Info

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.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
2019
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: March, 2019
Mar 31, 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. The episode starts with an update on Amazon's new lockscreen ads that have many authors befuddled.

Show Notes & Links:

-Are the new lockscreen ads (Amazon) the old product display ads?

-The 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 Masterin Amazon Descriptions here

Becca Syme's new podcast, The Quitcast

Becca's new book, Dear Writer, You Need To Quit

 

Mar 25, 2019

This episode is the third of a three-part super series on how to become a BookBub ads expert with David Gaughran. If you haven't listened to episodes one and two, we recommend you start there. Here's the link to the first show in the series: https://cksyme.com/episode120

*******************************

In this episode Chris and expert guest David Gaughran talk about how to bid for success with BookBub ads. There may be a tiny bit of math involved, but keep calm and carry on.

Show Notes & Links:

-Why using CPM (cost-per-thousand impressions) bidding can be foreboding. 

-The reasons why CPM bidding is better than CPC bidding (cost-per-click) on BookBub ads.

-If you haven't optimized your ads through testing and your ad is bad, CPM might be a risk.

-When should you use BookBub ads?

-Is there a difference in effectiveness for authors on KDP-only or wide?

-Why your success rate goes up when you test.

-When BookBub ads are good for free books and when they are not

-Be sure and listen for David's smarty pants tip to rule them all at the end of the show.

Links (click 'em, they're live)

-Get David's new book, BookBub Ads Expert here

-David Gaughran website and blog

-Becca Syme's new Quitcast Show; what to quit, what to keep, and what to question.

Chris Syme's Facebook page

 

Mar 18, 2019

Part two of three. If you haven't listened to part one, click here and listen first. Then come back!

In this episode David and Chris discuss the tips and tricks to targeting an ad on BookBub. It's not like Facebook or Amazon ads, so you need to know what you're doing for maximum results.

Show Notes & Links:

-Why you should test your BookBub ads using the Amazon US Kindle store.

-The anatomy of a killer ad: why you need to know how to put an engaging image together.

-The #1 reason you shouldn't use BookBub's generated ads as your image.

-How learning to do your own images with the help of a tool like Canva will help you in other ways besides just ads.

-Should a book cover be front and center on a BookBub ad?

-Why we need to analyze and understand what our cost-per-click buys us on the different ad platforms.

-Targeting options on BookBub ads are different than other platforms. Why targeting mega authors doesn't work there.

-Understanding target audiences and author targets on BookBub ads. 

-How to target multiple genre authors.

Links (click 'em, they're live):

Be sure and grab a copy of David's book, BookBub Ads Expert

Follow David's blog here

Becca Syme's new Quitcast Show on YouTube

Find out more about Chris' premium online class for authors: The Content Formula: A Blueprint for Engagement and Loyalty. 

 

 

Mar 10, 2019

This week, Chris starts a three-week series with David Gaughran, author of the new book, BookBub Ads Expert. In this first part, it's all about how to test for success and find a template you can use to replicate for success. 

Show Notes & Links:

-Why David wrote his new book and how he got his data.

-Why testing is absolutely necessary for success.

-Why conversions (sales) are a more important measure than click-throughs. Hint:clicks don't tell the right story.

-Why you'll get the bet results with a discounted ad and why you should start there.

-How a "deal" can hook a reader to buy a full price book.

-Why testing helps you understand the nuances of the BookBub ad platform and how that works to your advantage.

-Why targeting big name, bestselling authors for your ads on BookBub won't work like it does on Amazon or Facebook.

Links (click 'em, they're live)

-Get your copy of BookBub Ads Expert here

-A link to David Gaughran's website--sign up for his email list and get his free book, Amazon Decoded.

-Link to the BookBub Partner Dashboard blog (good resources here)

-Link to Becca Syme's new videocast: The Quitcast.

-Link to leave a comment or ask a question on the podcast page

 

Mar 4, 2019

In this episode, Chris and Becca introduce the second principle from the Quitcast tag line: what to quit, what to keep, what to question. This week we tackle what every author needs to keep. 

Show Notes & Links:

- The best predictor of your success: your strengths.

-Why knowing your strengths will enhance every area of your author business from writing to marketing and everything in-between.

-Why working on your strengths statistically gives you more success than working on your weaknesses.

-Understanding your strengths will give you the confidence to know what you can do, recognize what others might expect of you, and how you can balance the two. 

Links (click 'em, they're live):

Watch the video episode on Becca's YouTube channel

-Learn more about the CliftonStrengths® Assessment: https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com

Terry Schott, everybody: http://www.terryschott.com/game.html

Take the CliftonStrengths® Assessment: http://bit.ly/TopFiveStrengths

Becca's website: https://betterfasteracademy.com

Support this podcast and learn more about insider benefits: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme

 

 

1