Novel Marketing

Why Podcast? Strongest Emotional Connection Long term connection (minutes & years) Growing segment It doesn’t float down the Social Media stream Gives readers a chance to truly get to know you What is a podcast. Audio that you can subscribe to. Pick a Format Length Topic Mix Number of Voices Intros/music beds Length of intros Break the rules/never break the rules Popular Show Formats: NPR Format. Highly Produced Interview Format Focused Discussion (what we do) Solo Script Solo Outline Single Chapter Equipment Audio Technica ATR-2020USB (Affiliate Link) * Thomas now recommends the ATR-2100 (Affiliate Link). Audio Technica ATH-M20x (Affiliate LInk) Software ZenCastr Call Recorder for Skype Audacity (free) Thomas uses Garageband (Mac only) * Thomas now uses Hindenburg Journalist Pro. Once you have the mp3 there are two ways to turn it into a podcast. The easy way and the not easy way. With the easy way, you are more locked in with your solution. With the hard way you have more options. Website WordPress Podcast Plugins Podcast Host Libsyn Buzzsprout.com Pippa.io SoundCloud Bluebrry (Affiliate Link) Feeds WordPress Feed FeedBurner Directories: iTunes Google Play Common Mistakes: Going too long Interviewing boring people Poor audio quality Sponsor: The Rubart Writing Academy 

What a MM group is. Wikipedia: “A mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring concept used to help members solve their problems with input and advice from the other group members. The concept was coined in 1925 by author Napoleon Hill in his book The Law of Success. Hill says the idea is, “The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.” Why Mastermind Groups Give Authors an Edge Accountability Teamwork Perspective Encouragement for the whole person Community Expertise… Connections/Networking Kinds of Mastermind Groups Peer Based Mentor Based Which is Best? When you are starting out, mentor based is best. When you are well on your way, peer based is best. How to Start a Mastermind Group The easier path: Join an Existing Mastermind Group (how to find a group in a bit) Pick a Format: In Person or Google Hangouts Weekly? (45m) Bi Weekly? (1hr) Monthly? (4hr) The less frequently you meet, the longer the meetings need to be. Pick a meeting structure: Our 1 Hour Marketing Mastermind Format: Part 1: Personal Updates (30m) Class or Hot Seat (25m) Prayer (5m) Craft Format Personal Updates & Accountability (30m) Manuscript Reading (15m) Manuscript Feedback (15m) Who leads? Find Your Masterminds For a peer based group, you find to find masterminds who: Have something to share Willing to commit to making the group a priority Positive and Encouraging. The 1 Jerk Rule How to screen people who want to join For a mentor based group, look for a mentor who will attract the kind of people you want to spend time with every week. Like attracts like. There will be a core within the group. That’s okay. Once a Year Retreat In person if possible Experiment FB? Email loop? Sponsor: Mastermind Summit 2017 Our Mastermind Group has been experimenting with new cutting edge marketing techniques for the last 5 years. People often ask about joining. Our group is full, but we are hosting a summit this year where we each share one of the special techniques we have learned over the years. If this conference were in person it would cost between $1000 and $2000. But we decided to do it online which allows us to bring the cost down to $299. In addition to the conference you get: MyBookTable Pro MyBookProgress Pro MySpeakingEvents $97 Value Details: * August 1 – 3, 2017 * Register

What a MM group is. Wikipedia: “A mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring concept used to help members solve their problems with input and advice from the other group members. The concept was coined in 1925 by author Napoleon Hill in his book The Law of Success. Hill says the idea is, “The coordination of […]

Q Evelyn Williamson is going to kick us off with three questions. She says, “I’m working on my first novel and would like to know how much money I need once I publish … to promote my book. Also, she’ like to know what kinds of things are acceptable expenses to write off. Are books […]

Q Evelyn Williamson is going to kick us off with three questions. She says, “I’m working on my first novel and would like to know how much money I need once I publish … to promote my book. Also, she’ like to know what kinds of things are acceptable expenses to write off. Are books on writing craft a business expense? And Evelyn’s third question about a book review blog she’s starting. She wants to know if she needs to have a separate bank account from her writing? Q Our friend Dave Smale says, “Some literary agents ask for a market analysis with the query letter, but sellers don’t release their numbers to the public. It seems like the agents would know much better than the authors, so wouldn’t that be their job? Joshua Moore says, Jim, Thomas, thank you so much for all the insight you give so freely. I’ve been listening to at least 3 episodes a day and am on episode 65 now… and I can’t help but keep wondering… How did you two meet? What is the story that led to “Hey, we should do a podcast together.” Q BRITTANY FICHTER who is the author of The Classical Kingdoms Collection and has her website at BrittanyFichterFiction.com says, “I write clean fairy tale retellings for older teens and adults. I’ve just put out my fourth book, and the series is selling reasonably well. I’m about to repackage my first three books as a boxed set trilogy. I’ve heard readers of boxed sets is a slightly different demographic than readers who purchase one book at a time. How can I find those box set readers?” Q Our next question comes from Jaime Jo Wright who is publishing her debut novel this December called The House on Foster Hill from Bethany … I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you pre-ordered the book … I’ve heard great things about it … and you can find out more about Jaime at jaimejowright dot com. I have to make a quick comment about Jaime. She and I have been friends for a long time and was actually a consultant for me on my second novel, Book of Days …. Jaime says, a lot of new authors, like moi :), cut their teeth on novellas. Since I’m part of two novella collections, I’ve already been dubbed the “novella queen” by friends and even readers (which is funny because two novellas is definitely not worthy of a crown). Regardless, there is still a lot of momentum as a new author, with my first novella being a part of collection that hit the ECPA and Publisher’s Weekly Bestsellers list. So, without having my own single-title novel out yet, how should a new author ride the wave of marketing that surrounds a novella collection and set themselves up right for (hopefully) a future single-title release? Just ride it and hope the readers stick with you for the long haul and through every 20K word short story you can produce until then? Or are there specifics we can do NOW?  Q Our next question comes from Roland Denzel. You can find Roland at Eat Well Move Well dot com and his book is Eat Well, Move Well, Live Well – 52 Ways to Feel Better in a Week He says, “When’s the Novel Marketing book or course coming?”  5 Year Course Q Hey Tom & Jim, On another author’s podcast that I subscribed to (until yesterday) the host and guest bashed self publishing. The host said self-published books are commonly not edited nearly enough which makes them a waste of time to read even if the idea is good. The guest was even harsher and said no one ever reads self-published books because they’re not marketed by major publishing houses, therefore no one even knows about them. I’m not published at all, but as far as I understand publishing houses are just that – publishers, not marketing firms. They may do some marketing for the author, but don’t authors end up doing most of their own marketing anyway?

Just a little over halfway through the year, it’s that time where many of us do an inventory check … and look at what we need to adjust for the rest of the year. We’re not going to call these second half resolutions, because these are not have tos … so you don’t get to beat yourself up if you decide to do these are don’t. They’re simply ideas that can help your marketing efforts in the coming six months. Goals vs. Resolutions vs. Mindset Promote yourself everywhere and anywhere * When you travel, airport, in the plane. * In every city you visit * You never know who you’ll bump into. Drop the excuses * It’s okay if you don’t want to write! No guilt. Maybe it’s not the season. * It’s not important enough, admit it. It will free you. * Evaluate how important it is, if it’s important, you’ll do it. Embrace the truth of this. Believe in yourself * The hardest mindset to stay with … you cannot control your circumstances, but you can control what you let into your mind, and you can control the perception of your circumstances. * You don’t always have to believe in yourself, but you have to take action like you do. Emotion follows action, not the other way around. * You’re not alone, we ALL have doubts. James- nine novels, friend who has done 30 … BONUS MIND SET: Play … make it play. Three Goals: * Review your website WooRank.com, Website Grader, Past Episodes * Review your Social Media profiles: Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, etc. * Go to a conference or two or three .. ACFW OCW Links: * ACFW * OCW Sponsor: * This episode is brought to you by The Novel Marketing Five Year Plan to becoming a bestselling author … * Jim: we joke that this is the 5 Year Plan to becoming an overnight success. * Thomas: Most people look at what happens a few days or weeks before the big break out. We take a longer view… 100 Episode Live Event July 11th 7pm Central Time. * We will post the recording afterward but we will have giveaways and bonus content for the folks who come live. * Free! * Register Raising the Price on the 5 Year Course * Currently $24.99 one time * New Price $49.99 one time * Ending the Jim Coaching Option * Not too late to get the discounted price or the Jim coaching session.

Just a little over halfway through the year, it’s that time where many of us do an inventory check … and look at what we need to adjust for the rest of the year. We’re not going to call these second half resolutions, because these are not have tos … so you don’t get to […]

Why your Author Portrait is important. * Americans put a lot of importance on how someone looks. * A bad portrait can ruin a good book cover. * It is not about being objectively pretty. It is about having a good photo. * We are relational. We want to buy from someone we know. Tip #1 Hire an Actual Professional (you get what you pay for) * How to tell a good photo from a bad photo: look at the eyes. If you can’t easily see the eye color, it is not a good photo. Tip #2 Shoot for your audience (not the author). * Tell your photographer who the audience is for your book. * Tell your photographer what feeling you are wanting the portrait to convey. Tip #3 Bring Lots of Outfits for the Photographer to pick from. * Go with solid colors and simple/minimal jewelry. * Consider bringing a prop to use as an option. Tip #4 Insist the photographer shoot in landscape mode. * You can always crop a portrait shape photo from a landscape image. This give you more options with the design of your website and more options when speaking at event. Tip #5 Use caution with Photoshop techniques. * You don’t want someone’s first thought when they see you is “wow you look old.” * The idea with touching up a photo is to make you look like your best self. Not like someone else or a younger version of yourself. Tip #6 Buy the full copyright to the photo. * Negotiate this ahead of time. * Pay for the time not the image. Tip #7 Update your photos frequently. * At least once per book or once per year or two if you are prolific. Announcement #1 100 Episode Live Event July 11th 7pm Central Time. Register here. We will post the recording afterwards but we will have giveaways and bonus content for the folks who come live. Free! Announcement #2 Raising the Price on the 5 Year Course Ending the Jim Coaching Option Not too late to get the discounted price or the Jim coaching session. * More info on the 5-year course

Why your Author Portrait is important. Americans put a lot of importance on how someone looks. A bad portrait can ruin a good book cover. It is not about being objectively pretty. It is about having a good photo. We are relational. We want to buy from someone we know. Tip #1 Hire an Actual […]

Your Name * The middle initial can get you in trouble * Radio and TV interviews * Who do people know you as? * Radio and TV * Who do you think of yourself as? * Jim/James on Facebook * Stephen King/Steve King * What should people call you? * Can be a positive * What if you have a common name? Pseudonym * Middle name? * Maiden name? * James L. Rubart books? * Buy their domain name * Okay if there’s a bit of distance between you genre wise * Use initials? Radio Test * Thomas Brown …. Or Thomas Brown? * Rubart * Umstattd * Change it? * Arnold * Once people get it, they remember it Consistent Name Across All Platforms * namechk.com * Email * LinkedIn * Facebook profile/page * Twitter

Your Name The middle initial can get you in trouble Radio and TV interviews Who do people know you as? Radio and TV Who do you think of yourself as? Jim/James on Facebook Stephen King/Steve King What should people call you? Can be a positive What if you have a common name? Pseudonym Middle name? […]

Put it in your Contract If you are traditionally published, make sure the audiobook is written in. Publishers only pay for audiobook production for books they believe. Record Yourself/You become the voice talent … Advantages to doing it yourself- You know how your characters sound You know the nuance of your words You know the […]

Put it in your Contract If you are traditionally published, make sure the audiobook is written in. Publishers only pay for audiobook production for books they believe. Record Yourself/You become the voice talent … Advantages to doing it yourself- You know how your characters sound You know the nuance of your words You know the pacing You know when to go loud and soft An audio book is not only the words, but it’s how the words sound, so it is a performance and you can hear that performance in your head like no one else Another big advantage is money. No big outlay for voice talent/editing. You get to keep all the money.   But …. Buying the equipment … The talent Hire a Pro?   Hire a Pro and use ACX? Advantages to using ACX One of the biggest (aside from distribution) is having an advocate on your side. What we mean by that is, ACX has to approve the book before it gets released. They have strict guidelines in regard to bit rates/audio quality/performance standards … so if you hire a narrator through ACX, they have to give you a quality product. (That of course is contingent on you hiring a decent voice talent, more on that in a bit.) But … do you have the distribution channels? I just finished voicing a non-fiction book for Ted Dekker, and am just starting a book for Randy Ingermanson. I’m working directly with both of them, but both have huge mailings lists, so they don’t need the power of Audible behind them as much as the typical author does. I (James) just finished loading a romantic suspense novel I voiced up to the ACX website and all communication, approvals, etc, has gone through ACX, so if there was ever a misunderstanding, it’s all documented by ACX. I like having that kind of “paper” trail for both parties. ACX will handle the money. They will pay you direct into your bank account so you don’t have to be an accountant when someone buys your audio book. Voice talent– With ACX, you can listen to a bunch of different narrators, then pick the one you want. But even better, voice talent will audition for your book by reading an excerpt (before you spend anything or agree to anything) so you can then get an idea of what they would sound like reading YOUR book. There are other places you can go to find talent, like voices.com or voices123.com but I like the ACX model where the talent is right there. I would also see if there’s anything above and beyond that the narrator can do for me. I offer two additional items to authors that most narrators can’t do: First, help write or revise the back cover copy for the book. Second, since I have somewhat of a name in the CBA market (although much less in the general market) if someone is wanting a book done for a CBA audience, they can use my name to gain traction for their book (“… voiced by Christy Book of the Year winner James L. Rubart …”) Another example is how some narrators are followed because people love their voice. Thomas for example will automatically buy an audio book simply because a certain narrator voiced it. Two ways to play– you can either pay the narrator’s fee straight out (BTW, the amount of this fee is negotiable between you and the producer/voice talent) or do a royalty share. The advantage of a royalty share is no money up front for you. The disadvantage is you could end up selling a gazillion copies and have to keep splitting the royalty forever. Disadvantages to ACX- They take a lot of your money. They take 60%. Links: http://www.acx.com/ https://www.voices.com/ http://voice123.com/ Power Close:

This episode is based on this blog post at Author Media. Reason #1: The Size of the Audiobook Industry is Nearly a Billion-Dollar Industry. Reason #2: Book Mavens Listen to Audiobooks. Reason #3: Audiobooks Protect You From the Oprah Effect. Reason #4: Audiobooks Boost Paper & eBook Sales. Reason #5: Audiobooks Give You Access to Non-Readers. Reason #6: Having an Audiobook Makes You Easier to Find. Reason #7: Audiobooks Are Not that Expensive & Easy to Make.  

This episode is based on this blog post at Author Media. Reason #1: The Size of the Audiobook Industry is Nearly a Billion-Dollar Industry. Reason #2: Book Mavens Listen to Audiobooks. Reason #3: Audiobooks Protect You From the Oprah Effect. Reason #4: Audiobooks Boost Paper & eBook Sales. Reason #5: Audiobooks Give You Access to […]