By Farlyn Lucas Have you ever gone for a walk, a drive, or even done chores around your house and thought to turn on a podcast? You’re not alone. Insider Intelligence highlights how “demand for on-demand audio has increased” and “in 2022, the number of monthly US podcast listeners will increase by 6.1% year-over-year to 125 million.” The podcast industry is undoubtedly … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Is Podcast Advertising Worth It?
authors
Guest Post: Essential Marketing Tools for Writers in 2022
By Dee Survilla Starting a writing business is difficult enough without adding marketing to the mix. But, it is necessary for getting your books out there and making sure people know about what you wrote. Authors have to be creative and resourceful when it comes to marketing. With limited funds and manpower, they have to find ways to get their message out there without … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Essential Marketing Tools for Writers in 2022
Guest Post: 7 Simple Social Media Tips for Successful Authors
By Porter Gale Gone are the days when authors relied on publishers for handling the entire process. With an increase in self-publishing, it’s crucial to implement the right social media tactics for effective promotion. In this choice, every aspect of the book including writing, editing, packaging, marketing, etc. is handled by the writer himself. No author should … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 7 Simple Social Media Tips for Successful Authors
Guest Post: 3 Things All Authors Should Do Before Publishing Their Books
By Crave Books For many first time writers, the idea of simply getting something written down can be a daunting task. However, once the manuscript has been approved by your publishing company, it is time to sell your writing. Publishing your written work is a major accomplishment. While it can feel amazing to get your writing out there, it can also be stressful if you … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 3 Things All Authors Should Do Before Publishing Their Books
Guest Post: Blogging Trends for Authors and Writers
By Stacy Walden Blogging is one of the best ways to build a platform, both as a book author and as a freelance writer. With over 3.5 billion searches on Google every day, it’s estimated that 77% of internet users read and interact with blogs. This is a good sign for writers as creating blog content can be inexpensive and provide you with more visibility and … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Blogging Trends for Authors and Writers
Guest Post: Most Common Reasons Authors Fail To Publish Their Work
By Michelle Laurey There were more than 45 thousand writers and authors working to make a living in the United States in 2019. That’s a lot of people pursuing their passion. Unfortunately, despite an increase in the number of people exploring the world of writing work, there are still a lot of writers who struggle to achieve success. There’s more to reaching your goals … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Most Common Reasons Authors Fail To Publish Their Work
Books Forward Book Marketing Campaign Giveaway
Quick note: This is a very promotional post, which I don't normally do. However, this particular giveaway sounds like a great deal for one lucky author. Good news authors! Books Forward is running a publicity and book marketing campaign giveaway for authors. You've got until October 1 of this year to enter. For more details, head over to … [Read more...] about Books Forward Book Marketing Campaign Giveaway
Authors: Step Up Your Digital Content Game
Today's post is another roundup of resources for authors during these crazy times. Since we're all physically distancing, it's a good time to step up your digital content game. What does that mean? The Book Designer's post about it being a wide virtual world is a good start. There are all kinds of ways to chat online, connect with readers, and go live. Digital also includes … [Read more...] about Authors: Step Up Your Digital Content Game
Marketing Books with Content
Content marketing is a powerful way to get readers interested in your brand. Here are some resources to help you figure out how best to create content that can help you sell your books: Planning Content "7 Ways to Stop Flailing with Your Content Marketing in 2017" on Content Marketing Institute "How to Write a Creative Action Plan You'll Actually Follow" on By Regina … [Read more...] about Marketing Books with Content
Monetary Options for Authors
It's hard to make a living from writing. Below are different ways to get funding for your work. Grants and Scholarships The Elizabeth George Foundation: "[...] committed to providing emerging playwrights, short story writers, poets, and unpublished novelists with one-time funding that will enable them to live and work for a period of time as a writer" MacDowell Colony: … [Read more...] about Monetary Options for Authors
Social Media Updates and Resources
Social media is an important piece of an indie author's platform. And there are always new features and trends to learn about. Below are some recent news items, as well as tips and resources for using social media. Instagram "Instagram seems to be testing direct messaging on web" on Mashable "Pinstagram? Instagram code reveals Public Collections feature" on … [Read more...] about Social Media Updates and Resources
Writers: Traditional or Self Publish
When it comes to books, authors have many options for how they want to connect with readers. The first question to ask is, do you want to be traditionally published or do you want to self publish? Jane Friedman has a great breakdown of the publishing paths, the value of each route, and things to watch out for. The Porch Swing Chronicles also has a post about being a hybrid … [Read more...] about Writers: Traditional or Self Publish
An Update on Amazon
It seems Amazon is always in the news, and that makes sense. It's a giant company with a huge reach. For this post, I'm going to focus on the non-book items of Amazon. Some of it is related to indie publishing, and some of it is just plain interesting. First up, a writer on Gizmodo tried to block Amazon from here life, and found it was impossible. This is because in addition … [Read more...] about An Update on Amazon
Indie Authors: Book Sales and Other Income Strategies
As an author, there's a lot of things to consider when it comes to earning money. Some indie authors are able to earn a full time income, according to The Guardian and Russell Blake. Print sales are not the most lucrative, according to LG O'Connor, and print and ebook bundling doesn't always work out, according to Copyright and Technology. It can also be hard to find the right … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: Book Sales and Other Income Strategies
Social Media Tips and Tricks
Social media platforms (and online platforms in general) are constantly changing. Here are a few new features and tips: Pinterest Pinterest now has a more ways of shopping via the platform. Pins now have pricing and stock information, and have links that go directly to the retailer's site. These Product Pins are also more discoverable on the home feed and other parts of the … [Read more...] about Social Media Tips and Tricks