted. (Operated by BestSeller Publishing; email: rebecca@bestsellerpublishing.org, Rebecca Grosch)
Authors – 30,575 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/179494068820033 – Anything about writing. Stories, experiences, advice and tips. Any new books, promotions or book cover designs.
Books, Blogs, Readers & Writers – 29,409 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1738820499716120 – We are here to have crazy book lovers, amazing literary bloggers, avid readers and passionate writers, all at one place. Feel free to share your works (Literature), your reading experience... anything and everything related to LITERATURE!
Online Book Publicity Group – 28,556 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/online.book.publicity – Operated by Substance Books. But members can post about their books.
Amazon Kindle Goodreads – 25,125 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/kindle.goodreads – This group is for people who own Amazon Kindle and want to share their recommendations for books they recent read and liked, or chat about their favorite authors etc.
Promote KDBook! Free! – 24,128 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/promotekdbook – Promote Your Kindle Book. Glad to have you with us. Wishing you every continued success.
Indie Author Book Promotion Page – 23,797 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/571135069563269 – Welcome to the open group for Indie Author book promotions. Share the links for author pages and books on your wall as well!
Freelance Writers – 23,561 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/2351373470 – This group is for all the freelance writers out there. Please share experiences, works or job postings.
Authors and Book Lovers Discussion Group – 23,293 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorspostyourbooks – This is a discussion group for authors and book lovers to chat about their favorite books. All Authors are welcome to promote here!
Kindle Publishers – 23,211 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/512098985483106 – Kindle ebooks only. New members please do make an introductory post so we can all know who you are, what you do, where you are from, etc. Feel free to include contact information like website or email or facebook page links. I do allow, indeed I encourage, self–promotion, advertising links, even affiliate links, in most of my groups. If not, it is clearly stated in the pinned post (No second chances for those groups!), but those promotional posts, comments, or links must be on topic for the group. If it's relevant, feel free to share it, whether commercial or otherwise. If you post about the same book, theme, plugin, etc. more than once, do so only with reasonable frequency. Some groups have more traffic than others. Your book should not show up more than about once in 6 to 10 screens.
Book Reviews & Promotion – 22,232 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/148313988694907 – Post books, including those for sale (Sale Posts).
Authors, Reviewers, & Book Lovers – 22,142 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/BooksLuvers – Post only things that are book related, this includes book reviews, book promos as well as author sites, blogs, and Facebook pages, etc.
Book Promotions – 21,961 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/623206594363552 – This group is for promoting books of all kinds. Including poetry. Feel free to put up any book you have written or like.
Where Authors Begin – 21,273 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/516756898457588 – No promo posts – this is a group to support the writing process, not to promote your books. Posting covers of your books are also considered promo. If you want to share the art, share the art, but if you post the full cover, regardless of its context, it will be deleted. Blog post links about the writing craft allowed.
Ebooks N Books Promos Group – 20,359 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/eBooksBooksPromo – The purpose of this group is to enable authors to promote their books, to readers of all tastes. What it is NOT for is the promotion and sale of anything other than books. If you post ads for anything else, you and your post will be removed – permanently. Author pages and other posts related to publishing and book business are permitted. (Operated by BestSeller Publishing; email: rebecca@bestsellerpublishing.org, Rebecca Grosch).
Writers and Readers – 20,335 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/writersandreaders – Post questions about books and recommend books and where writers can interact with readers.
Novelspot Readers – 19,589 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/NovelspotRecommendsbooks – We're all about the books? Authors, your brags go here! Contests you're in! BUT If you're an author and want to TALK WRITING with authors, publishers and editors, join Novelspot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Novelspotters.
Author Promo and Book Sales Group – 19,453 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/147716185430164 – Post your book covers, links to where the book can be purchased, as well as a log line of what your book is about to try to get readers interested.
Creative Writing – 19,448 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/wherecreativitylives – No rules.
Promote Kindle Book++ – 18,740 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1084582441578359 – Promote your Kindle book free.
Writers Helping Writers – 18,565 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/mikegeffnerpresentswritershelpingwriter – New members are encouraged to introduce themselves, tell a little about yourself, how you got started writing, the type of genre you work in (sci–fi? romance? historical fiction? non–fiction?) and other interesting trivia, but no links to your books or "please buy my book" posts will be allowed.
Authors Promoting Authors – 18,498 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/apablog – Authors Promoting Authors community group. This group serves as a forum for discussion, promotion and sharing. Please be respectful.
Authors, Agents, and Aspiring Writers – 18,349 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/204725947524 – You are free to promo new releases, your books, your writing blogs, your thoughts on writing and asking for help from others to improve your craft. If you have information that you think will be beneficial to writers, please share. Please do not post the same link/cover/promo more than once a day. This includes promotional services. If you post six different authors in a day, you're flooding the wall and making your promo more like spam.
Books, Readers and Authors – 17,903 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/BOOKS.READERS.and.AUTHORS – All of us are either readers, reviewers, or authors. Let’s celebrate our reading experiences and out books!
There’s an eBook in the Room – 17,659 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/126014020784739 – A room full of eBook enthusiasts and their eReaders. Featuring the very best in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, There's an eBook in the Room is your guide to great reading!
Cheekypee Promote Your Books – 17,519 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/2friendspromatewithauthors – This is a UK based group. Feel free to advertise your book/books, but please DO NOT SPAM the group with post after post with your books. Respect others in the group. Everyone wants to advertise their books, so please do not bump posts or arrange your friends to do so. People are FREE TO COMMENT on your post but not by prior arrangement just to move your post up. We do not endorse or encourage REVIEW SWAPS within this group, what you do outside of this group is up to you.
Amazon Kindle/eBook Readers – 17,477 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/129536203777715 – The group promotes not only ebooks but also paperback copies...some recommended reads.
Celebrating Authors – 16,721 members – https://www.facebook.com/groups/157960580960255 – In this group, shameless SELF–PROMOTION is not only welcomed, it’s encouraged––and the point! Give a hook line and the link to your book.
There are, of course, more such groups, some of which have grown much larger in the past few years.
LinkedIn also offers many similar groups that you can join.
In any group you join, don’t be mercenary. Share first. Answer questions from others. Ask questions. Become a real member of the group. Talk about your book only within the legitimate answers you give to other people’s questions.
And, of course, where allowed, you can always include an author signature with every post. Something like: John Kremer, author, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books
For more Facebook group links and other resources, download the following Facebook Links PDF: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/wp-content/uploads/Facebook-Links-1.pdf
- Boost your social media posts. In other words, pay to get more people to see your social media posts and click through on them.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of this suggestion. But that’s just because I’m cheap. I hate paying for traffic when I can get the traffic for free.
On the other hand, I do understand that with many social media, the only way you’ll get much traffic is to pay for it. Facebook definitely works that way for most users. You have to pay for traffic. And it’s certainly still worth it to test Facebook ads to see if they will pay off for you in sending traffic to your sales pages.
You will also get more traffic on Instagram and LinkedIn if you pay for that traffic.
In my experience, you can get a ton of traffic from Pinterest without paying for it, but ads on Pinterest could be very effective in selling your books or other products. I would certainly test ads on all social media, including Pinterest.
Facebook Ad Options:
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
My friend Brian Feinblum recently wrote a blog post on 22 things that book authors should do in 2022 (https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/12/22-things-authors-should-do-in-2022.html).
I thought I'd post some of his recommendations along with my riff on his ideas. Here are three of his ideas to start with.
- Do more on social media. Either join a new social media, get more active on your existing social media accounts, or learn more about how to use social media effectively.
Brian suggested looking at Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. You could also look at new platforms (such as CloutHub, Gab, Gettr, Locals, Medium, Parler, Rumble, and Substack) that might fit your area of expertise or target the audience you want to reach.
Focus on one or two social media. No more. You can belong to more social media, but focus your efforts on the one or two social media that will make a big difference for you.
- Launch a blog. Or become more active on posting to your current blog. Post regularly. And be sure to share your blog posts via your social media.
I recommend posting three times a week to your blog and then posting to your key social networks.
Include a graphic in every post. Your social media posts will automatically pull in the graphics to make your social media more impactful.
- Launch a podcast. Post regular episodes, at least once a week for longer podcasts. Post more frequently if you doing 2 to 5-minute episodes.
Make sure you syndicate your podcast to as many outlets as you can. The power of podcasting is in the syndication by high-traffic websites.
Be sure to create an intriguing name for your podcast. And write a description that sells the podcast to potential listeners. And, finally, create a graphic that helps to attract your target audience to your podcast.
I would love your feedback on the above graphic. Do you think it works? Do you think it will bring people to my new Heroes for Today podcast?
Thanks for any feedback you want to share.
For those who haven’t subscribed to my Podcasting to Millions course via the paid version of this newsletter, think about getting involved now, especially if you want to build a successful podcast that helps you sell more books, products, and services.
Podcasting to Millions
If you want to be part of my new Podcasting to Millions course, subscribe to the paid version of this Book Marketing Update newsletter. Click on the button below:
Here are a few of the things you’ll learn in this course:
How to set your podcast up to reach thousands possibly millions of listeners.
What kind of podcast you should create for maximum reach for what you want to sell.
How to syndicate your podcast to the top podcast aggregators and video sites.
How to get started, step by step, in creating a podcast.
And much, much more.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
A recent survey of podcasting done by Acast and Nielsen found the following:
45% of those surveyed started listening to podcasts during the past year.
52% of those who love podcasts are spending more time listening to their favorite podcasts.
41% of Americans plan to spend more time with podcasts in the coming six months, while they plan to increase music streaming by only 36% and listening to online radio by only 29%.
Podcast listening increased by 52% during the past six months, while radio listening only increased by 36% and audio books consumption by only 33%.
57% of those surveyed listen to podcast episodes multiple times.
62% of listeners listen to more than half of longer podcast episodes (hour long or more).
65% of listeners are attentive when listening to podcasts. They focus on the content.
57% of listeners will listen to any ads because they believe it’s important to support their favorite podcast hosts.
What all these numbers mean is that podcasts are becoming a more important part of the lives of American consumers.
Nick Southwell-Keely of Acast notes, “We think of our favorite podcasters like our friends, and trust them to entertain and inform us.”
Podcast Content
What kind of podcast content do people enjoy?
70% enjoy listening to guest interviews.
64% listen to news shows, including news in a specific field.
58% enjoy panel discussions.
55% enjoy the banter of their favorite hosts.
Other prime content favorites include music and comedy.
If you plan to host a longer podcast (half an hour or more), feature interviews, news, and banter. If you are hosting a shorter daily podcast (2 to 5 minutes), feature short excerpts from your book, blog posts, or seminars.
Key Tips on Hosting a Podcast
And here are a few tips from a podcast host with over a million daily listeners:
Be a first mover. Find a unique topic and/or format, and build excitement for it.
Syndicate your content everywhere you can.
Note: Some podcasts have a collective audience larger than many cable news or opinion shows.
Host a show every day (5 days a week) for the most impact.
Subscribe for one year to get the complete course on using Substack for your email newsletters, podcast syndication, content delivery system, and membership portal.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
In the early 1980s, Texas spent $20 million a year cleaning up litter on their streets and highways.
Why? Because people ignored the Keep Texas Beautiful ad campaigns.
So Texas tried out something different. They hired a new ad agency to create a campaign that would speak to the guilty parties—mainly young men who like to break rules.
Rather than trying to convince them to care about the environment or how things look, the campaign featured a slogan that spoke to what those men already believed.
The slogan? Simple: Don't Mess With Texas.
No true Texan would ever litter their own state. It's the outsiders that do the littering.
This Don't Mess with Texas messaging reduced litter by 72%!
Think about that.
How will you change your message to appeal to different audiences? Try to adjust your marketing message to the people you really want to reach.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
The following article is adapted from a wonderful newsletter shared recently by Steve O’Keefe, author of Set the Page on Fire: Secrets of Successful Writers. It outlines ten ways you can promote your books on Amazon—as well as ten ways you SHOULD promote your books on Amazon.
- Register, Claim, and Fix Your Amazon Author Page
Amazon Author Central (https://author.amazon.com/claim/welcome) enables you to register as a book author and claim your books. You can add a blog feed (from your main author blog), videos, photos, a bio, and more. Steve wrote a detailed article for IBPA on how to claim and complete your author page here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/blogpost/1734581/309773/The-Amazon-Makeover-by-Steve-O-Keefe.
An Amazon author page can act as your home page on the internet (if you like to use it for that purpose). From there you can promote yourself as an author, talk show guest, consultant, expert, speaker, and more.
Steve O’Keefe’s Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-OKeefe/e/B001HD0BJ4
John Kremer’s author page: https://www.amazon.com/John-Kremer/e/B001H6L2T4
- Fix Your Amazon Book Pages
You can control the content on the pages for your books. Amazon provides six bins you can fill with content, including Editorial Reviews, Inside Flap Copy, Back Cover Copy, and About the Author. You can put anything you want into those bins, within reason, such as excerpts, reviews, special offers, rights information, tour schedule, etc.
But don’t be annoying or too aggressive. And don’t link to any site outside of Amazon (Amazon does not like to send people outside of itself when people are reading about books to buy).
- Add a Media Kit to Your Website
A good media kit, the key to promoting your book to a variety of audiences, is foundational content for a book website. Your kit should contain a single-page printable summary with Contact Info, Book Summary, Author Summary, Book Cover, Author Photo, and META data such as dimensions, pages, ISBN, etc.
Steve recommends an index to Best Lines, Power Paragraphs, and Best Excerpts, along with Keynames, Keyplaces, and Keywords. You should also include and update Author Endorsements and Book Endorsements. And, of course, you can add all that onto your Amazon Book and Author pages.
Check out this wonderfully complete media kit for Words Whispered in Water: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fgJI0dZvI09JBmJGMsEuSPT2Y8SRVILhHM0OQVeHNR4.
- Review Books on Amazon
Review books in your field, books you like, books you’ve just read, books Amazon associates with your book (both in the Amazon ads as well as on your book pages), and books by authors Amazon associates with you. When you do a review, always link your name to your Amazon Author Page and your book title to your Amazon Book Page.
You don’t have to write long reviews, but you should show that you read the book (or at least scanned it). A one-sentence review can often get more attention and be more effective. Most important, make sure your review enhances your credibility as well as the credibility for your book.
Besides reviewing books on Amazon, you can also post your book reviews to GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, your website, and more. Again, with links to your Amazon Author Page and Amazon Book Page.
Note: If you start doing effective book reviews that help sell books, you can ask for free review copies from the publicity department of book publishers.
Here is Steve’s book review page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFAEINMZMSHSFDABB5CJDQ5NR3OQ.
- Link to Your Reviews
Link to your book reviews on Amazon. Link from Twitter, from Facebook, from Pinterest, from your website, from LinkedIn, etc. Note: Your book reviews on Amazon have a unique URL which you can post to social media or include in your email newsletter, such as Steve’s review of New Orleans: A Literary History: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R24YF8OE73FXZ9.
When your review gets traffic, Amazon notices and elevates the visibility of your review. This creates a positive feedback loop between your reviews and your social media that brings you to the attention of the media, talkshow producers, literary agents, publishers, and rights buyers. — Steve O’Keefe
- Create and Maintain a Blog
You can add an RSS feed from your blog to your Amazon Author Page. You can get a free blog from WordPress.com, Blogger.com, Medium.com, or Substack.com.
A blog allows you to push your content to your Amazon Author Page. And with the bonus of featuring links to outside sites on your blog posts within Amazon. You can also get videos onto your Amazon Author Page using this blog backdoor. You don’t have to keep blogging if you don’t want to. However, it’s a great place to post all the book reviews you write and receive.
You can follow John’s BookMarketingBestsellers blog on his Amazon Author Page at: https://www.amazon.com/John-Kremer/e/B001H6L2T4.
- Comment on Amazon Book Reviews
Your comments on Amazon book reviews can contain a link to your Amazon Author Page as well as links to one of your Book Pages (or the books of other authors).
As you review books on Amazon, you’ll come across other people’s reviews that might be worth commenting on (because their reviews are insightful, because of the traffic they get, or because of the topic itself). All you have to do is write a few words of encouragement and link to your Amazon Author Page.
Note: Your comments on reviews are excellent ways to introduce yourself to other authors, editors, and agents.
- Comment on News Stories
As you peruse news stories on various websites, blogs, or podcasts, you should comment on relevant news stories. As a book author, you are an authority on the subjects you write about. So use your expertise to comment on the news stories where you can add unique perspective, added ideas, or useful tips. Most sites will welcome your authority.
Note: When you comment, use a signature that includes the title of your book and a link to your media kit.
Steve offers a campaign that turns the drudgery of commenting into something more entertaining and productive (sort of like a treasure hunt). Contact him if you want help with your commenting campaign. Email: steve.okeefe@orobora.com. Phone: 540-324-7023.
- Connect with One Reporter Every Week
Reach out at least once a week to a reporter, journalist, editor, producer, or host. Connect with them via a short email offering a free review copy of your book or a reason to interview you. Also connect with them via comments on their social media posts, etc.
Keep an email message under 100 words. Don’t include any links or attachments—or your email could end up in their spam folder never to be seen again.
If you need help pitching, see Chapter 7 of Steve’s book, Set the Page on Fire: Secrets of Successful Writers, which contains detailed instructions for creating effective short pitches for books and authors. You can also hire Steve to pitch for you; he does that for a few authors every week. See his contact info in Point 8 above.
Plus Tip: Check out Help A Reporter Out (HARO) for reporters and others looking for experts: https://www.helpareporter.com.
- Create a Database of Connections
Most authors fail to record all the connections they make every week. You should build a database of your own contacts (either as an Access or Excel data file or simply as a Word document. Use what works best for you.
Personally, I use Microsoft Access for most of the data files I create, but I’ve also used Excel on occasion to develop media lists and key contact data files.
Every week, you should transfer the names of any new contacts from Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Email, etc. to your own database. Then you can look them up, fill out their profiles, send a thank you note, invite them to subscribe, share a special offer, etc. Keeping your own list protects you from being cut off from your contacts or charged to communicate with your own fans by these social networks. A well-maintained mailing list can be a valuable asset worth up to $25 per contact when a business is sold!
One final note: A great book cover is the most effective piece of content on Amazon for selling your book.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Ernie Zelinski shared his success story on the Book Marketing Success Stories group on Facebook. Here’s his story:
Just to show that an innovative author can still get results during the pandemic, check out the front cover of the Vietnamese edition of The Joy of Not Working that was just published in Vietnam and is being released this week along with two of my other titles.
It will be a few weeks before I get my complimentary copies of the three titles but I know that Ken, the Vietnamese gentleman who works at my favorite coffee bar in Vancouver, will be pleased to get copies of the three new translations.
He was super excited when I gave him the Vietnamese edition of 101 Really Important Things You Already Know, But Keep Forgetting, and he keeps treating me to free coffee.
Again, a bit of history about The Joy of Not Working. Over 30 years ago I told anyone who would listen to me (including an order taker at McDonald’s, two derelicts on a Vancouver park bench, and a Nigerian scam artist) about my idea for a book on how to escape from the regular work-until-you-drop mentality.
The book's title eventually became The Joy of Not Working. I figured that this book would launch a career for me as a successful author. Many people laughed at the idea; others seriously thought that I was crazy. By the way, many people still think that I am crazy—but I have the results and they don't!
Incidentally, I self-published The Joy of Not Working in 1991 because no mainstream publisher was willing to take it on. The Joy of Not Working became my signature book. Today it still sells in print and ebook form.
Not many books have this sort of staying power 30 years after publication. It has been published in 17 foreign languages and has sold over 315,000 copies worldwide.
Now, I have a question for you:
Do you have as much faith in your book? Here’s how you can tell if you have faith in your book: Tell everyone you meet in the next three days that you are writing and publishing a book. Tell them what your book is about. Get excited. Tell them you will be famous soon. Tell them you are a real book author.
Start talking today. Don’t wait. I expect to hear from you on Monday that 20 people are ready and willing to buy your new book BECAUSE you told them about your book!
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One thing you should never forget as a writer or a publisher is this: The truth sells. Tell the truth, and you could become a bestselling author.
Lie, and if you are a politician, your book might still sell—only, of course, to your side of the argument. The other side only likes to hear their own lies, not yours.
You might be surprised to know that, even in fiction, you have to tell the truth. If you tell a story that doesn’t ring true, readers will know—and they will not pass on your book to their friends. In fact, they will tell their friends this: Don’t buy that novelist’s books. They don’t tell the truth.
In marketing your book as well as in writing it, you have to tell the truth. Tell the truth of the book in its description. Tell the truth in your news releases and interviews. Tell the truth when people ask about your book. Tell the truth on your website, in your blog posts, in your social media tweets and pins, and in your podcasts and videos.
The truth will take you a long way in selling your book and getting on to writing your second and third books.
A writer should never forget: Your first obligation is to the truth. It might hurt, but without it, everything else is worthless. — Park MacDougald, Life & Arts Editor, Washington Examiner
Never tire of telling the truth. It is the best this world has to offer. Spread the truth thickly on everything you do.
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Thank you for your interest and support. — John Kremer
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Listen in as Mike Capuzzi of Bite Sized Books and the Main Street Author Podcast interviews John Kremer on how to sell more books. Lots of great tips are shared in this half-hour interview. You’ll be glad you listened in. Listen in as Mike Capuzzi of Bite Sized Books and the Main Street Author Podcast […]
I’m excited to bring today’s presentation to you because this is a business model that is different from everything else that you may have tried. And it’s something that generates income month after month, year after year.
With this model, you’ll be able to tap into Amazon’s nearly 500 million customers.
Note: I didn’t say subscribers. Amazon has half a billion customers, all with credit card numbers on file with Amazon—all of them ready to buy what you have to sell.
One of the easiest and most profitable things to sell on Amazon is ebooks. With us in this webinar is someone who is known as the Amazon Kindle King. He’s been doing this for a long, long time—and he’s going to show you a simple 3-step process that he uses to make a killing publishing Kindle ebooks. He makes a consistent monthly passive income through Kindle.
He’s a family guy, someone who cares for and adores his wife and children. If you follow him on Facebook, you’ll see that he and his family are world travelers. From London to Thailand, from Canada to France, and all over the Caribbean, they travel while his Amazon income continues to come in.
So, with that said, I want to bring on Mr. Ty Cohen.
When it comes to creating passive income streams, this guy is a master.
===
He Turned Kindle Into a Passive Income Stream in Just 3 Steps!
We’re always looking for new passive income streams and although it doesn't happen too often, once in a while I meet someone who blows me away.
Ty Cohen used to be a stock clerk at a Walgreens pharmacy making minimum wage. And he literally "unlocked the secret" to publishing 20-40 page reports and eBooks to Amazon's Kindle—and his first couple of books still bring in over $3,000 per month in recurring revenue on autopilot month after month after month.
Oh yeah—and get this—he doesn't write one word of any of the material that he publishes because he's also found a clever way to get others to write each report or ebook for him for as little as $100 and he sells them over and over making thousands of dollars!
How many times would you invest $100 to make a few thousand? 5 times? 10 times? As many times as possible?
Well, he has it so dialed-in, he has duplicated the process dozens of times. This is what you call a real business, with real recurring revenue. Best of all, you're tied into and get paid by Amazon.com, a multi-billion dollar company who sends you a check the beginning of every month.
No, this guy is not a guru. In fact, he failed English 101 in high school not once, but twice!! So between you and me, he's also not the sharpest tool in the shed (he admits!).
He's just a regular person who figured it out after lots of trial and error.
We spent over 2 hours on the phone recently—and I’m impressed with the simple 3-step system that he uses to make all of this money, as well as his willingness to share.
But here's why I’m really excited ... because whether you already have an existing online business (or not), here are a few things that really amazes me about his system.
In order to make this work for YOU…
You DON'T need a list.
You DON'T need a web site.
You DON'T need to host any webinars.
You DON'T need affiliates.
You DON'T need JV partners.
You DON'T need to run a launch.
You DON'T need traffic.
If you already have a business generating revenue, this will ramp it up (and help you double your list size). If you don't have a business generating revenue—well, you really can't afford to miss this.
Mark your calendar—because in just a few short days I've asked him to train you on his entire 3-step system for free. Trust me, this will forever change the way you think about building a true lifestyle business.
Register for the free training session right now:
https://musicbizcenter.isrefer.com/go/jokrwebreg/jokrkcf
See you on Thursday, July 23rd, at 7:00 p.m Eastern / 4:00 p.m. Pacific.
P.S.—We’re using GoToWebinar where there’s a 1,000 seat maximum. So, to ensure your spot on this webinar, register now:
https://musicbizcenter.isrefer.com/go/jokrwebreg/jokrkcf
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
When writing Substack posts, podcasts, newsletter articles, blog posts, social media posts, reports, books, etc., don’t be afraid to write. Don’t let writer’s block or writer’s fear get in your way of being creative and sharing great content.
Don’t be afraid to start something even though you might not succeed and will abandon your plan.
Don’t be afraid to fail. In fact, you can think you might fail or even will fail but be ready to try a new idea anyway. You might learn something new and might even succeed.
Don’t be afraid of the opinions or discouragement of others. You don’t even need to tell anyone your plans because others might disapprove and you might never even start.
Don’t be afraid to succeed. Success is strangely enough one thing that many are afraid of.
Don’t be afraid to imagine. That’s probably one of the best ways new ideas start.
Don’t be afraid others are better than you. It doesn’t matter. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Don’t be afraid others might judge you, laugh at you, be jealous, ridicule, whatever. It really doesn’t matter.
Don’t be afraid of a failure. Nobody needs to know. You can even laugh at your funny experience to yourself or even to others.
Don’t be afraid you won’t be a huge success. You don’t owe others anything.
Don’t be afraid to be afraid. Stage fright makes a better performance. Embrace your secret stage fright as a source of power.
Don’t be afraid of fear. It’s one of the underused tools that might block your great ideas. Welcome the fear as a necessary step to succeed.
Don’t be afraid to write down all the reasons you are afraid. They are just thoughts and might never materialize. Or you’ll find ways to overcome each reason and feel empowered by each victory.
If success is sure, everyone would do whatever others might fear.
Make fear your friend to use and succeed. It might lead you to other unknown roads.
Fear is just your thoughts of the unknown and your active imagination. It might at times warn you of dangers by intuition, but it might be an exciting, imaginary obstacle to overcome and prove to be just a thought.
Don’t adopt fears of others. Let them keep theirs and work at your fears.
Your success after fear is that much sweeter. You own your success and owe it to your fear and courage to grow and try.
Don’t be afraid of fear. It shows how strong and logical you are to find solutions.
Even if you fail, there are other fears to welcome and tackle to make them worthy of your efforts to succeed.
Seek fears and eliminate each one to find the core truth and power to get started.
This post is courtesy of my friend Leila Peltosaari, author of Sell Your Words. Find out more about her book here: https://www.sellyourwords.com. It’s a wonderful book on how to write, self-publish, and market nonfiction books.
John Kremer’s main website is BookMarketingBestsellers.com.
Connect with him via these social networks:Facebook — Flipboard — LinkedIn — Pinterest — Twitter — YouTube
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Pinterest is a very powerful social media platform that can help you get more visits to your website as well as more sign-ups for your newsletter. So learn how to get more people to visit your website by offering freebies!
Kay Moody, author of young adult fantasy books, gets 2.6 million views every month on Pinterest. In her Pinterest profile description, she offers the following: Visit my website to get my FREE short stories.
You can do the same. If you have something free to offer, add your free offer to your Pinterest profile description just like Kay did! You can add your free offer on your Pinterest board descriptions as well.
If you offer a free report, for example, featuring keto recipes, send people to your website via your Pinterest profile and some of your Pinterest board descriptions. You can write something like this: Get 100 free Keto recipes by visiting DailyKetoSuccess.com.
Using freebies on Pinterest is a very powerful way to get more people to visit your website and sign up for your email newsletter. And those newsletter signups are the first step in creating relationships with potential customers.
Check out her Pinterest profile here: https://www.pinterest.com/kaylmoodybooks.
By the way, her website is https://www.kaylmoody.com. Below is one of her ebooks she offers for free via her website.
She can crack and shatter glass with her mind, but the only people who call it a gift are the ones who don't have it.
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If you want to sell more books, let your potential readers know more about the true value of reading books—beyond the entertainment, information, or inspiration that a book might provide. For example …
Readers of short stories need far less cognitive closure than those who read nonfiction essays (University of Toronto study).
The conclusion? Fiction readers, both those who read novels and those who read short stories, are more open-minded and creative.
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This is part two on the new Happy Hour. See part one here: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/one-minute-book-marketing-the-best.
Remember: If you want to sell more books, you need to start a new Happy Hour—an hour in the morning or early afternoon where you pick up the phone and call people who could make a difference in marketing your books: media people, editors, bloggers, podcasters, website owners, social media influencers, etc.
Note: Most people don't answer their phones these days. They let it go to voice mail. Or, they let their mail box fill up and only take the calls they want to take. Many people in Hollywood now use this strategy to keep their return calls down to a minimum.
Here are some things you should know about this new Happy Hour:
It's a numbers game. All of marketing is a numbers game. It may take 10 or 20 or 50 or even 130 calls before you get one YES.
Results will come. You will get a YES if you call enough people. It's your job to make the phone calls, not their job to say YES.
Stay positive. Keep plugging away. The YESes will come.
Make this a habit. Call every day. Or, at the very least, do your Happy Hour at least three times a week.
Make time for it. If you work full-time, do your Happy Hour during your lunch break or after work. But do it.
Stick to it. Try doing Happy Hour for at least one month. That's the amount of time you need to take to give the new Happy Hour a chance to work its magic.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
If you want to sell more books, be sure to let your potential readers know more about the true value of reading books—beyond the entertainment, inspiration, or information that a book might provide. For example …
A recent study found that adults who read three and a half hours a week are more likely (by 20 to 25%!) to outlive those who don’t read books (Social Science & Medicine study).
That means you could add two to three years to your life by reading books!
Now that’s incredible!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
It’s time to give up your old happy hour of drinking and snacking after work. If you want to sell more books, you need to start a new Happy Hour—an hour in the morning or early afternoon where you pick up the phone and call people who could make a difference in marketing your books: media people, editors, bloggers, podcasters, website owners, social media influencers, etc.
In an hour, you can call four or five top influencers and have meaningful discussions with them. Ask them what you can do for them? Focus on that in the beginning. After you’ve created a helpful relationship, you can ask them if they can help you as well.
The best help you can offer each other is simple: Interview each other on your podcasts, or Facebook Lives, or Google Meetings, or Skype calls, Zoom calls, Whereby calls, etc. Or on your new podcast on Substack.com!
Join me sometime soon on my Whereby.com/bookmarketingupdates video space.
Once you interview your new friend, social share that sucker everywhere and everywhen you can. Once your new friend interviews you, again, social share that sucker everywhere and everywhen you can. And ask your friend to do the same.
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In this audio podcast interview, internet marketing expert Tom Antion interviews book marketing expert John Kremer on how to write and market your books. Introduction of John Kremer by Tom Antion Book marketing expert John Kremer is the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. And I got to tell you I bought that […]
Earlier this year, I was interviewed by Kathryn Guylay for her Make Publishing Fun Summit. Listen in as I talk about marketing your books and selling lots more copies of your books. Nugget #1: Speaking is a great way to build a buzz around your book, product, or service. Nugget #2: Word of mouth accounts […]
Self-published books once carried a stigma of being not the best books. But that has changed as more books like Wool, The Martian, and 50 Shades of Grey have become bestsellers and been made into movies. Self-published books now rule! Self-published books average better ratings than traditionally published books on Amazon. On average, self-published books also […]
When I’m writing a book, I don’t worry about potential sales, potential audiences, or potential marketing scenarios. My first concern is always this: Do I love the book project? Will I like being involved in writing the book for months or even years? That’s how I decide if a book is worthy of my commitment. […]
If they are truly honest, all authors hate marketing. They’d rather write. Building relationships is the key to marketing. And that’s just a matter of making friends. Of course, if you write a great book, your marketing is at least half done. Great books create great fans. And great fans sell books. Remember: 80% of […]
Here is an audio interview I did a number of years ago. In the interview, I shared a few Book Marketing Secrets. Check out these Book Marketing Secrets from book promotion expert John Kremer.Click To Tweet
In this Book Marketing Success podcast episode, John Kremer outlines the five key things every self-publisher must do to publish and promote his or her books. Self-publishing a book is a serious endeavor. It shouldn’t be done lightly. Create a great book first. Then market your self-published book like it really matters. Because it does. Here are […]
Listen in as Daniel Hall interviews John Kremer on the 5 Way Solution to Establish Your Expertise, Drive Traffic, Up Search Engine Love, and Sell More Books. Use the 5 Ways Solution to establish yourself as an expert in your keyword topic (and, of course, sell more books!). Pick a topic to establish your expertise. Write your 5 […]
Here is a recording (audio and video) of my live Book Marketing Q&A session via Facebook Live on Friday, December 30, 2016. I cover some very key book marketing tips while answering questions. Live Book Marketing Q&A session: key book marketing tips while answering author questionsClick To Tweet
Here is Part Two of my live Book Marketing Q&A session via Facebook Live on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. I cover some very key points while answering questions and talking about my new 1001 Ways to Market Your Books Master Class with Daniel Hall and John Kremer. Book Marketing Q&A session covers key book marketing […]
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe
Here is Part I of my live Book Marketing Q&A session via Facebook Live on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. I cover some very key points while answering questions and talking about my new 1001 Ways to Market Your Books Master Class with Daniel Hall and John Kremer. Book Marketing Q&A session covers key book marketing […]
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe