Let’s face it, in order to get published these days you have to do more than write a great book.
The past few weeks, we’ve talked about Smart Publishing People, Great Writing and Publishing Communities, How to Stay on Top of Publishing Changes, and Genre Marketing Advice Blogs. So this week I’m directing you to fantastic resources for Great Marketing & Social Media People as well as the Best Podcasts for Authors & Writers.
Great Marketing & Social Media People
If you’re looking for blogs in a specific genre of writing, check out some of these – all of them are fantastic. And keep in mind that you can learn from each of these, so don’t always feel like you need to stick with just your genre. All the genre fiction folks are super smart marketing people, too.
32) Seth Godin: Who needs no introduction because he’s just rad. http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/
33) Writers in the storm: Probably one of the busiest blogs out there around marketing, this site is packed with great information, highly valuable guest posts and great marketing insights. Full disclosure, I write for them to and love it, I’m always so honored to be a part of their site! http://writersinthestormblog.com/
34) The Book Designer: Joel’s passion for his topic is unmistakable, he shares great information via his blog and Twitter feed. His blog, thebookdesigner.com, designed to help support self-published authors is a fantastic resource if you want to publish the right way. http://www.thebookdesigner.com/
35) Indies Unlimited: With over 5100 blog posts and nearly 64,000 comments, this site has got some mega-information just waiting to be delved into. Spend a few minutes on here checking out the various categories and topics and oh, be sure to sign up so you know when new stuff is posted. http://www.indiesunlimited.com
36) Anne R. Allen Anne’s blog, annerallen.com, which she writes with Ruth Harris, is full of unmissable tips for new writers. They both are industry veterans who are dedicated to helping authors create the best possible work AND engineer a successful launch. They are an invaluable resource for authors, both indie and traditionally published. www.annerallen.com
37) Jane Friedman I’ve known Jane for a long time and her information is consistently fantastic. She is always offering helpful insights into publishing – what works and what doesn’t, and she spends time researching publishers, marketing ideas and often has some great guests who contribute their knowledge to her blog, www.janefriedman.com.
38) Build Book Buzz: Sandra Beckwith has some of the best information out there and she stands behind everything she produces. Her information is timely, easy to implement and very, very helpful. And with a name like Build Book Buzz, how could you resist, right? http://buildbookbuzz.com/
39) Mari Smith: Follow Mari for everything Facebook – she simply rocks it on Facebook. She also tweets out new Facebook tricks, changes and updates to all things Facebook. And of course, you should also follow her on Facebook! On the web, she’s at: marismith.com. Oh and if you ever get a chance to see her speak in person, do it. She’s as good in person as she is online!
40) Kim Garst: I had the pleasure of seeing her speak recently and she’s as informative in-person as she is on her site. She’s the founder of Boom! Social and though she focuses on personal branding, she’s also the go-to for things like Pinterest, Periscope and all things social. I love her blog posts. Always helpful and insightful! www.kimgarst.com
41) Jay Baer: Here’s another guy who is on it when it comes to all things social media. He’s also an author (his recent book Hug Your Haters). Additionally, he’s got a fantastic podcast about marketing and social media. I’ve met Jay a few times, he’s an incredibly personable guy, which comes through in his blogs, social media and his podcast. www.jaybear.com
42) Peg Fitzpatrick: I got to know Peg through her work with Guy Kawasaki. Peg is a social media goddess and never ceases to amaze me with her mega-creative, super insightful posts. I really love her stuff. If you want to stay current on all things social media, and get some great ideas in the process, Peg is your gal. Find her on the web at pegfitzpatrick.com
43) Frances Caballo: Frances began as a reporter, moved into public relations, but found her love in social media. As a rock solid Social Media Strategist/Manager for authors, she stands among my top 30 websites for independently published authors. Find more goodness on Frances’ site, socialmediajustforwriters.com.
Best Podcasts for Writers & Authors
As an indie author, a great way to improve your writing is by listening to podcasts in your “spare” time. Here are some great options you can listen to while at the gym, on the train, hanging out at home, etc.
44) Writing Excuses: This podcast is all about how to write amazing fiction. Hosted by Brandon Sanderson, these focused, fast-paced fifteen minute episodes will teach you not just the basics, but also advanced techniques from New York Times bestselling authors.www.writingexcuses.com
45) Novel Marketing: In this podcast, bestselling author James L. Rubart and I talk about how best to market your fiction. We talk about how to “build a platform” that attracts publishers, but we also get into advanced techniques to boost book sales. Disclaimer: This is my podcast, so I may be a bit biased. www.novelmarketing.com
46) Author MBA: This podcast focuses on how nonfiction authors can grow a business around their books. They interview top experts that even a novelist could benefit from. (Note: although this podcast ended in late 2014, I’m still including them because there is so much great information for authors and writers.) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authormba-conversations-about/id714292885
47) The Self-Publishing Podcast: This is flat out a great show, helpful, insightful and funny. Tune in when you can, I’m sure you’ll get hooked! www.selfpublishingpodcast.com
48) Grammar Girl: Another super popular podcast. These short episodes will clear up grammar questions, like when to use “their” and when to use “they’re.”http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
49) Expert Entrepreneurs in Publishing With Viv Oyolu: I had the honor of being on this show and have been addicted to it and Viv’s advice ever since. This podcast from across the pond connects listeners with some of the top experts in writing and marketing.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dream-corner- with-viv- oyolu/id588188243?mt=2
50) This is Your Life With Michael Hyatt: Michael Hyatt started off by talking about platform-building for authors. Since then, he has tackled topics on productivity (always a good one), leadership, and success (yah!). http://michaelhyatt.com/thisisyourlife
So with that, we conclude our series on the best resources for authors and indie authors in 2016. I am very excited to bring you future posts on how to improve your book marketing!