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Smart Author — Arts
Smart Author

Learn to publish ebooks like a pro. Mark Coker guides you step-by-step from the very basics of ebook publishing to more advanced topics.

Whether you’re considering publishing your first book, or you’re already a New York Times bestselling author, the Smart Author Podcast will help you reach more readers.

You’ll learn how to make your ebook more discoverable, more desirable and more enjoyable to readers.

Over 80% of people dream of writing a book one day, yet most are completely unaware of the free self-publishing tools that can make their dream a reality today. And most published authors aren’t reaching as many readers as they should because they’re not taking full advantage of these amazing tools either. The Smart Author Podcast teaches you how to use these tools.

The Wall Street Journal recognized Mark Coker as one of the industry’s leading movers and shakers in self-publishing. Over the past ten years, Mark has taught thousands of writers to publish ebooks with greater pride, professionalism and success. Mark is the founder and CEO of Smashwords, and the author of several books about ebook publishing.

Access show notes and supplemental information for the Smart Author podcast at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Latest Episodes:

Publishing in the Classroom (E16) Apr 27, 2018

Publishing in the classroom. When high school students are given the chance to publish their writing as an ebook, it helps them gain a new appreciation for the written word. Mark Coker shares details of an innovative writing project in Los Gatos, California where each year high school students collaborate to write and publish a poetry anthology that is sold in all the major ebook stores.

Learn how you, as a writer, reader, educator or concerned citizen, can launch similar ebook publishing programs in your community.

How to Earn Free Press Coverage (E15, P6 of 6) Jan 26, 2018

How to earn free press coverage to elevate your author brand and drive demand for your books. You'll also learn how to write a press release and how to promote your news to mainstream media. This is part six in Mark Coker's six-part serialization of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide. This six-part marketing series began with episode 10 of the Smart Author Podcast. Full transcript of this and all other episodes available at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Social Media Strategies for Authors (E14, P5 of 6) Jan 19, 2018

Social media for authors. Learn how to get more from Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. This is part five in the Smart Author podcast’s six-part audio serialization of the 2018 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide, a free ebook coming out at the end of January, 2018. This serialization began with Episode 10 of the Smart Author podcast. Full transcript available at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Book Marketing Promotion (E13, P4 of 6) Jan 12, 2018

Learn 25 book promotion tips. The tips are grouped in logical order to roughly correspond to the different stages of a book's marketing, from pre-launch to launch to post-launch. These tips can be implemented in any order at any stage of an author's publishing journey. This is part four of Mark Coker's six-part serialization of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide. Show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Autopilot Book Marketing (E12, P3 of 6) Jan 05, 2018

17 tips to leverage your book to sell more books, build your social media platform and catalyze word of mouth. Part 3 of 6 in Mark Coker's six-part serialization of the new 2018 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide.

Book Marketing Foundation (E11, P2 of 6) Dec 29, 2017

Learn ebook marketing. Part 2 of 6. This episode explores author brand-building, knowledge-building, platform-building and distribution. 17 book marketing tips are presented, all of which help the author build a solid marketing foundation. Mark Coker reads from chapter 2 of the new 2018 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide which comes out in late January, 2018.

Full transcript at https://smashwords.com/podcast

This six-part series on book marketing is best listened to serial from Episode 10 (Part 1 of 6) onward.

Book Marketing (E10, P1 of 6) Dec 22, 2017

Learn ebook marketing, Part 1. Introduces listeners to this special six-part series on book marketing, which guides writers step-by-step from the basics of book marketing to more advanced topics. In this SMART AUTHOR podcast exclusive, Mark reads the new 2018 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide. This episode covers an introduction to book marketing and then concludes by describing 23 free book marketing tools available to Smashwords authors and publishers. This six-part book marketing series is best listened to serially from Episode 10 onward. Full transcript at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Indie Author Manifesto (E9) Dec 08, 2017

The indie author revolution and the struggle for free expression. Learn the fascinating history behind the centuries-old struggle for free expression. Mark shares how the roots of today's indie author movement reach back to the introduction of Gutenberg's printing press. Gutenberg's printing press enabled mass communication of the written word, but also led to enormous social, cultural and political upheaval as those in power sought to control free expression by controlling the printing press. Mark carries the story forward to the present where he explains how ebooks helped democratize book publishing by putting the printing press in the hands of all writers. He reads his Indie Author Manifesto, first published in 2014, which describes the ethos, attitudes and desires of indie authors.

Show notes and full transcript at https://smashwords.com/podcast/9

Art of Delusion (E8) Nov 24, 2017

All writers can face dark days when the reasons to quit feel more sensible than the reasons to power on. In this episode, Mark teaches writers how to find the strength to persevere during the inevitable ups and downs of the writer’s life. He concludes by sharing twenty tips for publishing success, and shares how to find joy and strength in the journey of self-publishing. Show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Smashwords Survey 2017 (E7) Nov 17, 2017

Learn what makes readers respond to your books. The annual Smashwords Survey takes a quantitative, unconventional approach to identifying best practices that make books more desirable and more enjoyable to readers. Mark Coker discusses the results of this sixth annual survey, and provides new data never before released prior to this podcast. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Marketing eBooks to Libraries (E6) Nov 10, 2017

Sell your ebook to libraries. Learn how libraries select, curate and purchase ebooks. Learn how a successful library ebook marketing strategy can help you sell more books at retail as well. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Working with Beta Readers (E5) Nov 03, 2017

Beta readers help you write a better book. Learn everything you need to know to plan and organize a successful beta reader round. 26 minutes. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Ebook Preorder Strategy (E4) Oct 27, 2017

Sell more ebooks with preorders. Provides in-depth strategy advice for how to create, plan and promote your preorder. Ebook preorders are one of the most exciting, most underutilized book marketing tools. Make your next book launch more successful with ebook preorders. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Bestseller Secrets (E3) Oct 27, 2017

Learn 16 secrets of the bestselling ebook authors. Learn the most important best practices for successful ebook publishing. Learn how to make your book more discoverable and more desirable to more readers. We examine pricing strategy, cover design, metadata (what it is, and how it makes your book more discoverable), copyright, piracy, selling to libraries, top retailers, distribution, and preorders. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Introduction to eBook Publishing (E2) Oct 27, 2017

Introductory primer to ebook publishing. Learn how easy, fast and free it is to self-publish an ebook. Mark Coker presents a complete ebook publishing checklist. You'll learn how to produce, publish, price and promote an ebook. You'll learn how to make your book discoverable and purchasable by millions of readers around the globe. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast 45 minutes.

7 Publishing Trends (E1) Oct 27, 2017

Trends shaping the future of authorship and book publishing. Mark identifies seven key trends and explores what these trends mean for your future as an author. You’ll learn why there’s never been a better time to publish an ebook, and you’ll learn how self-published ebooks enjoy significant competitive advantages over the ebooks from traditionally published authors. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

Smart Author Trailer (E0) Oct 18, 2017

Learn to publish ebooks like a pro. The Smart Author podcast guides writers step-by-step from the very basics of ebook publishing to more advanced topics. Whether you’re considering publishing your first book, or you’re already a New York Times bestselling author, the Smart Author Podcast will help you reach more readers with your words. Supplemental show notes at https://smashwords.com/podcast

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