You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Of course you know that’s true when you’re meeting people for the first time, but did you know the same is true for your book? You have a tiny window of opportunity to grab your reader and convince them to finish reading your book. Only 50% to 60% of readers finish the books they start. That means there’s a 50/50 chance that a reader will finish your book. Shortsighted authors may not care if a reader finishes because the sale has already been made. But it’s important to realize that readers rarely recommend a book they don’t finish. Al ..read more

Last week, we talked about how good website data can help you “listen” to your readers. While your readers don’t speak audibly through data, their actions speak louder than words. Observing your readers’ actions on your website gives you spectacular insight into what they want.   But another revolutionary technique will tell you what your readers want.  You ask them!  Believe it or not, readers have preferences. Listening to your readers’ preferences will help you make your books more appealing and your marketing more resonant.  If you feel stuck in your marketing, pla ..read more

Can you answer any of the following questions about your website stats? How many people visit your website each month? What pages are most popular? Which blog topics generate the most traffic? Which articles do people spend the most time reading? Knowing the answers to these questions makes attracting an agent or publisher easier. They will ask about your website stats, and if you don’t have the answer, you will look like an amateur.  If you plan to indie publish, knowing the answers to those questions will help you sell more books. Website statistics tell you if your website is working ..read more

Many of our podcast listeners hear Novel Marketing through a podcast app on their phones. Other Novel Marketing fans read the blog version of each episode. While I often refer to the blog version as “show notes,” our approach to creating the blog version of the Novel Marketing podcast has developed over time to be more than just show notes. We now create a blog version of the podcast content, and the process requires far more than a click of a button. We don’t simply copy an AI transcript and paste it into WordPress. It takes quite a bit of work to create a weekly blog version of the podcast ..read more

An elderly author recently asked me how retired authors can make the most of the time they have left. It’s an insightful question, and the truth is, we all need to be asking that question because we are all going to die. It’s the ultimate statistic: 10 out of 10 people die.  Any of us could die at any time. Some people who think they will die soon live on for decades. Others who think they will live forever leave this Earth all too soon. Making the most of your time isn’t just for retired authors. It’s for everyone who wants to make the most of their writing time before they die.  Ho ..read more

When it comes to the success of your book, one person is more important than everyone else. He determines whether readers will enjoy your book. He determines if word of mouth will spread. He is ultimately funding your whole project. His name is Timothy.  Who is Timothy, and where do you find him? I talk about Timothy a lot, but somehow, I’ve never recorded an episode or written about him.  Avatar, Persona, or Timothy? Avatar Most companies have what they call a customer avatar, a fictional amalgamation of their target customer. Some companies even print out life-sized stock phot ..read more

The emails you send new subscribers in the first weeks after they subscribe are critical. Those first emails help your new subscriber decide whether to stay on your list or unsubscribe. If you send a new subscriber the same email you’re sending to your long-timers, your new subscriber may feel like they’ve been thrust into a conversation without any introductions. Imagine stepping into a conversation at a party without knowing the people who are talking. It’s awkward at a dinner party, and it leads to unsubscribes online. So how do you introduce yourself to new subscribers and make them feel c ..read more

Many of our podcast listeners hear Novel Marketing through a podcast app on their phones. Other Novel Marketing fans read the blog version of each episode. While I often refer to the blog version as “show notes,” our approach to creating the blog version of the Novel Marketing podcast has developed over time to be more than just show notes. We now create a blog version of the podcast content, and the process requires far more than a click of a button. We don’t simply copy an AI transcript and paste it into WordPress. It takes quite a bit of work to create a weekly blog version of the podcast ..read more

Some people would have us believe that boys and girls are the same. They assert that the differences between genders are merely social constructs imposed upon us. Even physical differences are considered “flexible.”  The Bible teaches that God created us male and female. Common sense tells us that boys and girls are different. Science tells us that males and females differ, right down to the number of chromosomes in every cell.  So what does this mildly controversial statement of the basic facts of life have to do with writing a book? A lot, actually.  To write a book ..read more

An elderly author recently asked me how retired authors can make the most of the time they have left. It’s an insightful question, and the truth is, we all need to be asking that question because we are all going to die. It’s the ultimate statistic: 10 out of 10 people die.  Any of us could die at any time. Some people who think they will die soon live on for decades. Others who think they will live forever leave this Earth all too soon. Making the most of your time isn’t just for retired authors. It’s for everyone who wants to make the most of their writing time before they die.  Ho ..read more