🎙️ EP 81 — Algorithms, Audiences & Authenticity: Building Your Book Platform with Integrity

Show: Talking All Books with Dr. Annette West
Presented by: JATN Publishing Company
Website: JATNpublishing.com
Contributors: Ms. Anna Roseboro, Mel V. (Written Word Publishing)

Episode Overview
In this candid Thursday-morning session, Dr. Annette West pulls back the curtain on the real business of books—from testing Amazon’s algorithm to balancing faith, focus, and platform strategy. With insights from veteran educator/author Anna Roseboro and publisher/author  Mel V., the conversation tackles sales realities, short-form content, collaboration timelines, and how to decide which events, tools, and platforms are worth your time (and dollars). The trio also wades into a thoughtful genre discussion: Does mentioning God automatically make a novel Christian fiction—or does Audience and intent lead the classification?

What You’ll Learn (Highlights)

• Sales Reality Check: Why 30–38 launch-day sales won’t translate to hefty royalties on third-party platforms—and why direct sales should remain core to an author’s strategy.
• Algorithm Experiments: What Dr. West learned from testing Amazon’s algorithm (paperback vs. ebook traction, page count discrepancies, and monitoring dashboards).
• Quality Control on Retailers: How to audit product pages (e.g., page counts, missing ebook transactions) and when to contact support.
• Collaboration in Motion: Managing a multi-author project—Kingdom Promises: The Beatitudes—with grace, accountability, and realistic milestone resets.
• Platform Focus (Pick One, Win One): Why Dr. West is prioritizing TikTok over grainy Facebook Lives, and how twice-weekly activity + daily scheduled posts build momentum.
• Short-Form Wins: Turning 45-minute episodes into a content cascade (clips, reels, carousels, quote cards) with CapCut and simple captioning.
• Event ROI: How to evaluate webinars, conferences, and trainings (live Q&A, replay access, clear agenda, and results you can implement now).
• Genre & Audience: “Faith mentions ≠ Christian fiction.” The panel frames genre by purpose and readership, not isolated references.
• Professional Boundaries & Integrity: Avoid “skimming and scamming”—deliver what you promise and protect your Audience’s time and trust.

Segment Guide (Thematic Chapters)

1. Launch Debrief: Book-release numbers, paperback vs. ebook, Amazon reporting gaps
2. Own Your Distribution: Why direct sales matter and how to do it without warehousing
3. Collab Project Update: Status, timelines, and grace-led accountability for The Beatitudes anthology
4. Platform Strategy: TikTok cadence, scheduled content, clipping long shows into snackable assets
5. Tools Talk: CapCut basics, captioning, batching; quick note on AI cost–benefit decisions
6. Events & Education: Live vs. replay, agenda clarity, Q&A flow, and avoiding upsell traps
7. Genre Conversation: Faith elements in fiction, target audiences, and school/library considerations
8. Mindset & Integrity: Time stewardship (168 hours), cost–benefit analysis, and serving with excellence

Action Steps for Authors & Creators

• Audit your retail pages (page count, categories/keywords, Look Inside, pricing).
• Track missing transactions and contact support with screenshots/receipts when needed.
• Pick ONE primary platform for 60 days (e.g., TikTok) and commit to a rhythm:
  • Go live 2x/week (30–45 min)
  • Post 1 clip/day (batch on weekends)
• Clip your long content into 30–60s highlights (CapCut), add captions, and save templates.
• Plan collaborations using a milestone chart with a “grace window” and weekly check-ins.
• Vet events/trainings: agenda posted, replay guaranteed, live Q&A, actionable outcomes, minimal upsell.
• Define your Audience first, then label genre—let intent and reader fit lead.

Resources Mentioned

• Where Hope Took Root — Dr. Annette West (new release)
• Kingdom Promises: The Beatitudes — multi-author project (in progress)
• Planning with Purpose & Empowering Learners — by Anna Roseboro
• CapCut — fast clipping/captions for short-form content
• Platforms discussed: Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Clubhouse

Connect & Subscribe

• 🔗 JATN Publishing Company: JATNpublishing.com
• 🎧 Subscribe to Talking All Books with Dr. Annette West on your favorite podcast app
• 📣 Share this episode with a writer or educator who needs a boost in strategy and integrity

Credits
Host: Dr. Annette West
Contributors: Ms. Anna Roseboro,  Mel V. (Written Word Publishing)
Presented by: JATN Publishing Company – Equipping authors with clarity, excellence, and integrity.