If your book sales have you questioning everything, the problem might not be your book—it might be the benchmark you’re using. In this episode, we’re dismantling one of the biggest misconceptions in publishing: what “normal” book sales actually look like. Because once you understand how few copies most books sell—even from traditional publishers—it completely reframes the narrative around success, failure, and what’s realistically achievable. We also take a hard look at the numbers authors throw...
May 22, 2026•25 min•Season 6Ep. 21
Most authors think they’re selling to readers. That’s the first mistake. Because readers and book consumers are not the same—and confusing the two is one of the biggest reasons books don’t sell. In this episode, we break down the critical difference between someone who loves to read and someone who actually buys books , and why that gap quietly derails even the most well-intentioned marketing plans. If you’ve been showing up, posting, running ads, pitching podcasts—and still watching your sales ...
May 15, 2026•25 min•Season 6Ep. 20
Scam emails used to be obvious. Bad grammar, generic messaging, easy to ignore. That version is gone. Today’s scams sound like a real professional—someone who’s “read your book,” understands your audience, and has a polished, confident plan to grow your sales, land media, or build your platform. It feels legitimate because it’s designed to. AI has fundamentally changed the scam landscape, and authors are now a prime target. We see these pitches every day—forwarded by authors who aren’t quite sur...
May 08, 2026•28 min•Season 6Ep. 19
Your Amazon book page might be costing you sales—and the worst part is, you probably can’t see it. Most authors assume that once their book is uploaded, the hard part is done. But in reality, your Amazon page is a live sales environment, and small misses can quietly kill conversions every single day. A great book isn’t enough if the page around it isn’t doing its job. In this episode, we break down the hidden issues that stop readers from clicking “Buy,” starting with the two-inch thumbnail test...
May 01, 2026•39 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Publicity feels like the breakthrough moment every author is chasing—but most big interviews, features, and media hits don’t translate into book sales the way you expect. In many cases, they don’t move the needle at all. In this episode, we unpack what publicity really is—TV, radio, magazines, online media—and why it’s rarely a direct path to sales. The core problem is simple: you’re often putting your book in front of a cold audience with no reason to act right now. Visibility without context, ...
Apr 24, 2026•30 min•Season 6Ep. 17
95% of books are sold through word of mouth—but most authors are still chasing reach instead of building relationships. That’s a problem, especially in a market where social media visibility is unpredictable and ad costs continue to climb. In this episode, we break down the one marketing engine that consistently works: a small, engaged group of readers who genuinely want to see your book succeed. We walk through a simple but powerful reader funnel—how casual readers become fans, how fans become ...
Apr 17, 2026•30 min•Season 6Ep. 16
“I’d love to come on your show and talk about my new book” is one of the fastest ways to get ignored. In Part 2 of this series, we move from mindset to execution—breaking down exactly how to pitch podcasts in a way that gets attention, earns replies, and leads to bookings. Because podcast hosts aren’t looking for guests who want promotion—they’re looking for conversations their audience will care about. We start with the most common mistakes authors make, especially leading with the book instead...
Apr 10, 2026•23 min•Season 6Ep. 15
Most authors want podcast interviews to sell books—and that’s exactly why so many pitches get ignored. In this first episode of a two-part series, we break down the simple shift that changes everything: pitch value first. Your book is the credential—it proves you belong—but it’s not the content. What matters is what the audience walks away with after they listen. We unpack what podcast hosts and producers are actually screening for, why vague or book-centered pitches fail, and how to avoid the “...
Apr 03, 2026•30 min•Season 6Ep. 14
Books aren’t “news” on their own anymore—and repeating “buy my book” is one of the fastest ways to burn out (and lose your audience’s attention). In this episode, we break down a smarter, more sustainable approach: borrowed buzz —anchoring your marketing to moments people are already paying attention to. Think holidays, awareness months, seasonal shifts, and even quirky observances that give you a natural, timely reason to talk about your book again and again—without sounding repetitive or pushy...
Mar 27, 2026•38 min•Season 6Ep. 13
Goodreads recently rolled out changes that have authors and readers debating everything from review bombing to pre-publication ratings. In this episode, we break down what actually changed, what it means for authors, and how to respond without getting pulled into online panic. We start with review bombing—coordinated waves of ratings from people who often haven’t read the book—and how this behavior has distorted the launch window for many titles. Then we explain Goodreads’ new safeguards around ...
Mar 20, 2026•37 min•Season 6Ep. 12
“Make you a bestseller.” It’s the loudest promise in book marketing—and often the least meaningful. In this episode, we break down how to distinguish real strategy from fear-based selling, AI-polished outreach, and high-pressure tactics designed to close a sale rather than build a career. From alarming emails about “missing metadata” to vague guarantees and unusual payment demands, we explain what’s legitimate, what’s inflated, and what’s simply noise. Then we shift to what actually compounds. W...
Mar 13, 2026•48 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Amazon reviews are the currency of credibility—and one misstep can cost you both visibility and account standing. In this episode, we break down exactly how to earn more reviews, keep the ones you get, and build a system that works long term—without crossing Amazon’s invisible lines. We start with what actually moves the needle. Why the first five reviews matter more than most authors realize. Why trust increases dramatically at twenty. And why books with fifty-plus reviews consistently convert ...
Mar 06, 2026•36 min•Season 6Ep. 10
The market doesn’t reward originality alone. It rewards clarity. Readers make buying decisions in seconds—and those seconds depend on signals: cover cues, category alignment, keyword precision, and a description that instantly communicates who the book is for. In this episode, we break down why following a proven framework isn’t creative compromise—it’s strategic positioning. A formula is not a box. It’s a blueprint. For fiction, that means honoring genre expectations and recognizable tropes so ...
Feb 27, 2026•37 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Most authors don’t have an ad problem. They have a patience problem. If you’ve ever stared at your Amazon dashboard 48 hours after launch and declared your campaign a disaster, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down the 7-Day Amazon Ads Sanity Check — a structured, data-driven framework that keeps you from sabotaging campaigns before the algorithm has time to work. You’ll learn what the learning phase actually means, which numbers matter in week one, and why obsessing over ACOS too early c...
Feb 20, 2026•40 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Getting book reviews shouldn’t feel exhausting, awkward, or ethically murky. Yet many authors are stuck chasing influencers, sending endless cold emails, or quietly wondering why all that effort isn’t translating into real momentum. In this episode, we break down a smarter, sustainable system for landing reviews that actually matter —the kind that build trust with readers, strengthen your Amazon presence, and keep working long after the outreach is done. We start by resetting expectations around...
Feb 13, 2026•45 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Want more readers who buy, finish, and recommend your books? It starts with one thing most authors underestimate: keeping the promise your brand makes. In this episode, we break down the real driver of sustainable author growth— reader trust —and why clear genre signals, accurate positioning, and consistent delivery outperform hype every time. We begin with expectation alignment: how your cover, subtitle, and book description create an instant promise in a shopper’s mind. When the vibe is off—or...
Feb 06, 2026•34 min•Season 6Ep. 6
A brand that doesn’t line up is a silent sales killer. We dig into why readers make snap judgments in under a second, how confusion and inconsistency create friction, and the small, practical moves that turn browsers into buyers. Think of branding as a trust filter: the clearer your patterns, the faster the “yes.” We start with the highest leverage fix—your bio. Using a simple four-line framework, we show how to match voice to genre, humanize your profile, and direct readers to a next step. From...
Jan 30, 2026•36 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Feeling like every promo is uphill? We unpack why marketing stalls when a book is presented to the wrong readers — and how smart positioning turns traffic into sales. Penny and Amy break down the signals that shape buying decisions in under five seconds: category choices, keywords that actually guide Amazon, cover conventions that telegraph sub-genre, and hooks that speak to what readers want right now. We share real-world shifts that changed outcomes fast, including a romance that soared after ...
Jan 23, 2026•29 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Want a simple, concrete way to sell more books on Amazon? We’re taking you inside A+ Content—the image modules beneath your description—and showing how smart visuals, tight copy, and brand consistency can raise conversions, reduce returns, and make your page feel like a pro built it. Together we map the shopper’s journey down the page: how the cover earns the scroll, how A+ tiles anchor expectations, and how crisp visuals plus one-line hooks close the gap between browsing and buying. We share re...
Jan 16, 2026•46 min•Season 6Ep. 3
You can run ads, post daily, and grind all week—and still watch your book stall. The missing piece isn’t more hustle. It’s positioning. We pull back the curtain on the quiet issues that throttle sales! We start with the most common and costly mistake: treating categories like identity badges rather than traffic lanes. Amazon’s ecosystem pattern-matches behavior, so a miscategorized book gets shown to the wrong readers, earns letdown reviews, and falls into a negative feedback loop. From cozy mys...
Jan 09, 2026•29 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Six years in, we’re starting the year by cutting through the noise and zeroing in on what truly predicts book sales. We unpack a practical framework that helps you diagnose why a launch spikes and stalls, why great reviews don’t always translate to revenue, and how small, targeted changes deliver outsized gains. If you’ve ever felt busy but not better off, this conversation will give you focus, language, and a step-by-step path to momentum. We walk through five core signals: reader response, vis...
Jan 02, 2026•51 min•Season 6Ep. 1
We are so excited to share our new podcast format! In this short episode we break down what to expect in the new year! Based on your feedback and input, we're changing up our podcast to serve YOU even better! Ready to stop guessing your next marketing move and start stacking real wins? We’re sharing a flexible monthly roadmap that pairs structure with freedom, so you can either follow along from January to December or drop into the exact topics you need right now. Each theme stands on its own ye...
Dec 26, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 51
Last week, we counted down your favorite episodes based on downloads. This week? It’s our turn. In this end-of-year episode, Penny and Amy each revisit one standout episode they couldn’t stop thinking about — not just because listeners loved them, but because they perfectly captured what authors struggled with (and grew through) all year. This isn’t a nostalgia episode. It’s a clarity episode . Both picks reflect the themes we’ve seen again and again in consultations, campaigns, and real author ...
Dec 19, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 50
As we wrap up the year, we’re celebrating you — the listeners who made this podcast such a powerful space for honest, practical conversations about author success. In this episode, we’re counting down the top 3 most-downloaded episodes of the year — and more importantly, unpacking what your listening choices reveal about what authors really care about right now. Spoiler alert: it’s not hacks, hype, or shortcuts. These three episodes all point to the same deeper truth: authors are craving clarity...
Dec 12, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 49
Tired of shouting into the void with a book you believe in? We unpack a simple, proven path to clarity that makes every marketing move easier and cheaper: find your shelf, define your reader, and deliver the payoff your genre promises. Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell pull back the curtain on what actually drives sales velocity for authors—clear positioning, focused targeting, and small, high-impact pivots that align your book with how readers shop. We start by grounding your work with “shelf ne...
Dec 05, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 48
Feeling like you’re doing everything and getting nowhere? We’ve been there, and we’re pulling the brakes on burnout to rebuild your book marketing on a foundation that actually moves books. Because book marketing burnout is real—and if you’ve been feeling stretched thin by ads, social media, newsletters, and endless promotion tasks, this episode is your reset. In this week’s Book Marketing Tips & Author Success Podcast, Penny and Amy break down what sustainable book marketing really looks li...
Nov 28, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 47
Want a media strategy that actually fits how authors work today? We’re flipping old-school media training on its head and showing how every post, interview, and Zoom window shapes your story. Instead of waiting for a big break, we walk through how to create your own opportunities, refine your message, and show up with the kind of presence that builds trust with readers, influencers, and journalists. We start with the most powerful tool you can own: a reader sound bite. We break down what to incl...
Nov 21, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 46
What if the biggest thing holding your book back isn’t the algorithm or your ad budget—but your attachment to a specific outcome? We dig into the hidden cost of expectation-driven marketing and show how to swap emotional gambling for a strategy that compounds. From launch-day myths to social comparison traps, we unpack the subtle ways authors derail progress and offer a practical reset rooted in consistency, curiosity, and clear execution. We start by challenging the instant gratification mindse...
Nov 14, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 45
The algorithm finally caught up with reality: readers want real authors, not content mills. We unpack Amazon’s A10 shift and share a clear plan to stand out with signals that only humans can create—engaging pages, authentic reviews, meaningful off-site links, and a living brand that shows up beyond the buy button. We start with the quick wins you can tackle today. Then we raise the ceiling with strategies that compound over time. You’ll hear why external links matter more than ever, and creative...
Nov 07, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 44
A haunted house of marketing mistakes can scare off readers faster than any bad blurb—so we flipped on the lights and started slaying. We kick things off with Frankenstein’s platform, that stitched‑together mess of tactics that feels productive but burns time and cash. From there, we pull back the curtain on werewolf branding. We also drive a stake through the vampire vanity press. Predatory packages can lock you out of key levers and lock you into a bad publisher. Then we unwrap the mummy maili...
Oct 31, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 43
