The Heidi Thorne Show

What do you do on book launch day? Is it a regular day? Do you have some sort of party or an event? Well, I'll be honest. I've never had a book launch party or event. However, for some people it's a big deal. And especially if it's your first book, it's worth celebrating. So I'm not dissing a book launch day celebration. I just think you have to keep it in perspective. So let's talk about what to do on book launch day.

Blog Articles & Resources:

What Should You Do on Book Launch Day? http://hub.me/anPyH

How to be a Guest on a Podcast http://hub.me/akXwH

Book Trailers: Best Practices for Book Marketing http://hub.me/ak8Mm

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/EWL-S6izPJU

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

0:10 What should happen on book launch day?

1:29 Doing a live in-person book launch event

3:03 The most awkward book launch event ever

7:31 Virtual book launches and book tours

9:36 Video book trailers

10:01 Non-book things to do on book launch day

10:47 What your book launch day really is

Some authors just keep writing, writing, writing and publishing, publishing, publishing... and are getting nowhere. If this describes you, you may be self publishing too many books. I explain why that's a problem and what to do about it.

Blog: Are You Self Publishing Too Many Books? http://hub.me/anPnb

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/D-kZp3YqOpA

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

0:10 Why authors self publish too much

2:09 How do you kick the habit of self publishing too many books?

4:47 Advertising on Amazon won't build your fan base

Pen names, or pseudonyms, can be a great way to create an author brand and persona, and keep your work in multiple genres separate. But using a pen name has both rewards and risks. I discuss what you need to know.

Blog: Should You Use a Pen Name for Your Self Published Books? http://hub.me/anQ2A

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/MnnH2YnMiBA

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

0:49 When using a pen name is a good idea

1:43 Your real identity could get revealed

3:35 Copyrights and pen names

4:27 Setting up author pages for pen names on Amazon

5:37 Too many pen names equals too much marketing

7:14 Are you covering up a secret life?

8:16 Diversity and inclusion issues with pen names

Often self publishing success coaching programs showcase the success the presenter or outstanding customers have attained. But just as I expect, these programs and strategies have some serious flaws, primary of which is the "If it worked for me, it'll work for you" fallacy.

In this episode, I share what to look out for when buying self publishing coaching or any coaching programs.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/q4rMXGCbbww

0:10 Why self publishing coaching programs are heartbreaking for me

0:52 The world's greatest self publishing success program... for free

1:41 The "If it worked for me, it'll work for you" fallacy

1:53 The craziest self publishing & coaching claims I've heard

8:14 Do money back guarantees guarantee success?

9:43 5 questions to ask when buying self publishing success coaching

Blog: Online Business Coaching Programs: What You Know Before You Buy http://hub.me/al6F9

Udemy Courses:

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

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

How to Self Publish a Nonfiction Kindle eBook Like a Pro https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-self-publish-a-nonfiction-kindle-ebook-like-a-pro/?referralCode=B0919FA7E454FEA26B72

Using Public Speaking to Get Sales https://www.udemy.com/course/public-speaking-to-get-sales/?referralCode=C69F51196FEA69C66A44

Reader magnets are usually freebie eBooks that self published authors give away in exchange for collecting a reader’s email address. In years past, it was common for self published authors to give away a free chapter of their books to encourage email opt ins, and ultimately a sale of the full book. Or an author would give away an entire shorter book to lure readers to purchase additional books or future editions of a book series. But do they really work to build fans and book sales?

Blog: What is a Reader Magnet for Book Marketing? http://hub.me/anNF0

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/6pnMiwJctU4

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

0:39 What is a reader magnet?

1:17 Benefit of reader magnets

1:42 Downsides of using reader magnets

3:29 Services that help with reader magnet programs

5:33 Driving web traffic to your reader magnet is tough

9:07 How email trends impact reader magnet marketing

Children's books seem so simple, right? But don't let that fool you! Children's books are a huge challenge, especially for self published authors. I share what you need to know about taking on this daunting type of project.

Blog: Writing a Children's Book Challenges http://hub.me/akUhN

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/uhpMy5z-nTY

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

0:10 Doing a children's book is tougher than it looks

1:01 The issue of age appropriateness for kids' books

2:16 Grade reading level and readability testing

3:29 A children's book is not always a picture book

4:23 Children's book illustration issues

6:07 Content maturity issues for kids books

6:56 Marketing issues for children's books

7:36 Hire a children's book editor

8:53 Is traditional publishing a better choice?

A self published author was concerned to discover that a new book with a very similar title was appearing before hers in search on Amazon. She feared that this other book would take away her visibility on Amazon and Google, even though hers was published much earlier. Were her fears justified?

Blog: What If Another Book Has the Same Title as Yours? http://hub.me/anLe7

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/586ZiPg2j7M

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

0:11 Are authors' fears of other books with similar titles to theirs justified?

1:03 Books with the same title may not be the same

2:22 In US, titles are not copyrightable, but may be trademarked

4:02 Why I'm not concerned about similar titles on Amazon or Google

6:27 Readers want you and your book, not any book with the same title

Are you a great cook or chef who wants to self publish a cookbook? Then this episode is for you! I discuss all the issues you'll need to address for your self published cookbook project.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/yqeKzA5HlgI

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

0:32 First step in writing your self published cookbook

1:44 Photo issues for self published cookbooks

2:46 Color or black & white printing?

4:12 Paperback or hardcover cookbook?

6:20 Kindle eBook cookbooks?

7:18 Copyright issues with cookbooks

9:19 Allergen, health and nutrition info?

9:56 Using brand name ingredients?

Blog:

How to Self Publish a Cookbook http://hub.me/aloyH

Stock Photo Issues for Self Published Cookbooks and How-To Books http://hub.me/am5J5

Collaborating on a book can be a fun and fulfilling project between family, friends, or colleagues. But co-authored books add several issues to all the challenges of individual self publishing. I explain.

Blog: Self Publishing a Co-Authored Book: What You Need to Know http://hub.me/anKqg

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/cVM0--d0ctM

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

0:32 What is a co-authored book?

3:12 Why self published co-authored books are messy

6:20 Real-life example of a co-authored book project gone wrong

I get many inquiries from authors who want to write a memoir, autobiography, or family biography. But they've never written a book before. Here's how and why I discourage them from doing so.

Blog: Do You Really Need to Write a Memoir or Biography? http://hub.me/anJ36

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/eh3PpjpgL0U

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

0:11 What are legacy books?

1:09 What's the problem with memoirs and biographies?

2:18 "My first, and maybe only/last, book."

2:58 The words-per-pound problem

5:04 Why memoir and biography authors don't care about the market

5:59 What memoir and biography authors really want... and how to get it

7:56 The video alternative