The Heidi Thorne Show

Keywords are important for marketing your self published books on Amazon. But choosing the right keywords is not guarantee your books will sell. I explain why.

Blog: Marketing Your Book on Amazon with Keywords http://hub.me/ap84A

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/AixJm9hbhhc

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

0:16 Author frustrations with keywords on Amazon

1:05 SEO ain't what it used to be... but it's still important

4:42 Think like your readers

7:19 Readers should go to Amazon to buy your book, not to search

8:48 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 245.

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

Can the format of your book affect what markets respond to your self published book? I discuss.

Blog: Book Marketing Challenges of Self Published Books in Multiple Formats http://hub.me/ap7mp

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

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

0:15 Author concerns about marketing multiple book formats

0:55 An eBook is a real book

1:44 eBook readers are not the same as print readers

2:46 Understanding markets for formats

3:39 eBooks as giveaways to promote print book sales?

5:50 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 244.

What are those weird ISBN numbers anyway? What purpose do they serve? Do you really need them? I explain what you need to know about ISBN numbers.

Blog: What is an ISBN Number? http://hub.me/alMTo

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

0:24 What is an ISBN number?

1:20 How did ISBN numbers get started?

2:00 Where do ISBN numbers come from?

2:29 What's the difference between a 10-digit and a 13-digit ISBN number?

3:04 Is an ISBN a barcode?

3:26 Do you really need an ISBN number for self publishing?

5:53 Should you use the free ISBN offered by KDP?

7:55 What if you move your self published book distribution?

10:49 Is Amazon's ASIN number the same as an ISBN?

11:54 Does having your own ISBN number help you make book sales?

13:00 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 243.

I have to confess that I struggle constantly with the concept of goals. Yes, I’ve worked with coaches. I’ve read extensively in business and leadership literature on the topic. Tried all the tips and tricks. Yet, I just find myself consistently resisting officially setting goals. One of the often suggested panaceas for people like me is S.M.A.R.T. goals. While the structure is sound theoretically, it often has its flaws in practice. Let’s see how authors get goals wrong.

Blog: S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Self Published Authors http://hub.me/ap4eb

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/iSGbRsBzfg8

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

0:16 My goal setting confession

0:51 What are S.M.A.R.T. goals?

1:50 Specific

2:23 Measurable

3:55 Achievable

5:22 Relevant

8:00 Time-bound

8:50 Why S.M.A.R.T.R.R. goals are smarter

10:11 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 242.

Having many years in and around trade shows and fairs, I’ll share some things I learned, and how it all applies, or doesn’t, to self published authors’ book marketing.

Blog: Are Book Fairs and Trade Shows Worth Doing for Self Publishing? http://hub.me/ap460

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/phDx1tcu980

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

0:16 Self published authors with big goals, maybe too big

1:25 The "Go Big" problem

3:29 Dirty little secrets about trade show and fair attendee numbers

7:54 You won't make a lot of sales at the show

10:35 Do trade shows and book fairs make sense for self publishing?

12:14 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 241.

An obviously new author in an author group on social asked if opting into KDP Select would affect book sales. Well, yes, it can. Here’s how.

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

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

0:32 What is KDP Select?

3:01 Kindle Free Book Promotion issues

4:06 Kindle Countdown Deals issues

4:59 How does Kindle Unlimited affect book sales?

9:05 Why do I keep my books in KDP Select?

10:03 How to connect with Heidi

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

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 240.

Book marketing fails happen! As authors and creators, how do we get these things wrong? Have we really gotten them wrong? How to you drill down to find your real audience? I discuss and share examples.

Blog: Self-Published Book Marketing Bloopers http://hub.me/ap3Id

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

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

0:15 Creative and book marketing fails happen!

1:03 My big book marketing blooper

3:43 YOUR ideal reader vs. THE ideal reader

5:41 Niche, but not too niche

6:39 Some books don't sell... and that's okay

7:50 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 239.

Find out what a video book trailer is, as well as best practices for them. And I share whether they're worth doing for self published books.

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

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

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

0:59 What is a video book trailer?

2:54 Best practices for video book trailers

5:33 Do video book trailers really help sell more books?

7:24 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 238.

Wide distribution, sometimes referred to as expanded distribution, is a goal for many self published authors. But is it really possible... or even useful?

Blog: Do You Really Want Mass Distribution for Your Self Published Book? http://hub.me/amJuq

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

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

0:16 The fantasy and fallacy of seeking wide distribution

1:43 What do you mean by wide distribution?

7:13 What's your wide distribution number?

8:23 How to get real with your book distribution expectations

10:45 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 237.

Self published authors often ask for PR or social media help, not knowing what they're asking for or what they really need. As a former trade newspaper editor and trade show marketing manager, I share what you need to know about public relations for self published books.

Blog:

* Hiring PR Help for Your Self Published Book http://hub.me/ap1Bj

* How to Write a Press Release for a Small Business http://hub.me/akPx8

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Y36MxnIt3p4

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

0:16 The cry for PR help

1:32 What is PR?

3:46 What can you expect from working with a PR rep?

5:49 Can you do your own PR?

7:34 How to write a press release

9:47 Why social media help for PR doesn't help

11:29 How do you find PR help?

13:05 How to connect with Heidi

You can also listen to The Heidi Thorne Show on your favorite podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Amazon TuneIn Radio. This is Episode 236.