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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: January, 2018
Jan 28, 2018

In this episode Chris interviews Becca about her writing calendar, a tool that Becca developed to keep her author business and herself on track for success.

Show Notes & Links:

-How Becca set up a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep her writing, publishing, and promoting on task.

-Why "productivity tools" need to take your personality into account.

-Why you need to know your abilities to set up a calendar correctly.

-Why some people are wired to "write fast" and others are not.

-What kinds of tasks should your writing calendar track?

-Why a writing calendar is not set in cement. 

Links:

-Link to Becca's new book, Vangie Vale And The Strangled Strudel

-Link to Chris' Content Formula class

-Link to Becca's sample writing calendar you can download and use

-Link to SMART Marketing For Authors Facebook group

 

Jan 22, 2018

In this episode, Chris and Becca have an informal discussion about the three options for authors on Facebook for promoting books and engaging with readers: personal profiles, author business pages, and groups. Pros and cons of each in light of the new algorithm changes.

Show Notes & Links:

-The three types of Facebook pages authors use to promote their books and build fan engagement.

-Tips on how to use each in light of the new Facebook algorithm

-Why using your personal platform to promote your books is not a good idea.

-Get maximum engagement on social media by using to 80-20 Content Rule.

-How tracking your Facebook Insights will help you write more engaging content.

-Why it's important to educate readers to mark your Facebook page as a "See First" page in their newsfeeds. 

Links: 

-Link to episode 75--Chris' take on the new Facebook algorithm. 

-Link to Chris' video on how to teach fans to designate your business page as a "See First" page in their newsfeed. 

-Link to Chris' video on how to set up the Shop Template on your author business page

-Link to Chris' video on how to set up a redirect in your personal profile About section to your author business page.

-Link for more information about The Content Formula online class. JANUARY 23 IS THE LAST DAY OF THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!

-Facebook's helpful cheat sheet on the differences between profiles, pages, and groups.

-Link to romance author Roni Loren's insider Facebook group. Read the About This Group to find out about the group's guidelines.

Jan 14, 2018

In this episode Chris gives her take on the latest Facebook algorithm changes and how they may affect authors. Keep calm and carry on.

Show Notes & Links

-Why social media is still the best place to engage with your fans.

-Why you should not start using your Facebook personal profile to promote your books.

-The three things you need to do now to keep up with the changes.

-How to track your page on Facebook Insights (pdf-see links below)

-How to train your followers to list your page as a "See First" page and why you need to do that (link to Vimeo video below)

-Above all, keep calm, carry on, and know what's happening on your own page.

Links: 

How to track your engagement and reach on Facebook Insights to know what's happening with your own engagement (pdf). This is a three page-pdf and the page toggle is at the top of the document.

Short video on how to train your followers to designate your page as a "See First" page to keep your posts in their newsfeeds.  

The official Facebook announcement on the changes

Chris' new online class on how to write content that engages now regardless of the algorithm changes. Info here.

Jan 8, 2018

In this episode, Chris presents part two on the keys to book marketing success in 2018. This week we find out the secret to online content that engages and sells: The Content Formula.

Show Notes & Links:

-Why audience research is your friend.

-The three kinds of audience research you need to be doing.

-Good audience research is free, but it costs your time.

-How to scout what other authors are doing well.

-The four pieces to the secret of engaging content that sells: The Content Formula.

-How you can find your Content Nexus.

-Make it simple: use "buckets" to organize your content.

Links:

-Research source links: Pew Internet Research, Buffer blog, EMarketer, Marketo blog.

-Free survey tools: Survey Monkey, TypeForm, Google Forms

- Becca's new cozy mystery book: Vangie Vale And The Strangled Strudel

-Free sample lesson from Chris' new class, The Content Formula. This particular lesson is on Finding Your Content Nexus. 

-Find out about Chris' new online class, The Content Formula, and get 50% off the enrollment fee until Jan. 22.

 

 

 

 

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