Where publishing, ecommerce, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com.
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How to Use a Preorder Campaign to Boost Your Book Launch
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54:18In this episode, Lauren & Matt make a case for why every indie author should try using a preorder campaign to support their prelaunch marketing efforts and boost their book sales. We talk through how preorder campaigns can help you reach your target audience, different kinds of campaigns, and ways to collect your preorders. Dive Deeper 💡 To Be Fair…
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The Indie Author's Guide to Going Wide With Your Book Distribution
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49:22In this episode, Matt & Lauren answer questions about moving your books from Amazon to other ecommerce solutions, including global distribution and direct sales. Learn how to maximize your book’s availability, forge stronger connections with loyal readers, and grow your revenue when you go wide. Dive Deeper 💡 Wide for the Win Facebook Group 💡 Kindl…
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How to Hit Your Perfect Pitch for Speaking Engagements
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54:59
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54:59In this episode, Lauren & Matt share tips for aspiring public speakers. We talk through presenting your best pitch to event organizers, targeting your ideal audience with your session title and description, and representing yourself with your speaker bio. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn About CEX 2025 💡 Joe Pulizzi on LinkedIn 💡 Mic Drop Workshop 💡 Jeff Sieh 💡…
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Can Books Add Value to Your Business (Beyond Just Revenue)?
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46:14In this episode, Matt & Lauren tell you why publishing a book can do more for your business than just adding a new revenue stream.. Learn how books can establish your expert reputation, connect you with new audiences, and strengthen relationships with your existing fans. Dive Deeper 💡 The Tilt Newsletter 💡 The Business Book ROI Study 💡 Listen to Th…
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How to Create A Writing Habit That Actually Sticks
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47:09
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47:09Is this the year you’re finally going to publish that book? Or maybe you just want to write more than you did last year. In this episode Lauren & Matt share tips for building a writing habit in a way that works best for you… and set a few lofty goals of their own. Let us know what your writing goals are for this year! Email us at [email protected]. …
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Did Indie Authors Publish and Prosper in 2024?
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49:52In this episode Matt & Lauren recap some of the hottest topics and trends in the publishing industry from 2024, and make a few predictions for 2025. Thanks for a great year of publishing and prospering with us! Dive Deeper 💡 Written Word Media | 2024 Indie Author Survey Results: Insights into Self Publishing for Authors 💡 Louis Grenier | $16k in 5 …
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Finding Your Niche, Your Ideal Reader, and Your Target Audience
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46:22In this episode Lauren & Matt explore the journey to successful audience growth by finding your content niche, defining your ideal reader, and identifying your target audience. We also discuss the value of learning from other creators, ways to inject new life into your marketing efforts, and the correct way to pronounce niche, among other things. D…
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Debunking Myths and Misconceptions About Self-Publishing
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44:39In this episode, Matt & Lauren tackle some of the most common misconceptions about self-publishing. We debunk myths like: ❌ You won’t make any money self-publishing ❌ You have to spend a lot of money to self-publish ❌ There’s no credibility in self-publishing And most importantly: fake M&Ms are just as good as real M&Ms. Dive Deeper 💡 Editorial Fre…
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What Keeps Self-Published Books Off the New York Times Best-Seller Lists?
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46:10In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss the New York Times Best Seller lists. Learn how the lists are decided, what disqualifies a book from being a potential NYT Best-Seller, and why self-published authors rarely make the cut. Dive Deeper 💡 The New York Times | About the Best Sellers 💡 Novlr | The New York Times Bestseller Lists Explained 💡 Wikiped…
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What Does Taylor Swift Know About Book Publishing?
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45:00In this episode, Matt & Lauren have a conversation about Taylor Swift’s upcoming book, talking through her decision to self-publish it, and what that says about the future of traditional publishing. Disclaimer: This episode was Matt’s idea, not Lauren’s. Dive Deeper 💡 Target Press Release 💡 Related Episodes Ep #2 | Is Self-Publishing the Best Path …
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Metrics That Matter: A Guide for Authors & Creators
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47:50
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47:50In 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 Deeper 💡 Check Out These Resourc…
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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 Deeper 💡 Otter.AI 💡 Ecamm Live 💡 Ann Handley’s Total Annarchy News…
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Ask Matt (and Lauren) Anything: Answering Your Questions
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44:42It’s 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…
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How to Repurpose Your Book (and Other Content) for Social Media
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57:40In this episode, Matt & Lauren review the best ways to repurpose content for social media. They talk through reusing your existing social content, reposting other people’s social content, and repurposing your book material as social content. Jump in to hear about Matt’s recent appearance at Momentum and upcoming plans for Author Nation - or skip ah…
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Make Your Self-Published Books Stand Out with Custom Details
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51:23Custom 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 &…
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Should Self-Published Authors Use Beta Readers and Sensitivity Readers?
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49:57In this episode, Matt & Lauren help you maximize your book’s 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 Y…
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How to Drive Book Sales Without Offering Discounts
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48:13
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48:13In 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 Autho…
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Getting Your Bookstore Ready for the Holidays
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51:36In this episode, Matt & Lauren tackle the upcoming holiday season. They’ll 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 Deeper 💡 Check These Resources Make Books Make Bank PDF Downloa…
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Pain Point Solutions for Your Ecommerce Store
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45:27In this episode, Lauren & Matt tackle some common pain points entrepreneurs and ecommerce store owners struggle with. We’ll 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 Deeper 💡 Sales Tax Lulu Knowledge Base | How Do I Con…
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From Manuscript to Market: 5+ Tools to Help You Draft, Publish, and Sell Your Book
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44:42Self-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 Deeper 💡 Learn More About Fictionary Vellum Atticus Bublish Lul…
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How to Get Your Book Into Indie Bookstores
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41:29In 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 Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Selling Your Book on Consignment With Indie Bookstores 5 Vi…
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The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
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50:55In this episode, Matt and Lauren take listeners on a journey through self-publishing and traditional publishing. We’ll look at where those paths overlap, where they diverge, and what to expect on your publishing adventure. Dive Deeper 💡 Jane Friedman’s The Key Book Publishing Paths 💡 Listen to These Episodes: Episode #2 → Is Self-Publishing the Bes…
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Designing the Right Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Book
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46:30In 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 weir…
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Hooking New Readers With a Compelling Book Description
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54:34In 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? Ema…
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Books You Can Create Using Your Existing Content
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44:20In 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 & Laur…
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5 Things to Know Before You Start Publishing
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43:41In this episode, Matt & Lauren review five things you’ll 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 (no…
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Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore
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52:34In 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, we’ll cover everything you need to know to sell your self-published books directly to your readers. Dive Deeper 💡 Step 1: Shopify Learn More About Selling Your Book With Shopify and Lulu Di…
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Finding Your Place in Author & Reader Communities
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45:44In 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 Deeper 💡 Check Out These Online Communities Enter the Luluniverse Meet the Nonfiction Authors Association Learn More About Novelists, Inc.…
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3 Steps to Prep for an Author Event (and What to Do When You’re There)
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48:44
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48:44In 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 Deeper 💡 Learn More About These Events CEX Author Nation NINC 💡 Read These Blog Posts How to P…
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In the Studio with Author Nation’s Joe Solari
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35:17In this episode, Lauren is joined by Joe Solari, Managing Director of Author Nation, for our first-ever Publish & Prosper interview! Get excited for the Author Nation event coming to Las Vegas this November, take an inside look at CEX 2024, and hear Joe’s thoughts on the future of indie publishing. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn more about Author Nation 💡 Lis…
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Determining the Right Retail Price for Your Book
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40:55There’s a fine line to balance when you’re setting the retail price for your book! Too high, and you might discourage potential new readers. Too low, and readers might question the value of your content - or worse, you wind up losing money on every sale. In this episode Matt & Lauren discuss how to determine the optimal list price for your book and…
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Do Book Reviews Help You Sell More Books?
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44:20As authors, writers, and creative types, it’s easy to get caught up in the perceived importance of customer reviews. But do those reviews actually help you sell more books? In this episode, Lauren & Matt debate the value of book reviews for increasing your sales, boosting your book’s discoverability, and providing social proof for new readers. Dive…
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Author Branding 101: Building a Brand Beyond Your Books
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47:02
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47:02In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore author brands. Listen now to discover the power of your author identity, why it is so important, and how to create and maintain a brand for your long-term marketing and sales success. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts What Is an Author Brand and Why Does It Matter? Complete Book Marketing Plan for Creators a…
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How to Turn Your Casual Fans into Super Fans
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44:26Super fans! We know them, we love them, we want them for our own. But how do you turn your casual fans into loyal, dedicated super fans? In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss strategies like diversifying your products, demonstrating the value of your content, and creating a community for your fans. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts 5 Ways You Ca…
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How to Survive (and Thrive) at Conferences and Events
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41:54
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41:54In this episode, Matt & Lauren share their favorite survival tips for attending author and creator conferences! From packing essential supplies to putting your health first, hear our team’s must-haves and must-dos for anyone trying to maximize their time at a conference. Dive Deeper 💡 Read more about Why Creator Events Are a Must for Creators & Ent…
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Using Customer Data to Grow Your Business
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44:28In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss the most valuable tool in any creator’s arsenal: customer data. Whether you’re tracking book sales and behavioral data, collecting customer information through direct sales, or reviewing your key social media and email marketing metrics, understanding your customer data is essential for long-term brand success…
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Cover to Cover: Getting Your Book Design Right
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49:49In this episode, Lauren & Matt take a look at best practices for book design. We’ll review key design elements that often get overlooked on book covers, what to include inside your book, and whether or not we think it’s worth the cost to pay for book cover and interior design. Dive Deeper 💡 Download Lulu’s Free Guides & Templates 💡 Check Out the Pr…
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Do You Need to Hire Professional Editors for Your Book?
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46:32In this episode Matt & Lauren take a look at the different types of editing your manuscript might need, debate which ones they think are most valuable, and share a few of their tips for making sure your book editing is done right. Dive Deeper 💡 Find Freelance Editors and Hybrid Publishers on Lulu’s Hire A Pro Page 💡 Browse Fiverr for Freelance Edit…
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Crowdfunding Your Self-Published Book With Kickstarter
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38:58In this episode Lauren & Matt discuss the whys and hows of using Kickstarter to crowdfund your book. Learn why we think Kickstarter is a great option for self-published authors, what you need to know to get your campaign started, and how successful authors are crushing it with crowdfunding. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn More About Kickstarter 💡 Check Out Som…
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren take another look at generative AI and how it can be a powerful tool to help authors and content creators. Hear some of our favorite tips for using ChatGPT as a sounding board, a hammer against writer’s block, and an expert ally on your writing journey. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Think Outside The Bot: How AI…
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Matt & Lauren recap their time at London Book Fair 2024, one of the biggest publishing conferences in the world. Get the lowdown on hot topics from the conference, an insider's look at the event, and a special peek into what it’s like to travel with Team Lulu. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn how (and why) Lulu is a Certified B Corp 💡 Watch this video on 5 Thin…
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The Indie Author’s Guide to Thriving Without Amazon
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47:08In this episode, Matt & Lauren explain why indie authors need to stop relying on Amazon as their primary sales channel. Listen now to hear why we feel so strongly about it, what alternatives we suggest, and how to get your readers on the same page. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts The Independent Author’s Guide to Thriving Without Amazon How To …
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Can You Really Support Your Business With Just 1,000 True Fans?
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43:26In this episode Lauren and Matt discuss Kevin Kelly’s 1,000 True Fans theory, what it means to be a true fan (or super fan), and a few unique ways small business owners and content creators have turned casual buyers into true fans. Dive Deeper 💡 Read the Kevin Kelly’s 1,000 True Fans essay 💡 Read The 1,000 True Fan Theory: Sustainable Income for Cr…
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In this episode Matt & Lauren explore paid book promotion. We review our favorite sponsorship opportunities, take a brief look at different types of book promo ads and paid social media ads, and debate the value of influencer marketing. Dive Deeper 💡 Check out Written Word Media 💡 Check out BookFunnel 💡 Learn how to set up BookBub Ads 💡 Read Social…
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren debate earned promotion, PR and publicity efforts, and creator collaborations. Learn how to promote your book with earned media opportunities, book signings, public speaking, and collaboration with fellow creators. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts The Complete Book Marketing Plan for Authors and Creators How to Pit…
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Social Media Marketing for Authors & Creators
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55:03In this episode, Lauren & Matt talk about using valuable and authentic social media engagement to find new readers, ideas for promoting your books, and a few of their favorite social media dos and biggest don’ts. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Check out our Social Media 101 for Authors series Learn how to Promote Your Book on Social Media Get …
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss one of the most successful marketing strategies, share ideas and tips for building your email list, and review best practices for keeping those subscribers engaged. Dive Deeper 💡 Check Out These Reports Lulu & The Tilt’s Creator Insights Report Email marketing stats from HubSpot’s State of Marketing in 2024 re…
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Marketing Your Book Pre-Launch, At-Launch, and Post-Launch
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54:18In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore the three stages of promoting your book—pre-launch marketing, at-launch marketing, and post-launch marketing. Download your free book marketing checklist to help you stay on track. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Review your complete book marketing plan Plan your pre-launch marketing timeline Learn how to …
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss some of the most important questions asked by authors and creators - is it worth it to publish my books in print? Are readers still buying print books, or is print dead? Dive Deeper 💡Review the Data Overall book sales & revenue statistics, reported by Words Rated How print book sales in 2023 compared to previo…
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss the publishing, design, and marketing experts that you may want to help you self-publish your book. We take a look at hybrid publishers, different types of editors, and interior versus exterior designers. Plus, hear our thoughts on which services are a must-do and which we think you can DIY to help keep costs …
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