New NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week /discover Ad help

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #136 –August 12, 2020

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools … Discover Ad help with ReTargeter

2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Meet Friendly Friday Coaching

3. New Webinar … Get More People to Buy Your Book

4. Webinar Replays … Dazzling Graphics, Tiny Content and Workbooks

5. Hot podcasts for AUGUST … Add to your calendar and listen/learn

6. Mentoring Program … Is this your missing ingredient?

7. Question of the Week … I’ve been duped, what do I do?

8. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … Senior pup eases the terror

I always love Friday AMs. Not that it’s the end of a work week--just what does that mean?—I’m always working with clients or on their book projects over the weekend … it’s because of my ongoing Friday Friendly Coaching program. I love the energy; the sharing of ideas, tools and how-to; the helping each other move forward.

This past week was HUGE for me … I’m learning how to go up and down stairs … like a little kid who makes it up and down the first time. As Rob, one of my physical therapists said, “You are determined to get down in the garden, I’m determined to teach you how safely.” The next thing I knew, my crutches moved me to a stairwell with 14 stairs and up and down I went. One thing I’ve learned is that my twice a week onsite physical therapy sessions physically wipe me out with all the pushing I get from my team—my reward is I get a berry Dairy Queen smoothie on the ride home. And woot—last week I’m no longer a marble failure. I managed to pick up 26 of those little buggers with my wounded foot toes!

1. First, Bobby Crew is back in the offices on a full time basis and we are developing the Author Assist program that he will head up, implement and manage. It will take the pain out of building an author’s infrastructure; grow the author’s platform; start the marketing outreach BEFORE the book is published, and of course post; handle social media posts; and so much more. Max in the program will be 8 authors—it’s a three month commitment where each author will get 20 hours of his time a month. As an author now himself, he knows the overwhelm factor. I’ve trained him for four solid years. He’s ready and I’m thrilled to finally fill this deep hole so many of you have.

2. The second is I’m going to roll out a new online 4-week training program starting before summer ends that is designed to work participants through the background steps to create the eBook, or any book, Amazon bestseller status. Each week, 4 to 6 of the steps will be demonstrated and mastered by participarts. When each is ready to implement, I will be supporting their social media pushes on my side as well.

Don’t forget … Nominations are open for next year’s Induction for the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame. Nominations are created and submitted online this year. Inductees will be announce in June of next year and the fabulous Gala will be held on Saturday, September 18m 2021. Put the date on your calendar. Last year, it was a wonderful dinner event with the Inductees sharing insights, funnies, and ahas as they accepted their Induction. And, it was SOLD OUT. You want to be there in 2021.

What authors have made an impact on your life? Are they connect to Colorado in some way—by birth; by living in the state at some time; by coming to Colorado to write and work on a book; by writing about Colorado in some way; or by using locations or elements of Colorado in their writing? That opens the door … then it’s all about the value and impact of what they produced. All the details are on the Hall’s website. Visit, explore … look over the fabulous Inductees from 2019 … and Nominate!

Nominations are created and submitted online this year. Inductees will be announced in June of next year and the fabulous Gala will be held on Saturday, September 18m 2021. Put the date on your calendar. Last year, it was a wonderful dinner event with the Inductees sharing insights, funnies, and ahas as they accepted their Induction. And, it was SOLD OUT. You want to be there in 2021.

Onward …

Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? … Holy Moly … over 2.7 million downloads of various podcasts in 2020 already! Fun watching the download numbers—something that I look at each morning with my hot mug of tea.

This week, I’ll be doing a deep dive into the steps to start build pre-book buzz before an author publishes. Lots of excellent tips the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Join me.

You can select which podcast is for you from over 350 shows … the latest will always be posted on top of the show page: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast--it goes directly to the Show Page, where you can view all podcasts at once—just scroll … you’ve got a lot to pick from to expand your learning and how to curve.

AuthorYOU members … the September second Saturday AuthorYOU Salons of the year is September 12th WILL BE either live in my home or virtual—it depends on the status of where Colorado is on “Stay home”. It starts at 9:00 a.m., ending at 11.30 a.m.

As of this writing, it will be an in-person event—if it changes and goes virtual via Zoom, a special email blast will be created with a password on Friday, September 11th… it’s a day by day scenario in a COVID world. BRING YOUR QUESTIONS—see you there.

August’s webinar is all about solving common problems that authors face when publishing and selling books. It’s about getting MORE people to buy your book and get reviews.
One of the problems that authors face is lack of sales.

That's a big one, right? Get ready to receive more sales and easy ways and systems to do that. Yes, you do need REVIEWS –and that will be covered … but there is so much more …

The 7 common problems are identified and of course, sharing a solution for you right in the training.

Common Problems for lack of sales include:

· Not having an audience
· Not having an automated system to work for you to get reviews and fans
· Not having a way to effectively communicate with your fans
· Easily connecting with POTENTIAL followers...
· and a whole lot more

Yikes, the sad part is that you can have everything RIGHT like:

· The perfect title
· The perfect cover
· The perfect editing
· Even the perfect ending ...

But if you lack certain components in your book listing, you could have worked your butt off for nothing. Oh ugh …
Let’s remove that familiar “ugh” feeing … get registered NOW:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5900115043128830477
Date: Tuesday, August 18 at 4 pm Mountain

Discover Book Brush … July 28th

If you are an author who doesn’t know Photoshop from the other—and doesn’t want to spend the money for it OR want to learn it—discover a nifty and elegant multi-facet tool that delivers high-quality images for all things books—even ads!

Learn how to create eye-catching marketing images for all things social media. Plus explore video effects, create Box Set images, design your own covers, and more! You’ll discover handy tips & tricks along the way and there will plenty of time for Q & A.

· It's easy peasy for authors to create high-quality advertising graphics—hands down. The 3D cover templates are awesome.

· If you want to save oodles of time excites you (and reduce frustration), you won’t want to miss this!

Listen and Watch REPLAY: https://vimeo.com/442678704

Replay of July’s Create Big Payoffs with Tiny Content

Discover a 5-Step Process Of Creating Passive Income with the Tiniest Amount of Content

REPLAY here: https://debbiedrum.lpages.co/tiny-content-giant-profits-replay-judith-briles/

Sometimes called low content, my guest for this all-new webinar workshop calls it tiny content. I like that!

Whatever it is—it’s all about doing just a small amount of work to generate on-going profits in your author and publishing business.
Get ready to learn:

-what low content products are and where you can pull content from.
-how they are so simple to create and put up for sale and get traffic.
-and how they can be very lucrative for virtually anyone. ANYONE!

Replay of June’s Create a Workbook that Pops webinar

Is there a Workbook in your midst? Have you thought about taking your sage advice within the covers of your books and creating a WORKBOOK? One that you can sell as a new product?

Why not create one … or several?

June’s webinar was all about the “how to” for Workbooks. Lots of tips and strategies. It’s ideal for the established author, coach … anyone who has advice that can be turned into a new product … and did you know that WORKBOOKs sell for more per unit than a book? Now you do.

Listen to replay: https://debbiedrum.lpages.co/workbook-wealth-judith/

I’m here to help you cross the finish line. Your personal budding author and publishing kingdom can entail:

· A strategy to create your unique brand

· A blog strategy and implementation that builds trust and engagement

· A visual marketing strategy

· A speaking positioning strategy

· A YouTube channel that grows your influence

· News you announce on ideal social media pages and press releases when appropriate

· An online strategy for connecting with the media

· Your own branded digital ezine or newsletter

· Photos and Images on a Pinterest board that gets shared and grows

· A marketing strategy that you can work with

· A Twitter feed that is retweeted

· Positioning for your most recent book

· Strategizing your next book

· What’s on your “to-do” list?

The above may feel like a gargantuan task but you don’t have to do them all. Not at once. A ranking and prioritizing will be done. We will start with one or two things and do them well, before additional and do it well.

Let Me Be Your Guide

Guaranteed, I will shorten your learning curve.

· 6 months of working with Judith

· 180 minutes of One-on-One coaching each month

· Notes and video of online coaching calls

· Unlimited short emails each month

· Unlimited short phone calls each month

· Free attendance of any program that Judith is giving during your six months

I’ll explain what to do first, depending on the goals you’re trying to reach, and I’ll walk you through the process. It will be up to you to decide whether to implement what I recommend. Call or email me to determine if it’s a fit for you. ONLY 4 Spots left

Question: Westbow Press clipped me. I was assured that I had 90 days to obtain a refund if I changed my mind about working with them. Never was I told there was a fee of 10% on the full amount of the contract (over $7,000). What do I do? Is there some place I can write this company up, in a way that it might make a difference for someone who considers dealing with the company?

Answer: To pull a Bill Clinton: I feel your pain. You’ve been zapped by a publishing predator. Westbow is part of the Thomas Nelson publishing empire. Like the way Balboa Press as part of Hay House. Both are also Author Solutions in disguise. What you have experienced is on a spiral, gazillions have been lured in to publish their books to come away feeling betrayed, lied to, duped. You think you are dealing with a reputable publishing concern and instead, you are waltzing with a publishing predator. Sigh.

What I would do: Immediately challenge your transaction with the company. Demand your money back. THEN, contact the credit card company you used and put in a dispute. Use the words: misrepresentation of services; inferior product, non-delivery, failed to deliver in time, etc.

And avoid any company that has Bloomington, IN address in your dealings for self-publishing services., It’s the city that Author Solutions’ main address is. Forward, do a Google search in the future for any company or person you are considering working with—follow its name with the words: complaints, rip off, problems, lawsuits. Read many pages—bad news is usually buried. My two bits.

This is how each call starts: I share a few strategies, tips and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. Definitely an excellent way to start a Friday. Those of you who aren’t participating, you are making a mistake. I love the variety of books and authors who have chosen to participate. What’s also fun, is the energy that can be felt with what everyone is working on. Love it!

Here’s the link to take advantage of it and subscribe: https://thebookshepherd.com/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription

About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd ™

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.

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