In This Episode

Dive into the world of book marketing with Maccabee Griffin and notable guest author and book marketer Judy M. Baker as they explore innovative strategies and share insider tips to help authors captivate their ideal readers. In this episode of Beyond the Pen, Judy reveals the secrets of building a powerful brand, harnessing the power of third-party verification, and mastering the art of email lists. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, tune in to learn how to elevate your book marketing game and enchant your audience like never before! Join us as we discuss the love for books, the ever-evolving publishing industry, and the importance of thinking outside the box. Don’t miss out on Judy’s exclusive offer for her transformative book marketing course that will take your author journey to new heights!

Points of Interest

• Introduction [00:00:00] Maccabee introduces Judy M. Baker and her background in book marketing and love for books.
• Judy’s love for books [00:01:43] Judy talks about her lifelong love for books and her experience working in libraries.
• Identifying ideal reader demographic [00:06:10] Judy discusses strategies including social media and email, to identify their ideal reader demographicl market, to identify their ideal reader demographicing.
• How to identify their ideal reader demographicImportance of making connections [00:07:19] Judy emphasizes the importance of making connections with readers and clients, and framing the author’s journey.
• Young adult and romance genres [00:09:14] Maccabee and Judy discuss the popularity of young adult and romance genres in the past year.
• Childhood Reading Favorites [00:10:09] Maccabee and Judy discuss their favorite childhood books, including the Hardy Boys and Boxcar Children.
• Book Marketing Strategies [00:11:05] Judy shares strategies for book marketing, including third-party verification, beta readers, and creating a group based on your expertise.
• Importance of Research Librarians [00:15:06] Judy emphasizes the importance of utilizing research librarians and the free resources at your local library for book marketing.
• Optimizing Book Listings [00:19:43] Judy discusses the importance of completing metadata associated with your ISBN number for better book discoverability on Amazon and other sellers.
• ISBN and Book Title [00:20:47] Importance of ISBN and creating a grabby book title.
• Categories and Author Page [00:21:46] Requesting additional categories on Amazon and creating an author page.
• Metadata and Google Juice [00:23:48] Filling in metadata and alt tags for search engine optimization.
• Thinking Outside the Box [00:27:17] Creative book marketing ideas, such as book announcement birth announcements, wearing book covers, and creating lead magnets.
• Merchandise and Branding [00:30:15] The importance of merchandise and branding for authors, with examples of authors who have done it well.
• Long-term Marketing Plans [00:32:39] The importance of thinking long-term when it comes to marketing plans, and how authors can create marketing plans that continually evolve.
• Building Upon Launch [00:33:45] The difference between publication date and launch, and how authors can build upon their launch with multiple events, both in-person and online.
• Red Flags in Book Marketing Services [00:37:16] What authors should look for in someone to help them market their book, and red flags to watch out for when considering book marketing services.

Links

• Writer Beware – https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
• Judy’s Freebies: https://bookmarketingmentor.com/freebie
• Redwood Writers: https://redwoodwriters.org/
• Masterclass: https://bookmarketingmentor.com/mca12

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Maccabee & Marccella Podcasters

Maccabee is a husband of 19 yrs, father of two boys, Army vet, voice actor, writer, and podcast co-host of Beyond the Pen. Growing up in the theater and working as a voice actor, script analysis has been a critical skill he's been perfecting over the years. This skill has allowed him to look past what the author wants you to see and discover the truth between the words and the printed paper. Every story is unique, and so are the authors.

Marccella, a self-proclaimed bookworm, is an advocate for authors and their unique voices. Since learning to read at aged 6, Marccella could be found in the library with her nose in a good book. As an avid reader, Marccella recognized that there was untapped potential in the author community and was decidedly committed to creating valuable spaces to have conversations with writers of all genres. As a result, Marccella united with Maccabee (her brother from another mother) to further her vision of expanding the reach of authors and their audience.