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In this episode, Matt & Lauren have a conversation about Taylor Swiftโs upcoming book, talking through her decision to self-publish it, and what that says about the future of traditional publishing.
Disclaimer: This episode was Mattโs idea, not Laurenโs.
Dive Deeper๐ก Target Press Release
๐ก Related Episodes
Ep #2 | Is Self-Publishing the Best Path for Today's Creators?Ep #16 | The Indie Author's Guide to Thriving Without AmazonEp #36 | The Indie Authorโs Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional PublishingSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [14:36] โTime and time again, we see plenty of people who have built an audience for themselves, regardless of size, but it works for them. There's high engagement. They know their audience better than anybody else, and they are able to self-publish content and reach their audience and achieve whatever their primary goals are.โ
๐๏ธ [16:20] โI think asโฆ this idea of creating and owning your content and the distribution methods to get it to market continues to increase, I think traditional publishing's value continues to decrease.โ
๐๏ธ [41:24] โAt the end of the day I never thought I would find inspiration in something Taylor Swift did, but here we are.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt review the important metrics you need to be tracking to boost your book sales, grow your brand, and connect with a loyal audience. We take a look at social media, email, website, and customer data and share valuable tools and tips to help you make the most of the data you collect.
Dive Deeper๐ก Check Out These Resources
Shopify | Ecommerce Analytics Tools for Online Store OwnersSparkToro | https://sparktoro.com/ ManyChat | https://manychat.com/creators
Unlock Your Content Business Potential With User DataTracking Your Marketing Efforts With UTM TagsComplete Tech Stack for Publishing
๐ก Read These Blog Posts
Episode #11 | Email Marketing for Authors & CreatorsEpisode #12 | Social Media Marketing for Authors & CreatorsEpisode #22 | Using Customer Data to Grow Your BusinessEpisode #31 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore
๐ก Listen to These EpisodesSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [10:38] โA lot of these metrics are interconnected, and that's kind of the whole point in tracking them and in paying attention to them. And I know that's going to sound really overwhelming as we rattle off a bunch of different types of metrics that you should be looking at, but they really do inform each other in a lot of different ways.โ
๐๏ธ [24:03] โIf you're sending an email out once a week or once every two weeks or whatever, and you're asking people to buy your book and you're sending them to Amazon, you're not going to have the data as to whether or not they bought a book from that email.โ
๐๏ธ [35:55] โAll roads should lead to however you get somebody to purchase a book, wherever they do that. And primarily that should be on your website.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren share tips for maximizing your return on investment when you attend a conference. We have our top picks for note-taking, strategies for putting your ideas into action, and using your conference experience to establish yourself as a thought leader.
Dive Deeper๐ก Otter.AI
๐ก Ecamm Live
๐ก Ann Handleyโs Total Annarchy Newsletter
๐ก Listen to These Episodes
Episode #23 | How to Survive (and Thrive) at Conferences and EventsEpisode #29 | 3 Steps to Prep for an Author Event (and What to Do When Youโre There)๐ก Read These Blog Posts
How to Grow Your Author NetworkWhy Creator Events Are a Must for Creators & Entrepreneurs๐ก Watch These Videos
An Authorโs Guide to Attending Live EventsSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [7:03] โYou really should try to take down some sort of notes any way that you can. And we're going to talk about some ways to make it a lot easier for you to do that, especially if you're like me, where you're just terrible at it so you don't even bother. And you hope that all of the main points that are valuable will stick in your brain until you get home and they usually don't.โ โHow does that work out for you?โ โIt doesn't at all.โ
๐๏ธ [17:02] โThe most important part about these events is again, how you turn that into actionable takeaways that are going to further your business, your brand, your career, whatever it is you're trying to influence there.โ
๐๏ธ [35:12] โWhatever it is, this is an opportunity for you to share something with your audience that further establishes you as somebody who knows what they're talking about.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
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๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
Itโs officially been one year of Publish & Prosper! Join Lauren & Matt for a special Ask Us Anything episode, where we take listener questions about publishing, marketing, Lulu products, and - of course - Disney.
We answer questions like:
Do you start building your audience first and then write your book, or do you start writing your book first and then build your audience? What trends have you seen from Lulu creators over the years in how they've adapted their businesses to sell more books?When you mentioned releasing the right format in regards to the right go-to-market strategy, what do you mean?
Dive Deeper๐ก Read These Blog Posts
10 Ways Modern Authors Can Build an AudienceHow to Find Your Target Audience
The Confetti VideoThe Life of a BookPlaylist | Audience Building
๐ก Watch These Videos
Episode #11 | Email Marketing for Authors & CreatorsEpisode #35 | Designing the Right Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Book
๐ก Listen to These Episodes๐กKatie Cross Books
Sound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ[6:31] โI think a lot of people get wrapped up in this idea that it's too late, that even if I start working on my audience now I'm late to the game, so it's gonna take forever to build an audience. Or if I start writing a book now after I've waited all these years, it's too lateโฆ None of that is true. Do it now. Get started.โ
๐๏ธ[16:39] โIt really comes down to people realizing and understanding that this is a long-term endeavor and not short-term flash in the pan kind of thing. Something trendy like social media, we've all seen the rise and fall of different social platforms so much in the last few years, and people are realizing more and more we need a long-term way to connect with our audience and to create these relationships that are going to last with our audience.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
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๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Matt & Lauren review the best ways to repurpose content for social media. They talk through reusing your existing social content, reposting other peopleโs social content, and repurposing your book material as social content.
Jump in to hear about Mattโs recent appearance at Momentum and upcoming plans for Author Nation - or skip ahead to 13:50 to get right to the social media content strategies.
Dive Deeper๐ก Listen to These Episodes
Episode #12 | Social Media Marketing for Authors & CreatorsEpisode #25 | Author Branding 101: Building a Brand Beyond Your BooksEpisode #33 | Books You Can Create Using Your Existing Content๐ก Read These Blog Posts
Social Media Content Ideas for AuthorsSocial Media 101 for Authors
Lulu U | How to Use Social Media to Grow Your Author BrandWebinar | Before Social Media: The Marketing Elements You Need Before You Post with Annie Schiffmann
๐ก Watch These Videos
HootSuite | Create Engaging and Effective Social Media ContentSocial Media Examiner | Social Content Repurposing: An Easy System for Creating Great ContentThe Social Shift by Katie BrinkleyManyChat for Instagram
๐ก Check out These ResourcesSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [27:07] โYou never know where the content like this that you share and create is going to wind upโฆ If you have this little like, bite-sized content that ties back to your book you don't know where it's going to go and it could serve as a lead magnet.โ
๐๏ธ [33:05] โThe riches are in the niches. So niche down as far as you can go to where you add maximum value and that's where you will see maximum engagement and revenue intake. And then if you want to scale up from there, you can.โ
๐๏ธ [43:10] โVirality is not stability. Like, don't chase virality because you don't know how you're going to get it. And if you do happen to get lucky enough to have a viral post, you'll probably never get it again. You'll never know how or why you got it.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
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Custom and special edition books are more popular than ever - and more accessible than ever. In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore how indie authors can create custom editions of their self-published books. We look at popular customizations like sprayed edges, embellished covers, specialty bindings, and more!
Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube.
Join us at Author Nation, November 11 - 15 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada!
Dive Deeper๐ก Read How to Convince Readers to Buy Books Directly From You on the Lulu Blog
๐ก Listen to These Episodes
Episode #19 โ Crowdfunding Your Self-Published Book With KickstarterEpisode #24 โ How to Turn Casual Fans into Super FansEpisode #29 โ 3 Steps to Prep for an Author Event (and What to Do When Youโre There)๐ก Learn more about Kingdom Covers for printed edge designs.
Sound Bites From This Episode๐๏ธ[8:39] โI think what you find is in the indie publishing world with self publishing, more often than not, it's not necessarily a sales tactic, but it's somebody saying, hey, I've put my heart and soul to this book. I also want it to look really cool. I want to create the best book that I can.โ
๐๏ธ [19:58] โWhen you're creating books to sell to fans, followers, whoever, whether it's fiction or nonfiction, just remember that not everybody reads, writes, collects, distributes the same way that you do. Never really limit yourself just based on the fact that you might not want a really cool sprayed edge on your book.โ
๐๏ธ [32:29] โIf you're selling direct already or you're thinking about it, here's a great way to try it or start. To get people to buy direct from you, sometimes they need a little extra incentiveโฆ do a completely different cover and have it only be available if they buy that book from you directly off your site.โ
โI would argue all of these that we're saying, you should be doing, this should be a motivation for people to buy them directly from you.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Matt & Lauren help you maximize your bookโs potential with early readers like beta readers, sensitivity readers, and industry reviewers. We take a look at how and when to engage with them, how they can help your book, and what to offer them in return.
Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube.
Join us at Author Nation, November 11 - 15 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada!
Dive Deeper๐ก Check These Resources
The Editorial Freelancers Association Member Directory Luluโs Partners PageJane Friedman on Are Paid Book Reviews Worth It? Blog | 7 Online Writing Communities for AuthorsWebinar | PR for Authors: Building Buzz Around Your Book๐ก Listen to These Episodes
Episode #13 | Earning Free Promotion for Your BookEpisode #26 | Do Book Reviews Help You Sell More Books? Episode #30 | Finding Your Place in Author & Reader CommunitiesSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [21:12] โI think out of everything in this episode, we've probably referenced [beta readers] the most in the past. They are a great way to connect with other people in your industry, with other authors, with other peers in your specific genre that you're working on. It's a great way to create those relationships with people. And a great reason to definitely do that."
๐๏ธ [31:45] โA good editorโฆ will point those things out to you, but it's not their job to make sure that you've done your due diligence. It's always on the author.โ
๐๏ธ [38:19] โMost people that you ask for promotional reviews, testimonials, whatever, they will not provide a negative one. So you'll either get a positive one or you won't get one. If they don't have anything good to say about your book, they're just not going to talk about it.โ
๐๏ธ [46:39] โThe point is: connect with people. Share your book with readers before your actual readers get their hands on it. You don't have to reach out to all of the people that we've talked about in this episode. But none of them are going to hurt your content. They can only help. So why not?โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore creative ways to boost book sales! Learn how limited editions, bundles, personalized products, and more can incentivize new and returning shoppers to buy directly from you - without resorting to discounts.
Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube.
Join us at Author Nation, November 11 - 15 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada!
Dive Deeper
What Are Product Variants & Why Do Authors Need Them?How to Turn Casual Followers into Dedicated Super FansBookshop.org: Your Local, Online Bookseller
๐ก Read These Blog Posts
The Authorโs Guide to Subscriptions
๐ก Watch These Videos
Episode #24 | How to Turn Your Casual Fans into Super FansEpisode #30 | Finding Your Place in Author & Reader CommunitiesEpisode #35 | Designing the Right Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Book
๐ก Listen to Related EpisodesSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [6:30] โI don't think you ever want to put yourself in a situation where that's the only way you're selling books is by discounting. If you get in that habit and people come to expect that from you, then that's the only time they're going to purchase, is when you're offering a discount. And you never want to be in that race to the bottom.โ
๐๏ธ [26:42] โAnd it doesn't matter. Like, if you're a bookseller and writer or a musician or anybody else, if you've got fans, if you've got customers who have bought things from you, you need to acknowledge that is now a relationship that you can continue to foster.โ
๐๏ธ [43:33] โThat's a huge motivator for getting people to spend money with you is making them feel good in the process.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren tackle the upcoming holiday season. Theyโll discuss best practices for getting your books ready, optimizing your site or bookstore, speaking to gift givers instead of your target audience, and reviewing your social media for book promo opportunities.
Dive Deeper๐ก Check These Resources
Make Books Make Bank PDF DownloadMcKinsey on US Holiday Shopping 2023Forbes on 6 Trends From The 2023 Holiday Season That Can Shape 2024๐ก Read These Blog Posts
Sell More Books With A Holiday Social Media StrategyDiscounting Best Practices and Biggest BlundersBlack Friday & Cyber Monday Holiday Sales Planning9-Point Book Sales Checklist For Holiday5 Ways To Get Your Lulu Direct Shopify Store Ready For The Holidays๐ก Watch These Videos
Webinar | Make Books, Make Bank: Your Guide To Holiday SuccessWebinar | Boost Fall Book Sales With A Stellar Marketing Plan๐ก Listen to These Episodes
Episode #31 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore Episode #11 | Email Marketing for Authors and CreatorsEpisode #13 | Earning Free Publicity for Your Book๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Lauren & Matt tackle some common pain points entrepreneurs and ecommerce store owners struggle with. Weโll talk through solutions and tips for collecting sales tax, setting up shipping and managing shipping issues, and providing proactive customer service for your shoppers.
Dive Deeper๐ก Sales Tax
Lulu Knowledge Base | How Do I Configure My Lulu Direct Products to Collect the Correct Taxes?Spotify | How to Charge Sales Tax in the USWooCommerce | Setting up Taxes in WooCommerceEconomic Nexus Threshold MapTaxJarAvalara
Luluโs Pricing CalculatorGetting Your Ship Together in Lulu Direct (Shopify and WooCommerce)International Book Shipping: A Guide for Self-Published CreatorsLulu U Tutorial | Setting Up Live Shipping Rates in ShopifyLulu U Tutorial | Setting Up Shipping Rates Manually in ShopifyLulu U Tutorial | Setting Up Shipping with Lulu Direct and WooCommerceLulu U Tutorial | Setting Up Shipping in Wix
๐ก Shipping
Customer Service and Your Ecommerce BusinessThe Life of A Book
๐ก Customer Support
Jump Ahead to Learn About๐๏ธ Understanding Sales Tax โ 4:46
๐๏ธ All Things Shipping (Ship Mapping, Expenses, and Troubleshooting) โ 16:51
๐๏ธ Proactive Customer Service Strategies โ 28:43
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
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Self-publishing might be a DIY publishing model, but there are plenty of tools and resources to help you get your book from manuscript to market. In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss a debatable number of tools to help you draft, edit, format, design, market, and ship your book.
Dive Deeper๐ก Learn More About
FictionaryVellumAtticusBublishLuluโs Order Import ToolWritten Word MediaBookFunnel
Vellum Review: Simple Page Layout for Self-PublishersAtticus Review: The All-in-One Writing and Formatting Tool for Indie AuthorsDropshipping for Entrepreneurs & Creators With Luluโs Order Import Tool
๐ก Read These Blog Posts
Webinar with Fictionary | Editing Essentials: Edit Like a Developmental Story EditorWebinar with Bublish | Boost Fall Book Sales With A Stellar Marketing Plan
๐ก Watch These VideosJump Ahead to Learn About
๐๏ธ Fictionary โ 1:52
๐๏ธ Atticus & Vellum โ 7:41
๐๏ธ Luluโs Cover Design Tool โ 15:53
๐๏ธ Bublishโs AI Author Toolkit โ 22:23
๐๏ธ Luluโs Order Import Tool โ 27:58
๐๏ธ Written Word Media and BookFunnel โ 37:19๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt review strategies for getting your self-published book into indie bookstores, including participating in consignment programs, pitching yourself for author events, and making your book available through retail distribution.
Dive Deeper๐ก Read These Blog Posts
Selling Your Book on Consignment With Indie Bookstores5 Visual Indicators Your Book Is Self-Published๐ก Watch How to Get Your Book into Bookstores
๐ก Check your bookโs global distribution eligibility with our Pricing Calculator
Sound Bites From This Episode๐๏ธ [15:44] โThese bookstores have a standard to uphold. Which is not to say that every traditionally published book and every book available in an indie bookstore or any bookstore is a good book. We all know that's not true. But at the very least, they want people to be able to look at your book and think it's a good book.โ
๐๏ธ [25:34] โYou're not just an author or creator, we've said this a thousand times. You're a business, and as such you need to be building trust and relationships with people.โ
๐๏ธ [32:49] โIt's important to understand that your book can be available to be bought from an indie bookstore or a bookstore in general if you are in distribution, it just won't be sitting on the shelves as ready inventory.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Matt and Lauren take listeners on a journey through self-publishing and traditional publishing. Weโll look at where those paths overlap, where they diverge, and what to expect on your publishing adventure.
Dive Deeper๐ก Jane Friedmanโs The Key Book Publishing Paths
๐ก Listen to These Episodes:
Episode #2 โ Is Self-Publishing the Best Path for Today's Creators?Episode #8 โ Self-Publishing is a Team SportEpisode #20 โ Do You Need to Hire Professional Editors for Your Book? Episode #10 โ Marketing Your Book Pre-Launch, At-Launch, and Post-Launch๐ก Read These Blog Posts
The Publishing Journey: Traditional Publishing vs. Self-PublishingUnderstanding The Publishing Gatekeepers๐ก Watch These Videos
Which Publishing Path is Right for You? | Publish Your Purpose Press x Lulu WebinarSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [10:17] โIt used to be that if you said your book was self-published, or if people knew your book was self-published, they were just like, oh, that's got to be garbage. They did it themselves. It can't be a good book. These days, obviously nothing's further from the truth than that statement.โ
๐๏ธ [23:10] โBut the point is you don't have any control over that in traditional publishing, and in self-publishing you have total control over that.โ
๐๏ธ [45:14] โAll of this is only relevant in so much as what your goals are for the book itself.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Lauren & Matt dive into what makes a successful go-to-market strategy for your book. Learn how to pick the right launch date and products, choose the best sales and distribution platforms, and craft effective pre-launch and post-launch sales strategies.
Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weird tangents Matt & Lauren like to meander through? Email us at [email protected] to submit your question for our upcoming AMA episode!
Dive Deeper๐ก Listen to These Episodes to Learn More Aboutโฆ
Marketing Your Book Pre-Launch, At-Launch, and Post-LaunchDetermining the Right Retail Price for Your BookThe Indie Author's Guide to Thriving Without AmazonYour 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore4 Reasons Creators Don't Sell Direct (and Why You Should)Crowdfunding Your Self-Published Book With Kickstarter5 Things to Know Before You Start PublishingSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [12:35] โDon't get too married to all this stuff in the beginning. When you're able to step back from this go-to-market plan and really take a look at it holistically, you might see some areas where you need to go back in and change a few things so that everything kind of works seamlessly and harmoniously together.โ
๐๏ธ [29:04] โHaving that sales and distribution and strategy laid out and understanding where and when each format and variation of that book is going to be released and sold is really important. And it'll extend the sales lifecycle of that book as long as possible.โ
๐๏ธ [42:01] โRegardless of whether or not you're selling direct, no matter which sales and distribution platforms you're going to move forward with: customer data is invaluable. Whatever kind of customer data you have access to from these different sales and distribution channels, you're going to want some way to track it.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Lauren attempts to convince Matt (and the listeners) of the power of a well-written book description. Listen in to learn how to craft a compelling book description that will help you hook new readers.
Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weird tangents Matt & Lauren like to meander through? Email us at [email protected] to submit your question for our upcoming AMA episode!
Dive Deeper๐ก Listen to Episode #13 | Earning Free Publicity for Your Book
๐ก Read These Blog Posts
How to Write a Book Description That SellsHow to Earn Media Attention: Essential PR Tips for Authors๐ก Watch These Videos
Lulu U | How to Write a Book Description That SellsWebinar | PR for Authors: Building Buzz Around Your Book๐ก Check Out the Books
Masters of Death by Olivie BlakeMy Best Friendโs Exorcism by Grady HendrixSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [11:14] โTo Matt's point that you could use ChatGPT to write your book description for you if you want to. I'm going to say that you could, but you still need to know what to tell ChatGPT to use to write the book description.โ
๐๏ธ [24:12] โIt's a really succinct way to tell me who the book is for, what they're going to get out of it, and what goals you're going to achieve by doing it or by reading it, but without actually giving any of the information away. So I have to keep reading to learn more about what I'm actually going to get out of this book.โ
๐๏ธ [34:15] โIf people are like at a bookstore where you're not there, or online, they're browsing and they see your book the thing that's gonna catch their eye first is the cover. Your elevator pitch is what you're gonna do when you're talking to somebody in person.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Lauren & Matt share ideas for repurposing your existing content. Hint: it's by turning that content into a book. We share ideas for both nonfiction and fiction book projects, including options that require little to no new writing.
Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weird tangents Matt & Lauren like to meander through? Email us at [email protected] to submit your question for our upcoming AMA episode!
Dive Deeper๐ก Read These Blog Posts
6 Ways To Publish a Book Without Writing a BookFrom Blog To Book: How To Turn Your Content Into a Published BookHow To Turn Your Video Content Into a BookHow To Reach a New Audience With a Book Based on Your PodcastHow To Create a Workbook: Tips To Enhance Your Online CourseWhat Is Fanfiction and Why Does It Matter?๐ก Watch These Videos
What Should I Publish? 10 Ideas Using Content You Already HaveLulu University playlist on Content MonetizationSound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [3:51] โOne of the best ways to identify what aspect or which topic of your content would necessarily lend itself best to a book, or a book project, would be to just go back and look at your metrics, right? Figure out which of your blog posts or podcasts or YouTube videos or whatever got the most views and the most engagement.โ
๐๏ธ [14:58] โPresentations can be very one-sided where it's literally just the speaker speaking at an audience of peopleโฆ this is a great way to turn that one time event attendee into somebody who's going to continue to come back to you, continue to participate in the conversation and continue to think of you when they're thinking about the subject matter that you were presenting on."
๐๏ธ [25:55] โIf you are a digital first fiction author and you're publishing your ebooks, whether it's on Kindle Unlimited, you're doing serial fiction on something like Kindle Vella, BookFunnel, whatever platform that you're using, why are you not selling print editions of your books? If you are, great, love you for it. If you're not, please do.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Matt & Lauren review five things youโll need to know before you start on your publishing journey! We share insights about knowing your content, knowing your goals, knowing your limits, knowing your audience, and knowing your publisher.
Also featuring a meandering detour into graphic novels and an ongoing discussion about crying (now or later).
Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weird tangents Matt & Lauren like to meander through? Email us at [email protected] to submit your question for our upcoming AMA episode!
Dive Deeper๐ก Check Out Jane Friedmanโs Key Book Publishing Paths
๐ก Watch our Start Here! Playlist
๐ก Read These Blog Posts
How to Get Started PublishingHow to Find Your Target AudiencePrint-on-Demand: Breaking Down the Costs for AuthorsThe Publishing Journey: Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing๐ก Listen to These Episodes
Is Self-Publishing the Best Path for Today's Creators?What is Print-on-Demand?Self-Publishing is a Team SportCan You Really Support Your Business With Just 1,000 True Fans?Author Branding 101: Building a Brand Beyond Your Books๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
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In this episode Lauren & Matt talk through the 7 essential steps to building your own online bookstore. From choosing the right platform to launching your site, weโll cover everything you need to know to sell your self-published books directly to your readers.
Dive Deeper๐ก Step 1:
ShopifyLearn More About Selling Your Book With Shopify and Lulu DirectWooCommerceLearn More About Selling Your Book With WooCommerce and Lulu DirectWixLearn More About Selling Your Book With Wix and Lulu DirectSquarespace๐ก Step 2:
Shopify | How to Choose the Best Domain Name in 2024๐ก Step 3:
Lulu Blog | What Is an Author Brand and Why Does It Matter?๐ก Step 4:
Lulu Blog | Customer Service and Your Ecommerce Business๐ก Step 6:
Lulu U Playlist | Lulu Direct for ShopifyLulu U Playlist | Lulu Direct for WooCommerceLulu U Playlist | Lulu Direct for WixInfluencer Marketing Hub | Top 14 eCommerce Plugins to Power Your eCommerce Site in 2024๐ก Step 7:
Lulu Blog | Canโt-Miss Tips for Building a Better Ecommerce StoreLulu Blog | Optimized for Mobile: The Future of Bookselling๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
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๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Matt & Lauren debate the distinctions between author and reader communities, discuss the value of participating in either, and share some suggestions for how to bridge the gap between them.
Dive Deeper๐ก Check Out These Online Communities
Enter the LuluniverseMeet the Nonfiction Authors AssociationLearn More About Novelists, Inc.Explore Inkers ConListen to the State of the Nation podcast episode on Story Wars at Author Nation๐ก Read These Blog Posts
How to Grow Your Author Network7 Online Writing Communities for Authors๐ก Watch These Videos
How to Build a Community of True FansWebinar | TikTok, Booktube, and Instagram, Oh My!Sound Bites From This Episode
๐๏ธ [9:36] โI think that they're also like, as we're talking about the distinctions between them, I think that they are inherently different in that author communities tend to be more focused onโฆ craft and education, and this is a learning experience for me, how do I do this? Crowdsourcing how to do things, whether it's how to write, how to publish, how to get an agent, whatever. Reader communities tend to be echo chambers of opinions.โ
๐๏ธ [27:45] โIf you're looking for a way to be a part of an author community or a writer community or something like that, there are plenty of opportunities out there to find them, whether they are big nationwide communities or small local bookstore, coffee shop, library, independent groups.โ
๐๏ธ [42:45] โAnd that's really what this podcast is, is us talking in circles around the very clear, like one sentence that we could have said.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. -
In this episode, Lauren & Matt share their insights from attending dozens of author events to set you up for success. Hear tips for preparing sales strategies and inventory, promoting the event to your fans, and maximizing your presence at the event.
Dive Deeper๐ก Learn More About These Events
CEXAuthor NationNINC๐ก Read These Blog Posts
How to Pitch Your Book for Earned PromotionWhat is an Author Brand and Why Does It Matter? How to Grow Your Author Network๐ก Watch These Videos
Webinar | Speaking to Sell Books: โโโโโโโBreak into Professional Speaking to Reach More ReadersPlaylist | How to Find and Grow Your Target Audience
Sound Bites From This Episode๐๏ธ [7:29] โAnytime you can get in front of people and speak, regardless of the topic, that is some of the best publicity and advertising you could get for yourself.โ
๐๏ธ [15:25] โUnderestimating your audience is the worst thing you could do. And underestimating what they'll purchase or where they'll go to see you, or even how much they like you, you're only going to hurt yourself.โ
๐๏ธ [34:30] โThis is your opportunity to make a really good in person impression on fans, followers, readers and potential new readers. Let's not just show up, throw a few books on the table and sit down and wait for them all to come because it's not going to happen.โ
๐ Canโt wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog,
our YouTube channel, and more.
๐ Find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!
๐ Email us at [email protected]
๐ Sign up for our mailing list. - Mostrar mais
