Thomas Umstattd Jr. Guestcast

Jami Albright and Sara Rosett had me on the Wish I’d Known Then podcast. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the rapid changes in the publishing world especially regarding Artificial Intelligence you are not alone. In a recent episode of the Wish I’d Known Then podcast, we talked about everything from the importance of physical health to the specific AI tools that can save you hours of work. Here is an episode summary generated by Gemini 3 Pro: The Novel Marketing Conference: A Different Kind of Gathering Thomas kicked things off by discussing his upcoming Novel Marketing Conference, which stands out in a sea of writer events for one specific reason: no recordings. Unlike many conferences where sessions are recorded for later viewing, Thomas designed this event to be fully immersive and interactive. He describes it as “almost more of a workshop than a conference,” where attendees work in small “writer’s groups” and leave with a physical, actionable plan for selling more books in the coming year. The goal is to create a space for honest, unrecorded conversation and deep work, rather than just passive listening. The Foundation of Creativity: Your Health One of the more surprising but vital topics discussed was the role of physical health in an author’s career. Thomas shared his personal journey of prioritizing health, noting that “your body is the machine that your brain lives in”. He pointed out that many authors try to optimize their time but neglect their energy levels. You might carve out an hour to write, but if you are exhausted or brain-fogged, that hour won’t be productive. By treating health as a business asset, authors can improve not just their longevity but the quality of their creative output. Navigating the AI Revolution The centerpiece of the conversation was AI. Thomas offered a refreshing, balanced perspective that avoids both the “doom and gloom” and the “blind hype” often seen online. He noted that people tend to oscillate between thinking AI is “the end of humanity” or that it “creates nothing but slop”. His philosophy is simple: Don’t give AI the work you enjoy; give it the drudgery. A Practical Dictation Workflow For authors looking to speed up their drafting or note-taking, Thomas shared a specific workflow he uses to capture ideas while on the go: Hardware: He uses AirPods, which isolate his voice from background noise. App: He records using an app called “Just Press Record” on his Apple Watch or phone. Processing: He uses a tool called “Chapterize” to transcribe the audio. AI Cleanup: He then feeds that transcript into an AI tool (like ChatGPT or Claude) with a prompt to clean up the grammar and remove “umms” and “ahhs.” This stack allows him to dictate high-quality content while walking or driving, turning “dead time” into productive writing time. The Author Toolbox Thomas has developed a suite of tools specifically for writers, available at AuthorMedia.com. Some of the standout tools mentioned include: Book Cover Analyzer: Helps determine if your cover fits your genre conventions. Design Brief Generator: Creates a professional brief to send to cover designers. Character Namer: Tools that generate culturally and historically accurate names for characters (e.g., Victorian era names). Fact Checkers: Specialized tools for checking historical facts or checking medical facts without getting lost in a Google research rabbit hole. These tools are designed to work within “guardrails,” using pre-written prompts to ensure the AI gives you exactly what you need without requiring you to become a “prompt engineering” expert. Optimizing for the Future of Search A crucial insight Thomas shared is the shift from optimizing for search engines (SEO) to optimizing for AI. In the past, authors focused on getting their websites to rank on Google. Today, readers are increasingly asking tools like ChatGPT for book recommendations. Thomas explained that these AI models “read” the internet, including sites like Goodreads and Amazon. To ensure your book is recommended, you need to provide content that helps the AI understand who your book is for. He suggested adding “Director’s Commentary” or “Behind the Scenes” content to your book pages on your own website. This unique content differentiates your site from Amazon and gives the AI more context to recommend your book to the right readers. The Art of Pruning: Easiness, Joy, and Revenue Finally, the group discussed the challenge of having too much to do. Thomas introduced a framework he used in a mastermind group to decide what tasks to cut. He lists all his activities in a spreadsheet with three columns: Easiness: How easy is this task to do? Joy: How much joy does it bring me? Revenue: How much money does it make? By scoring activities on these metrics, it becomes clear which ones should be “sunsetted” or pruned. Just as the Texas legislature creates agencies with an expiration date (“sunsetting”), authors should regularly review their commitments and kill off the ones that are difficult, joyless, and unprofitable. Conclusion This episode was a reminder that while technology changes, the core needs of an author—health, focus, and connection with readers—remain the same. Whether you are using AI to write blurbs or auditing your schedule to find more joy, the goal is to build a sustainable and fulfilling writing career. For more from Thomas, you can check out the Novel Marketing Podcast or visit AuthorMedia.com to access the tools mentioned in this post.

Alex Strathdee had me on his podcast Before the Bestseller to talk about AI. Here is an AI summary: In the rapidly evolving landscape of book marketing, authors have long been told to master Search Engine Optimization (SEO). But as we move deeper into the age of artificial intelligence, a new, perhaps more critical, strategy has emerged: AI Optimization (AIO), sometimes called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). In a recent episode of Before the Bestseller, host Alex Strathdee sat down with the legendary Thomas Umstattd Jr.—host of the Novel Marketing Podcast and a self-described “book marketing hero”—to uncover the strategies, struggles, and secrets behind getting AI to recommend your book over the competition. This isn’t just about keywords anymore; it’s about training the digital brain of the internet to recognize your authority. Here is a deep dive into the insights Thomas shared on how authors can navigate this new frontier. The Rainforest Cafe Lesson: Why AI Recommendations Matter To understand the power—and the quirks—of AI optimization, Thomas shared a telling anecdote from a recent family trip to San Antonio, Texas. When planning the trip, he didn’t turn to Google or Yelp; he asked an AI to build an itinerary for his family, specifically requesting fun activities for children. The AI recommended the Rainforest Cafe on the famous Riverwalk. While the Riverwalk is known for authentic Tex-Mex, the AI prioritized the Rainforest Cafe because it offered “animatronic animals,” fitting the specific prompt for “fun activities for kids”. When Thomas arrived, there was a 40-minute wait, while better, more authentic restaurants nearby were actively soliciting customers. The food at the Rainforest Cafe was, in Thomas’s words, “awful,” but the establishment was thriving because it was the kind of place ChatGPT would recommend. The lesson for authors is stark but valuable: The goal isn’t to trick AI into selling a bad product, but to realize that AI recommendations can drive massive traffic. If you want your book to be the one readers find when they ask ChatGPT, “What should I read next?”, you need to understand how the AI thinks. How Does AI Know About Your Book? If you ask an AI model to recommend a book based on a photo of your bookshelf, it can do so with shocking accuracy because it analyzes the books in its Large Language Model (LLM). But how does your specific book get into that model? According to Thomas, one major source is piracy. Recent court cases have revealed that AI companies often train their models on massive datasets downloaded from pirate websites. While this sounds alarming, the courts have generally ruled this as “fair use” because the AI’s reading of the text is considered transformative. Thomas offers a controversial take for nonfiction authors: piracy might actually be beneficial. If pirated copies lead to a million people reading your book and establishing you as a thought leader, you will likely make more money in the long run through speaking engagements and podcast invites than you would have from book sales alone. In the world of nonfiction, the idea itself is often less valuable than the execution and the authority of the author. However, AI training data usually cuts off at the top 7 million most popular books. If your book is new or hasn’t reached that threshold, the AI might not “know” it exists in its core training data. In these cases, the AI relies on external sources it can read, such as Goodreads. The Sycophancy Problem A major pitfall for authors testing their AI visibility is the “sycophancy” of current models. If you ask ChatGPT about your own book, it will often flatter you, telling you exactly what it thinks you want to hear. It might even hallucinate that your book is a bestseller when it isn’t. To combat this, Thomas developed a suite of “AI Knowledge Checkers” in his Patron Toolbox. These tools are designed to blind the AI from the live web, forcing it to answer only from its internal context window. This reveals whether the AI actually knows who you are or if it’s just quickly Googling you to be polite. The Foundation of AIO: Your Author Website If you want to rank in AI recommendations, you must stop relying solely on Amazon or social media. You need a robust author website. Thomas emphasizes that the principles of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and AIO are nearly identical. If you have been ignoring your website, you are already behind. Thomas highlighted three specific areas of your website that need to be optimized: 1. The Homepage Your homepage needs to be technically sound and content-rich. Thomas’s toolbox includes a scanner that acts like a “curmudgeonly webmaster,” giving you a brutally honest score on your homepage’s effectiveness. 2. The Book Page A common mistake authors make is having a single page listing all their books. For AIO, every single book needs its own dedicated, robust page. This page shouldn’t just be a sales link; it should be a service center for the book. It needs to include: Discussion guides. Sample chapters. Links to podcast interviews about the book. High-resolution maps (for fantasy authors). Editorial reviews. 3. The About Page Most authors write about pages that are too short and written in the first person (e.g., “I started writing when…”). AI struggles to rank the word “I.” Thomas advises rewriting your bio in the third person to create a narrative the AI can easily ingest and cite. A robust About page also protects your reputation, ensuring your website is the primary source of your life story rather than a third-party article. Off-Page Optimization: Earning the “Vote” Just like Google uses hyperlinks as “votes” of authority to rank websites, AI models determine what is true and important based on citations and links from reputable sources. This is “Off-Page AIO.” Podcasts as Backlinks For nonfiction authors, being a guest on podcasts is the most organic way to generate these authority signals. Every time you appear on a show, the show notes link back to your website. These non-reciprocal links are high-value currency for AI algorithms. Local Media and Journalism Don’t overlook local news. Local TV stations often publish articles without paywalls, making them easy for AI bots to scrape and index. Furthermore, major publications like The Wall Street Journal constitute high-authority sources because they have signed licensing deals with AI companies. Getting mentioned in these “legacy” media outlets tells the AI that you are a figure of importance. The “Timothy” Principle: Don’t Lose the Human Amidst all the talk of algorithms, scanners, and bots, Thomas ended the conversation with a vital reminder: AI does not buy books. Humans do. Thomas advises against creating corporate-style “customer personas.” Instead, he advocates for the “Timothy” strategy—identifying a specific, actual human being who represents your target reader. When you focus on thrilling that one real person, you avoid the trap of writing for a stereotype. You can talk to “Timothy,” ask him for feedback, and ensure your marketing actually resonates. Ultimately, the best marketing strategy is to love and serve your reader. If you do that, the algorithms—and the sales—will follow. Next Steps for Authors To help authors navigate this technical landscape, Thomas has made his suite of tools available at PatronToolbox.com. These include the website scanners, the AI knowledge checkers, and even a “hook identifier” that helps you find news angles for your book PR. As we look toward 2025, the authors who succeed will be those who balance technical optimization with genuine human connection. Tune in next week to Before the Bestseller when we are joined by Veronica Yager to discuss what it takes to make a book thrive in the coming year, including high-impact calls to action and the secrets of Kindle Unlimited.

I joined the Writing Off Social Podcast as a guest for Episode 73 AI Tools for Authors. We explored AI tools’ good sides. We covered bad and ugly sides too. I shared how these technologies democratize writing. They are like the typewriter or word processor. They boost productivity. We discussed Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Scrivener, ChatGPT, and the Patron Toolbox. Of course, we didn’t shy away from the downsides: the risks of over-reliance on AI for generating entire books, potential ethical issues in authorship. Overall, it was a fantastic experience being on the show and I came away energized by the discussion on how authors can adapt to this productivity boosting tech without losing their voice. If you’re an author curious about AI, I highly recommend checking out the episode. It’s packed with actionable tips and resources to get you started

Joanna Penn, host of the Creative Penn Podcast had me on to talk about: How authors can benefit from AI optimization Principles authors need to keep in mind as search is changing Different AI models and their capabilities Making your author website LLM-friendly How to utilize Goodreads to improve your GEO The future of AI agents in book buying Staying positive and curious in the ever-changing AI landscape

Join author Ryan Gutierrez as he sits down with Thomas Umstattd Jr., for an insightful conversation about storytelling, publishing trends, and literary traditions. In this episode, we explore: The fascinating parallels between Solomon Kane and modern heroic characters How biblical archetypes influence fantasy and western storytelling The historical foundations of King Arthur legends and their cultural impact Strategies for finding your target audience as an author The importance of moral clarity in storytelling Key takeaway: “Having the courage to say ‘I’m not for everyone, but I am for this group of people’ and making something they absolutely love—if you have that creative courage, commercial success is a lot easier to find.” Whether you’re a writer looking to improve your marketing strategy, a reader interested in literary traditions, or simply love great storytelling, this conversation offers something for everyone! Follow Ryan Gutierrez here. YouTube Version

The Arbiter of Worlds YouTube Channel had me on yesterday to talk about marketing for their new podcast ACKS to Grind. The host, Alexander Macris and I talk for over an hour about marketing Sci-Fi, Fantasy books and boardgames. We explored the similarities between marketing novels and creative projects like board games. We talked about Kickstarter strategies, email lists, engaging newsletters, and more. I asked ChatGPT to write a summary of the episode and here is what it said: In a recent episode of the Axe to Grind podcast, Alexander McCreese hosted Thomas Umstead, a marketing expert and founder of Author Media, to discuss the secrets of marketing for indie creators. The conversation bridged the world of indie novelists and creators in gaming, board games, and Kickstarter campaigns. Here’s a comprehensive recap of the insights they shared. Marketing Across Industries: Lessons from Novels and Games Thomas Umstead began by highlighting the parallels between marketing indie novels and other creative products. He explained that Kickstarter has been a transformative platform for creators, starting with its roots in the board game community. Stretch goals, a common feature of crowdfunding, originated in board game campaigns and have become a standard across industries. However, the most successful Kickstarter projects today are often books, thanks to innovative approaches adopted by authors. For creators launching their first Kickstarter, Umstead suggested leveraging their personal networks—the same people who would attend a wedding or baby shower. These early supporters create momentum and establish credibility. The second Kickstarter, however, relies on fans rather than friends. At this stage, creators must build a dedicated email list, a strategy long perfected by authors. The Power of Email Lists Umstead emphasized that an email list is one of the most powerful tools for indie creators. Authors meticulously cultivate these lists, keeping fans engaged through newsletters. A good email list converts superfans into backers who eagerly preorder new products. He encouraged creators to incentivize sign-ups by integrating invitations and QR codes into their existing content, like board game rulebooks. When asked about the ideal size for an email list, Umstead noted that 500 engaged subscribers could make a significant impact for indie authors or creators. He also stressed the importance of sending regular updates, at least quarterly, to keep lists active and avoid spam filters. The key, he said, is balancing quality and quantity—an engaged list of superfans is far more valuable than a large, disinterested audience. Creating Content Fans Want McCreese shared his struggle to consistently generate newsletter content. Umstead advised against weekly newsletters unless inspiration strikes regularly. Monthly updates often suffice, with more frequent emails before and after a launch. Content ideas include reviews and recommendations of books, games, or media that align with the creator’s niche. These insights demonstrate shared tastes and build trust. For example, a writer of military science fiction could review similar books from a unique perspective, such as a former military member’s take on authenticity. This approach resonates with fans and cements the creator’s authority in their genre. Reviews don’t need to be groundbreaking—honest opinions can be enough to spark engagement. Building a Brand: Personality vs. Product A recurring theme in the conversation was the balance between marketing the creator and marketing the product. Umstead explained that human connection drives loyalty. Fans are more likely to follow and support a person than a faceless brand. This doesn’t mean overexposing oneself on social media. Instead, creators should strategically reveal aspects of their personality that align with their audience’s values and interests. McCreese reflected on his experiences managing multiple brands under his name. Umstead recommended creating a central hub, like a personal website, that links to all projects. This simplifies the discovery process for new fans and strengthens the creator’s overall brand. Advertising and Platform Strategies The conversation also touched on paid advertising. Umstead noted that ads can be highly effective when executed well. However, advertising amplifies existing strengths and weaknesses. A great product with poor advertising will underperform, and vice versa. He suggested creators focus on three key elements before investing in ads: an appealing product, a clear pitch, and professional presentation. While platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and BoardGameGeek offer ad opportunities, Umstead cautioned against relying solely on them. Creators must own their audience through email lists and personal websites to mitigate the risks of algorithmic changes or deplatforming. Understanding Your Audience Knowing the target audience is fundamental to any successful campaign. Umstead advised creators to focus on specific individuals rather than broad demographics. By identifying and engaging with one real-life “Timothy,” creators can gain valuable insights into preferences and motivations. This approach ensures that products resonate deeply with a niche audience, which is often the key to success in indie spaces. Marketing to Men vs. Women The discussion also explored differences in marketing to men versus women. Umstead observed that content designed for men often attracts women as well, while the reverse is less common. He encouraged creators to focus on thrilling their core audience rather than diluting their message to appeal to everyone. Authenticity and specificity, he said, are inherently inviting. Navigating Political Divides In today’s polarized environment, creators must also navigate political divides. Umstead acknowledged that marketing efforts might resonate more with one side of the political spectrum than the other. He advised creators to embrace this reality and focus on building a loyal audience rather than attempting to appease everyone. Direct Selling and Cancel-Proof Strategies The podcast concluded with a discussion on direct selling and cancel-proofing one’s platform. Umstead championed direct sales as a viable option for creators with an engaged audience. By owning email lists, websites, and other platforms, creators can safeguard their businesses against deplatforming and algorithm changes. He warned against relying on social media as the sole means of reaching fans, likening it to being a chicken in a coop controlled by others. Final Thoughts The episode offered a wealth of actionable advice for indie creators. Whether you’re an author, board game designer, or content creator, the principles of knowing your audience, building an email list, and presenting a clear, engaging brand are universal. As Umstead succinctly put it, “Great marketing can’t save a bad product, but it can help a good one reach its potential.”

In this episode of Writing of Social Sandy, Mary K. and I talk about what kind of marketing actually works for authors. About Writing off Social Sandy and Mary believe that creativity flourishes when writers are free to choose their own path. They spent years feeling trapped by social media, believing it was the only way to grow their audience and share their work. But not anymore. They have discovered countless ways to connect to and nurture their audience—ways that offer a better return on their investment of time, and that don’t drain their energy. As they have become more vocal about their decision to leave social media, writers like you are emerging from behind your computer screens to say, “Hey there! Social media isn’t working for me either.” They see you and are glad you’re here.

In this episode of Writing of Social Sandy, Mary K. and I talk about the history of social media an authors. When and why did it work? And more importantly when in why did it stop working? About Writing off Social Sandy and Mary believe that creativity flourishes when writers are free to choose their own path. They spent years feeling trapped by social media, believing it was the only way to grow their audience and share their work. But not anymore. They have discovered countless ways to connect to and nurture their audience—ways that offer a better return on their investment of time, and that don’t drain their energy. As they have become more vocal about their decision to leave social media, writers like you are emerging from behind your computer screens to say, “Hey there! Social media isn’t working for me either.” They see you and are glad you’re here.

The Profitable Writer Podcast is dedicated to helping authors make more money. In this episode, Kent Sanders and I discuss: Non-book related ways to monetize your author platform. How to diversify your income stream. The role of Patreon in his business. And more!

Last week, the blog version of an episode of Christian Publishing Show went viral, or at least it sparked a lot of discussion. Mostly here and here. In that episode, I talked about how Morality is key to making a book sell across both culture and time. Muddled morality is why newer superhero movies are failing, where the films of the last decade sold like crazy. I had a lot more to say than that and you can listen to the episode here. The guys at the Fantastical Truth Podcast wanted to talk to me about the topic. So you can think of this as a sequel episode where we give many more examples or morality in fiction and get deeper into the theology. You can find the blog version of the episode here.

Mark Dawson & James Blatch recently had me on the Self Publishing Show to discuss author websites, marketing data, Christian publishing, advertising, AI, and more. You can find the episode here. There is also a video version you can find here:

In this episode of Cary and Cooper Have Words, we talk about the process of writing a novel, how to do it, and what pitfalls to look out for.

Thanks to Joanna Penn of the Creative Penn podcast for having me on as a guest! In this episode, we talk about: The fundamentals of marketing fiction Content marketing for fiction Utilizing the nonfiction themes beneath your fiction for marketing The hallmarks and history of Christian publishing Why readers choose certain genres Tips for pitching a podcast You can find the blog version of the interview here. If you don’t yet listen to the Creative Penn podcast, you should check it out. It is one of the best publishing podcasts out there.

In this episode of Book Marketing Mania, Kim Steward and I talk about how to create a guestcast and how to market and promote books. In this episode you will learn: Advice for authors who worry “if I start talking about my book NOW, no one will buy it when it releases LATER”How to maximize the back of your book to build your email list and sell more booksHow podcast hosts can collaborate on one episode to air and market on both shows (see below for example)Using a Guestcast to share your own guest interviews (see Thomas’ linked below)His podcast host directory (with email addresses) for his Patreon members& more!

In this episode of Fantastical Truth, E. Stephen Burnett, Zackary Russell, and I talk with me about how Christian authors can and should navigate secular publishing markets. Specifically, we talk about the myth that long ago, Christians and publishing companies lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when evangelicals got fearful and/or legalistic, so they chose to leave the big publishers and start their own Christian publishers. If you want to find out what really happened, listen to this episode.

In this episode of Your Best Writing Life, Linda Goldfarb and Thomas Umstattd Jr. discuss why and where authors should start Creating Online Courses. Plus common mistakes writers easily make. Learn the first steps an author should take before creating a course, the common mistakes course creators make, how to attract students to your course, how to help your students benefit the most from your course. LInks: Author Websites Course Book Launch Blueprint Course Obscure No More Beta Course Here is the blog version: Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring you tips and strategies from experts in the writing and publishing industry to help you excel in your craft. Today, we’re discussing creating online courses. My industry expert is Thomas Umstattd, Jr. Thomas, the founder of Author Media and the host of the Novel Marketing Podcast. Thomas helps authors build their platforms, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about. He has also been creating online courses for ten years, making him the perfect fit for today’s topic. Why are online courses so popular now? Linda: Online courses have recently taken off in popularity. Why is that? Thomas: Learning online has been a part of the internet from the beginning. But online courses grew as people got faster internet connections and could listen to audio and watch videos. The real explosion came during the pandemic in 2020. People were locked down, conferences were canceled, and a lot of people tried online courses for the first time in 2020. That’s when the market took a massive step forward in terms of people’s acceptance of online courses. Their children were going to school online, and online learning became almost normalized. Online learning is here in a big way, and it’s here to stay. Linda: I agree it’s here to stay. It’s a new normal that has infiltrated families and homes. Everyone has a device to learn from online courses. Zoomers make this a popular new process for everyone. Why would an author want to create a course? Thomas: In short, the money is a lot better, and the transformation is better. If someone reads a book on dieting, they may or may not implement what they learn. However, if they take a course that includes interactive elements like coaching and community, they are much more likely to apply what they’re learning and finish the course. People buy books on various topics all the time but never finish them. Sometimes, they don’t even start reading, and if they do, they rarely put the information into practice. That’s one of the main reasons I became interested in creating courses. I wasn’t seeing much transformation from people who only read books, partly because they weren’t as invested. A book might cost around $20, which isn’t a significant amount of money, so there’s little motivation to finish it or act on its contents. For many people, buying the book feels like enough, so they end up with bookshelves full of unread or partially read books. By contrast, a course, particularly one that is expensive, requires a higher level of commitment. The cost itself creates a sense of investment, which makes people more determined to complete the course. And since courses tend to be interactive and offer more than just words on a page, participants are more likely to apply what they learn, which leads to the transformation they want. How can we track our return on investment when we pay for a course? Linda: When we talk about the financial investment of wanting to expand our knowledge by taking a course to improve our craft, how can we track the return on that investment? Thomas: Tracking return on investment is a pretty straightforward financial calculation. You track how much money you spent on something, and then you track how much that activity brought back financially. Education is a little tricky because how can you measure the value of a high school diploma? What’s the value of a college degree? I took some classes in business school that were invaluable. They saved me from multi-million-dollar mistakes. I also took some useless classes that cost me the same amount of money. The good professors and the bad ones were all the same overpriced amount of money. College is incredibly expensive. Even when I went to school years ago, my textbooks alone cost $300, and the price of education has only increased since then. Today, some college degrees aren’t worth the investment. Many liberal arts degrees, for example, don’t provide a return that justifies the cost. If you look at the data, degrees in engineering or nursing are still solid investments, but degrees like art history often leave graduates struggling with debt. Many art history majors never earn enough to comfortably pay off the loans they took out to finance their education. When pursuing a career-focused degree, it’s important to consider how the earning potential of that new career compares to your previous one. When I was considering getting an MBA, the university provided information on the ROI for their programs. The ROI for the executive MBA program was significantly higher than for the regular MBA program because, in the executive MBA program, you could continue working your day job. In contrast, leaving your job for two or three years to attend a traditional MBA program increases the overall cost. Not only are you paying for tuition, but you’re also missing out on the income you would have earned during that time. That creates a lot of financial pressure. Let’s say you take a simple course on how to build a website. You take the course, and it’s $100, and you spend $300 on building the website. Now, you’re $400 invested in the website. Hiring somebody to build the website would have cost you $2,400. So, that course had an ROI of $2,000 of saved money. But really, it’s more than that because since you’ve built your website, you now know how to make changes to it, and you have more control of it. You don’t have to call someone. On the other hand, that professional probably would have done a better job. A professional web designer has more experience because they’ve built hundreds of websites. They know how to avoid things that you didn’t learn about in that course. So, it makes it hard to judge. What’s better, spending less money and getting the experience plus control or hiring the professional? Learning about business is important because you’ll have to answer those kinds of questions, and often, there are no simple answers. Linda: I ask because many people will hold back and wait for that perfect opportunity. Most of the time, there’s no perfect situation. But if we don’t take action—if we don’t invest in a course or take steps toward improving our lives or building that website we dream of—then we’ll stay exactly where we are. And who has time for that? I love online courses. I may be addicted to them. I determine my return on investment by which course is applicable right now for my next best step. It narrows my field a little. I used to want to sign up for everything, especially if it had a good price on it, but I’d find I wasn’t ready to use the information. I do like courses that offer lifetime access because I can come back to the course when I’m ready for it. What are the first steps a writer should take to create a course? Thomas: The first step is to master your content. You need to practice presenting what you’re teaching in public. Having a podcast is the most natural first step for creating a course because it allows you to get used to creating multimedia content. A YouTube channel also is helpful because you can practice teaching via video. Choose a method that allows you to build both your audience and your credibility. It’s tempting to jump in too quickly by creating a course before anyone knows who you are or trusts your expertise. You could develop the best course in the world, but if you don’t have an audience or a way to spread the word, no one will take it. As a result, no lives will be changed, and you won’t make any money. The quality of your course alone isn’t what sells it; it’s the quality of your other content that drives sales. The first step is to establish yourself by blogging, podcasting, or creating YouTube videos. Focus on providing valuable content where you can begin teaching people about your topic. For example, if you have a course on parenting that includes a five-step system for building a better relationship with your children, start by creating a podcast on parenting. Share your insights, discuss your five steps, and interview parenting experts. This approach builds your authority and attracts an audience that will be more likely to invest in your course. It’s not about keeping your knowledge secret because people don’t pay for knowledge. Some course creators offer a course on a topic for $500, and they have a book on the same topic for $20. It’s the same information, but information alone is not transformation. Don’t feel like you have to keep your information secret because somebody will always be willing to give it away cheaper. You can’t patent or copyright an idea. Ideas spread from person to person. Another good way to practice is teaching in real life. Go to meetup groups and present on your topic. Speak at conferences. Most of my course came from material I presented at writers conferences. I presented in Hawaii and Switzerland for a week, and I put in a lot of work to teach a career’s worth of training. The live trainings had to be adapted for video, but in the live setting, especially the Q&A at the end, I learned what made sense and what resonated with the students. In Switzerland, I learned that some of my cultural references were offensiv

In this episode of The David Lee Martin Show, David and I talk about how to use podcasts to bless listeners.

Have you ever found yourself so busy that life just feels out of control?  What if you had to lay down some of your responsibilities to find a bit of sanity again?  Could you do it? In this episode of God in the Ordinary, Sharon Tedford interviews me about my mental breakdown and recovery. I talk about how I had to change how I spent my time both in work and at home. God In The Ordinary is a twice-monthly interview podcast filled with encouraging and engaging stories, be inspired to learn how you can make an eternal difference in your community and beyond! Let’s band together on both sides of the Atlantic as we reveal ‘God in the Ordinary’.

In episode 084 of the Wish I’d Known Then . . . For Writers Podcast I talk with Sara Rosett and Jami Albright about mistakes authors make with social media and how to avoid them. We delve into the world of ubiquity and scarcity and discuss how to use scarcity to sell your books. He’s also got some great ideas on how to find and get to know your readers. We wrap up by talking about trends in publishing in general and in the Inspirational market in particular. I had a lot of fun on this podcast and wanted to thank Sara and Jami for inviting me to come on their podcast for authors.

Erin and Karen had me on the Write from the Deep podcast to talk about courage. Without it, your writing will never touch hearts. You can find a link to the original episode (as well as subscribe links) here.