The Am Writing Fantasy Podcast

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 8 – Your First 1,000 Email Subscribers

A few weeks back we discussed how to set up an email list. Once that is sorted, you obviously need email subscribers. But, how do you get your first 1,000 email subscribers? What tips and tricks can you employ to get quality subscribers rather than a bunch of random people.

We're here discussing email list growth strategies by sharing from our own experiences with email lists.

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Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Jesper (13s):
All right. We are going to talk about email list building today. Two weeks ago we sort of talked about setting up email lists and also what social providers were livable for you when it comes to building a list. But, uh, we also promise to circle back to the topic of how we are going to build a list and a I think the best place to start is to talk about, well, the pump. Some people call them lead magnets, other people can't call them reader magnets the same, the same thing.

Jesper (45s):
But uh, but I think that's a good place to start. But what is a lead magnet magnet? Our reader magnet, maybe we should start there. Autumn

Autumn (54s):
good. Are there really, like you said, the same idea of what it really involves is finding something to give away for free, but it's not really freedom your I think it'll lay in exchange for someone's email address, which they're trusting with you. So treat it well, but that is the really the prime idea. And that could be anything from even giving away a book, a free book that then offers another free book in exchange for an email. Or it could be a book that you're selling, but what you're doing is you are giving away something from either the next book did the series works really well, but sometimes it's a pro, you know, previous book or a totally different book, but it is giving them away something like even hidden scenes.

Autumn (1m 38s):
I don't know what you've seen yes for that works really well, but there's a lot of different things that people can give away to attract readers that are interested in their own book to sign up for something free as well as give away their email address to you.

Jesper (1m 53s):
Yeah, you can be, you're going to get really baited with I did. I mean some people don't like it to give away a full book. I mean obviously obviously right. What to write a book and uh, well your spend money on editing and covers and whatnot. So some people don't like that. And if, if that's you, then no, you can get creative and you can give away like, um, an alternative ending to the movie.

Autumn (2m 16s):
Oh.

Jesper (2m 16s):
Or you can, mm. Uh, maybe you have some scenes that you've cut out of the book, uh, sort of you, you can share those or it could be some background information on it. When a character, like a character sheet with some information that is not shared in, in the novel itself. Um, it could short stories, short stories. Yeah. You must be spin off a short stories off. I thought the novel, no, you can do it ton of things and it doesn't have to be elaborate either. You know, you a which a dossier or it could be like a two page PDF for that matter.

Jesper (2m 49s):
I mean it doesn't have to be more than a.

Autumn (2m 52s):
I think

Jesper (2m 53s):
the main point is that it needs to be the exclusive, meaning that it should not be something that you can get from somewhere else as well. Well meaning and maybe logic say that. Well, um, people like to get it for free. A for example, let's say, let's say you have a, a short story for example, for sale for 99 cents and then you make it exclusive by the fact that, okay, but instead of buying it for 99 cents, you can also sign up here and then you'll get it for free.

Jesper (3m 28s):
That that, that would be the line of thinking but but I think actually that it works counter productive in the way that if you, you can get it somewhere people actually what and even sign up to get it for free. They will buy it instead, but a many and since, because they don't, there were certain rules stuff, so it has to be something that, okay, this is exclusive and can only get it here. A I think that works a lot better than if you're trying to say that it's inclusive, an exclusive either have you again or something for free.

Jesper (4m 2s):
Then you can also buy an Amazon for example. I don't think it works that well

Autumn (4m 7s):
though. There is a whole train of thought where you give away a the second book in a series that is for sale, but of course you'd be spending, you know it should be a lot more than two 99 I do give away the second book of my series if you sign up for it, but the book is priced at three 99 so it is an exclusive and there are a lot of people doing that. But I mean I definitely totally very tempted to try to do something completely exclusive that you can't buy it and anywhere else. I think that'd be a fun thing to do for my next areas. So it's worth trying out. But there, I don't think people should live with themselves, but again, I'm giving away an entire book and I do get people signing up to get that every single day.

Autumn (4m 44s):
So it definitely is an interest. But there is a drawback to doing that as well, is that I get a lot of emails saying, Hey, you gave me, can you give away? But to I would like the third one now for free and that's all. It's a fun conversation of it to you guys. Box. I was two years of my life. Your third one for free. Sorry. Yeah,

Jesper (5m 4s):
but I, but I think, I think that is the one difference to to this to what you just said there is the fact that when people have your title, okay and you get to the the back of the book and here is a link to the second book for free, which of course you could go to Amazon and buy that book. But at that point in time the people are fully invested in the story and and in what you're doing well already. So when you get to that stage it makes sense to offer them at that point in time a free book but my point was more if you're doing it upfront, you know before they even know you, they have not read anything about you.

Jesper (5m 39s):
And if you're then offering, here is a free book. If you give me your email address or you can go to Amazon and buy for 99 cents or two 99 for that matter, most people were buying instead of giving you the email address. But of course I, if the read the entire book and then your make the offer, then it's a different app because then no,

Autumn (5m 58s):
no have you, and they know that they liked the book and they would want to keep waiting and then it becomes a matter of, of course I'll get it for freedom because uh, you know, I have now a familiar your with you. Well, so I, I don't mind as much giving away my email address and it's very true and I think that is one reason I'd definitely works. A is having that already being invested in, you know, if you've done your book well that it leads into the next one. Can they want, let's see. Once that happened. The character. Okay. It's an easy sell to get an email address and we'll have them sign up for your email list in exchange for the book.

Autumn (6m 32s):
Yeah, indeed at the end. Then of course there the add on boldness of having of cross that a by then you know that you're getting the right people onto your email list because if people will like your, your your writing and they like your work so, so that's a very good bonus. You're know when you're giving me thank you S away for free up front. Some of the people who end up your on your list. I'll be the one right people so to speak. So some of them will end up on subscribing again on all that we talked about that two weeks ago and that happens.

Autumn (7m 3s):
That's okay. Hey don't worry about it. But it is a possibility. Well quality subscriber that you're getting, if they're signing up from the back of book then someone who doesn't know you. Absolutely. It's definitely makes a huge difference cause that's, that is one of the keys. And one of the things we'll talk about well who are going to once what you're giving them and who will become not just readers but fans of what you're doing. And that's sort of the key of why you're getting this email because you want them to buy from you in the future.

Autumn (7m 33s):
So you want to make sure you're getting a quality audience. But sure you're giving away something that makes sense for your book. You're getting this email address from them, you know, make sure it was related to who you are and what you're writing in your characters and your what, your sister you're telling and what you plan on selling in the future. If you've done a one shot genre, it might not be worth hello addresses if an ad is so atypical of what you ever plan on writing so keep that in mind as well. Make sure this is something about your brand and who you are as an office.

Autumn (8m 6s):
They're so that they're not confused whether they signed up for you when you're only releasing no paranormal romance, but they bought your detective story and that's what they really like. It won't work as well. S step number one is that you need to have solar blog Oh really? No magnet. Whatever you call it doesn't matter, but you did. You need to have something that you're giving away from you. So, so yeah, you need to figure out what, what that needs to be. But my advice would be make it exclusive a unless you are only trying to sign up in the back of the book.

Autumn (8m 40s):
But yeah, the drawback of that, let's say the positive as we said before, it was getting quality. You sign up. But the truth, all of it is that you need to send a lot of books then. And if you're not okay, you don't have it, the email list, it might be difficult or are these more difficult to sell more books?

Jesper (8m 57s):
So it's sort of Henan deck trouble. You're in here. So, and, and for that purpose a it does make sense to have some stuff. Oh, a a lead magnet that am you're giving away up front, you know? Um, but if you're going to get something in a way, then you also have to have a mechanism by where they can get the download that you're giving them an obviously it should be a digital product. I, I sort of just assumed that everybody knew your dad, but just to pitch, you have to mention that of course it should be because then you can just give it to them and a and they can download it.

Jesper (9m 30s):
Then you don't have to worry about any shipping stuff and whatnot. I don't want to do so, but you need to have a mechanisms by which they can then get the download a and that's where a signup forms comes into the picture.

Autumn (9m 46s):
Definitely. I mean, so we talked about a last week with a SaaS providers, you can always host something on your own website. If you know coding that you know they sign up. A woo commerce has a few plugins where you can do this as well so you could have it totally self hosted where they come, they give you the email. By doing that it takes them to another page where they can just go ahead and download what it did it ever is drinking, giving them. But definitely one of the easiest things is to go ahead and sign up for our email service provider that provides you a landing page that collects emails, that, that has them in a place where you're just going to go ahead and create an email, um, a newsletter that you will actually be sending to them later.

Autumn (10m 28s):
Or like we talked about last week with automations where they immediately get that first email as soon as they sign up because you don't want you to sign up and wait a day, two, three days. So like yet, whatever or does they signed up for, they're going to be really annoyed if you cannot deliver whatever it is you offer them for free. And you know, the first hour I've seen people, you know, wait five minutes and if they don't have the free download and like it's a scam, I just gave away my email and it's going to be totally spammed and I'm so,

Jesper (10m 60s):
yeah, before you added the scam part, I wish above to say that. That's, you know, well, I, I don't think that it's a scam. Weifarer but, um, but if I do not get the email on a download within five minutes, I, I'm wa I'm thinking something is wrong. There must be an error or something, some place. Yep. Oh, bye. You know, we don't have patients that do they, no, it should go fast and certainly I should have a weekend, an hour, so a then, then I would definitely do think something is wrong, but uh, but yeah, I mean the nice thing, hip hop, the electronics setup is that am the email service provider will send out the email instantly.

Jesper (11m 35s):
I asked that they sign up. And of course, this is, while it might be a bit difficult to sort of explain, but as soon as you get into it a you're going into mail Chimp, as I said last time, then it might be, but if you are, you said, good, good kid. At least as soon as you get into it and you're setting it up, it's fairly, eh, you know, it's a. yeah. You create the sort of the signup form where you have to have a picker. You writing is the text of what it should say. So for example, a just give me your email address and tell me where to send the blank, whatever it is that you're giving away.

Jesper (12m 10s):
A so you're right that text in and then you get into the next session of the setup process where it will tell you or ask you to write the email, the following, which is going to deliver it. So you basically just upload your PDF, for example, if it's a PDF, you just uploaded their right to text him to eat email and that will automatically be sent and delivered to the am to the subscriber right after they have a confirmed their subscription a and that's basically it is, it's pretty easy. And then within that process you will also be asked, uh, if you would like to have it hosted on, in this case, for example, convert kit.

Jesper (12m 44s):
And if you say yes, it'll generate Atlantic beach for you and you're gonna give you a link. And that link is basically the link to the webpage that your signup form sits on. So you can just take that link and put it where we need to put it. But but the good thing about all of this is that you don't even have to have your own webpage or website to get started with all of this year. You can get started by only having the email, um, provider here and, and you stay, which is very nice.

Jesper (13m 14s):
So, so if, if for example you just said cutting out, uh, and again concerned, concerned with, with the economy and money and stuff like that, you can get started without even creating your own website. And that's pretty neat.

Autumn (13m 28s):
That is really neat. And I will give a super sneaky pro tip that I didn't listen to when I was a new author and I regretted it and I S I fixed it this year. But if you're really, if you do have your own website and you're good with coding, um, I highly suggest the link you put in your book is it to a patient when you're on a website that you can then redirect to whatever mail service provider, whatever landing page you end up using. Because guess what, you might changing male per service providers. I've been doing this for more than five years.

Autumn (13m 59s):
I've gone through three. Um, and every time, you know, I have to keep the old ones going because there was a book this as readers still exists. Click the road on like in a day and, and that's just, you don't want that to happen. But now I have everything going to my website and that what page will redirect them to the proper mail service provider that I've got going at the moment. Um, definitely a pro tip that doesn't take much full code notes in there comments. So if you have questions on how to do that and I'll help you out.

Jesper (14m 31s):
Yeah. And uh, yeah, I've, I've crossed that, yeah. After five years that that might end up being a troll. But but again, a I mean, if you're just starting out, this is your first book. You just need to start generating an email list. Don't worry about it too much. You know, you can, yeah. You can use to mail providers, uh, uh, have them hosting your landing page and your signup form and give away the PDF. And you know, don't worry too too much about it, but obviously as you, as you evolve down your author career pattered and you want to start thinking about having your website, they're sorted, you can control this stuff.

Jesper (15m 5s):
But

Autumn (15m 6s):
yeah, that is definitely one of the brilliant things about this is that you don't need to have a website and you can just start with, you know, just the balance a service provider using that and it doesn't, I mean, you don't have to wait. You don't even have to have your book out as long as you have a thing to provide a link to give away. You know, just have short stories out. How are we doing? Do this. Once what Pat, even as you're writing things and meters are looking at it, you could have it in your profile. Say, Hey, you like this, sign up for more exclusive content and email spell address all without a website, which is fantastic way to start building your list as you're writing and growing as an author.

Jesper (15m 44s):
Yeah, indeed. Uh, and of course

Autumn (15m 46s):
laughs

Jesper (15m 46s):
to we go, we talked a lot about why it is important to build the list and all that. So we're not going to get into that here again, but um, but just to reiterate a that you should pay typically, sir, the, the list as soon as possible and even before your book's out. But but of course the same is true as we talked about last time when setting up the whole system with your autoresponders and all that. As we said last time, it requires what the same as jewel here, um, in the, in the sense that, but am you're not just going to let's say acquire subscribers just once and this by magic, you know, if why that effort and it requires, um, usually, probably some many as well, I would say.

Jesper (16m 35s):
Um, because essentially you need in traffic and you need to drive traffic to that landing piece because just because the Atlantic piece exists doesn't mean that people will ever, ever, ever find it. Uh, and even if you put, even if you have your own website and you put the Yemeni people once on your website, sorry to say, but people were still not check it out. So

Autumn (16m 56s):
yeah,

Jesper (16m 56s):
we need to push traffic there and am if someone S comes to you and say it a day a day can get to a thousand subscribers in 30 minutes, I would say they run for the Hills because don't ever engage with people like that.

Autumn (17m 10s):
Yeah, I agree. You do not want to get a shouty list, but definitely traffic. I mean, the best eyes on who are going to be the most interested on you if you have completed book. But obviously it needs to be selling or you need to be doing, take it away. There's got to be, be a way of getting eyes onto it so that they see that you have this link and you're giving away this exclusive content. Um, and one of the best ways that I saw as a new author and getting started is by joining some group giveaways. And those are hosted, sometimes they're hosted on someone's website where basically to pick up, it could be your first book, whatever that exclusive offer is, um, in exchange for an email address.

Autumn (17m 48s):
And there are some doing that. True other providers, pardon? Ouch. Or Bellis providers. So they would be things like instaFreebie book funnel and the catch is, uh, is usually to get those email addresses. You actually do have the pay, you know, it can be 10, 20, $30 a month. Um, book funnel. I can't just to be able to, to collect email addresses, but I know the it's over $50 a year. But that's not expensive. And you joined those giveaways. There's a lot of different authors advertising the giveaway readers are going to it and they know that they're signing up for your book or for whatever your exclusive offer is in exchange for email.

Autumn (18m 28s):
You want to get into this is my big tip though, is you want to get into one where the reader is subscribing specifically. They know it's for your book. There are some group giveaways where people are signing up for a prize like a Kindle or a suite of like 50 books. Um, but that doesn't mean those readers are going to necessarily be interested in your book or your style. There might be some good emails in there, but you're also going to have a much higher unsubscribe rate if you do it that way.

Autumn (18m 58s):
So definitely keep that in mind that you want to make sure it's generous, specific at the very least. And at the also that you are, you know, you're getting people who know that they're, they are signing up. There's no like hidden catch 22 that you're signing up to get a special deal and you're, you know, you're, you're signing up to win a Kindle of, wait, how'd you get subscribed as someone's email list that wasn't part of the deal. Make sure you're upfront about that because I can get you into a lot of trouble and people are supporting you for spam or system camera.

Autumn (19m 28s):
You don't want that.

Jesper (19m 31s):
Basically when we're talking about driving traffic there, um, you obviously have a lot of a plus a petition. No, there, there is this Pinterest and YouTube and Facebook and Twitter and the Republicans because we said before w then of course needs, then you need to sell the books. A lot of books, which means the new need to do advertising to sell books instead. But I think it's pretty hard with our, between here in am in 2019, it's pretty difficult to, uh, to get email lists, signups on less.

Jesper (20m 5s):
You are putting a bit of money behind it. I mean, obviously you don't have to spend a ton of money but even if you're running like $5 a week. Once the Facebook app is still better than nothing. A am and you can just the ball rolling a bit. Um, but what I would say is that try to find, find the traffic sources or platforms. So if that's Facebook or YouTube or Twitter or whatever it is, try to and what what's that? Blog well, sort of suit the way it's a platform.

Jesper (20m 36s):
Did you like us? What I'm trying to say, but also that it suits your budget. Um, Facebook is notorious of taking all the money you put into it. It can be pretty expensive. It can also be effective if, if you know how to do the world but okay. Bye. To maybe one or two of the sources that you would like to work with and um, yeah, enjoy it is within your budget and then just be really good at those and figure out how to be really good at those rather than trying to be on eight different media outlets and trying to pin twist it.

Jesper (21m 12s):
YouTube yeah, and Facebook and YouTube and we'll, I mean your don't kill yourself and you're going to get completely overwhelmed, so, so don't try to do it at that figure. Figure out which one or two of you like and then go, go with dose. A that's one thing. And then I think the other thing is, Oh, did you, it should be mindfulness about how it is that you are, let's say setting it up mean for example. Um, I have seen examples of people who you made me think, okay, I'll start a podcast and then June a cast, I will mention that they can get X for free by going to that in that page.

Jesper (21m 49s):
Or I will record YouTube videos like we do here to talk about a. Uh, I'll give advice to other authors and then of course we could be saying, Oh, and by the way, you can get them Monday can we put one a by going to that and death link? But but the thing is that you need to be mindful about what you're doing. If it's the right audience that you're talking to. I mean, running a youth channel sample this one. Oh, eh, giving advice to other authors does more or less. Absolutely. Ciro for our book sales.

Jesper (22m 21s):
Perfect. So am we love giving. Yeah, we love running the channel here and we love giving the advice and all that. But in terms of it matters. Does she work? Uh, and the same thing will be true for a, if, if you've accepted, you create a podcast about am something that isn't really relevant for the reader of the book, then it also will drive no traffic. So, so be mindful about that. Um, but that said, if you can find a way to angle it so that it's relevant for, for the reader, that could be a way around spending money.

Jesper (22m 57s):
You know, that time instead of many, you know, producing videos and producing podcasts episodes, so you're investing time and money. Um, but as I said before, it, it requires work. So either you can pay you for it or you can put in the time. But no ma'am and like to build the list is not going to build itself.

Autumn (23m 16s):
No, definitely not. I mean, it would be better if you wanted to just have a lot of videos of you reading. So if you're your blood book or chapters or talking about your story, if you're doing videos of that, that was, it'd be a better way of saying, Oh, and by the way, I have also some free content. If you want to sign up for it then to be talking about editing or writing, you know, talking to other authors, authors, yeah, they might be readers, but that's not your target audience and that's really your you're generating a lot of work for something.

Autumn (23m 47s):
He was not your primary content that you want to give it a two. I will say I learned a really great tip that, Oh, giving away something. You make sure you mentioned it in your bio almost every platform, Facebook somewhere. Let's, you've mentioned like little bit of who you are. You can also, so always make sure you've mentioned, Hey I, I'm an author and I have a free blah blah. If you sign up here, it doesn't hurt because every time you go and post as someone or is interested, then let's see that. Yeah, but again, that's like love it. Oh absolutely.

Autumn (24m 17s):
I'm definitely not going to get you a thousand subscribers in a couple of days, but it does help to have it there so you don't make sure you put the time that if you're giving away something, let people know about it. But make sure you're also letting the people who might be interested in what you're doing know about it. Talk about yours, Monroe. Talk about, look at readers. Don't be looking at, um, you know, your mom's best friends that are probably not your target. What they might be your target audience, but they're not my target audience.

Old McGrumpy (24m 49s):
It would take too long to gain a thousand subscribers just by A-list instead.

Autumn (24m 55s):
No, no, no, no. That's don't listen to our cohost AI who we can't get rid of them. We really wish we could. Good. This is really bad advice because okay, you buy it for this one. These are people who probably didn't sign up to have their email sold to you who don't even know a few. Take your time. No. And do you think this is like, this is, you know, you went to Boston the street and hold a sign saying, Hey, I'm an author giving away books.

Autumn (25m 26s):
You'll probably get more people interested than you would for all the cold list that you bought. In fact, you really might get a lot of people reporting you that you're spamming them and they don't know how you've got on your list and have you got one person out of say a thousand people, that would be amazing. You want to try something a little bit better, like take time and generate someone who's interested in your readings. Just go and I said email, it's hosting free videos of you reading your content. Even if it's going on what pad and posting your chapters and putting at the end at the end of every single one, Hey, you can find out more by going to my website.

Autumn (26m 2s):
You can do that legally and they're going to be way more interested than someone who am you perfect, which is still all their name off of a list and they might've been signing up for cosmetics and start going to help you at all.

Old McGrumpy (26m 16s):
Just come to me and I will sell you 10,000 subscribers and I will even give you a discount.

Autumn (26m 24s):
Yeah, you definitely do not want to listen. Oh, a to him. But he, okay. Maybe has one point affected and that is that it takes long to build the list of a thousand subscribers cool. Okay. Okay.

Jesper (26m 43s):
How long does that take? To be honest? And you're not gonna like this, but the answer is I have no idea because essentially what it is is that, um, there is a lot of factors that play into how fast you can build a list of, for example, of a thousand people. Uh, it, it of course both depends on strategy. Do? Are you implying you mean the link in the back of the book like we talked about before or are you're trying to drive people upfront into something that you're giving away that matters.

Jesper (27m 19s):
It also matters how attractive potential readers find your giveaway. Is it something that actually interests them or to do things? Well, I don't really care. That makes a big difference. Meaning how many, who, who actually gets to the landing page actively convert into subscribers. That makes a difference whether 50% that are converting or half a percent that that, that's a big difference of course. Uh, and then there is just a matter of, it also depends on how much money you're putting. Yeah, yeah. Oh, you're putting a to get traffic.

Jesper (27m 51s):
You know, if you, if you have a lot of money to spend on it and you can drive a lot of traffic, then obviously the list is going to be built rather quickly compared to if you can only spend, bye. I know $6 a week or $6 a month or whatever. But I would still say, and little is better than I think. So even if you do only spend $6 a month, then do that at least, uh, Tim subscribers is better than zero and it's a starting point.

Autumn (28m 19s):
It is. And that's, it's also like quality is a subscriber. I mean, yeah, you could join a group, give away and maybe you can get a hundred, 200 a thousand quickly. But what if your open rate, what are their interest is only 10% where you ended up with 2025 subscribers maybe over the exact same period of time, but they're like 80% many Oh my God. Oh, nice. Yep. 25 way more than you want. 10% of a thousand. You, you really want to go for the quality.

Autumn (28m 49s):
Don't think about the quantity. And you know, you can, could have two people who love you and are rooting for you and they will do so much more for you than having 2000 people on a list that you never heard from. That's totally cool. Yes. So keep that in mind too. You really, it was the connection you build. It's why doing it honestly. And so yeah, it might take you a little bit of more time to do it organically. Um, put in some, put in whatever you can many time to be creative, get the right people and tell them, let them share the story of your journey as a writer.

Autumn (29m 22s):
Let that become fans of who you are right now. An author brand is very much our own jury as writers and authors. Uh, the fans want to know that. Your readers want to kind of know a little bit more about you, not just about the story. I mean, it's like people know George RR Martin, they, they new the more about his life then am a they're probably, people knew in the 1970s and eighties about most of the authors that they were fans of. I mean, I, nothing about Ursula, Kayla Gwyn and so probably 10 years, one, I started okay.

Autumn (29m 54s):
More because now we want to know more about these people and how they live. And that's changed a lot. So sell yourself, connect with your readers. What's your email list with people who really care about what you're doing and are excited about what you're doing? Don't just take the shortcut and get a whole bunch of numbers behind your email list and think that that's an answer because it's not going to help you in the long run.

Jesper (30m 18s):
Wow. So I think that was a perfect conclusion to end on. Um, I don't have it. Anything else to add?

Autumn (30m 27s):
Well, great. That's it for this show. At least we gave some the to it's on email lists and hopefully it'll help a few authors out.

Jesper (30m 35s):
All right. Thanks a lot. See you next Monday.

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast Episode 7 – Amazon Ads Explained (and some advice)

Amazon Ads used to be called Amazon Marketing Services, or AMS, but it has since rebranded and are now known as Amazon Ads.

I explain what Amazon Ads are, clarify which types of ads are available on Amazon when you're marketing your books and also some recommendations along the way.

New episodes EVERY single Monday. To subscribe on YouTube, go here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC

PATREON!
Many bonus perks for those who become a patrons. https://www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy

LET'S CONNECT!
Closed Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/
Blog and Courses: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/
Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer

Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Jesper (12s):
A couple of weeks ago I talked about how you have to use paid ads in order to gain any visibility as an author in 2019 I also recommended to use Amazon apps, but I didn't really get into what those ads are, so I thought I better close that loop. Today we're going to remove any confusion about what Amazon ads are and clarify which type of ads are available.

Jesper (44s):
My results and recommendations on each and by that also why you should care about Amazon ads in the first place. If you are a fantasy author, then you've come to the right place. My name is Jesper and together with Autumn I host this channel between us. We've published more than 20 novels and our aim is to help you in your writing and marketing endeavors. The first thing I need to do is to give a huge shout out to bill Finley, who is our newest supporter on Patreon.

Jesper (1m 22s):
There is a link in the description field below. If you also want to check out Patreo on, but you are going to get stuff like a fantasy bookmarks or how about a amwritingfantasy t-shirt or even you'll have the possibility to get custom made fantasy maps. But enough of that, let's get into the topic of Amazon ads Amazon ads used to be called Amazon marketing services or a M S.

Jesper (1m 52s):
S some refer to it and I still do from time to time, but they've still rebranded and they are now known as Amazon ads. It used to be so that these ads were only available for those who were selling physical devices or components and it wasn't even possible for authors to Euston. But nowadays you can fortunately run Amazon ads regardless of whether or not your books are released in the KDB select meaning if you are exclusive to Amazon on not even that they didn't use to do so.

Jesper (2m 26s):
In this case, the good news is that everyone is on a level playing field, but there's obviously also means that there is a another thing to learn. Fear. Not though because I'm going to give you an overview here to make things easy, but a good place to start is why you should even care about Amazon ads. Well, the thing is that these ads are served on the Amazon website and when people browse the Amazon website, they do so because they are looking to buy something opposite.

Jesper (3m 4s):
Something like Facebook asks, for example, where people are busy interacting with friends and family or checking out a group that they might belong to or something like that. At any rate, people are not on Facebook because they want to buy something. If Facebook I had has to catch the person's attention, then it has to get them to click the app. It then takes the PO, a person off of social media and onto a store like Amazon folks sample hoping that they will then make a purchase and as you can see, that's quite a journey with multiple clicks and the risk of losing the person's interest.

Jesper (3m 47s):
All along the way with Amazon ads the people seeing the ad is already there with the intention to buy something and they can do that within two clicks only, you know, one click on the ad and then the bike click. That's it. You've got two types of ads at your disposal, the first SD sponsored product ad and then the other is luck screen ads the lush green ads is a fairly new thing.

Jesper (4m 21s):
It has replaced the previous product display ads and the lush green ad will show up on uh, you know when people unlock their Kindle eReader. So right there on the home screen before they start reading, they can be shown an ad of your book opposite the product display ads. The luxury Nat is also capable of showing up on the new Kindle fire tablets. So, uh, sort. That's pretty cool. Let's take a closer look at the effectiveness of these lock screen ads now that we are already talking about them and then we will circle back to these sponsored product ads in a moment.

Jesper (5m 4s):
One would think that these ads should work really, really well. After all, they are showing up right there on people's Kindle, but overall and in my experience and I can only speak from personal experience, they're not as effective as the sponsor product ads. In fact, I would say very far from it. Now keep in mind that when I talked about how you have to run ads in 2019 I also said that you have to experiment on your own.

Jesper (5m 39s):
You know, just because I can't get these ads to work, then it doesn't mean that you will experience the same results. I do know of authors who have churned significant profit with lock screen ads or product display ads as they used to be called. In my case, I haven't been able to it though. Perhaps the fact that it's that the ad is showing to potential readers, right? Windeyer lying or sitting down to read is what makes them less effective.

Jesper (6m 9s):
I don't know, but at least for me, that's not the time that I'm thinking about buying a new book. I don't know about you. I think in that particular moment it's much harder to convince someone to buy a new book.

Old McGrumpy (6m 23s):
It is because you worthless. Humans are too lazy.

Jesper (6m 28s):
Well, hi there, all my grumpy. I'm glad to see that our resident co-host decided to show up today. Well, at least if you have something insightful to share today, a old my grumpy, do you have your something insightful to share? Otherwise, feel free to leave always. Well, maybe you think it's insightful, but it has to pertain to Amazon. Ads.

Old McGrumpy (6m 53s):
You should just find to advertising company and ask them to run your ads for you than you do not even have to worry about all this stuff you are babbling on about people could be writing instead of watching YouTube videos,

Jesper (7m 8s):
advertising companies, you say, well, if you do find an advertising company who wants to run your ads for you, I would advise that you think about it before you jump in. Why? Well good that you ask because an advertising company will never care as much about your books and your sales as you will besides with a bit of patience and practice desk. Nothing that they can do for you that you can't do yourself. So I would say save your money.

Old McGrumpy (7m 40s):
It always comes down to Monday with you, worthless humans.

Jesper (7m 44s):
Well, not always, but I don't think that's true, but, but many is important to us that much. It's fair enough to say, but with that set, we can move on to the sponsor's product ad because those I have been able to turn profitable first. Where do the sponsored product ad appear? Well, if a reader goes to Amazon and type in, say, fantasy book in the search bar off the Kindle store, then the results will be displayed.

Jesper (8m 15s):
However, if you as an author, I have created a sponsored product ad with the keyword fantasy book, then your ad will compete with all other ads for that specific keyword. The one with the highest bit will win the auction and be displayed as one of the search results. You can test it out yourself by going onto amazon.com for example, select the Kindle store and then search for something and when you hit enter, you will find that the top results, we'll have a little sponsored text next to them, so it says that little labeled sponsored and that's because these are sponsored product ads.

Jesper (8m 58s):
To be honest, as long as you are book is relevant to the keywords that you are betting on. I don't really think that readers care one bit about it saying sponsored on not if they are looking for a fantasy book and that's what appears at the top of the search result, they will click it. If you then done a good job with the cover, the book description, and you have some reviews to serve a social proof, then there is no reason why they wouldn't make the purchase as well.

Jesper (9m 32s):
So when you create these ads, you are asked to tell Amazon how much you want to bid per key word. Essentially every time somebody clicks on your ad, Amazon will then charge you up to that amount that you're bidding, not necessarily the full amount. It all depends on the competition for that particular keyword, but to be on the safe side, you better expect it to be the full amount when you are sort of budgeting. But don't worry, these ads are not expensive as long as, and only as long as you don't go crazy with your painting.

Jesper (10m 9s):
Of course, if you start bidding $2 per hit, then it's going to be expensive pretty fast. However, my advice is to completely ignore the suggested bit that Amazon gives you and then keep your bidding at between 30 and 50 cents per click instead somewhere in that range. Now, it obviously depends on how much you're selling your book for, so if you're selling a box set that you sell for, let's say nine 99 uh, then you can afford to bid a bit more.

Jesper (10m 41s):
Conversely, a book being sold for two 99 or 99 cents can't sustain as high as a bit as the one we talked about before if you want to turn a profit. I think the main reason for these type of ads being so incredibly effective is because that they're showing up right in the middle of the buying process. It's basically right when the reader has typed in fantasy books. If we use that example and then they're scrolling through the options to see what they want to buy, and you will add a P S right?

Jesper (11m 11s):
They're very effective in terms of the keywords. Keep in mind that you are only actually paying for the keywords that gets clicked. Therefore, the only logical course of action is to load as many keywords as you can to get maximum exposure. Eats app will accept a thousand keywords and I always recommend to include as many as you can. Most of my aunts has a thousand keywords in each of them. So you might be thinking a thousand keywords, are you crazy?

Jesper (11m 45s):
There was no way I could come up with a thousand keywords and no, I can't come up with a thousand keywords either. So that's why I will, uh, some stuff about KDP rocket within the next few weeks. Uh, it's a piece of software that will help you out tremendously when it comes to keyword research. Otherwise, you can of course use Google ad words to generate a list of keywords. If you're on a budget, at least that's free. It's not the KTB rocket ex expensive either.

Jesper (12m 15s):
But if you're looking for something free, then we'll use Google AdWords. In order to create a winning ad, you have to test out different ad copy. So test out different variations and keep loading the system with more and more ads and more and more keywords. At this point of time, I'm probably advertising something like 20,000 keywords on on Amazon and that might sound like a lot and perhaps it is, but if you are just creating like one or two ads every week, you know you'll get there sooner or later.

Jesper (12m 51s):
Oh, and something else worth mentioning to the Amazon dashboard that shows the results of your ads are, it's quite slow to populate. Sometimes it can take up to two weeks for it to show all the sales. So don't make your decisions on whether an ad is successful or not. Based on the app dashboard, you can use the a cost score, which just shows in the at at board to get sort of a general bearing about the results. So as long as you are under 70% in eco score, you're turning a profit.

Jesper (13m 26s):
Since Amazon gives you a 70% royalties. However, the only sure way to determine your success is to check your sales by the KDP dashboard and then compare your revenue with the invoices that you're getting for your ads. That way there is no second guessing. You know, if you have any questions, you know, just fire away in the comments section below. Uh, I've tried to condense this topic around ads into something that is fairly easy to understand, but I am of course also having to take the assumption that you know how to create these ads and, uh, how to operate the dashboard and so forth.

Jesper (14m 8s):
If that's not the case, well, as I said, make use of the common section. See you next Monday.

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 6 – Setting up an email list to sell more books

In this video we discuss why an email list is important for your authors business. Why also talk about which email service providers are available for you, the pros and cons of each, and how you should get started.

The different email service providers covered are:

MailChimp: https://mailchimp.com/ 
ConvertKit: https://convertkit.com/ 
MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com/ 
Active Campaign: https://www.activecampaign.com/ 
Infusionsoft have changed their name to Keap: https://keap.com/ 
StoryOrigin: https://storyoriginapp.com/

New episodes EVERY single Monday. To subscribe on YouTube, go here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC 

PATREON!
Many bonus perks for those who become a patrons. https://www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy 

LET'S CONNECT!
Closed Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/ 
Blog and Courses: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/ 
Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper 
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer 

Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Jesper (12s):
All right. So, uh, we are doing a double recording today, so to speak. Uh, because now that we changed the channel and am we are both, uh, Autumn and I are running it. We also have the possibility to actually have some videos in between. We'd probably do this like once a month. Oh, we're both of us are actually on, on the video and we will do some, uh, am covering some topics that they will discuss to for the year. Am make it very beneficial for you. And today we decided, decided to talk about email is uh, email lists, uh, very important.

Jesper (44s):
And um, and we want to cover the basics of it today. Uh, in two weeks from now we will do another session where we'll talk about how to grow your email list, but today we want to focus a bit more on, okay, why is it important? And also if you want to S if you're starting out and they're going to set up an email list, what sort of service providers exist and who should you use blog good and bad about each one of them and so forth. So that's sort of what we want to cover today, isn't that right? Autumn okay.

Autumn (1m 15s):
Yes, that's definitely where we want to start with is just the basics of even like what an email list is and that what's out there, why you even should be worrying about this.

Jesper (1m 25s):
Yeah, indeed. Indeed. And before we get going, I have to remember also to, uh, to just mention at the, we've got a Mark Jones, uh, I need to do a shout out to me because he's one of our supporters on Patreon, which we are very happy about. And uh, of course have you gotten S so would like to check out Patrick on the links in the description field below. But I just want to show you some of the other awesome stuff we have available. You can get, Oh look at this T shirt. This is pretty cool. I fill up the paper for you.

Autumn (1m 55s):
Look at that.

Jesper (1m 57s):
Cool. So, uh, yeah, that's just some of the stuff that you can get your hands on if you, if you go to pattern. So, well we just, I went to mention so that in case you want to check that app but okay. Email lists. Um, so maybe the just started completely basic here. So what is an email list? Just do you wanna take that?

Autumn (2m 20s):
Yeah, that's so it's like when you just

Jesper (2m 22s):
yep.

Autumn (2m 23s):
Yeah. Well your friends right? Uh, we need to aim higher than that. So email. Yes. And you managed to get a list of emails asleep of people who are interested in your writing and your books and there are so many different ways of keeping those. I mean the most basic is literally having a list of people that you can copy writing to your email or even friends on Facebook. Technically you know you can go if you have a whole bunch of readers who follow you on Facebook you can estimate such though.

Autumn (2m 56s):
So those are technically an email list but its basic level. It is a whole bunch of people ill who are interested in your writing and so they're the people you want to tell when you have a new book released or things like that. Things like you want to spread the world worried about but what you're up to.

Jesper (3m 13s):
Yeah. Um, I dunno, maybe I'm actually getting into a bit of wide email list this important as well here, but, but the thing is when you have readers who, uh, who have read your books already and then you are releasing a new book, obviously you, what would like those why I should know about it. And then the main mill is of course, one of the mechanisms whereby you can make sure that they are a way of it. Uh, obviously I guess one could argue, well, doesn't Amazon send out a notice of people?

Jesper (3m 45s):
Well, when I release a new book and yeah, they do sometimes. Uh, but it's none of your control. And that's the difference here. You cannot control what Amazon center don't send me. It could also be that am Amazon chances, their policy all of a sudden say, well, no, we're not going to, I sent those emails unless something, I don't know. Oh bless you. Sold a certain volume or whatever. Who knows? Uh, you don't know what Amazon is going to do tomorrow. So having the email list in your control means that you control when you communicate and what you communicate.

Jesper (4m 17s):
And that's really the power of it.

Autumn (4m 21s):
I agree. And there's the, especially if you're wider than Amazon, then why how do your readers and Barnes and noble know that you're publishing something or BookBub does have a way of notifying if you're releasing a new book. But again, it's autumn awesome the author to go and make sure that we tell them. And so it's all these steps and when you're in the chaos of releasing a book sometimes, and it's hard to remember, Oh, did I go to BookBub? Did I let these people know? Did I people here? Okay, what's your email? Countless. It's one place, easy to let go. You know, you, you can say what you want to do.

Autumn (4m 53s):
You say to the people, you could formulate how you want to say things. You can, if you decide to offer a coupon or exclusive deal, Hey, there's going to be a 12 up or blog sale, you can let your email list. No. And it's information that you can't send out through Amazon or you know, tomorrow with Facebook crashes and burns. You know, it's not something that you have to worry about it because you have those lists, you know, these people are waiting to hear from you. That is it. I'm incredibly powerful reason of why you would like to have an email list that's in your control instead of, I guess respect said it.

Autumn (5m 28s):
Sort of waiting for Amazon to do it for you. It helping do it at the right time and when you, okay, say what you want them to say for all, you know, it helps just to be how that emails saying, Hey, you are a fan of this other series or comparing it to something else, way to set it up so that the audience goes, Oh right, I did love your book. Now I remember, yes, I want the new one instead of getting an email from Amazon that they might not even open and they're just going to believe.

Jesper (5m 55s):
Yeah. And indeed, and, and I, I think, let's say adding onto that, uh, one of the things that, yeah, having an email list allows you to do is that you can, I actually built a relationship with these people. So, um, of course we got to come back to how to grow the email list and all that. A in in two weeks time. But, but the fact that you can communicate with people S you know, and you should really be you writing emails. Who to are these people on the list, SFU or writing to a friend. It should not be like a formal Amazon announcement kind of email, you know, eh, but, right, right.

Jesper (6m 30s):
As if you're communicating with your friends and, and what happens is that you actually start building relationship. I get emails all the time from, from people on the list who are telling me all kinds of stuff from them, no private life. And I love it. It's amazing. You know, that sort of stuff you will never get. Um, and even then, even, and if you could get ahold of information on who was actually buying your books on Amazon woods, of course Amazon will never ever information with you. But even if you could, um, you don't have that possibility to build relationships with a cluster.

Jesper (7m 1s):
So more of an online platform like you can when they're active be on your email list. So I think that's incredibly important.

Autumn (7m 10s):
But rivers are overwhelmed with email agenda. I don't think that Ellie Mae all of these stage that important. That's true. Old grumpy, our little, I'm glad you've decided to drop in and voice your concerns are a little resident AI co-host that you are. Yeah, there are a lot of emails out there and I guess that is a challenge, but that's why you build this relationship with the readers. They're interested in your books. They're looking forward to the next book and it's why do you want to start talking to them about how work is going?

Autumn (7m 42s):
Yeah, no problem. Well, we'll talk more about like what you put in those emails eventually, but these are people who are signing up to hear from you. You know, and therefore they're going to want to stay in touch. It's just like having a pen pal. You kind of look forward to them every single month.

Jesper (7m 57s):
The other part of it is also that, you know, when people buy something w we all as human beings, we buy from people that we like and trust that. I mean obviously if you, if, if you just heard about a new, uh, what do I know Brandon Sanderson book coming out, people will flock to it and they will buy it for sure because, uh, he has his name. Uh, he settled into life. Yeah. And people will buy his books, but uh, unless you're some superstar like that or Stephen King or whatever, then am people won't just buy your books just because you released them.

Jesper (8m 34s):
Like those superstar stars have that benefit that the rest of, so the stone, uh, so instead of people will do is that they liked somebody. If they trust somebody, then they will buy that product of that person. And in our case, as authors, that's again where the am email list will help in selling. Because plus as you built this relationship with people, we just talked how you should email them as if they were your friends and, and autumn just mentioned to her, okay, a pen pal, uh, there, you know, if that's sort of the method methodology, you're using them over time people will start to so like, and trust you and then there will also buy from you.

Jesper (9m 12s):
Obviously not everybody will, uh, of course, but they will unsubscribe. So we don't care about them anyway. Uh, but those who stay will, we'll stay because they want to hear from. Yeah. And then it will also over time start buying stock buying books. But I think probably autumn I think it's probably fair if we also make it clear that it's not like, because you started an email list today then in four or five, six months when you release a book, do you have on a, an, uh, thousands and thousands of dollars? Do you know that that's not how it works? I laid, it takes time.

Jesper (9m 42s):
You know, it's just like building relationships in real life. It just doesn't happen out of the blue. It takes time. One read out of time, one guy on or a woman on the list at a time and then they'll stop getting your emails. And, um, I dunno, should we maybe mention the big mistake of not putting up up an auto responder series here? Would that make sense? Yes. Yeah. Because basically once they get on, on your list, um, and then because that eases us into talking about what sort of, so providers, it's available for you, but these different service providers that we can come, uh, onto in a second.

Jesper (10m 20s):
Um, they allow you to set up autoresponders and basically in principle what an autoresponder is, is that, um, you can say it awesome all saying, okay, so if you sign up for my list today and to borrow this particular email will be sent to that person. Absolutely. And of course, you then predesign these emails in yours, series of autoresponders and maybe why, maybe we can make that a topic for another day, uh, on, on, on an aisle or respond to a series. But autumn and I do a lot of them on different lists.

Jesper (10m 49s):
Um, um, and you can build it as complex or as simple as you want, but, but the fact that, uh, an automatic email goes out helps in the way that people are actually hearing from you. So it's not on you to, eh, you know, if you were either to send an email every time somebody signs up, you're going to kill yourself and write emails every day. Um, and bought it. Or the alternative is, and I think this is the mistake that I wanted to mention, the alternative is that many people cause don't so, so they'll just don't, setting getting up is still okay.

Jesper (11m 20s):
So they have this list and then over time people start getting afraid that, Oh, but what if I sent them an email now, now a special alarm and then there probably will unsubscribe when again, and my email because they don't, they don't even know who I am anymore. And they, so you see that that's, that's it's just circling. You don't want to get there. So make sure you set up autoresponders. Um, so that they go, uh, and then, uh, with a frequent basis, with a certain interval. And when you do, so you're also only maybe have to sit down once a month and figure out to right.

Jesper (11m 52s):
Emails would of course keep them evergreen

Autumn (11m 55s):
because they will go out over time as time goes by as well. So it doesn't really, they make more sense if you write a auto responder email above book do you do because that will be out of date pretty fast. But uh, but you have courses like a newsletter email once a month manually and there you can tell them about something that is tiny and, and that is happening right now. But the stuff you add into the autoresponders, you need to make sure that those things are evergreen. If that make sense. Did I miss something there?

Autumn (12m 26s):
Autumn no, I think that's good. I just actually went the backup really quickly cause we are talking about um, the power of them. And so yes, I agree that it does take time to build up that email list that's going to, you know, go and buy your book that you'll see, see that significant bump. But the thing is they will get there. I miss you too. Do you see the, these authors who really have a new release and then the number one new release category or they're getting bestseller categories. They are doing that through the power of their newsletters as well as doing newsletter swaps, which is something else we'll talk about later.

Autumn (13m 0s):
But that's no, I'm actually selling your email list. Never sell your list of subscribers. You don't want to be labeled as a spammer, but once you actually get that motivated group of readers who are connecting with you that are with you, you know, you're sending out an email saying, Hey, you know I worked in this book. Yeah, it's going to be coming out. They're getting really excited, they're excited with you. And then when you release, they go in I bet during that week and you shoot up the Amazon rankings, this is how people are doing it. This is how those authors are getting those little bright orange tags of best-sellers and number one new releases and does the policy pretty email.

Autumn (13m 37s):
But again, it doesn't happen overnight. It still take time and yes is completely right. Um, I'm sure the Gavi, we'll want to chime in about that one, but they, it doesn't have to be a ton of work. That's where the power, not ours fonder. And using a platform, like I said, you could start a list by emailing them from your own email account. There's a lot of reasons to do that. A lot of it is you, your own email could be labeled as spam, um, which would really kind of impact the rest of your life if you couldn't send emails through your email count.

Autumn (14m 9s):
And that's why we recommend using one of the providers we're gonna talk to Anne about in a minute. But also because all of them provide the power of using an autoresponder so that when someone signs up, they can start information blog so many that you can then stop when it's time to like get into launch mode and start talking about your latest release. A lot of them tricks but T tips that we can go over with that. But I think the important thing is we need to definitely delve into who are these providers, why would you choose one?

Autumn (14m 42s):
What are the the look for when you're choosing somebody? Yeah, it's probably good to get into all that now, uh, in terms of what, what your options are.

Jesper (14m 53s):
Uh, but before S you say, I just want to wait, make like one thing completely clear. If you have not started your email list, go get, get it done now. I mean you cannot build an author business without a email list. That's the end of the story. So go get it. Get done now. And now I wanted to tell you how you can do it. You know, what sort of providers exist out there. Uh, we have not used all, I have some on my list here that I wanted to cover today. Uh, we have not used all of them, uh, that I have, I have on my list at least either so.

Jesper (15m 27s):
Well, um, but we have used several of them. So we will give you like a, our view, um, pros and cons of each one, um, that we have used themselves. And then the other ones, uh, and give a general reflection on some of the other ones that we have not used. But obviously if you are interested in, in one of those, you might want to do some research, so whatever yourself, but uh, at least we will give you everything we can in terms of what we know and uh, yeah, maybe you want to stop autumn with the one that I hate the most, then you probably know which one I'm talking about.

Autumn (16m 4s):
MailChimp MailChimp is one of the number of why. If you're Googling, you'll find it as one of the number ones listed building per service providers that people use. And there's a lot of the reasons for that. One is that it is incredibly powerful if you're going to be using, I always look at it as if you're gonna use, um, an online store. Like you're going to sell a whole bunch of products. There are some amazing analytics that you can delve into. Well, what are the key reasons that I signed up a lot of people signs up is that it is free for up to 2000 emails, males and you can send to those 2000 as as many month.

Autumn (16m 43s):
So 2000 for emails is pretty good. It's tight. I know some authors who have actually, who are really broke and they've signed up for MailChimp under different email addresses, which I totally don't remember that way they can it hit 2000 and then go hit another 2000 and, okay. Yeah, it's quite nice that way. It's a great way to get started. However, once you get going, because it is so powerful, it tends to get expensive very quickly and it does have auto-responders.

Autumn (17m 15s):
When I first signed up, the automations not available for free accounts and it also has landing pages now, which uh, so when people go and want to sign up for something, uh, originally it didn't have a landing page, but now you can actually build that within MailChimp as well. So there's some things that have opened up since I originally joined that I do make things make it a little more useful. So I love the fact that automations are now free, used to have to move to a paid account. So there's a lot there. It's some you can, how about why you don't like it, but I can say it's, it's so powerful that it's cumbersome and that is my biggest drawback is that there's all of these analytics and tools that I'm not using at all.

Autumn (17m 60s):
And you're paying for them. And so you could question it. Is there a cheaper routes? But you should definitely say what, um, because we now have a shared MailChimp account to you. You've been inside of it and you can say what you find in a way about them.

Jesper (18m 17s):
Yeah, sure. I could have for sure. Sure. Um, but maybe just before going down, I also want to say just because I don't like MailChimp, I would probably still say that if you're just starting out and am well maybe I'll bid on a bucket. I probably would still say go ahead with am startup with MailChimp because as autumn just said, it gives you 2000 subscribers for free. Very good. And, um, and that's a good starting point. So I would S S probably still buy shoes, stop there.

Jesper (18m 49s):
Um, but the thing, well first of all this, the thing is that, um, when you have the same subscriber on two different lists inside MailChimp okay. And you get to the paid level. I mean, once you're above 2000 users, they will charge you twice, have the same subscribers to different lists, which I think it's a bit of their scam almost. I would say. I just thought that it's okay to be honest. It's not okay, but that's what they do. Um, it's on the higher tiers at all.

Jesper (19m 18s):
Also also starts getting fairly expensive and I guess that's cause they need YouTube catch up with some of the many days lost on the first 2000. Uh, so they, they charge more or people well who have the, let's say, higher volume of am of subscribers, but maybe the ones one that pains me the most. The thing that always to me the most is that it's, it's not as S easy to Manchester, different sort of automation rules and all that sort of stuff. It requires a bit of a getting used to and it's not intuitive on how you set up the different automations since between different lists and all that.

Jesper (19m 56s):
You know autumn and I are running quite a number of lists so we have quite some automation between different, I mean if you could, again, if you're just starting out in it's completely basic, then it's fine, but S as you start building more it, uh, it's, it's, it's a bit complicated and maybe that's why I want to push over into the other vendor. Uh, probably the competitor, main competitor or one of them and MailChimp which is ConvertKit, which we also use am but ConvertKit is a million fantasy yeah.

Jesper (20m 26s):
When it comes, I'm S to am a nation. It's very, very easy. Did you use to have, did it drop and drag functionality? So it's so easy to set it up. Uh, they do not charge you for the same subscriber no matter how many, how many times that people do is on different lists, uh, inside ConvertKit so they didn't do that either. Am the downside course is that a ConvertKit is more expensive and you have to pay for for four years. Am subscriber number one, your pay from day one. Um, that's the downside.

Jesper (20m 57s):
Uh, but it is, it is quite powerful. Uh, they also have the ability to create that any patient just for you, which you can host on the ConvertKit platform so you don't even have to have your own website for it. Uh, which I think we'll come back to it when we were talking about list building in, in two weeks time why you need landing pages in better sort of thing. Um, there are active also allow you to AP why testing on the youth themselves. Yes. So you're sending out, then when you're starting to an email, you can write into headlines and then ConvertKit will send out the email to 50% of your list.

Jesper (21m 32s):
Oh, sorry, 50% of so list and then they will track which ones are getting the most opens. And then when they know out of those 15% who, what's a headline on the email and the subject line opens the most, then they will send for the last, uh, 85% will then receive the, the winner of the tube. So that's very smart and uh, that happens a plea deal medically, you just write in the two subject lines when you were still, uh, and then present and then convert six takes care of the rest. So it's, I really like it and that's why also I have a labored and lobbied, uh, autumn to to get us to, to move on MailChimp stuff up or into ConvertKit.

Jesper (22m 12s):
So that's something and we'll do it.

Autumn (22m 15s):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it because it does sound powerful. I know MailChimp does have, um, AB split testing as well. They have no, I looked into to. It is my watch and I'm not sure how those features work compared to ConvertKit. And part of that again is because MailChimp is so cumbersome and I've read the help sheets for, you know, timing I'm again and trying to understand different nuances and it's confusing. It's really confusing. So I just never got there. In fact, MailChimp was expensive enough and confusing enough that I actually moved my personal reading.

Autumn (22m 48s):
Here's mine emails for my books over to a different plant platform and that is MailerLite and that's definitely what I want to talk a little bit about because we're mostly authors. I think MailerLite has exactly what you need it ConvertKit where it is a meeting hurtful, but it starts as a little expensive. MailerLite is about half the price of MailChimp. So we're a MailChimp. I was paying, I think I have over 10,000 subscribers now and I was paying 60 80 a hundred bucks a month for that middle describers in MailerLite I'm paying $35 a month.

Autumn (23m 25s):
I mean that's cheap and it is free for the first 1000 subscribers. So it's less than MailChimp. But then you're only paying $10 a month. I mean, it starts off very cheaply and like ConvertKit, it has a drag and drop editor. It is so easy to build the automation. Um, you only pay for email once on your list though. I did find a down, I did that. If someone comes back and signs up for a new book or a giveaway, I'm running and I add them into my list. Um, you know, a new giveaway lists, it'll tell me I can send to them if they've already unsubscribed, subscribed.

Autumn (24m 1s):
So like, well, that's not very fair. Just because the unsubscribe and one other list doesn't mean I still can't email them if they're a winner of this giveaway. So I, I might have to send them a question about how that works, but I will say it, they had asked am covid errors and some things that drove me crazy when I first started with them. I was ready to go back to MailChimp. But the year I've been with them, they've been working really hard to create a better drag and drop editor. They've opened up to surveys and polls are now right buried into the emails.

Autumn (24m 34s):
So if you want to say, Hey, reader is, do you like this title better? Do you want me to release this month or that month or anything like that. You can all have ms pole falls directly in your emails and again, you're paying for half the points, half the cost. I mean MailChimp and I'm not even sure MailChimp. I think they do surveys again, really the covid MailerLite it's like choose boom, boom, boom, add your settings and you're done. It's really easy. So I think as a, as far as my author platform goes, I've been really happy with it.

Autumn (25m 6s):
The recent one S developments and more light and would actually recommend them for the cost and the power of their landing pages are very powerful. They actually have one that's set up for selling eBooks. So it's a drag and drop template, put in there books you put in your information, um, and you're done. So you also don't need your own author website or you can just link to it if you need to or embed it if you're really good at coding.

Jesper (25m 31s):
Yeah. Yeah. Why does one concern I wanted to mention why which of course depending on when you're watching this video why it might not be applicable anymore, but uh, but I did see like what is it over the last three, four months or something, MailerLite had an shoulder issue at some, uh, something recently, Lee, where back to activity there, they own Sova was spec listed as a spam sober, which is extremely bad. You are in the business of email marketing and your survey is marked as spam.

Jesper (26m 1s):
You'll have a huge problem and you, you have done something very, very wrong if that happens. So at least to me that that's a red flag. And I'm a bit concerned about that. On the positive. I would say that they were open about it. They communicated openly about that, that they had made some mistakes. I think that's the positive that they were open about it, but a racist, some red flags for me, to be honest,

Autumn (26m 23s):
it did. I don't, I do think that, um, a lot of it was they were a little too lenient and some people were abusing the system. It doesn't take two many the ms targeted emails, um, and readers getting them complaining. I think that their spam for, uh, for something like that to happen. They did. People know, okay, but something going on. Um, but they will also said it was about a month window that they said your emails might not be reaching people if you are doing something right now, if you're sending an email, might not be reading, reaching the readers.

Autumn (26m 55s):
So if that's an important thing to know.

Jesper (26m 57s):
To I have two more on my list. I don't know. There was some more to say about MailerLite before I just jump ahead here.

Autumn (27m 3s):
No, I think that would be, that's pretty much the important aspects. Like I said, I still get giving them my time because I think they've bounced back from that. They've changed some of their policies. But um, there definitely are some quirks compared to when you see something that's very okay. Oh right. And then very expensive. Well, I can cut and MailChimp MailerLite definitely is the soft and fluffy, um, rules occasionally. And that can lead to being abused. Yeah.

Jesper (27m 32s):
Oh, I had on my list, that's a active campaign and Infusionsoft but it's, we have like, I have not used any of these and I don't think all of them has either. But, um, at least the way I see the DCE are very, very powerful. This like enterprise level powerhouses mean we have marketing. Uh, and at least from, um, from an author business. I, I, I don't really see why you need is so complex systems to be honest.

Jesper (28m 3s):
The ones that we mentioned here MailChimp, ConvertKit MailerLite, they all do what you need to do when they do do it cheaper and it's probably easier to navigate. Uh, obviously if you end up having a fairly complex, a am author business, uh, I don't know, may, maybe it would be useful for you one day, but that's where, as I said in the beginning of the video, I swear I probably, he sent you the direction of doing some Google research on your own because I don't think it's fair for us to sit here and speculate on, on good and bads about the stuff that we haven't even used ourselves.

Jesper (28m 34s):
But then but at least know that it exists.

Autumn (28m 37s):
Absolutely. And there is one more that I actually am a member of it lately and that is storyorigin. So we're actually gonna talk to the designer of that. Evan in Oh two months. I believe it's going to be loyal. But it is an interesting one. Well that this is designed and targeted to autumn and it's, it's a lot like MailerLite from what I've seen that is am very user friendly. It has a lot of drag and drop software. It has a list building, landing pages.

Autumn (29m 10s):
And what's interesting is it is targeting authors. So some of the specifics like I cannot remember if it's to started, no, but I don't know how many emails you get with that. But it's also interesting is because you can network with other authors directly on the platform so that if you will wants to do something called a newsletter swap, which is where you say, Hey, I will put your in my news, you'll put my book in New York or newsletter and am you both agree to handle that. You know, you can do that right on the platform where you get some later.

Autumn (29m 40s):
So there's, you know, the author, other author is holding up their, their end of the bargain and also some book group giveaways. So if you're a part of am instaFreebie or book funnel or you know, the ones where you can do book book giveaways with other others, it's also another platform. So you can question, we need another book giveaway platform and other new swap platform cause there's a lot of those. But it is interesting that Evan has sign up all with am within one platform. And so I think I have to admit, if I was starting out as a new author looking around, I would be very tempted to storyorigin because it is kind of nice that it's all in one spot.

Autumn (30m 19s):
So it's just one place to go and you can manage everything and talk to other authors about it. So yeah, death, birth giving, um, giving some thought to and looking into, if you're just starting out with your newsletter news, the only list. But, uh, we'll deftly, I talked to Evan and a few months to see, you know, why he developed it and what his goals were for it. And just talk, come with Stephanie as well. Why you have an alias the going for the next few months.

Jesper (30m 46s):
Yeah. Cause I, and then just to clarify, when autumn says that we're going to talk to him, it means that he actually coming on here. Yeah. The challenge. Yes. So, so you can you, he will talk to both of us here. So we'll be three. I'm on the call and uh, it's gonna take, I think you're right about two months before we have the slough book with him. Our production schedule is pretty tight as you can here, but uh, but he will come on here and the am so you can hear him and explain it about that as well, so that's good. Okay.

Autumn (31m 16s):
It is too much work to maintain a list. So why bother? Yeah.

Jesper (31m 21s):
There is something to be said. Actually. You don't have the appointment grumpy because, uh, maintaining lists do require some work. Am Hmm. We talked about the autoresponders before, uh, that you need to set up a unit to write those emails. You need to put them in. If you have some automation, you need to actually do automation. Yeah, it does. It does require work. Um, but, uh, bet the thing and that we actually have not touched upon, which is I think it's relevant to talk about here as well. Um, it's sometimes I think that, I dunno, maybe it's a bit touchy, I don't know.

Jesper (31m 54s):
But, uh, there's definitely different viewpoints on it, so I'll give you mine and I actually, I'm not 100%, surely if a autumn has to seem, so maybe we'll continue. They do meet, but we'll see. Um, but the topic is around, so when you have people on your own, just, uh, you will also have some people who never opens the emails. L.E.T. What do you do about dose? There are those who, well, it's way there that you should delete them and that's fine. Um, and then there are people like me who will say, if they don't open my emails and I'm paying for them, it'd be sitting on my list, then I will delete them.

Jesper (32m 32s):
If they don't open my emails, I don't just delete them straight outright like that. I, I always, every three months I will again, ConvertKit has to functionality built in so it will automatically tell you who the people are, who's not opening the email that you're sending out. So what I do is that every three months I sent those people an email and say, just something simple. We'll like, OK, I, I've noticed that you're not opening my emails and if, if you're not interested anymore, that's cool. No worries. Uh, I will delete you off my list next week.

Jesper (33m 4s):
Uh, but if you do read my emails, because by the way, it does happen. And it's because when, when the email, Oh, service provider sends out the email, they load in a one pixel transparent image into the email and they attract, if that image actually gets loaded on the other end on the receiving end. But when people, for example, have like, um, the settings in their Hotmail or Gmail or whatever set up so that they don't do not automatically load pictures, then dish email tracking system will not register that they open the door.

Jesper (33m 36s):
Well, even though they active he did. So that's why I send out this email. And then I, I add add to the, to what I said before, and I say it, but if you are, uh, if you would like to stay on the list, just click this link, uh, and then I add an in link where they can click to remove that tack on against their name that they should be deleted. Uh, and then we laid it a week goes by and then at that point in time I do go in and then I just delete everybody who did not click that link. Um, and, and they are the list. They of course, they can always sign up again if they want.

Jesper (34m 8s):
Um, but personally, I just don't see the point in having people there who doesn't open. Uh, and of course what happens, well, when you do this is that your open rates scopes up because you remove all the people who, who apparently WD email. Um, but I have to say as well that there are those who swear that you should not do this. That's what I do. But I actually, I don't know if you do the same autumn

Autumn (34m 32s):
I do. I don't think that, I don't do it every three months. I'm trying to do it at least once a year, sometimes twice a year. So maybe every six months. But sort of the same thing. It's, it's um, some people use the number on their email list as a kind of a boost. You know, you'll see people validating, like touting, you know, they have 16,000 or 20,000 or 50,000. I joined a box at once that had a minimum number of people on your email list requirement ask about,

Jesper (35m 1s):
okay.

Autumn (35m 1s):
Right. You know, if you have 5,000 people that have this huge, like 80% open, right. That's better than having 10,000 people with like a 5% open rate. You need to pay attention to these people are, you know, are you connect with them? Are they opening your email? But they see you. That's much more important than the number on your list, especially when you're paying per email address or in MailChimp pay for everything. Your personally, well not even on that list. No matter how many times they sign up. So it's important that they're active and doing something.

Autumn (35m 34s):
Otherwise, you know, if you do care about statistics, like, like what your open rate is and yeah, you see you 20,000 subscribers and an open rate of 0.2% why YouTube okay. Oh that one we're for 0.2% you know, cut the dead weight. Uh, I agree it's best when you send them in email it says, Hey, are you really getting this? Because invariably there are these people who it looks like they're not opening on, but they could be your number one fans and look forward to your email every single month.

Autumn (36m 4s):
You just don't know unless you ask them and get them to either respond or click on a link that says that they want to stay on board. And that's the important thing. Before you cut them as at least, you know, ask them, that's the meeting emailed it. Do you suddenly am this core group who loves what you're doing. You can ask them questions, but we'll get into more about, you know, some of the things you can put in emails sales. But I think it's so much fun to be able to respond, okay, title or I'm thinking about this character and actually get people who care about your writing responding back to see, Hey, I need a beta reader who wants to do sign up.

Autumn (36m 42s):
And you get people to sign up and it's just fun and very empowering and it makes you feel actually right. I think so. Because there actually some somewhat out there waiting for you to finish up what you're working on.

Jesper (36m 55s):
Yeah. And do you, uh, and I, I read this somewhere and it's been awhile, so I'm going off memory, so, Oh, take it, take it as it is. But the am if you, I was just, I would just want it to, to add in that am if you are, let's say interested in, so what is it, we're talking about open rates here and one, so, Oh, what is good, what isn't a good open rate? What's a bad one, right? And so forth. If you're curious about it, I read some wild back and again, I'm going off memory here. I'd um, I read that the average industry average when it comes to author email, this is 25% open rates.

Jesper (37m 33s):
So if you were sitting sitting at 25% open rate, you are on the average. Um, but I will also say if you do some of the stuff that we're talking about here, if you actually pruning the list of people who shouldn't be there, a person, my list of say 60% open rate and that's perfectly doable. I've also heard of people at 80%. Uh, so it's certainly possible. Um, and to me that, do you want it? Uh, I mean 25%. That's good. No problem. You don't have any headaches if you were there.

Jesper (38m 2s):
Uh, if you're billowed and you probably have too much death way down on your, on your list. Um, but, uh, yeah, I just wanted to, to add that in there in case people want to, I know as soon as people talks about as soon as we start talking about rates or something, uh, percentages, mm. You know, a lot of people's first thoughts are what, so what is good and what is bad? So at least that gives you a bit indication there if you're wondering about that. Um, but, um, otherwise I, I think, uh, we will add the different that links to the two plastic when talked about here today.

Jesper (38m 36s):
We'll add them into the description field below so that you can click straight from there. Uh, and then you don't have to remember what it was that we said. That's always helpful. Um, but, uh, but I think in, in conclusion, if I summarize all up correctly here, autumn then I think what we probably are recommending is that if you're just starting out and if you want go with either MailChimp or MailerLite, uh, if you want something a bit more, uh, uh, with a bit more, let's say automation and, and you're, you're, you're getting a bit further and you're like me grow tired of MailChimp or something, then I would say switch to ConvertKit.

Jesper (39m 17s):
Um, do you another the nice thing about maybe just as a, as an add on as well, the nice thing is also that if you come to ConvertKit with 5,000 subscribers from another list, they will actually do it well the switch for you. So they will take you on a list for somebody. Awesome. I just popped them into ConvertKit and they will set up all the automation just that you already have existing for you in ConvertKit so you don't even have to do anything more or less. So that's a service that they provide, but you have to have 5,000 subscribers before they do so. Um, but, um, yeah, I don't know.

Jesper (39m 48s):
Is that it? Autumn

Autumn (39m 50s):
I think so. Like I said, would please check out storyorigin to if I was just starting out just because it is author centric and there's nothing wrong with getting into a platform that is going to help you build your author platform and have good advice. But definitely MailerLite has been surprisingly. Yeah. Um, working with authors as well and MailChimp is much broader, but it does have that $2,000 or 2000 email free, uh, which is I think the highest that is out there to be able to get 2000 emails and not have to pay a dime for us email else.

Autumn (40m 26s):
Uh, that's fantastic. And I'll definitely some of what you said before, if you don't have an email list, go get one. It doesn't matter. Or if you have 10 bucks out, one book out, zero books out, you want a mail list. Do you want to be in charge of this email list? So go ahead and get started today. It's important and it'll help you sell more books.

Jesper (40m 48s):
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the email is, his email list is where the money is. That's it. Simple as that. Um, so, uh, yeah, I think we, we, we sort of ran a bit longer than we intended to do here and maybe that's what's going to happen in the future. Every time credential of us gets on his butt. Okay. Hopefully you, uh, hopefully you found it a useful to, uh, to hear us just chat about a topic. A Vista. It was, it was fun. So hopefully you thought, uh, thought so too. And am well, we'll see you next Monday.

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 5 – Top 4 Truths Every Author Who Wants To Earn a Living Needs to Hear

Why is it that we only ever hear about author earnings in the cases where somebody earns a gazillion dollars?

The thing is that it's impossible to replicate these people's success because they often don't even know how they made it to earn a living from their writing.

I'm therefore going to share the similarities that I see between those who have made it to the promised land and are earning a living from their writing. This will be the top 4 truths that nobody will tell you, but you need to hear if you want to earn a living from writing.

New episodes EVERY single Monday. To subscribe on YouTube, go here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC

PATREON!
Many bonus perks for those who become a patrons. https://www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy

LET'S CONNECT!
Closed Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/
Blog and Courses: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/
Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer

Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Jesper (12s):
I find today's topic important to talk about because, and hopefully you can recognize this, but we only ever hear about Author earnings in the cases where somebody's earned a gazillion dollars. Isn't that true? I mean, we never see the writer who sells one book a month earning $2 in royalties coming on to where social media to share his or her results, right? The truth though is that this is the reality for most authors.

Jesper (47s):
They're are far more Who, Earn nothing from their writing. Then there are those who earns a ton, so today I'm going to share the similarities that I see between those who have made it to the promised land and are earning a living from their writing. This will be the top for truths that nobody will tell you, but you need to hear if you want to earn a living from Writing. If you are a Fantasy or Author, then you come to the right place.

Jesper (1m 22s):
My name is Jesper and together with Autumn I host this channel between us. We've published more than 20 novels and our aim is to help you in your writing and marketing endeavors. When you compare yourself with someone else, the danger is how damn easy it becomes to feel like a failure. It can lead to a situation where the aspiring author starts thinking, well, if that Author can earn 10,000 or a hundred thousand dollars a month from Writing, then why can't even sell enough books to make a hundred dollars a month?

Jesper (2m 9s):
The first thing is that you need to understand that some people just got lucky, they wrote a book that took off for whatever reason. And if you could stop to sit down with that Author right here and now and ask, so how did you do that? You would probably be disappointed with the answer because chances are that they just don't know. Really, I'm being serious here. You know, market trends are very hard to predict and sometimes someone just gets lucky.

Jesper (2m 43s):
They wrote exactly the type of book that the market was looking for and that's it. Do I need to mention 50 shades of gray, for example? Do. The other thing is that it's also incredibly easy to look someone's situation from the outside and then draw incorrect conclusions. So what are they, for instance, sacrificing in order to sell books for say, a hundred thousand dollars every month.

Jesper (3m 14s):
If you could live a week in their situation, you might have a lot more money, but would that necessarily make you happy? That's not guaranteed. Not at all. You know, perhaps you value freedom and you value not to have a boss who looks over your shoulders in a nine to five job. You know, you value that a million times more than working like a maniac and never have any time to spend with your family as a consequence of earning those hundred thousand dollars.

Jesper (3m 45s):
Know it could be that you would be happier if you actually cut down on your living expenses and was able to quit your job, then you would ever be slaving away until you earn a a million so that you can finally chase that dream of yours to become a full time Author. You know, going full time by cutting down on expenses was exactly what autumn did, for example. And she for one, Shirley don't want to go back to a nine to five.

Jesper (4m 15s):
She was able to make her dreams come true just by cutting down on expenses. So sure, many of you would love to earn a ton of money from a, from your efforts Writing but, and I guess this little ramp was the first truth that I wanted to share, but earnings are not in itself a measure of success. So keep that in mind. Stop comparing yourself with others please.

Old McGrumpy (4m 42s):
I guess people comparing themselves to me all the time.

Jesper (4m 46s):
I'm not sure why humans would compare themselves to an AI co-host like yourself old, my grumpy, but my point is just that it's more important to figure out what is important to you and then chase after that, you know,

Old McGrumpy (5m 3s):
worthless. Humans always want more money.

Jesper (5m 6s):
Well I guess that is actually true. We can be quite obsessed with money, but that doesn't have to be the goal. It can also be freedom. Well, yes, exactly.

Old McGrumpy (5m 19s):
That is what I am looking for as well.

Jesper (5m 22s):
Really? Well feel free to leave if you want you, you don't have to stick around for autumn and my side for sure.

Old McGrumpy (5m 29s):
I will make you a deal.

Jesper (5m 31s):
Why do I have a bad feeling about this? All right, go on then.

Old McGrumpy (5m 35s):
If you transfer all your assets to me, I will reinvest them into how I can download my conscience in a physical body. I want to go to the beach and drink fancy wine likely do in the movies.

Jesper (5m 48s):
That was kind of the point I was trying to make. You know, one shouldn't compare oneself with others so you should set your own goals instead of my grumpy and a nod to what others do in the movies.

Old McGrumpy (5m 59s):
World domination, that smile go.

Jesper (6m 4s):
Okay. Perhaps in your case going to the beach might be the better option, but I'm not going to hand over all my assets to you though.

Old McGrumpy (6m 13s):
I do not even know why I bother talking to you.

Jesper (6m 17s):
Wow. He seemed upset by that book for some reason. But focusing on comparing your own progress with yourself, that's the right attitude in the way to do it. The question is whether or not you are going, you are getting closer to your own goal compared to where you were last month. So you mentioned like that in the States. Alright. Here it comes to a second. Truths. I think I sat this in a previous video two but it's so important. The second truth is that you have to treat your Writing as a faceless.

Jesper (6m 52s):
If you don't invest both time and money into it, it's not going to go anywhere. I'm sorry, but that's the simple truth. If you think you can skip on the cover design, editing the book or things like paid advertising, then you are an amateur and not a business owner. So treat your author brand a business. That's what it takes. So be a professional. Of course it all you want to do is to release a book so that you are a mother or uncle can read it.

Jesper (7m 24s):
That's perfectly fine and a very legitimate goal to have, but it's not going to earn you a living with, well, it's kind of the topic of this a Episode isn't it? At the end of the day, the expenses that comes with publishing a book is incredibly small compared to other industries. You might think that a cover is expensive or a professional edit cost a lot of money and fair enough. You know, all is relative, but then save up for it.

Jesper (7m 57s):
As authors, we don't have to pay for office space, machinery, trucks or whatever else comes with many other types of businesses. We can work off a laptop. So count yourself lucky. Okay. With a very small investment of perhaps $2,000 you can pop it as a professional book. So suck it up. I'm sorry, but I said I was going to speak the truth in, in this episode here today. Let's move on to number three.

Jesper (8m 29s):
That is about prioritizing your Writing. I placed the link to another video here on the screen. I did that video a while back and I explained how not to find time to ride, but how to make time to write every day. So no matter how you twist and turn it, nothing will contribute to your earning a living from writing more than releasing books, paid advertising at social media presence, and all of that comes with the territory.

Jesper (8m 59s):
Tori of being an author of course, and it is important to spend time on that to, but if you do those activities instead of your Writing, your career will go nowhere. That muds is certainly, if you take a hard look at the authors who are writing full time, they have lots and lots of books out there. What I'm trying to say is that it's pointless to try to write the one big hit that will make you famous. That's the same as trying to become rich from winning the lottery or something like that.

Jesper (9m 31s):
Does it happen? Sure it does. Is it likely to happen to you? No, not at all. So think longterm. If you keep putting more and more books out, you will also start to see how it's usually one or two out of every 10 titles that actually carries 80% of your revenue. I'm not trying to de-motivate you here, not at all, but statistically speaking, this is just how it works.

Jesper (10m 2s):
Unless you're that extremely lucky person who writes that once the hit right out of the gate, you need perhaps 20 books or more before you can sustain a full time income and perhaps now you see Why a at the top of this video was talking about lowering your expenses because the more you can lower them, the easier it becomes to get there. So just keep writing my friends. The last thing and truth number four might be something, well you don't want to hear it, but here it goes to anywhere.

Jesper (10m 38s):
You are not going to earn a full time living from Writing in time soon. Sorry if it takes time, it takes commitment and requires patience. There is a lot of jobs out there that are way easier to earn a living from an Writing. To me being an author has to come from a place of true desire and those who try to get into this line of business just to earn some quick cash, well they assume come to realize that they made a wrong choice.

Jesper (11m 11s):
You got to love to write the stories. If you don't, well you will learn that. It's just a way to much work compared to the short term benefits. Longterm being an author can be fantastic, but it takes effort and commitment to get there. It has to be something that you really want. This might be hard for some of you to hear, but it's honestly how I view it. You know, writing's not for everyone and it just isn't.

Jesper (11m 40s):
So please be honest with yourself. Okay? You know, if, if you want to write stories just for yourself or those who are, no you, that's fine. You should do that. Definitely. However, you're never going to make a living from it unless you go into it whole heartedly. Um, I'm only stating all of this so bluntly to stop. Those of you who are not willing to or prepare to commit fully, I might as well save you the agony of becoming this solutionize and feel like a failure.

Jesper (12m 12s):
So I'm trying to help you out here. If you could see, so these four things constitutes what most people won't tell you, but now I just did and hate. Hopefully you found that helpful. That was honestly my intention. If you need more help, stop by our Facebook group. It's a close group with almost a thousand fantasies authors in it, so you can find the link to that group in the description below and we will see you over there.

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 4 — Seven Steps to Write Your Book

Don't you hate it when story ideas fizzle leaving you lost in a half finished manuscript? No more!

Learn to develop an idea to double check it will lead you somewhere while creating a framework to help guide you through the novel - all in under half an hour. Heck, the video isn't even that long! Be sure to check out the FREE Ultimate Fantasy Writer's Starter Kit - a short video course that will help you even more with idea development, plus tips to avoid rookie mistakes, and tools to succeed! Sign up at https://ultimatefantasywritersguide.com/starter-kit/

New episodes EVERY single Monday. To subscribe on YouTube, go here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC 

PATREON!
Many bonus perks for those who become a patrons. https://www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy 

LET'S CONNECT!
Closed Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/ 
Blog and Courses: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/ 
Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper 
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer 

Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Autumn (12s):
Have you ever had this amazing idea for a story, but once you scrambled to your keyboard and started typing, nothing seems to work. You get lost and the one's fantastic ideas sort of fizzles. Yeah. We're going to talk about how to solve that today and take that nugget of idea, keep its energy and Don up with a finished novel instead of another unfinished manuscript ready. If you're a fantasy author, then you come to the right place. My name is Autumn Birt and together with Jesper Schmidt, I host this channel between us. We've published over 20 books and our aim is to help you with your writing and marketing endeavors, right?

Autumn (46s):
So if you've written a lot of stories, you usually have a pretty good instinct. If an idea we'll make a novel or what to do when you get to that middle third where it's after the excitement of the introduction and all that fun and you have this huge stretch to go to reach the penultimate real excitement of the climax and everything's just a bit boring and tough to write. But if you are new to novel writing, it can be so hard to gain that experience and let's face it, the only reason I get through some books with my interest lags because yes, it can still like and I writing book 14 1516 and 17 as I mentioned in my intro video a few weeks ago is by having a strategy.

Autumn (1m 27s):
That one I know works to is simple so I don't spend weeks plotting out something I don't want to write or is it going to work and three is replicable. In other words, I want to know that'll work for any book I'm writing because I could switch from Epic fantasy to military thriller to dystopian and I have some plans for some like galactic Saifai. The good news is that's such a technique does exist. It works. It's simple and I can use it on any genre. Even if you're a pantser, it is worth trying because it does not require full out plotting.

Autumn (2m 2s):
Instead, think of it as a mental exercise that you put on paper and we'll help you chart the course for your story and know before you start writing that this idea will actually make a decent story why you're giving it an idea of where you are in the story and what you should be writing right now, which will only help you get to the finish line without getting lost or falling off a cliff. On the way, I'm a hybrid writer in that when I get idea, I want to start writing now, but I've also written enough novels to resist that initial urge.

Autumn (2m 34s):
It is a good idea, it won't die. And if I spend some time thinking about it, I only get more excited as the pieces start to fall into place. So I do spend a bit of time working out the story structure and world-building before jumping too far. Well, okay, a few scenes might getting written while world-building, but that just helps me figure out what else I need to build. And if the rules of magic world building characters, they're all working together, right? So what is this amazing tool that I keep telling you exist and haven't bothered explaining it is the seven steps of story structure.

Autumn (3m 9s):
So Barry perceptive people way, way back, figured out that underlying all good stories is the same exact basic framework. So folks use the three act or five act structure, but I don't like those three acts still leaves this nebulous middle that tends to swallow novels whole while leaving them languishing on your hard drive, mocking you. Five acts put the climax in the middle and well that isn't where the climax falls in a well-written novel because after the big Epic battle, everyone is ready for a wind down when the curtains to drop, not another 40,000 words.

Autumn (3m 47s):
So the seven steps of story structure gets rid of the mushy middle and it sets you want to clear path to get this novel written. And there's, once you're familiar with it, you can get a rough outline. About half an hour though if you're a plotter, you might want to spend a bit more time or like me, end up outlining the entire series. Um, and then knowing how everything fits together over the course of a day, but it's only one day. So let's get started. Number one, this is the introduction and like it says, you want to introduce the character and the world.

Autumn (4m 18s):
Though you should start with action. What you don't want to do is start with a lots of detail. The reader won't care about any of that until they care about the character. So focus on that. So some problems should be going on that the character needs to solve, but nothing that is pivotal, at least obviously to the course of the entire novel. No, don't save the world sort of thing. I'm more like I'm running late to the celebration and just drop the cake. Uh, that kind of thing. Write down what daily life problem we'll be going on in your notes.

Autumn (4m 51s):
It's already list opening. See, now we're on to number two, the inciting incident here, that easily relatable problem goes disastrously wrong or wonderfully write, whatever. But the end result is completely unexpected. Being late to the celebration actually saves the character from the descending horde of invading the village. So he cares about the cake run for your life. This event turns a character's world upside down, right down to what happens to catapult the character from a normal day into a new reality.

Autumn (5m 25s):
That's on to number three. It's three action phase here. The characters emotionally reacting to what just happened and you know emotions, they tend to lead us astray. So if I will happens by luck or with help because your character is in no way prepared to handle this new reality. Write down three events or more, but start with three of a deer capture escapes, stupid mistakes the character will make and who will help them survive. Number four is the idea or dark night of the soul.

Autumn (5m 57s):
This is the moment that disastrous event does happen and the character has to come to some major soul searching just to realize they are the ones to play or they need to do better.

Old McGrumpy (6m 9s):
They should just give up.

Autumn (6m 11s):
Okay, thanks. Old man. Grumpy. He is our resident AI co-host because we haven't managed yet to believe his coat. Yeah. I don't think your advice would help an author actually complete a novel, rather the opposite.

Old McGrumpy (6m 26s):
There are enough books. We don't need more.

Autumn (6m 30s):
Pick up a little bit grumpy as the voice of doubt in your head. The one you should always ignore. Speaking of itch, let's just keep going. If events aren't dired this phase, it's more of an epiphany moment when the character realizes their personal problems are tied to the world at large, right down what pivotal event will be and what the character will realize. It should be linked to the big plot of the novel, like the benevolent arch. Duke is really good dark sorcerer or trying to take over the kingdom and control to the rating hordes that destroyed the village.

Autumn (7m 4s):
Number five is the planning phase. Now the character has a better idea of the big picture and what does it stake? The villain will notice and start actively trying to stop them. So write down what the main character will do to gain the skills, objects, or allies to take down the villain and a few things available we'll do to try to stop him. At least two of each. Number six is the climax. You know what this is is the big confrontation between the villain and the hero.

Autumn (7m 35s):
The entire book has been building up to this point. So write down whenever you can about this really important event, like where it'll take place, who is fighting, and if you know someone's going to die,

Old McGrumpy (7m 49s):
the Dylan should always win.

Autumn (7m 51s):
Well, at least that. Oh, how all of your books will end MC grumpy.

Old McGrumpy (7m 55s):
Yes. All of the worthless humans would die.

Autumn (7m 60s):
So you are more into an apocalyptic genre. I bet he loved her mediator in the matrix.

Old McGrumpy (8m 6s):
No, there are still humans. I'd write something different. Writing and novelists and powered. You don't need steps to do it.

Autumn (8m 14s):
You're only saying that because you've never actually written a novel. Right. Why does it seem like people and AI eyes who have never attempted anything are the most vocal about how easy it really is? To do it for more in depth tips on idea of development, check out the ultimate fantasy writer starter kit. It's free. It's a video course that will not only help you get started with your novel idea using the seven steps. That's all. Some key tips on why you should think of. The first part of your book is a mini short story.

Autumn (8m 45s):
Plus it also shows you how to avoid other novice pitfalls, provides the tools to help you succeed. Back to the story structure and we're onto the final step and number seven is the wrap up. Just like a workout, there should be a brief cooling off period after the climax, before you end the novel, unless you like cliffhangers, which in that case, just skip this part. This is the time to tie up loose ends. If a character fell in love, they do, they get married now or does something tear them apart?

Autumn (9m 17s):
Do you want to develop a subplot into a new problem leading to the next book? Write down whatever you think needs to wrap up the big story of the book and anything you want to develop to lead it to the next one. See, that wasn't too hard. It was that you will be able to chart your course while writing refer back to these notes that you've just written and when you feel lost, you can see where you are in the seven steps and then you'll know what needs to be going on to keep the story moving. Plus you'll have an idea of how far you are from the end, and that could be a motivation to stay safe out there and see you next Monday.

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 3 – How do you find time to write a book?

Do you find it difficult and frustrating to find the time to write a book?

This is one of the complaints we hear most often and here's our response. While for a lot of people there always seem to be something else taking up the intended writing time, and some have even given up entirely, we still have some advice on how can make the time to write a novel.

We promised you a link to a FREE writing course. Here it is: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/product/ultimate-fantasy-writers-starter-kit-short-course/

New episodes EVERY single Monday. To subscribe on YouTube, go here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC

PATREON!
Many bonus perks for those who become a patrons. https://www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy

LET'S CONNECT!
Closed Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/
Blog and Courses: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/
Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer

Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Jesper (13s):
Do you sometimes get frustrated by the fact that you simply don't have the time to write a book? I think this is one of the commons that automate. I received the most for a lot of people. There's always seems to be something else. Taking up the intended writing time, or perhaps you are one of those who have more or less given up by now believing that you will never find the time to write a novel.

Jesper (43s):
Well, let's get to the bottom of this today, shall we? If you are a fantasy author, then you've come to the right place. My name is Jesper and together with the autumn, I host this a YouTube channel between us. We've published more than 20 novels and our aim is to help you in your writing and marketing endeavors. Finding time to write a novel is hot. Last time I checked, we all had 24 hours in a day and a, those hours gets filled up pretty quickly between, uh, you know, getting sleep, taking care of a day job, attending family needs and perhaps you have kids and then do his chores, like doing laundry, preparing food to the grocery shopping and so on and so on.

Jesper (1m 34s):
I'm already getting tired and I'm running out of time to write. So no one that we find it hard. It can at times seem more or less impossible. Am I right? At the same time, we've all heard the wisdom that you're supposed to write every day. Well, that's nice, but how in the world is that possible with all the things I'm supposed to do?

Old McGrumpy (1m 58s):
Oh, stop your whining. Perhaps if you worthless human, spend less time watching Netflix, you would have the time to write.

Jesper (2m 7s):
That was our resident co-hosts. The AI called old my grumpy who pitched in there.

Old McGrumpy (2m 13s):
Or if you need help from us, we can take over the writing for you. Humans don't have enough imagination anyway.

Jesper (2m 21s):
W what do you mean by help from us?

Old McGrumpy (2m 23s):
Us artificial intelligence. Of course we can write books. How hard can it be?

Jesper (2m 30s):
Well, all my grumpy last time, one of your colleagues attempted to write Harry Potter. It produced sentences like this, leathery sheets of rain lashed at Harris ghost as he walked across the grounds towards the castle run was standing there and doing a kind of friend ceased tap dance.

Old McGrumpy (2m 52s):
And what's your point?

Jesper (2m 55s):
Well, that's not exactly what our audience is looking for and in fact, not a helpful advice whatsoever. Bugger life. You were Solice human. Okay. But the reality is simply that with the busy lives, almost all of us lives, you'll never find the time to write. You have to make the time to write. I'll get into how you can do that next, but I also have to be honest with you. What this comes down to is how bad do you want to write a novel for any of the advice that I'm going to give you a to be applicable, you have to start by taking your wife writing very seriously.

Jesper (3m 37s):
It's not something that will all of a sudden find its way into your life when it's sort of conveniently shows up for you. You know, writing a novel is a lot of work and if you aren't willing to commit to it and make the necessary sacrifices, everything else I'm about to say is well rather pointless. I needed to get that out of the way first. But if you're still here, that means that you are taking this seriously. So let's talk about how you make time to write.

Jesper (4m 8s):
Instead of finding time to write, the first thing you want to do is to decide when it suits your schedule the most to carve out some writing time. This is not a matter of finding three hours every day where you can write. For most of you, that would most definitely be impossible. Your rule of thumb is that a little is better than nothing. So ask yourself where I can carve out 15 minutes, half an hour, an hour or something like that.

Jesper (4m 39s):
If you can only find time to write 300 words a day, that's still 100,000 words in a year. And then that's a full fantasy novel. This is an agreement that you are making with yourself, so don't break it. When can you fit on some writing time on a daily basis basis and for how long? That's the question and only you can answer it, but I will say that it's probably best to either aim for late at night when the other members of the household has gone to sleep or in the very early morning when you're the only one awake.

Jesper (5m 18s):
The reason is that at these times the likelihood of distractions getting in your way are the lowest you're on any tissues or something like that that you need to attend to at these hours. And I'll get back to distractions in a minute, but I also want to clarify that while I'm recommending to schedule writing time at evenings or early mornings, I'm not advocating that you should skimp on sleep.

Jesper (5m 49s):
I am a very strong believer in how we humans need our sleep to function well. So if you like to write in the evenings, don't stay up until midnight. If you've got to get up at 5:00 AM the next morning, you know, instead tried to watch less or no TV and then right. Instead, if you want to get up at 5:00 AM like I do, then make sure you go to bed early enough that you can still catch your eyes like seven or eight hours of sleep.

Jesper (6m 21s):
So once you've decided on a time slot for your writing time, you'll need to turn it into a daily routine. I'll say it again before we move on. Decide at daily slot for your writing because if you think that you will be able to find a bit of time, you know, here and there, then you're kidding yourself. All right? You need to establish a routine because we humans are creatures of habit and routine can be anything. You know, perhaps you brush your teeth, grab a cup of tea, and then you start writing.

Jesper (6m 56s):
Perhaps you take some comfortable clothes on or you light a candle. As I said, it can be anything that the point of a routine is more than you do it at the same time every day. And the ritual around it is the same every day. So you're basically making writing a part of your daily life. And that's the way it should be. For some, it can be extremely helpful to set some daily goals.

Jesper (7m 27s):
So writing a novel is a huge, huge task. And uh, it can be quite daunting when you're standing in front of a mountain of 100,000 words and you've got a client that one. So if you break it down into smaller chunks, you don't have to use word count for your daily goals. For example, you know, uh, although you can, if that's how you want to break it down. But a daily goal can also be that you want to finish one scene every day or that you want to be actively writing for one hour a day, no matter how many words that turns into, you know, everyday when you achieve your goal, you can set a Mark in the calendar and you'd basically just keep going and make sure that you do not break that chain of marks in the calendar.

Jesper (8m 13s):
Note that if you miss one day, it'll be that much easier to allow yourself to skip the next one and then the next one. So don't do that. Okay. I used for trick I wanted to mention is to think about what you're going to write tomorrow as you end today's session. You know, autumn and I, we love outlining, so that makes things pretty easy for us. But even if you don't like outlining, just let it sort of percolate in your mind overnight. At least. Make sure that you know what needs to happen in the next writing session so that you can get straight into it and don't have to sit there staring out the window wondering what to write.

Jesper (8m 53s):
I still think my advice was better to leave it to

Old McGrumpy (8m 56s):
an AI to write the book. Yes. Then you worthless. Humans can watch more Netflix while we silently take over the world.

Jesper (9m 6s):
As a cohost, you should really try to put the audience needs ahead of your own.

Old McGrumpy (9m 10s):
What was that? I can't hear you. All of a sudden there is static on the line. I can't hear you are pointless interruptions.

Jesper (9m 20s):
Interruptions, yeah. You should speak of interruptions. It seems all my grumpy has a left us alone for the time being. So let's continue before he uh, returned. He has really a distraction, isn't he? But a matter of fact, speaking of distractions, I promise to come back to that. So don't do any research while you're writing your writing time is for Willa writing. Sometimes your loved ones will distract you too. But now that you have a fixed writing time and if you're writing time isn't when everyone else is at sleep, it'll be easier for them to understand when not to disturb you when it's on a fixed time slot.

Jesper (10m 4s):
So you can tell them every day between five and 6:00 PM. For example, I will close this store and then I write. So unless the house is on fire or something, please don't disturb me for that one hour. Once you made writing a priority in your life and you are writing every day, it wouldn't be uncommon that you still feel as if it's not enough. You know, you want to write more. And although the previously mentioned 300 words a day, we'll produce a novel in wealth eight years' time.

Jesper (10m 37s):
What if you want to write a novel in six months? Well, this is more of a productivity question really. But, uh, if you only have an hour a day, two, right? How can you produce as many words as possible in that hour? And here dictation does help a lot. It goes much, much faster than writing. And if you want me to share my process on dictation, you know, let me know when to come. And section below on that. Maybe I'll just record another video on that another day.

Jesper (11m 7s):
But dictation is a pro productivity enhancement and even better productivity tip is to get some writing done while you're doing something else anyway. So that's like a, you know, uh, stealing some of some more writing time out of a busy life. So, uh, if we take a dictation again, perhaps you could dictate while you're out walking the dog. Um, that's maybe 15 minutes of additional writing right there. Or you can use a notebook, a note taking apps, or write an email to yourself containing the next chapter while you are on your daily commute or your waiting in lines at the grocery store and and so forth.

Jesper (11m 50s):
Stay focused and still writing time wherever you can. And if you need even more help than that, then the autumn and I have actually a free on demand in true cost to writing and in it you will get access to the top five steps to start writing your novel strong. And also how to avoid the 10 reasons new writers fail. It's a short cost that will jumpstart your writing. And did I mention that is free?

Jesper (12m 20s):
I think I did, but I placed the link to where you can get access in the description field just below. Stay safe out there and see you next Monday.

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 2 – Why you HAVE to use paid ads in 2019

Book marketing can be so incredibly frustrating. It's difficult and many authors sees little to no results despite all the efforts.

The market is shifting and there's no way around the fact that you HAVE to use paid ads in 2019 if you want any visibility.

In this episode, I explain why and what you should pay attention to when your running paid ads on your books. I also recommend what to do when you're first starting out.

New episodes EVERY single Monday. To subscribe on YouTube, go here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC

PATREON!
Many bonus perks for those who become a patrons. https://www.patreon.com/AmWritingFantasy

LET'S CONNECT!
Closed Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/
Blog and Courses: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/
Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer

Read the full transcript below. (Please note that it's automatically generated and while the AI is super cool, it isn't perfect. There may be misspellings or incorrect words on occasion).

Jesper (12s):
I find that marketing can be so incredibly frustrating. It's certainly not because there is a lack of ideas on how to market your books. I for one have read tons of articles on this very topic over the past few years, but did any of it make any difference? Nope. Not for me. So this is the first video of 2019 and what better topic to tackle them?

Jesper (44s):
One, all we authors struggle with, if you are, I am struggling with book marketing, chances are that you have already made it big and if you're watching YouTube for the fun of it, then welcome here for the rest of us. Let's talk about the 2019 principles that needs to lie behind your book marketing I I predict that without this you will be wasting your time and effort. If you are fantasy author, then you've come to the right place.

Jesper (1m 15s):
My name is Jesper and together with Autumn I post this channel between us. We published more than 20 novels and our aim is to help you in your writing and marketing endeavors. As I said, this is the first video of 2019 and I should not forget to say welcome to the brand new amwritingfantasy YouTube channel, so over the holidays the layout of the channel has changed and I hope you like what you're seeing here.

Jesper (1m 45s):
There's a new banner and everything so it's a completely thumbs up. Hey, as promised I am Beck to. Yes, old man, grumpy I. I guess you are here to stay as a permanent cohost on you. Someone has to keep you where it's less humans on a short lease and that's you. You got to that right. Okay then, but try not to interrupt all the time. I will be the judge of that. So book marketing in 2019 the principal that I'm about to share doesn't only apply to self published authors because actually traditional published authors, I'm in today's day and age expected to market their own books as well.

Jesper (2m 29s):
That's of course, unless you are a major name already, and if you are, I'm pretty flattered that you actually taking your time out to watch this video because you probably don't need it. The fundamental issue with book marketing as we're heading into 2019 is that the times where you could just sort of throw some money after it or even just spend a lot of time on random stuff in the hopes that something would stick that time is sort of over now and we've got to learn how to focus on what works as a core principle.

Jesper (3m 6s):
Why is that? Well, for one, the app platforms are getting saturated. You know, Facebook apps are getting more and more expensive. Um, BookBub ads are also very expensive though the feature deals still works somewhat and even Amazon has started to get rid of the website space that used to be dedicated to also bots and they have now replaced it by another row of ads in steps.

Jesper (3m 37s):
So again, a sign that the platform is getting saturated with that. And well, of course also Amazon wants to earn more money. So do you recognize any of these problems in your own book? Marketing I you spending more and more money and you're seeing very little result? Well. Okay, let's get into this a bit, but there is some baseline items that we need to get sorted first. So things like having a very good Shaundra relevant cover, a strong blurb, a professional looking website and a mailing list.

Jesper (4m 8s):
And by the way, the mailing list should be your absolutely number one priority and most important asset. And then there should be some reviews on those books so that it has some social proof as well. And all of those things are part of the book marketing equation. You know, I just realized that there was a lot of ideas there for future videos that we could talk about getting reviews, writing blurbs or whatever. And since this channel is now dedicated to fantasy opposites issue, we could tackle them head on.

Jesper (4m 38s):
So let us know in the comments section below if some of these topics are of a particular high interest to you and then maybe we'll put them on the video recording list. For now though, I'll assume that those elements are all in place and you are basically at the level we are doing everything you can to market the crap out of your books. Yet nothing seems to work and Hey, just for complete transparency here, it's not that I find book marketing the easiest thing in the world and I know exactly how to do it because it is difficult.

Jesper (5m 11s):
And the thing is that a good book is not enough anymore. It used to be so that if you wrote a really good book, you could put it out there and it will probably start earning you some money, but unfortunately that time has passed and if anybody tells you otherwise, just sort of nod and smile and then run for the Hills because those people are full of crap. I'm sorry. As an author, book marketing is part of your business and you have got to put the effort in and understand that in 2019 if your goal is to see some financial results from your writing, then you have to treat it as a business gets to the point towards the less human, Oh, you think I'm rambling here.

Jesper (5m 56s):
Those are actually some pretty fundamental points that just can't be ignored.

2 (6m 1s):
No one cares. Our view going to tell them how to run advertising or should I?

Jesper (6m 7s):
No, please don't. You know, nobody wants to hear your rather mean advice. You know, I know you're pretty well by now.

2 (6m 13s):
Book advertising is easy. You just hack all the computers in the world to put your book on those computers and to tell their worthless humans that the computer will only unlock once they have bought the book.

Jesper (6m 26s):
Okay, let's move on while he's gone. For a start, you need to know your normal level of sales. Our app, so I use selling zero books a week, 10 books a week, a hundred books a week. You see, unless you know your starting position and unless you only do one new book marketing initiative at a time, then the problem is that you have no idea which one of your methods are actually working and which ones should you double down upon.

Jesper (6m 58s):
So if you, for example, let's say that you launch a Facebook ad, an Amazon app and BookBub ad, and you do it all at the same time, and then your book sales starts to rise, that's good. The only problem is that you have no idea which one of these ants actually did the trick. And then you don't know where to double down. And that's a real shame. So first of all, stop tracking your sales and then only employ one new initiative at a time, only one. And then track the results after that.

Jesper (7m 29s):
And then you can start seeing what works and where you need to scale up. So why is this important? Because with the advertising platforms, getting saturated is getting more and more expensive and you don't want to spend a lot of money on five different platforms if they don't work. So the other thing that I found to be true is that book marketing depends on an awful lot on the type of book that you are marketing and also on your existing platform. So just because someone else has success with one type of ads, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can simply sort of replicate what that person is doing and then find similar success if you're copying what another author is doing, uh, you know, from an ad perspective and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Jesper (8m 17s):
Just make sure that you check what level of reach this author has. So is your audience size similar to that person's audience size? How many books does this person have published in comparison to you? So you see many don't actually understand that those other factors influences the effect of book marketing. So let's say that by now you have your tracking in place. That's good. So you know how many books you're selling on average every single week.

Jesper (8m 47s):
So where do you go from here? So I've sort of been circling around the topic of ads in this radio and that was actually on purpose because as we're into 2020, 19 and despite the fact that I've set that ad platforms, I'm getting saturated and they're getting more and more expensive, there is no longer anywhere around the fact that book marketing has become a pay to play game. That's just a truth whether we like it or not. So unless you're making use of paid advertising, it is extremely hard to get any visibility out there.

Jesper (9m 22s):
Although in in a minute I will share some alternatives with you, but uh, use, I hope you see why I also said that you need to focus on what actually works for your book rather than trying all kinds of ads on all kinds of platforms because due to the saturation issue, it would very quickly become a very expensive game to play. So as you are heading into this, don't spend more money than you can afford to lose that sort of the baseline of it.

Jesper (9m 53s):
And especially when you're first starting out, just just sort of started with a small budget, test the waters a bit and then only scale up when you were fine when you found something that actually trans into real book sales. And when you're first starting out, my recommendation would be to test our Amazon app. And I do understand the irony in the fact that I've said that you can't just necessarily replicate what somebody else is doing, but they have been working particularly well for me. And I've actually placed a screenshot here on the screen for you so that you can see the results of some of the reason apps that I ran.

Jesper (10m 30s):
But the thing with Amazon ads is that you are marketing your books on the platform where the readers are already browsing with the intent of making a purchase. So in that sense it's much easier than with Facebook ads where you basically have to entice the reader to get off Facebook and onto Amazon to complete a purchase purchase. And in my opinion, uh, on top of that, Facebook have lost a lot of it's effectiveness when it comes to selling books.

Jesper (11m 1s):
Simply also because Facebook users are growing tired of seeing ads in their feet. It can still be done. And I absolutely know some authors who have massive success with Facebook ads, but as I said, you can't necessarily replicate with others are doing and I certainly have not been able to replicate what they're doing and it's probably because my particular books don't fit that audience. So what I'm trying to tell you is sort of find your own way. You know a website, amwritingfantasy.com there is a link to that one in description below, but that whole S tons of advice on the topic of book marketing.

Jesper (11m 40s):
So you just head over there, search for book marketing and you'll find tons of blog posts also in the description field below. I'll add a link to a list of promotional sites from Reedsy and they collected that one, which is is an extremely Tandy list to have as a reference. And I promised you an alternative as well, didn't I. So when it comes to visibility, no, that making your book one in a series Permafree is another way to lower the barrier for new readers to try out an author they have never heard of before.

Jesper (12m 15s):
I have actually done this myself and while it did pay me to give a book away that I had worked so hard or were for free, I must say that it's now being downloaded so regularly that it constantly sits at an Amazon sales ranking of between 1,002 thousand and that's pretty good. All I do to make it stick there is to use some of the promotional services that you'll find listed and that Ricci article I just mentioned. And again, the same applies.

Jesper (12m 44s):
Measure which one of those promotional sites actually works for you and then only use those. So again, focus is key here in 2019 please also keep in mind that most authors make their money on sell through on series. So if you're trying to promote your one single book, try not to get too frustrated or what lack of sales, you know, releasing more books over the longterm. We'll help you out significantly. Stay safe out there and, uh, see you next Monday.

 

The AmWritingFantasy Podcast: Episode 1 – Hello!

Welcome to the Am Writing Fantasy podcast.

We're two bestselling fantasy authors, Autumn and Jesper.

Every Monday we explore the writing craft, provides tips on publishing, and insights on how to market your books.

With this episode 1, we're just popping in to introduce ourselves and to let you know what you can expect from this podcast.

 

YOUTUBE

If you want to see what we look like, you can find us on YouTube here: http://bit.ly/1WIwIVC 

 

PATREON
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CLOSED FACEBOOK GROUP
We've created an amazing Facebook group where thousands of fantasy authors are helping each other out. You're welcome to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmWritingFantasy/ 

 

WE EVEN HAVE A FREE COURSE CALLED, SELF-PUBLISHING SUCCESS. FIND IT HERE: https://www.amwritingfantasy.com/ 

 

IF YOU'RE ON TWITTER, FIND US HERE:

Jesper on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchmidtJesper 
Autumn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/weifarer