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The Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast

Award-winning marketer Chris Syme and bestselling indie author Becca Syme give self-published authors the latest social media tips and strategies that sell more books and build loyal fans. Join them as they interview top book marketing experts, showcase successful indie authors, and offer tips from their own successes on this weekly show.
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Now displaying: June, 2019
Jun 25, 2019

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

Jun 17, 2019

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)

Jun 8, 2019

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.

Jun 3, 2019

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.

Show Notes And Links

-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

Links (Just click 'em)

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

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