Getting organic book reviews is tough! But forcing your friends and others to do reviews isn't the answer either. I discuss some ways to professionally approach potential book reviewers in today's episode.

Blog: Asking Friends for Book Reviews

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/MA7kOmHYrlo

Timestamped show notes (click timestamp to view that segment on YouTube):

1:05 Here's why getting organic reviews online is so difficult

1:45 Online reviews can be very polarized

2:58 Problems with friendly reviews at book launch

4:55 How giving away free copies of your book hurts your book sales

5:30 Don't make your friends feel bad if they don't want to review your book

6:30 Don't force copies of your book on potential reviewers

10:55 Why you should buy review copies for your reviewers

ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), Amazon's audio book publishing platform, is hosting FREE training for audio book publishers and producers, October 29 - November 2, 2018. Topics will include narration, audio book marketing, ACX Quality Assurance and more.

For details, visit https://acxuniversity.com (I am not associated with ACX, except for earning royalties as an audio book publisher, and am just passing along this info as a PSA.)

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While this free ACX training is great for those who are already producing audio books, if you need to know the basics, check out my Udemy course, How to Self Publish an Audio Book, and use Promo Code PODCAST for a special discount. (My Udemy course is not offered by, associated with, endorsed or approved by ACX, Amazon or Audible.)

As a professional editor, I should probably tell you never to self edit. But I know there are situations where it is an inevitable and practical choice. So in today's episode, I share 3 techniques for more effective self editing of your book (or other writing).

Blog: How to Self Edit (Even Though You Shouldn't)

View the YouTube video of the podcast at: https://youtu.be/gcDrTlSoTz8

Timestamped show notes (click to view segment on YouTube:

0:14 An editor telling you how to self edit your book?

0:34 Self editing if you have no money

1:21 When hiring an editor isn't worth the money

2:22 Editing before you send manuscript to pro editor

2:59 How to self edit your book

3:42 Using time to improve your editing

7:05 How seeing your manuscript in print or another format can improve your editing

8:32 Using online editing tools

But if you find you really need an editor, connect with me at https://fiverr.com/thornecomm5r

Just because the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) system can process your manuscript file in 24-48 hours, doesn't mean that your book only takes that long to self publish! Find how long it really takes to self publish in this podcast episode.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/NkG0U6ifmdA

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:12 News about the Kindle Create tool for KDP

2:15 You can publish fast on KDP, but...

3:01 How much time should you allow for each step in the self publishing process?

At a writers' conference, I was shocked to hear that authors were considering crowdfunding (e.g. Kickstarter) their self published book projects. What? And why? In this episode, I explain what this is all about and question if it's just crazy or creative. I also explain the difference between crowdfunding and crowdsourcing.

To watch the video for this episode on YouTube, go to: https://youtu.be/WoMlc5UexIQ

Timestamped show notes (click on timestamp to view that segment on YouTube):

0:13 What got me thinking about crowdfunding for self publishing

1:41 Crowdfunding vs. crowdsourcing

2:43 How crowdfunding is done

3:25 Why would anyone want to fund your book project?

5:09 Why would authors consider crowdfunding a self published book?

7:48 Why you need to do a profit & loss analysis

10:15 Why I probably wouldn't crowdfund a book

My favorite business show, Shark Tank, is starting another season! For those who don't watch, Shark Tank is a reality competition show where entrepreneurs pitch their business or product idea to venture capital investor "sharks." Got me thinking about how our books--especially traditionally published, but self published ones, too--are like entrepreneurial projects. Listen to today's podcast (on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Podbean) for some key questions you need to answer about investments in book projects.

For a review of the questions asked in the podcast, visit my blog post on ToughNickel: https://toughnickel.com/self-employment/Authors-Would-You-and-Your-Book-Survive-on-Shark-Tank

To watch the video of the podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E_hY88rtp1A

0:13 Why I love Shark Tank

0:38 Why authors are like entrepreneurs

1:02 Why authors' book pitches to publishers fail

1:38 Questions traditional publishers want answered

2:11 Who is the ideal reader for your book?

2:42 How big is the market for your book?

3:10 Is your book selling anywhere?

4:20 Understand trends for your genre or topic

4:54 How big is your author platform?

6:48 Why good book writers are horrible copywriters

7:40 What is the logline for your book?

8:29 How editors and beta readers can help

9:55 The long-term publishing game

My favorite business show, Shark Tank, is starting another season! For those who don't watch, Shark Tank is a reality competition show where entrepreneurs pitch their business or product idea to venture capital investor "sharks." Got me thinking about how our books--especially traditionally published, but self published ones, too--are like entrepreneurial projects. Listen to today's podcast (on iTunes, Stitcher or Podbean) for some key questions you need to answer about investments in book projects.

To watch the video of the podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E_hY88rtp1A

For a review of the questions asked in the view, visit my blog post on ToughNickel: https://toughnickel.com/self-employment/Authors-Would-You-and-Your-Book-Survive-on-Shark-Tank

Self publishing a workbook or journal can be a great way to complement and supplement a consulting or coaching business, and gain more book sales. I discuss the benefits and challenges.

To view video podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MmlbvaAP1Ao

Timestamped show notes for YouTube (click timestamp to jump to segment on YouTube):

1:57 How I got started with self publishing workbooks and journals

3:12 How my client used her workbook to build her business

4:46 Benefits of self publishing workbooks and journals

6:08 Challenges of self publishing workbooks and journals

13:15 Why authors don't consider doing workbooks or journals, but should

Marketing a podcast can be challenging. In this episode I discuss ways to make your podcast more search friendly and memorable. Plus, I introduce the video podcast edition of my show.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/FUCRI8DUQUA

Timestamp show notes (click the timestamp to view that segment on YouTube):

0:57 Why marketing with podcasts is a great idea

1:37 Challenges of marketing with podcasts

2:04 Why audio translation is a challenge

4:28 How to optimize your podcast for search as best you can

6:04 Dealing with the non-clickable nature of podcasts

8:40 Creating a YouTube-friendly podcast

Marketing a podcast can be challenging. In this episode I discuss ways to make your podcast more search friendly and memorable. Plus, I introduce the video podcast edition of my show.

Link to watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FUCRI8DUQUA