The Heidi Thorne Show

It’s easy to get sucked into a coaching scenario when one of your author friends or followers asks for some “help” with their books. This can be the trigger that lures authors into “I could get paid for this” coaching mode. Don’t take the bait unless you’re ready for what’s ahead. I explain.

Blog: Why I Quit Coaching Authors http://hub.me/aohdQ

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

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

0:16​ Sharing your writing journey is a generous act

1:06​ How authors get sucked into coaching

1:43​ How I got into author coaching

3:26​ When author coaching becomes a nightmare

5:36​ Why I quit author coaching

7:02​ How can you help other authors without coaching them?

7:39​ How to connect with Heidi

Heidi's Udemy Courses on self publishing:

* How to Sell Your Self Published Book on Amazon

* How to Self Publish an Audio Book

* How to Self Publish a Nonfiction Kindle eBook Like a Pro

Getting mass media coverage for self published books is really, really tough. As a former trade newspaper editor for 15 years, I share why that is, and provide tips for making points with media.

Blog: How to Get Media Coverage for Self Published Authors and Books http://hub.me/aofEW

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/i5L6QdbMIqM

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

0:14​ The challenge of getting media coverage for self publishing

0:39​ Why editors don't want your press release

2:52​ Why reporters and editors aren't interested in doing stories on you and your book

4:20​ Do paid newswire services help get media coverage?

5:51​ Why you should write your press release in the 3rd person

6:17​ Does having media connections help get coverage?

7:36​ Pitch a story, NOT your story

8:20​ Social media is media you control

8:41​ Don't be yesterday's news

9:13​ How to connect with Heidi

If your goal is to get your message into the hands, hearts, and minds of lots of people you want to influence, just self publishing a book might not be the best way to accomplish that. I explain why.

Blog: Why Your Self Published Book May Not Help People http://hub.me/aoejP

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/XyBJ9Db_3SM

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

0:15​ The "I want to get my book to lots of readers" complaint

1:43​ Why a book?

2:30​ Author role model for helping people, therapist Sarah Dosanjh*

3:02​ Important caution for authors who post an audiobook on YouTube

3:51​ The memoir mindset problem

5:04​ Helping people takes marketing... lots of it

7:00​ How to connect with Heidi

* Link to Sarah Dosanjh's FREE audiobook on YouTube, "I Can't Stop Eating," https://youtu.be/Qr5qmQxiutw​

Authors, especially those who are self published, can obsess over their Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR). But they shouldn't. I explain why.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/AT_atQ0OIkw

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

0:16​ The question that sparked the Amazon BSR discussion

0:39​ What is Amazon Best Seller Rank?

1:54​ Author Central shows your Best Seller Rank, but not much else

3:16​ How your Amazon BSR can improve with no sales

4:07​ Amazon Best Seller Rank is impossible to control

5:04​ How Amazon BSR varies over time

6:51​ Don't play games to improve your Amazon BSR

7:53​ How to measure your book's sales success on Amazon

9:08​ How to connect with Heidi

Self publishing coloring books and activity books can be a way for self published authors to expand sales. I share tips for using Kindle Direct Publishing to self publish coloring books, along with inspiring examples of authors who have used KDP for their coloring books.

Note: For my audio podcast listeners, I highly recommend that you check out the YouTube video for this episode because it shows some great examples of self published coloring books. Also, check out the links to these authors' work.

Blog: Self Publishing Coloring Books and Activity Books: What You Need to Know http://hub.me/aobVS​

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/UXjIAcui0Xo

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

0:14​ Coloring book history and opportunities for self publishing

1:32​ The adult coloring book trend

2:36​ What should the subject of your coloring book be?

3:17​ Using Kindle Direct Publishing to self publish your coloring book

5:54​ Tips for coloring book artwork

7:34​ How should you price your coloring book?

8:09​ Inspiring examples of authors who self published coloring books on KDP (links to their websites are below)

11:56​ How to connect with Heidi

Links to featured authors who used KDP for their self published coloring books:

Anne Manera https://annemanera.com​

Amelia Griggs https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Griggs/...​

Austin Fabinski https://www.austinfabinskiart.com​

William D. Holland https://artistrywithwords.com​

To listen to the audio podcast of The Heidi Thorne Show, visit https://heidithorne.podbean.com​ OR subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 181.

Should you do an audio podcast, a video podcast, or both? I discuss the merits of both formats, along with my personal experience using them.

Blog: Audio Podcasting Versus Video Podcasting? Should You Do Both? http://hub.me/aoaL2

Udemy course: How to Self Publish an Audio Book https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-self-publish-an-audio-book/?referralCode=75A2310A555CB12AFE4C

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/EZBEkPP0czc

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

0:24​ Growth of audio podcasting

2:05​ Why audio podcasting is challenging

4:32​ About video podcasting

6:05​ YouTube as a video podcast platform

7:29​ Which is better? Audio podcasting or video podcasting? Or both?

7:46​ Comparing my audio and video podcast experience

9:42​ Why authors shouldn't offer books as podcasts

10:19​ How to connect with Heidi

Multi-genre books are like mixed media art, combining multiple materials or styles. They are experimental and done intentionally to create new forms of expression. However, for some authors, multi-genre books are a symptom of their muddled writing motivations and inexperience. I explain.

Blog: Why Multi-Genre Books Don't Work http://hub.me/aoacf

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/9zbzuwzLVP8

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

0:17​ The memoir how-to book?

1:39​ Why would authors want to do multi-genre books?

3:29​ Autofiction, the multi-genre genre

4:42​ Killing 2 audiences with 1 book

5:30​ The one question multi-genre authors can't answer

6:14​ Marketing challenges of multi-genre books

7:42​ How to connect with Heidi

For self published authors, Substack, Patreon, and Medium can seem like a lucrative way to make additional non-book money. I discuss the hype and myth behind these content monetization sites.

Blog:

Substack, Patreon, and Medium: What You Need to Know About Content Monetization Platforms http://hub.me/ao9kI

Is Blogging Going Extinct... or Evolving? http://hub.me/alvUA

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/7PelgayKnzo

Timestamp show notes:

0:42 How to Substack, Patreon and Medium fit in self publishing ecosystem

1:42 Paid subscription email newsletters explained

4:06 The content monetization platform myth

5:49 Can you make money on content monetization platforms?

9:02 What to think about before you sign on

9:59 How to connect with Heidi

Was 2020 as challenging for you as it was for me? I share my stats, the good and the bad, from the crazy year that was 2020. I also share some things I've learned about growing my YouTube channel. And I discuss why social media may not be working as well as it used to for you.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/W9tZtbqBmvQ

Timestamp show notes:

0:23 My 2020 blog stats

2:07 Why social media isn't driving a lot of traffic to my blog

2:57 My podcast stats

3:11 Analysis of my YouTube traffic, and tips for analyzing yours

5:29 Tips for boosting visibility and accessibility of your YouTube videos

7:37 My 2020 sales results and how the pandemic impacted book sales

10:50 Self publishing training opportunities for you on Udemy

12:58 How to connect with Heidi

Udemy course, How to Self Publish an Audio Book https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-self-publish-an-audio-book/?referralCode=75A2310A555CB12AFE4C

Udemy course, How to Sell Your Self Published Book on Amazon https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-sell-your-self-published-book-on-amazon/?referralCode=CC4046D09C80264BC0BE

Though it may seem to be an easy way to make some extra cash, when I receive collaboration or affiliate marketing deal offers, I ignore most of them. Some of them just aren't legit. Others just want too much. And some are just not a good fit. But how can you determine which are good for you or not? I share questions you need to ask yourself when considering these offers.

Blog: How to Evaluate Collaboration and Affiliate Marketing Offers http://hub.me/ao2Qo

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

Timestamp video (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

1:03 What is a collaboration or affiliate marketing deal?

2:57 Is this offer aligned with your brand?

4:12 Could you be authentic promoting this product or sponsor?

5:31 What do you get? What do they want? Is it enough?

9:29 FTC and disclosure requirements

11:08 How to connect with Heidi