The Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast

In this episode, Chris and Becca talk about their favorite podcast episodes, what's next, and a very surprising announcement at the end. 

Show Notes & Links

-Chris and Becca talk about their favorite podcasts, their favorite guests, and encourage new listeners to go back to the beginning and listen to all the episodes. Kinda like binge watching Stranger Things.

-Becca talks about her new venture to help authors: The Better-Faster Academy and The Quitcast on YouTube.

-Why you should always start off a new venture with a bang.

-Why Chris thought the podcast would never get off the ground.

-Becca's favorite podcast episodes and guests.

-Chris' new venture.

-Where the podcast is going from here.

Links:

-The Quitcast on YouTube

-Becca's Better-Faster Academy

-Chris' new venture: Women Finishing Well

How to contact Chris:

-email: [email protected]

-bookmarketing website: cksyme.com

-Facebook page: cksyme

-Sign up for her free weekly book marketing tips newsletter

In this short ten-minute episode Chris talks about the new book by marketing wise guy Mark Schaeffer titled, Marketing Rebellion - the most human company wins. Schaeffer talks about the importance of adjusting to the new culture of buying: connecting with real humans. The book is filled with stories and data and cutting edge marketing advice. (This is not an affiliate show--I just love this book)

Links & Show Notes:

1. Why consumers aren't responding to ads like they used to.

2. The value of long-term strategic marketing over short-term tactics-based marketing.

3. Why career authors need to think of themselves as brands and business owners.

4. The four principles that guide personal brand success:

• Accurately define your place.
• Define a space to tell your story.
• Create effective content (this is called content marketing).
• Build an actionable audience. 

5. Why all this is important to you.

Links:

Link to Mark Schaeffer's book, Marketing Rebellion

In this episode Chris interviews author and copywriting expert Brian Meeks. Brian, best known for expertise on Amazon ads, has a new book on how to write winning copy that will sell more books. The episode starts with an update on Amazon’s new lockscreen ads.

Show Notes & Links:

-Are the new lockscreen ads (Amazon) the old product display ads?

-Why the goal in copywriting is not the same as in writing a book.

-The difference between structure in ad copy and prose writing.

-Why using a summary of your book as a description to sell your book is a bad choice.

-Why authors hate copywriting and Brian’s solution.

-What is a hook and why every piece of copywriting needs one.

-Should you put your social proof (Amazon bestseller, USA Today bestseller) in your book description?

Links: click ’em, they’re live:

Check out Brian’s new book, Mastering Amazon Descriptions, here

Brian’s Facebook group page on Mastering Amazon Descriptions here

Becca Syme’s new podcast, The Quitcast

Becca’s new book, Dear Writer, You Need To Quit

In this episode Chris interviews Ricardo Fayet, one of the founders of Reedsy, about their new Book Promotions Services data base. This searchable data base helps authors find specific promotions that fit their platform level, their budget, and their goals.

Show Notes & Links:

-What in the heck is Reedsy?

-Sorting through the Book Promotions Services data base by criteria.

-How was the Reedsy list curated?

-Is a BookBub Featured Deal really worth the investment?

-What are the best alternatives to a BookBub Featured Deal?

-Why a lack of budget shouldn't stop you from applying for a BookBub Featured Deal.

-What is the value of running free promotions?

-Ricardo's smarty pants tips: why authors don't need to be doing everything.

Links - Click 'em they're live:

Reedsy.com website

Reedsy Book Promotions Tool 2019

Link to Becca's new nonfiction book (a sneak peek)

This reprise of our interview with David Gaughran on his blockbuster book Strangers to Super Fans is part of our Summer Blast From the Past. This show was one of the most downloaded podcasts we've done in three years. You won't want to miss!

In this episode, Chris interviews author David Gaughran about his new book, Strangers To Superfans. In the show Chris calls this "possibly the best book marketing book ever," a must-read for authors at every level.

Links & Show Notes

-Why it's important for authors to understand the "reader's journey" and how that knowledge informs the marketing process.

-Why the "Discovery" piece of the journey is the "easiest problem to solve and also the easiest to screw-up."

-Why authors need to understand the role that data plays in making marketing decisions.

-Why most authors look at marketing their backlist backwards and how to fix it.

-Why a smaller, more engaged mailing list is better than a huge disinterested one.

-Why you need to pay attention to the production details of your book first: quality of writing, cover, blurb, keywords.

Links - Click 'em, they're live

Link to David Gaughran's new book, Strangers to Superfans. 

Link to sign up for his regular newsletter and receive a free copy of his book, Amazon Decoded.

In this episode we interview nonfiction author and coach Honoree Corder on how to collaborate on projects with other authors. Learn what it takes to work with another author.

-What does the collaboration process look like?

-How do you find another author to collaborate with?

-How do you actually share duties on a project?

-How you should share duties on a project?

-Make sure you tick off all the legal boxes in your partnership.

-Why your biggest asset is being easy to work with

Prosperity For Writers - Chris' favorite book by Honoree

Honoree's new book with Ben Hale, Write Like A Boss - get your copy today!

Honoree's Amazon author page

The Prosperous Writers Series boxed set by Honoree Corder and Brian Meeks

In this episode Chris revisits her marketing challenge for 2019 to see how you're doing. Time for a midyear check-up. 

Links & Show Notes:

-Why it's time for a marketing disruption and what that means.

-Why readers' desires are going to dictate the direction of marketing.

-Why books don't sell: is it your marketing or is it the book's quality?

-Why your idea of success needs to determine your marketing strategies.

-The two applications of disruptive marketing we're going to cover in the series: writing to market and giving your current books a facelift.

-What we need to keep going forward (don't throw out the baby with the bath water):

1. SMART marketing principles

2. The sales funnel or reader's journey

3. Content strategy that engages readers

Links: click 'em, they're live:

Link to Chris' book, The Author's Guide to Sell More Books With Less Marketing.

In this second part of Crisis Management For Authors, Chris and Becca discuss response strategies to online events and when you should and should not weigh-in publicly.

Links & Show Notes:

-How to separate fact from fiction when determining your response.

-Why you need to remove your emotions from the picture before deciding on any action plan.

-How to know when you’re over your head and need help.

-How you can help a fellow author in a crisis without blasting on social media.

-More on the life of an online swam.

-Why weighing in on social media can make a crisis worse.

Links – Click ’em, they’re live

Link to listen to part one of the two-part series here

Check out Chris' book Crisis Management For Authors

In this episode, Chris and Becca kick off their Summer Blast From the Past series by revisiting one of the most popular shows called "It Could Happen to You", an episode on crisis prevention and reputation management. This hot topic was one of the most talked about shows of 2018.

Links and Show Notes:

 -Chris shares her experience in crisis management and why knowing how to handle a crisis is important.

-What you can do to help prevent a crisis.

-Why an engaged social media following is an important asset in a crisis.

-Your best crisis prevention: a good reputation.

-Why it's important to evaluate the threat level of a crisis before taking an action.

-Examples of levels one, two, and three crises.

- Why some "crises" just need to be ignored.

Links - click 'em, they're live 

The link for Chris' book, Crisis Management For Authors (Amazon & also in Kindle Unlimited until May 31)

In this final episode in the "how to do a podcast" series Chris visits with historical mystery author Jenny Wheeler about why and how she started her podcast, The Joys of Binge Reading. 

Show Notes & Links:

-How to get an idea for a show.

-Tips on how to choose and interview guests.

-Be sure and research your guests' platforms.

-The advantages of starting slowly when it comes to marketing.

-Marketing ideas Jenny uses.

-Subscriptions and email lists are keys to growth. 

-Marketing tip: ask your guests to share the show with their audiences.

-Smartypants tip: It's about time.

Links (click em, they're live):

-Jenny Wheeler's podcast, The Joys of Binge Reading

-Jenny Wheeler's author website

-Link to other episodes in this series:

    Episode 124: Should you start  podcast?

    Episode 125: How to start a podcast

    Episode 126: How to grow your podcast audience from zero

Link to more information on the Get Published conference in Bozeman