Learn what makes readers respond to your books.  The annual Smashwords Survey takes a quantitative, unconventional approach to identifying best practices that make books more desirable and more enjoyable to readers. Mark Coker discusses the results of this sixth annual survey, and provides new data never before released prior to this podcast.  Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Smashwords Survey 2017   (E7)

Learn to publish ebooks like a pro. Mark Coker guides you step-by-step from the very basics of ebook publishing to more advanced topics. 

Whether you’re considering publishing your first book, or you’re already a New York Times bestselling author, the Smart Author Podcast will help you reach more readers.

You'll learn how to make your ebook more discoverable, more desirable and more enjoyable to readers.

Over 80% of people dream of writing a book one day, yet most are completely unaware of the free self-publishing tools that can make  their dream a reality today.  And most published authors aren't reaching as many readers as they should because they're not taking full advantage of these amazing tools either.  The Smart Author Podcast teaches you how to use these tools.

The Wall Street Journal recognized Mark Coker as one of the industry’s leading movers and shakers in self-publishing.  Over the past ten years, Mark has taught thousands of writers to publish ebooks with greater pride, professionalism and success.  Mark is the founder and CEO of Smashwords, and the author of several books about ebook publishing.  

Access show notes and supplemental information for the Smart Author podcast at https://smashwords.com/podcast

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Publishing in the classroom.  When high school students are given the chance to publish their writing as an ebook, it helps them gain a new appreciation for the written word.  Mark Coker shares details of an innovative writing project in Los Gatos, California where each  year high school students collaborate to write and publish a poetry anthology that is sold in all the major ebook stores.  Learn how you, as a writer, reader, educator or concerned citizen, can launch similar ebook publishing programs in your community.

Publishing in the Classroom (E16)

How to earn free press coverage to elevate your author brand and drive demand for your books. You'll also learn how to write a press release and how to promote your news to mainstream media. This is part six in Mark Coker's six-part serialization of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide.  This six-part marketing series began with episode 10 of the Smart Author Podcast.  Full transcript of this and all other episodes available at https://smashwords.com/podcast

How to Earn Free Press Coverage  (E15, P6 of 6)

Social media for authors.  Learn how to get more from Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  This is part five in the Smart Author podcast’s six-part audio serialization of the 2018 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide, a free ebook coming out at the end of January, 2018.  This serialization began with Episode 10 of the Smart Author podcast.  Full transcript available at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Social Media Strategies for Authors (E14, P5 of 6)

Learn 25 book promotion tips. The tips are grouped in logical order to roughly correspond to the different stages of a book's marketing, from pre-launch to launch to post-launch. These tips can be implemented in any order at any stage of an author's publishing journey.   This is part four of Mark Coker's six-part serialization of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide.  Show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Book Marketing Promotion (E13, P4 of 6)

17 tips to leverage your book to sell more books, build your social media platform and catalyze word of mouth. Part 3 of 6 in Mark Coker's six-part serialization of the new 2018 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide.

Smashwords Survey 2017 (E7)

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