Publish & Prosper

In 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.Dive Deeper💡 Listen to Episode #13 | Earning Free Publicity for Your Book💡 Read These Blog PostsHow to Write a Book Description That SellsHow to Earn Media Attention: Essential PR Tips for Authors💡 Watch These VideosLulu U | How to Write a Book Description That SellsWebinar | PR for Authors: Building Buzz Around Your Book💡 Check Out the BooksMasters of Death by Olivie BlakeMy Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady HendrixSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [11:14] “To Matt's point that you could use ChatGPT to write your book description for you if you want to. I'm going to say that you could, but you still need to know what to tell ChatGPT to use to write the book description.”🎙️ [24:12] “It's a really succinct way to tell me who the book is for, what they're going to get out of it, and what goals you're going to achieve by doing it or by reading it, but without actually giving any of the information away. So I have to keep reading to learn more about what I'm actually going to get out of this book.”🎙️ [34:15] “If people are like at a bookstore where you're not there, or online, they're browsing and they see your book the thing that's gonna catch their eye first is the cover. Your elevator pitch is what you're gonna do when you're talking to somebody in person.” 💀 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 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.  Dive Deeper💡 Read These Blog Posts6 Ways To Publish a Book Without Writing a BookFrom Blog To Book: How To Turn Your Content Into a Published BookHow To Turn Your Video Content Into a BookHow To Reach a New Audience With a Book Based on Your PodcastHow To Create a Workbook: Tips To Enhance Your Online CourseWhat Is Fanfiction and Why Does It Matter?💡 Watch These VideosWhat Should I Publish? 10 Ideas Using Content You Already HaveLulu University playlist on Content MonetizationSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [3:51] “One of the best ways to identify what aspect or which topic of your content would necessarily lend itself best to a book, or a book project, would be to just go back and look at your metrics, right? Figure out which of your blog posts or podcasts or YouTube videos or whatever got the most views and the most engagement.”🎙️ [14:58] “Presentations can be very one-sided where it's literally just the speaker speaking at an audience of people… this is a great way to turn that one time event attendee into somebody who's going to continue to come back to you, continue to participate in the conversation and continue to think of you when they're thinking about the subject matter that you were presenting on."🎙️ [25:55] “If you are a digital first fiction author and you're publishing your ebooks, whether it's on Kindle Unlimited, you're doing serial fiction on something like Kindle Vella, BookFunnel, whatever platform that you're using, why are you not selling print editions of your books? If you are, great, love you for it. If you're not, please do.” 💀 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 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 (now or later). Dive Deeper💡 Check Out Jane Friedman’s Key Book Publishing Paths💡 Watch our Start Here! Playlist💡 Read These Blog PostsHow to Get Started PublishingHow to Find Your Target AudiencePrint-on-Demand: Breaking Down the Costs for AuthorsThe Publishing Journey: Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing💡 Listen to These EpisodesIs Self-Publishing the Best Path for Today's Creators?What is Print-on-Demand?Self-Publishing is a Team SportCan You Really Support Your Business With Just 1,000 True Fans?Author Branding 101: Building a Brand Beyond Your Books💀 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 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: ShopifyLearn More About Selling Your Book With Shopify and Lulu DirectWooCommerceLearn More About Selling Your Book With WooCommerce and Lulu DirectWixLearn More About Selling Your Book With Wix and Lulu DirectSquarespace💡 Step 2: Shopify | How to Choose the Best Domain Name in 2024 💡 Step 3: Lulu Blog | What Is an Author Brand and Why Does It Matter?💡 Step 4: Lulu Blog | Customer Service and Your Ecommerce Business💡 Step 6: Lulu U Playlist | Lulu Direct for ShopifyLulu U Playlist | Lulu Direct for WooCommerceLulu U Playlist | Lulu Direct for WixInfluencer Marketing Hub | Top 14 eCommerce Plugins to Power Your eCommerce Site in 2024💡 Step 7: Lulu Blog | Can’t-Miss Tips for Building a Better Ecommerce StoreLulu Blog | Optimized for Mobile: The Future of Bookselling💀 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 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 CommunitiesMeet the Nonfiction Authors AssociationLearn More About Novelists, Inc.Explore Inkers ConListen to the State of the Nation podcast episode on Story Wars at Author Nation💡 Read These Blog PostsHow to Grow Your Author Network7 Online Writing Communities for Authors💡 Watch These VideosHow to Build a Community of True FansWebinar | TikTok, Booktube, and Instagram, Oh My!Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [9:36] “I think that they're also like, as we're talking about the distinctions between them, I think that they are inherently different in that author communities tend to be more focused on… craft and education, and this is a learning experience for me, how do I do this? Crowdsourcing how to do things, whether it's how to write, how to publish, how to get an agent, whatever. Reader communities tend to be echo chambers of opinions.”🎙️ [27:45] “If you're looking for a way to be a part of an author community or a writer community or something like that, there are plenty of opportunities out there to find them, whether they are big nationwide communities or small local bookstore, coffee shop, library, independent groups.”🎙️ [42:45] “And that's really what this podcast is, is us talking in circles around the very clear, like one sentence that we could have said.” 💀 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 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 EventsCEXAuthor NationNINC💡 Read These Blog PostsHow to Pitch Your Book for Earned PromotionWhat is an Author Brand and Why Does It Matter? How to Grow Your Author Network💡 Watch These VideosWebinar | Speaking to Sell Books: ​​​​​​​Break into Professional Speaking to Reach More ReadersPlaylist | How to Find and Grow Your Target Audience Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [7:29] “Anytime you can get in front of people and speak, regardless of the topic, that is some of the best publicity and advertising you could get for yourself.”🎙️ [15:25] “Underestimating your audience is the worst thing you could do. And underestimating what they'll purchase or where they'll go to see you, or even how much they like you, you're only going to hurt yourself.”🎙️ [34:30] “This is your opportunity to make a really good in person impression on fans, followers, readers and potential new readers. Let's not just show up, throw a few books on the table and sit down and wait for them all to come because it's not going to happen.”💀 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 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💡 Listen to Author Nation’s State of the Nation podcast💡 Catch what you missed at CEX 2024 with our Digital PassSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [10:29] “That's part of the journey is doing all that to have that ownership and to know that while it might not be a fast path, everything there is yours.”🎙️ [15:07] “This whole thing about going direct and doing things that this way isn't about what I think people think it's about. I think it's a bigger… a bigger, more strategic plan to make sure your business is hardened against what might be a really logical decision for Amazon and its shareholders.”🎙️ [27:41] “So as a person that creates content, it's not just about what you can do today. It's about what we're going to be able to do in the future.”💀 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.

There’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 what factors to consider.Dive Deeper💡 Lulu’s Pricing Calculator💡 How Do I Set the Retail Price for My Print Book? from the Lulu Knowledge Base💡 Breaking Down Print Costs for Authors from the Lulu Blog💡 School Library Journal’s 2023 Average Book Prices Chart💡 Self-Publishing School on How to Price Your Book: Balancing Sales and ProfitSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [18:32] “If you don't care about the why and you don't care about all the mechanics behind everything and you just want the quick TL;DR answer to how do I figure out how to price my book correctly? The answer is do your market research.”🎙️ [24:20] “And that's kind of the point of this episode too, is to help people better understand the economics of books so that they're not out there pricing things based on just seeing something on Amazon and going well, I have to do it this way. Like, I have to try and compete with that price. You may not be able to.”🎙️ [32:12] “There's definitely some psychology behind that, some consumer and behavioral psychology around how you price things. It's not a bad idea to pick up a book or two about this and learn more about 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.

As 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 Deeper💡 Barnes & Noble Press Blog on The Power and Importance of Book Reviews 💡 HubSpot on The Psychology of Social Proof💡 Trustpilot on Social Proof: What is it, and why is it important for eCommerce?💡 Jane Friedman on Are Paid Book Reviews Worth It?💡 Statista data on Online Fake Reviews Removed in 2021 💡 Customer Review Plugins Loox, TrustReviews, and TrustifySound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [17:22] “You as a writer or a creator or anybody else for that matter, who's trying to placate or play up to the algorithms, it's a lost cause right now. The best thing you can do is just forget about that. Keep trying to create good, valuable content.”🎙️ [22:36] “I don't know about you, but I don't think one single review has ever been the thing that made me decide to buy a product. But I can tell you for sure that one single review has been enough to make me not buy something.”🎙️ [35:55] “And then the credibility and trust thing, again. Underneath it all, that's what a review is for… It's the whole reason why some people even publish a book, is to get some credibility and authority and trust. And so the reviews can help to further solidify what that book was even created for in the first place.”💀 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 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 PostsWhat Is an Author Brand and Why Does It Matter?Complete Book Marketing Plan for Creators and Authors💡 Watch Lulu University’s Author Branding Playlist💡 Learn more about Why Authors Shouldn’t be Hiding Behind Their Books: What it Means to Build an Author Brand from Written Word Media💡 Check out Armen Adamjan and Creative ExplainedSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [2:46] “I think a lot of the time a lot of the issues that authors run up against when it comes to long-term marketing can be boiled down to they haven't done the groundwork with their author branding and developing their brand.”🎙️ [16:19] “What you really need to remember is that whatever you do, whatever branding you apply, whatever name you choose, you need to be consistent across all channels, including when we talk about things like pay and organic search and stuff like that, so that you continue to build brand recognition, which is what fuels the machine for you to sustain that business long-term, regardless of what that business might be.”🎙️ [36:05] “I think the key is to just - you have to recognize that and you have to understand that if, if this is something you want to do long-term as a career, whether you've already started down that path or not, you have to have this component. You have to have some branding in order to sustain a long-term trajectory.”💀 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.