Publish & Prosper

In 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. Watch this episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper💡 Listen to These EpisodesEpisode #12 | Social Media Marketing for Authors & CreatorsEpisode #25 | Author Branding 101: Building a Brand Beyond Your BooksEpisode #33 | Books You Can Create Using Your Existing Content💡 Read These Blog PostsSocial Media Content Ideas for AuthorsSocial Media 101 for Authors💡 Watch These VideosLulu U | How to Use Social Media to Grow Your Author BrandWebinar | Before Social Media: The Marketing Elements You Need Before You Post with Annie Schiffmann💡 Check out These ResourcesHootSuite | Create Engaging and Effective Social Media ContentSocial Media Examiner | Social Content RepurposingThe Social Shift by Katie BrinkleyManyChat for InstagramSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [27:07] “You never know where the content like this that you share and create is going to wind up… If you have this little like, bite-sized content that ties back to your book you don't know where it's going to go and it could serve as a lead magnet.”🎙️ [33:05] “The riches are in the niches. So niche down as far as you can go to where you add maximum value and that's where you will see maximum engagement and revenue intake. And then if you want to scale up from there, you can.” 🎙️ [43:10] “Virality is not stability. Like, don't chase virality because you don't know how you're going to get it. And if you do happen to get lucky enough to have a viral post, you'll probably never get it again. You'll never know how or why you got it.”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

Custom 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! Watch this episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Read How to Convince Readers to Buy Books Directly From You on the Lulu Blog💡 Listen to These EpisodesEpisode #19 → Crowdfunding Your Self-Published Book With KickstarterEpisode #24 → How to Turn Casual Fans into Super FansEpisode #29 → 3 Steps to Prep for an Author Event (and What to Do When You’re There)💡 Learn more about Kingdom Covers for printed edge designs. Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️[8:39] “I think what you find is in the indie publishing world with self publishing, more often than not, it's not necessarily a sales tactic, but it's somebody saying, hey, I've put my heart and soul to this book. I also want it to look really cool. I want to create the best book that I can.”🎙️ [19:58] “When you're creating books to sell to fans, followers, whoever, whether it's fiction or nonfiction, just remember that not everybody reads, writes, collects, distributes the same way that you do. Never really limit yourself just based on the fact that you might not want a really cool sprayed edge on your book.” 🎙️ [32:29] “If you're selling direct already or you're thinking about it, here's a great way to try it or start. To get people to buy direct from you, sometimes they need a little extra incentive… do a completely different cover and have it only be available if they buy that book from you directly off your site.” “I would argue all of these that we're saying, you should be doing, this should be a motivation for people to buy them directly from you.”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

In 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. Watch this episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Check These ResourcesThe Editorial Freelancers Association Member Directory Lulu’s Partners PageJane Friedman on Are Paid Book Reviews Worth It? Blog | 7 Online Writing Communities for AuthorsWebinar | PR for Authors: Building Buzz Around Your Book💡 Listen to These EpisodesEpisode #13 | Earning Free Promotion for Your BookEpisode #26 | Do Book Reviews Help You Sell More Books? Episode #30 | Finding Your Place in Author & Reader CommunitiesSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [21:12] “I think out of everything in this episode, we've probably referenced [beta readers] the most in the past. They are a great way to connect with other people in your industry, with other authors, with other peers in your specific genre that you're working on. It's a great way to create those relationships with people. And a great reason to definitely do that."🎙️ [31:45] “A good editor… will point those things out to you, but it's not their job to make sure that you've done your due diligence. It's always on the author.”🎙️ [38:19] “Most people that you ask for promotional reviews, testimonials, whatever, they will not provide a negative one. So you'll either get a positive one or you won't get one. If they don't have anything good to say about your book, they're just not going to talk about it.”🎙️ [46:39] “The point is: connect with people. Share your book with readers before your actual readers get their hands on it. You don't have to reach out to all of the people that we've talked about in this episode. But none of them are going to hurt your content. They can only help. So why not?”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

In 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. Watch this episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper💡 Read These Blog PostsWhat Are Product Variants & Why Do Authors Need Them?How to Turn Casual Followers into Dedicated Super FansBookshop.org: Your Local, Online Bookseller💡 Watch These VideosThe Author’s Guide to Subscriptions💡 Listen to Related EpisodesEpisode #24 | How to Turn Your Casual Fans into Super FansEpisode #30 | Finding Your Place in Author & Reader CommunitiesEpisode #35 | Designing the Right Go-to-Market Strategy for Your BookSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [6:30] “I don't think you ever want to put yourself in a situation where that's the only way you're selling books is by discounting. If you get in that habit and people come to expect that from you, then that's the only time they're going to purchase, is when you're offering a discount. And you never want to be in that race to the bottom.”🎙️ [26:42] “And it doesn't matter. Like, if you're a bookseller and writer or a musician or anybody else, if you've got fans, if you've got customers who have bought things from you, you need to acknowledge that is now a relationship that you can continue to foster.”🎙️ [43:33] “That's a huge motivator for getting people to spend money with you is making them feel good in the process.”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

In 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 ResourcesMake Books Make Bank PDF DownloadMcKinsey on US Holiday Shopping 2023Forbes on 6 Trends From The 2023 Holiday Season That Can Shape 2024💡 Read These Blog PostsSell More Books With A Holiday Social Media StrategyDiscounting Best Practices and Biggest BlundersBlack Friday & Cyber Monday Holiday Sales Planning9-Point Book Sales Checklist For Holiday5 Ways To Get Your Lulu Direct Shopify Store Ready For The Holidays💡 Watch These VideosWebinar | Make Books, Make Bank: Your Guide To Holiday SuccessWebinar | Boost Fall Book Sales With A Stellar Marketing Plan💡 Listen to These EpisodesEpisode #31 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore Episode #11 | Email Marketing for Authors and CreatorsEpisode #13 | Earning Free Publicity for Your Book💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

Entrepreneurs and e-commerce store owners will find valuable insights in tackling common challenges. The discussion covers the intricacies of sales tax compliance and offers practical solutions for navigating tax collection on platforms like WooCommerce and Wix. Shipping strategies are explored, emphasizing proactive customer communication and the importance of trackable shipments. Personal anecdotes highlight the frustrations of damaged deliveries, while tips for managing customer expectations underscore the need for clear communication in the e-commerce landscape.

Self-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 AboutFictionaryVellumAtticusBublishLulu’s Order Import ToolWritten Word MediaBookFunnel💡 Read These Blog PostsVellum Review: Simple Page Layout for Self-PublishersAtticus Review: The All-in-One Writing and Formatting Tool for Indie AuthorsDropshipping for Entrepreneurs & Creators With Lulu’s Order Import Tool💡 Watch These VideosWebinar with Fictionary | Editing Essentials: Edit Like a Developmental Story EditorWebinar with Bublish | Boost Fall Book Sales With A Stellar Marketing PlanJump Ahead to Learn About🎙️ Fictionary →  1:52🎙️ Atticus & Vellum →  7:41🎙️ Lulu’s Cover Design Tool →  15:53🎙️ Bublish’s AI Author Toolkit →  22:23🎙️ Lulu’s Order Import Tool →  27:58🎙️ Written Word Media and BookFunnel →  37:19💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

In 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 PostsSelling Your Book on Consignment With Indie Bookstores5 Visual Indicators Your Book Is Self-Published💡 Watch How to Get Your Book into Bookstores💡 Check your book’s global distribution eligibility with our Pricing CalculatorSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [15:44] “These bookstores have a standard to uphold. Which is not to say that every traditionally published book and every book available in an indie bookstore or any bookstore is a good book. We all know that's not true. But at the very least, they want people to be able to look at your book and think it's a good book.” 🎙️ [25:34] “You're not just an author or creator, we've said this a thousand times. You're a business, and as such you need to be building trust and relationships with people.”🎙️ [32:49] “It's important to understand that your book can be available to be bought from an indie bookstore or a bookstore in general if you are in distribution, it just won't be sitting on the shelves as ready inventory.”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

In 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 Best Path for Today's Creators?Episode #8 → Self-Publishing is a Team SportEpisode #20 → Do You Need to Hire Professional Editors for Your Book? Episode #10 → Marketing Your Book Pre-Launch, At-Launch, and Post-Launch💡 Read These Blog PostsThe Publishing Journey: Traditional Publishing vs. Self-PublishingUnderstanding The Publishing Gatekeepers💡 Watch This VideoWebinar | Which Publishing Path is Right for You? Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [10:17] “It used to be that if you said your book was self-published, or if people knew your book was self-published, they were just like, oh, that's got to be garbage. They did it themselves. It can't be a good book. These days, obviously nothing's further from the truth than that statement.”🎙️ [23:10] “But the point is you don't have any control over that in traditional publishing, and in self-publishing you have total control over that.” 🎙️ [45:14] “All of this is only relevant in so much as what your goals are for the book itself.”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

In 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 weird tangents Matt & Lauren like to meander through? Email us at podcast@lulu.com to submit your question for our upcoming AMA episode!Dive Deeper💡 Listen to These Episodes to Learn More About…Marketing Your Book Pre-Launch, At-Launch, and Post-LaunchDetermining the Right Retail Price for Your BookThe Indie Author's Guide to Thriving Without AmazonYour 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore4 Reasons Creators Don't Sell Direct (and Why You Should)Crowdfunding Your Self-Published Book With Kickstarter5 Things to Know Before You Start PublishingSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [12:35] “Don't get too married to all this stuff in the beginning. When you're able to step back from this go-to-market plan and really take a look at it holistically, you might see some areas where you need to go back in and change a few things so that everything kind of works seamlessly and harmoniously together.”🎙️ [29:04] “Having that sales and distribution and strategy laid out and understanding where and when each format and variation of that book is going to be released and sold is really important. And it'll extend the sales lifecycle of that book as long as possible.”🎙️ [42:01] “Regardless of whether or not you're selling direct, no matter which sales and distribution platforms you're going to move forward with: customer data is invaluable. Whatever kind of customer data you have access to from these different sales and distribution channels, you're going to want some way to track it.”💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom!💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com💀 Sign up for our mailing list.