Book Marketing Success Podcast

You, too, can be a bestselling book author attracting the attention of a lot of influencers, a lot of readers, a lot of business owners, and a lot of people who want to change their lives. Use this song as a motivational tool to inspire you writing a bestselling book and selling it like hotcakes!You As a Bestselling AuthorOnce the words “bestselling author”Gets attached to your name, to your name,You are no longer just another coach,You are no longer just another consultant,You are no longer just another expert,Or just another business ownerTrying to get attentionYes, you as a bestselling authorYou become a credible personThe person people trust right awayThe person they listen to again and againThat means you have more authorityThat means you get better leadsThat means you have higher perceived valueThat means you have an easier timeTurning attention into revenueThis is not about writing a bookJust to say you wrote oneThis is about using a bookUse a book as a business assetUse a book as a credibility builderUse a book as a trust shortcutUse a book as a lead magnetUse a book as a client-converting toolYes, you as a bestselling authorYes, you too can be a bestselling authorYes, you too can be a bestselling authorGet in on the action now!Yes, you too can be a bestselling authorLearn more how you can write, publish, and market a bestselling book in 90 days or less. Check it out at https://protopublished.com.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Writers can make a big difference — not just in their own lives but also in the lives of those around them. Your ideas are worth sharing. No one is you. That is your super power. Believe in yourself!Writing Love LyricsWrite for self-reflectionMake more sense of your emotionsProcess your experiencesCelebrate what you loveWriting forces you to be clear and deepWriting brings structure for your ideasWriting brings focus for your ideasWriting helps you growGive advice freely and widelyThe more advice you shareThe more trust people will have in youAnd in your ideas and thoughtsYour ideas are worth sharingNo one is youThat is your super powerThat is the value you addYour ideas are worth sharingNo one is youThat is your super powerThat is the value you addBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following article and above video are based on a song I wrote several months ago. You listen to the song, Move with What You Love, here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/move-with-what-you-love-with-derek-hunter-music-video.The Creative Stagnation TrapInspiration is a byproduct of movement, not a prerequisite for it. Most creators have it backward: they wait for a visceral emotional shift or a sign from the universe before they dare to put pen to paper or brush to canvas. This passive waiting isn’t just a delay; it’s a slow-motion execution of your potential. The hard truth of the creative life is that the stuck feeling you’re nursing is actually a symptom of your own stillness. To change your perspective, you have to change your position. Movement is the only reliable driver of change.The Action Paradox — Why Seeing Isn’t EnoughWe are often told that art is about observation, but John Kremer’s I Tell You Poetry collection presents a more aggressive reality: perception without participation is a dead end. Many creators stall because they are waiting to feel moved by an external spark. This is the great Action Paradox — we wait to be moved so we can act, yet the source proves we must act so that we, and eventually our audience, can be moved.You cannot watch your way to a breakthrough. Momentum is not something you find; it is something you manufacture by becoming the catalyst of your own work.“No one is moved by what they see, People are moved by what they do.”Bravery as a Rep — The Power of Small WinsIf the thought of a grand opening or a magnum opus paralyzes you, then stop thinking big. The transition from stagnation to success begins with the baby steps Hunter describes in his lyrics. These aren’t just minor movements; they are the fundamental building blocks of a professional practice.Treat every act of creation as just another rep in a lifelong workout. By viewing bravery as a repetitive exercise rather than a singular, terrifying event, you normalize the stakes. You do the thing you fear not to conquer it once and for all, but to turn courage into a habit. Success isn’t found in the giant leap; it’s found in the cumulative weight of daily repetitions.The Limits of Language — When Words Aren’t EnoughEven for the most skilled wordsmith, the reality is that sometimes words just can’t describe how you feel. Plain text has its boundaries, and in a modern creative landscape, ignoring the multi-sensory experience is a strategic error.Graphics add a touch that says so much more, bridging the emotional gap where vocabulary fails. Whether it is a tip-o-graphic or a carefully selected image, visual elements are not mere decorations — they are essential tools that communicate the gifts from above and the whispers of inspiration that words alone cannot carry. To move an audience, you must engage more than just their inner monologue.The Walcott Blueprint — Self-Publishing Your Way to the Nobel PrizeWaiting for permission is the hallmark of the amateur. If you need proof that doing beats waiting, look at Derek Walcott. He didn’t wait for a legacy publisher to validate his voice; he wrote his first poem at 14. By the time he was 20 — an age when most are still finding themselves — he had already self-published his first collection and produced his first play.Walcott’s early commitment to moving with what he loved created the foundation for a career that culminated in a Nobel Prize for Literature for his masterpiece, Omeros. His trajectory shames the creator who is waiting for the right time. The right time was years ago; the second best time is today.The High Cost of a Bad Name — Strategy Over AestheticsMotion is essential, but blind motion is expensive. In the marketplace of ideas, moving with what you love requires the cold, hard discipline of strategy. There is a specific, quantifiable risk to ignoring the business side of creativity: creators regularly risk spending up to $4,000 on a cover for a book with a bad title.This is where the strategist overrules the artist. Investing $150 in a professional book title critique is a small but vital rep of bravery. It ensures that your financial and creative energy is built on a foundation that resonates with an audience. True success isn’t just about the art; it’s about ensuring the art has a name that allows it to be found.From Observation to MotionCreative success is never a spectator sport. It is a result of moving with what you love rather than watching it from the sidelines. Whether you are self-publishing your first collection like a young Walcott, using graphics to amplify your message, or simply showing up for your daily rep of bravery, the message is clear: action generates the electricity that observation never will.If you stopped watching and started doing today, what rep of bravery would you perform first?Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

This video and post repurpose an article I wrote a number of years ago: Self-Publishing Tips: How Do I Get My Books Published?https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/how-do-i-get-my-books-published.Thanks for reading Book Marketing Success! This post is public so feel free to share it.Stop Seeking Permission: The Surprising Truth About Getting Published TodayI am bombarded weekly with the same anxious inquiry from aspiring creators: “How do I get my books published?” It is a question born of a legacy mindset, where authors imagine themselves standing outside a locked gate, hoping a benevolent gatekeeper will finally turn the key.The uncomfortable truth is that the gatekeepers haven’t just moved; they have fundamentally changed their business model. For the modern writer, the traditional path of seeking an agent first is no longer the most effective — or even the most profitable — route to market.To succeed in this digital era, you must stop being a supplicant and start being a strategist. This guide outlines a sophisticated and transformative approach to taking full control of your literary career.1. Traditional Publishers Aren’t Looking for New TalentThe reality of the current market is that traditional literary agents and publishers are no longer in the business of discovery in the romanticized sense. They are risk-averse corporations looking for guaranteed returns on their investment.Today, the burden of proof has shifted entirely onto the shoulders of the author. Publishers are searching for individuals who bring a ready-made platform to the table — a pre-existing tribe that ensures a book will sell before the first copy is even printed.“In today’s world, you shouldn’t wait for a book publisher or literary agent. Both agents and publishers are currently looking primarily for books by celebrities or well-known people or authors with ready-made platforms.”2. Your Best Move Is the Reverse-Engineering ApproachFor approximately 97% of authors, the most logical and pragmatic path is to self-publish immediately. This isn’t a fallback plan; it is a high-level strategy to de-risk your project for future partners.By taking your work directly to the marketplace, you provide the data that big publishers crave. If you can prove your market and build independent sales momentum, you transition from a risky bet to a proven asset.Once you have established this success, you can explore selling reprint rights to the Big Five. At that stage, you aren’t begging for a deal; you are negotiating from a position of power while agents and publishers compete for your established brand.3. You Are the Only Publishing Company You NeedThere is a pervasive myth that you must hire an expensive self-publishing company or a full-service firm to enter the market. These services often charge thousands for tasks you can — and should — manage yourself as the CEO of your own brand.True self-publishing is about radical autonomy and maintaining a lean operation. You don’t need a middleman to validate your work or manage your files; you simply need the right tools and a professional mindset.“The answer is simple: YOU. Yup, the only good self-publishing company is yourSELF. That’s what self-publishing is all about.”4. The No-Cost (and Low-Cost) Entry PointsThe modern author’s minimalist tech stack allows for professional global distribution with almost zero overhead. By utilizing two specific platforms, you can reach every corner of the digital and physical book market.* Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): This is your essential starting point for the Amazon ecosystem. If you have a well-formatted Word document, you can publish a Kindle ebook and a print edition for free, capturing the world’s largest book-buying audience.* Ingram Spark: This is your bridge to global distribution beyond Amazon. For a flat fee of $49, you can set up your title as both an ebook and a print-on-demand book. Note: Ingram Spark no longer charges a fee for uploading to their service.5. Promotion Isn’t a Chore — It’s the Fun PartMany authors view marketing as a heavy burden that distracts from their real work. In reality, building an audience is an inevitable part of authorship, regardless of whether you are self-published or signed to a major house.Reframing marketing as human connection changes the entire experience. It is about building meaningful relationships with website owners, magazine editors, TV producers, and social media leaders who serve your specific niche.Instead of shouting into the void, you are simply finding and interacting with the people who are already looking for exactly what you have written. This engagement is the heartbeat of a successful long-term literary career.“That’s the fun part: Finding and interacting with your audience, the people who will love your book.”Conclusion: The Author as EntrepreneurThe transition from aspiring writer to published author requires a fundamental identity shift. You are no longer a passive seeker of permission; you are an active creator of a brand.By mastering these platforms and taking the lead on your own distribution, you empower yourself to bypass the gatekeepers and reach your readers directly. The tools are ready, the distribution is global, and the audience is waiting.If the gatekeepers are gone, what is actually stopping you from sharing your story with the world today?Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this song full of Irish blessings. Enjoy and pass it on.Irish Blessings LyricsMay love and laughter light your daysAnd warm your heart and homeMay good and faithful friends be yoursWherever you may roamMay peace and plenty bless your worldWith joy that long enduresMay all life’s passing seasonsBring the best to you and yoursMay the dreams you hold dearestBe those which come trueAnd the kindness you spreadKeep returning to youMay your heart be light and happyMay your smile be big and wideAnd may your pockets always haveA coin or two insideMay you never steal, lie, or cheatBut if you must steal, steal away my sorrowsIf you must lie, lie with meAll the nights of my lifeAnd if you must cheat, cheat deathBecause I could never live a day without youFor each petal on the shamrockThis brings a wish your wayGood health, good luck, and happinessFor today and every dayLike the warmth of the sunAnd the light of the dayMay the luck of the IrishShine bright on your wayMay your pockets be heavyAnd your heart be lightMay good luck pursue youEach morning and nightMay your troubles be lessAnd your blessings be moreAnd nothing but happinessCome through your doorMay you never steal, lie, or cheatBut if you must steal, steal away my sorrowsIf you must lie, lie with meAll the nights of my lifeAnd if you must cheat, cheat deathBecause I could never live a day without youBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Check out this post:Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

For the current episode of her Sponsorship Talk podcast, Roberta Vigilance interviewed John Kremer on how he went about getting sponsors for his book, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, joins Sponsorship Talk to share his experience with book sponsorship and how he secured sponsors for his book.In this episode, we explore what book sponsorship looks like, what authors should understand before approaching sponsors, and how positioning plays a key role in success.You can listen in via the video above or through the Spotify podcast player below:Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Every book, every author, deserves sponsors for what they offer to their unique and wonderful audiences.In this podcast, John Kremer and Roberta Vigilance, author of How to Secure Sponsors Successfully, talk about how authors should go about getting sponsors for their books and events.Check out the transcript on Substack if you’d rather read this podcast than listen in. Thanks for joining us!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

This song reminds all of us that we have so much to live for, so much to do if we choose to do it. As writers, we have so much we can share.Live More LyricsWe are all calledTo grow and evolveTo be moreMore of who we areThen share what we learnWith those we loveAnd those we knowAnd those who come after usKindness, like chocolate,Is best when sharedOne dayOne actOne smile at a timeFear less, hope moreWhine less, breathe moreTalk less, say moreHate less, love moreAnd all good things are yoursAre you ready to be more?Are you ready to live more?Are you ready to love more?Are you ready to share more?Be moreLive moreLove moreShare moreWe are all calledTo grow and evolveTo be moreMore of who we areAre you ready to be more?Are you ready to live more?Are you ready to love more?Are you ready to share more?Start todayToday is the dayBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I translated my friend Steve O’Keefe’s recent poem, Magic Lever, into a folk song. I hope you like it. And I especially hope that Steve likes it.Poems make great songs. Any poet can write songs like these.Magic Lever PoemEveryone’s lookin’ for a magic leverLookin’ for a button to pressLookin’ for a phrase to utterTo get us out of this messEveryone wants a silver bulletOr a magical sword that slaysOr else they want a magic potionTo take the mess away.I’m lookin’ for a new solutionSomething bigger than ever beforeOne spin that changes the worldA whisper that becomes a roarI’m lookin’ for a magic leverSomething no one’s ever seen beforeI’m listenin’ for a secret signalThe whisper that becomes a roarI’m lookin’ for a magic leverSomething no one’s ever seen beforeI’m listenin’ for a secret signalThe whisper that becomes a roarBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Book Marketing Success! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

If you want to be successful in writing and marketing a book, the first fundamental is simple: Change your attitude. Control your attitude. Your attitude is the only thing in all of marketing a book that you have any control over. Be sure to keep it positive.This book marketing tip and the song lyrics for Changing Attitudes are adapted from a speech by Charles Swindoll.Changing Attitudes LyricsThe longer I live, the more I realizeThe impact of attitude on lifeAttitude is more important than factsAttitude is more important than the past,Than educationThan moneyThan circumstancesThan failureThan successThan what other people think or say or doAttitude is more importantThan appearance, giftedness or skillAttitude will make or breakA company…a church…a homeWe have a choice every dayAbout the attitude we embraceWe cannot change our pastWe cannot change how people actWe cannot change the inevitableThe only thing we can do is playOn the one string we haveAnd that is our attitude every dayLife is 10 percent what happens to usAnd 90 percent of how we react to itWe are in charge of our attitudesWe can make or break every dayIt is our choice. It is our gift.Life is 10 percent what happens to usAnd 90 percent of how we react to itWe are in charge of our attitudeWe can make or break every dayIt is our choice. It is our gift.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The Author’s Guide to Strategic SponsorshipsThe principles of sponsorship apply directly to book authors planning launches, tours, or large-scale promotional projects. Drawing from the strategies used by major events and industry experts, here are the top 10 reasons book authors should seek sponsors.1. Get Substantial Financial SupportSponsorship provides authors with direct funding to cover essential costs that might otherwise be unaffordable. This cash sponsorship can be used to fund a book tour, rent larger event spaces, or hire high-profile speakers and entertainers for a launch party. Financial sponsors provide these funds in exchange for promotional benefits and visibility, allowing an author to scale their projects without paying entirely out of pocket.2. Enhance Credibility and LegitimacyPartnering with well-known or respected brands can legitimize an author’s work in the eyes of the public. When a reputable company aligns its identity with your book or event, it signals to potential readers and attendees that the project is high-quality and worth their time.3. Access In-Kind Goods and ServicesAuthors can reduce their overhead by securing in-kind (trade) sponsorships. Instead of cash, sponsors might provide the venue for a reading, catering for a launch event, or high-value technology and equipment. These partnerships allow authors to offer a premium experience to their readers while shaving off significant event expenses.4. Reach New and Targeted AudiencesSponsors often provide an author with a platform for discovery by introducing the book to their existing customer base. By identifying sponsors who share a similar target demographic, an author can tap into new networks of readers that they might not reach through traditional marketing alone.5. Increase Media CoverageSecuring a media sponsor—such as a newspaper, magazine, or radio station—can lead to free advertising and live reporting on an author’s activities. This kind of sponsorship is specifically designed to boost awareness and attendance, potentially resulting in skyrocketing engagement and website visits.6. Improve Attendee ExperienceSponsorship allows an author to provide exclusive perks that enhance the reader’s experience. This can include anything from providing free merchandise and goodie bags to hosting interactive activations that make a book launch more memorable and immersive.7. Capture LeadsSponsored events are excellent environments for capturing attendee data and generating leads for future book sales. Authors can use sponsorship to gain deeper insights into their audience’s demographics and interests, which is a valuable asset for long-term marketing strategies.8. Network and Build Long-Term PartnershipsA single sponsorship deal can be the first step toward a multi-event collaboration or a strategic partnership. Building long-term relationships with brands provides authors with a stable foundation of support for future book releases and career growth.9. Boost Social Media ExposureMany sponsors look for opportunities to improve their own digital performance, which results in increased social media mentions for the author. Partnering with influencer sponsors can further amplify this effect through social media takeovers or shout-outs to a captivated audience.10. Increase Revenue and SalesBy using sponsors to attract more people to an event, authors naturally generate more revenue through increased book sales. Sponsorships allow authors to keep ticket prices lower for their fans while still ensuring the project is a profitable business rather than just a donation.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Coming next week, I’ll showcase an interview with Roberta Vigilance about getting sponsors for your podcasts, books, and events. You can find out more about Roberta, her books, and her courses at https://robertavigilance.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

One of the biggest cultural events on the planet, South by Southwest, will be coming up soon in Austin, Texas (beginning on March 12). More info: https://sxsw.com.This video showcases how SXSW became so big, by using its own marketing playbook.So what exactly is SXSW? And how did it get so big?With an attendance of just 700 people, SXSW started back in 1987 with a goal to help creative people achieve their goals. Fast forward to 2019, and that number had exploded to over 417,000 people from 106 countries.So, what is this gathering really all about? It’s not just one event. South by Southwest, or SXSW, is really built on three core pillars: Ideas, culture, and connections.IdeasSXSW is essentially a pop-up university featuring 5,000 speakers spread over 2,000 sessions — all spread across 20 different programming tracks.CultureThen you have the second pillar, which is really the cultural heart of SXSW. It’s where it all started, the legendary film and music festivals. SXSW is a global stage for discovery. In 2019 alone, there were 133 feature films and almost 2,000 performing acts from 62 countries.ConnectionsSXSW hosts more than 350 official parties and networking events. This is the glue that holds the whole shebang together, where a random chat or a line for a taco can turn into a million-dollar deal.PeopleWho are the hundreds of thousands of attendees that make this whole thing tick?SXSW features almost a perfect 50-50 split between male and female attendees with 62% of attendees between the ages of 26 and 44. They make up a who’s who of people in creative and innovation industries, including marketing and advertising, film and TV, books and music, technology and media.Almost 60% are there to find new business. 42% want to connect with their clients.This is why brands like Mercedes-Benz, Uber Eats, and McDonald’s show up in a huge way.The big question: What’s the next big idea that’s will come out of this wild gathering in Texas?Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

In the last episode, I showcased a country song based on John Donne’s famous poem. Some people asked if I sang the song. No, I did not.The lyrics of the sonnet are by John Donne with a few modern tweaks made by me. The music and singing are done by AI.I used a program called MurekaAI. If you decide to explore this AI program, please use my affiliate link: https://www.mureka.ai/?utm_source=rewardful&via=7aa6dd.Why? Because it helps me pay for doing this newsletter and podcast. That simple. So, if you like your trial with MurekaAI and decide to sign up for a paid account, use the affiliate link above. Thanks1Now, I’d like your feedback on the above version of Death, Be Not Proud. And I would appreciate knowing how you like this version versus the one from the last episode (featured below): Death, Be Not Proud by John DonneDeath, be not proud, though some have called theeMighty and dreadful, for you are not so;For those whom you think you overthrowDie not, poor Death, nor yet can you kill me.From rest and sleep, which but your pictures be,Much pleasure; then from you much more must flow,And soon our best men with you do go,Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.You are slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,And also with poison, war, and sickness dwell,Poppy or charms can make us sleep as wellBetter than your stroke; why swell you then?One short sleep past, we wake eternallyDeath shall be no more; Death, you shall die.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I create a song based on John Donne’s famous poem.Death, Be Not Proud by John DonneDeath, be not proud, though some have called theeMighty and dreadful, for you are not so;For those whom you think you overthrowDie not, poor Death, nor yet can you kill me.From rest and sleep, which but your pictures be,Much pleasure; then from you much more must flow,And soon our best men with you do go,Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.You are slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,And also with poison, war, and sickness dwell,Poppy or charms can make us sleep as wellBetter than your stroke; why swell you then?One short sleep past, we wake eternallyDeath shall be no more; Death, you shall die.A sonnet and song for those who love life and poetry!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

This country song is adapted from Guy Kawasaki’s newsletter Remarkable People. Start small. Make a tiny win this week. Then another. Then another. Until you are making big changes that can impact how you write and market your books.One Tiny Win LyricsPick one tiny win this week.Not ten. Not five. Just one!Here are a few tiny winsA 10-second habit.An anchor activity you already do.A celebration that makes you smile.A friend who keeps you accountable.Start small. Stay consistent.Let the wins compound.Here’s to a year built on tiny habits,Here’s to a year built on smart design,And here’s to the grit to keep goingone small step at a time!Start small. Stay consistent.Let the tiny wins compound.Start small. Stay consistent.Make change stick.Start small. Stay consistent.Make change stick.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

This rock song and post is excerpted from Guy Kawasaki’s newsletter Remarkable People. Start small. Make a tiny win this week. Then another. Then another. Until you are making big changes that can really impact how you write and market your books.And always keep a pocketful of joy to spread around to all the people you come in contact with.One Tiny Win LyricsPick one tiny win this week.Not ten. Not five. Just one!Here are a few tiny winsA 10-second habit.An anchor activity you already do.A celebration that makes you smile.A friend who keeps you accountable.Start small. Stay consistent.Let the wins compound.Here’s to a year built on tiny habits,Here’s to a year built on smart design,And here’s to the grit to keep goingone small step at a time!Start small. Stay consistent.Make change stick.Start small. Stay consistent.Let the tiny wins compound.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following country song features an excerpt from a passage in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.Lyrics from WaldenIf one advances confidentlyin the direction of his dreams,and endeavors to live the lifewhich he has imagined,he will meet with a successunexpected in common hours.He will put some things behind,will pass an invisible boundary;new, universal, and more liberal lawswill begin to establish themselvesaround and within him;or the old laws be expanded,and interpreted in his favorin a more liberal sense,and he will live with the licenseof a higher order of beings.In proportion as he simplifies his life,the laws of the universewill appear less complex,and solitude will not be solitude,and poverty will not be poverty,and weakness will not be weakness.If you have built castles in the air,your work need not be lost;that is where they should be.Now put the foundation under them.In proportion as he simplifies his life,the laws of the universewill appear less complex,and solitude will not be solitude,and poverty will not be poverty,and weakness will not be weakness.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Testimonials as Songs - Gospel Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/testimonials-as-songs-gospel-versionLiving for the Real with Derek Hunter: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/living-for-the-real-with-derek-hunterFind a Way Home, Country Music Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/find-a-way-home-country-music-version This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

A few months ago one of my friends called me desperate for advice. For years he had a top-rated website for his brand, key words, and all his great content. Google and other search engines sent him hundreds of targeted leads for his products and services. Every day!Then it ended. Poof, his traffic was gone. Well, there was still a trickle but, for the most part, he had no real traffic.His traffic was decimated. Gone. Kaput. Nada. Zip. Zilch.But why?Because Google, Bing, and even Duck Duck Go decided to keep that search traffic for themselves.At first, the search engines made their AI searches optional, but it wasn’t long before they decided that they could make more money running ads on their own AI-generated search results pages.Google, Bing, and Duck Duck Go are allowing AI answers to take over their searches. And now the PerplexityAI Comet and OpenAI Atlas browsers will take over any remaining searches. And, that’s without the 50% of search traffic that has already been taken over by ChatGPT, ClaudeAI, and other chatbots — all offering such friendly and competent answers to user questions.Do you realize that in less than six months your website visibility will go to zero?The days of search engines being your lifeline to visibility well end. By April. April 2026. So long. Good-bye!Many websites have already experienced a 70 to 80% drop-off in traffic. Now. Not in four months. But today.AI adoption is exploding. According to one person, 105 million adults will use generative AI this year. That is such a low, low estimate it’s almost not worth noticing. The truth is that everyone will be using AI for search in the coming years. Everyone. Not one single holdout.Do you want to survive — and prosper! — during this SEO AI apocalypse?You can!Sign up now for an early-bird alert.And be eligible for a 50% discount when The AIO Revolution event is launched in another month.Yes! Sign up now and get half off The AIO Revolution when it is launched.You also get the Excelsior upgrade for free at launch!It’s a win-win-win no-obligation signup for this early-bird notice. It’s absolutely free to sign up for the launch notice.At launch, you’ll get a 50% discount.At launch, you’ll get the Excelsior upgrade for free!At launch, you’ll be offered the chance to be an early-bird launch affiliate — with exclusive membership privileges and premium affiliate opportunities.Bonus! You may use the exact same wording as this offer in your upcoming launches. Word for word. Offer for offer. Exactly as I have done.Join The AIO Revolution today! It’s free. No obligation. An incredible value.Just leave your best email in the article below.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Happy holiday season to everyone.One thing I’d like you to focus on or understand is how important it is to share greetings to your customers, your fans, your visitors, etc. Wish them Merry Christmas. Wish them Happy New Year. Wish them Happy Valentine Day. Wish them happy Mother’s Day. Wish them Happy Independence Day. And so on.Do it through your social media. Do it through your website.As you’ll notice in the graphic below, 7 of the top pages on my website during the week of Christmas 2025 were pages where I share holiday greetings with my website visitors, newsletter subscribers, and social media followers. Over the years, I’ve sent many such greetings. And, as it happens, those greetings send me more visitors year after year — visitors who want to share greetings via their various social media profiles.You can do the same. You can even repost the graphics I’ve shared over the years, and even brand them as your own. What are you waiting for?Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Testimonials as Songs - Gospel Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/testimonials-as-songs-gospel-versionLiving for the Real with Derek Hunter: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/living-for-the-real-with-derek-hunterFind a Way Home, Country Music Version: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/find-a-way-home-country-music-versionBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe