Amazon is changing how readers discover books, and authors who understand the shift now will be in a much stronger position than those who wait for the results to become obvious. Search is becoming more conversational, recommendations are becoming more context-driven, and AI is increasingly influencing how books are matched with reader interests, moods, questions, needs, and expectations.

In this episode, we break down what those broader AI changes mean for your Amazon presence and why the old approach to retail copy is no longer enough. A book description cannot simply sound polished. Your subtitle cannot rely on vague promises. Your categories, keywords, author bio, and book-page messaging all need to work together to clearly communicate what your book is, who it is for, and why the right reader should choose it.

We talk through the biggest mistakes authors still make on Amazon, including generic descriptions, keyword stuffing, unclear genre signals, overly salesy subtitles, and back-cover copy that never tells readers what kind of experience they are actually buying. You will hear practical ways to strengthen your book’s positioning, clarify its themes and reader promise, and make your retail page more useful for both human readers and AI-driven discovery tools.

We also look at the overlooked areas that can either support or weaken visibility, including your Author Central bio, the per-title “About the Author” section, and the language you use to describe your audience. As Amazon search becomes more intelligent, the authors who win will be the ones who make it easy for the platform to understand their books—and easy for readers to recognize that they have found exactly what they were looking for.

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Selling direct to readers can sound like the ultimate author-business upgrade: higher royalties, faster payouts, more control, and a customer list you actually own.

But is it the right move for your book right now?

In this episode, we unpack the real tradeoffs behind selling books from your own website—and why launching a direct-sales store before you have the audience, systems, or offers to support it can become an expensive distraction. Amazon may take a bigger cut, but it also delivers something many authors underestimate: reader trust, familiar checkout, Prime shipping expectations, and an enormous built-in shopping habit.

We break down what direct sales actually require behind the scenes, from inventory, shipping, sales tax, customer service, refunds, and fulfillment to the not-so-small challenge of convincing a reader to pay shipping when Amazon has trained them to expect it fast and free.

Then we get into the more important question: when does selling direct make sense?

You’ll hear what successful direct-selling authors tend to have in place first, why your email list is the real engine behind direct revenue, and which offers give readers a reason to buy from you instead of defaulting to Amazon—think signed books, exclusive editions, bundles, bonuses, and companion products.

We also answer a listener question about beta reader feedback: what you can ethically use, what should stay private, and how to turn powerful reader comments into marketing assets across your Amazon page, website, email newsletter, and social media.

Before you build a store, make sure you understand what will actually move the needle. Listen now, subscribe for more practical book marketing guidance, and share this episode with an author who is wondering whether direct sales are worth the effort.

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Could your author newsletter become a new income stream—or will charging readers create more work than revenue?

Paid newsletters are everywhere right now, especially with platforms like Substack making it look easy to turn emails into monthly income. But for authors, the question is not whether someone is making money with a paid newsletter. It is whether your readers have a compelling reason to pay for yours.

In this episode, we break down what actually works: the types of exclusive content readers may value, why a strong mission or niche can matter more than a large subscriber count, and how expert curation, analysis, behind-the-scenes access, or special offers can help a paid tier feel worthwhile.

We also get honest about the parts no one likes to talk about: the ongoing content demands, the pressure to keep subscribers engaged every single month, and the conversion math that can quickly change the revenue picture. With free-to-paid conversion rates often landing around 3%, authors need to understand what it really takes to make this model profitable before building an entirely new content machine.

You’ll also hear why your free newsletter should remain the foundation of your reader relationship, even if you decide to test a paid option—and what to consider before moving your audience to Substack or another platform that could pull attention away from your website, SEO, and broader author brand.

Plus, we answer a listener question about book relaunches: when a relaunch makes sense, what separates it from simply “always promoting,” and how to use new momentum—like an award win, fresh positioning, or an updated edition—to give a book another real shot at visibility.

Before you put your newsletter behind a paywall, listen to this episode. It could save you time, help you protect your reader relationship, and give you a clearer path to building income that actually supports your author career.

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You do not need a free afternoon—or an exhausting new marketing plan—to make meaningful progress with your book. In this episode, Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell break down how authors can use just 15 focused minutes to improve the parts of their marketing that keep working long after the timer stops.

They start by celebrating Penny’s new release, Think Local, Sell Global, then get straight to one of the biggest traps authors fall into: confusing constant activity with actual momentum. Posting randomly, scrolling for ideas, or trying to “do all the things” may feel productive, but it rarely builds the visibility, trust, and reader connection that lead to book sales.

Instead, Penny and Amy share a smarter question to ask before you spend your time: What can I improve today that will still be helping my book next week, next month, and three months from now?

You will hear practical, high-impact ways to strengthen your book’s discoverability and conversion in short, manageable bursts. From tightening the opening lines of your Amazon description and reviewing your categories and keywords to refreshing your author bio, improving your website, adding A+ Content, and checking what readers see inside your Look Inside preview, these are the book marketing assets that can quietly do more of the selling for you.

They also talk about the long-game power of email marketing, how to reconnect with a quiet newsletter list, and what to say when you are convinced you have “nothing to send.” Plus, they share realistic 15-minute, 30-minute, and 60-minute marketing plans to help you stay visible between launches without burning yourself out.

If your book marketing has felt scattered, time-consuming, or impossible to keep up with, this episode will help you refocus on the small improvements that create a much bigger payoff.

Send us your feedback!

Order Penny's latest book, Think Local Sell Global and start building a book sales strategy you have more control over!

📱 Text Penny & Amy: Send your marketing questions, show feedback, and episode ideas. Text PODCAST to (888) 402-8940 to join and get new episode alerts. Save our number!

⭐ Enjoying the show? Please follow the podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help more authors discover the show!

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As Penny's new book, Think Local, Sell Global, heads into pre-order, this replay felt especially timely.

One of the biggest mistakes authors make is assuming that local book marketing is somehow “small.” In reality, the relationships you build in your own community can become the foundation for stronger visibility, more reader connection, better word-of-mouth, and opportunities that continue expanding well beyond your ZIP code.

In this replay episode, Amy and Penny dig into one of the most underused local marketing opportunities available to authors: libraries. We talk about how to get your book in front of the right library contacts, what librarians may consider before adding a title to their shelves, and why simply walking in and asking them to stock your book is rarely the smartest approach.

You’ll hear practical ways to become part of your local library community first—from getting a card and attending events to supporting their programs, following them online, and identifying where your book, expertise, or perspective could genuinely add value. We also cover how to pitch library events, collaborate with other local authors, work with Friends of the Library groups, and avoid creating an event that requires more staff time than a library can realistically provide.

Libraries are not just places where books live. They are community hubs filled with readers, families, educators, local organizations, and people actively looking for meaningful resources and experiences. That makes them an ideal place to begin building the kind of hometown visibility that can support your book far beyond launch week.

This may be a replay, but the strategy is more relevant than ever—especially for authors who want to stop waiting for visibility to happen and start creating it closer to home.

Send us your feedback!

Order Penny's latest book, Think Local Sell Global and start building a book sales strategy you have more control over!

📱 Text Penny & Amy: Send your marketing questions, show feedback, and episode ideas. Text PODCAST to (888) 402-8940 to join and get new episode alerts. Save our number!

⭐ Enjoying the show? Please follow the podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help more authors discover the show!

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Holiday book sales do not start when shoppers begin panic-buying gifts in December. They start months earlier, when smart authors begin positioning their books for the gift guides, media mentions, newsletters, local segments, creator roundups, and seasonal recommendation lists that influence what readers actually buy.

In this episode, Penny and Amy are talking Christmas in July — and why authors who want stronger holiday book sales need to start planning long before the holiday rush. Waiting until Thanksgiving to chase seasonal visibility is one of the biggest missed opportunities in book marketing, because many magazines, websites, bloggers, newsletters, creators, and regional outlets plan their holiday content months in advance. If you want your book to be part of the holiday shopping conversation, the time to start is now.

We’ll walk through what “holiday book marketing” really means and how to think beyond the obvious. Gift guides are a powerful part of the strategy, but they are not the only opportunity. Your book may also fit into seasonal media angles, local holiday shopping stories, niche newsletters, podcast recommendation episodes, bookstore roundups, reader gift lists, school or library recommendations, and specialty audience features. The goal is to help your book show up where your most likely buyers are already looking for ideas.

We’ll also challenge the myth that holiday marketing only works for “gifty” nonfiction, cookbooks, coffee table books, or children’s titles. Children’s books, YA, romance, memoir, business, self-help, niche nonfiction, local interest books, and even certain fiction genres can all work beautifully when they are framed for the right reader, buyer, occasion, or seasonal need. The question is not simply, “Is my book a gift book?” The better question is, “Who would be excited to give, receive, recommend, or share this book during the holidays?”

Then we get practical. You’ll learn what to prepare before you pitch, including a clean book one-sheet, a targeted email, a clear audience fit, and a subject line that does not sound like every other author asking for coverage. We’ll talk about why audience alignment matters more than sheer volume, how social media can extend the life of a good placement, and why bloggers, newsletters, regional publications, local morning shows, and niche creators can often be more accessible — and more effective — than chasing only national media.

We’ll also share places to look for active opportunities, including HARO, Source of Sources, and similar journalist request platforms, plus the quick credibility check curators often make before they consider your book: your author website, Amazon book page, reviews, description, bio, and overall retail presentation.

Most importantly, this episode gives you a starting point. Holiday book marketing does not have to be overwhelming. Start with one strong-fit pitch this week. Build from there. The authors who sell more books during the holidays are usually not the ones scrambling in December — they are the ones who started earlier, pitched smarter, and gave their books time to be discovered.

Subscribe, share this episode with an author friend, and leave a review wherever you listen. Have a question or want us to cover your specific genre? Text the word podcast to 888-402-8940.

Send us your feedback!

Order Penny's latest book, Think Local Sell Global and start building a book sales strategy you have more control over!

📱 Text Penny & Amy: Send your marketing questions, show feedback, and episode ideas. Text PODCAST to (888) 402-8940 to join and get new episode alerts. Save our number!

⭐ Enjoying the show? Please follow the podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help more authors discover the show!

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Most authors overlook one of the most powerful marketing opportunities they already have: their local market. While everyone else fights for attention online, smart authors are building visibility, reader loyalty, and consistent book sales right in their own backyard — often with far less competition and far better results.

In this episode, Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell unpack the local marketing strategies that actually move books. From wine bars hosting “books and bubbly” nights to thriller-and-whiskey pairings, cookbook tastings, boutique retail partnerships, fitness collaborations, farmers markets, seasonal festivals, and school appearances, we break down how authors can create events and partnerships that feel engaging, profitable, and easy for businesses to say yes to.

We also talk about why local visibility matters far more than most authors realize. Community exposure can fuel Amazon traffic, strengthen word-of-mouth marketing, create stronger reader trust, and open doors to media, speaking opportunities, and long-term platform growth. The authors seeing the best results are often the ones creating visibility in places their competitors never think to look.

You’ll hear practical strategies for pitching businesses that have never stocked books before, setting up simple consignment arrangements, building collaborative events that benefit everyone involved, and turning small local wins into momentum that compounds over time.

Plus, we share overlooked “micro marketing” tactics with surprisingly big payoff, including QR-code bookmarks, local networking opportunities, seasonal tie-ins, collaborative giveaways, and smart ways to move readers from in-person discovery into your long-term digital funnel.

If online marketing feels crowded and exhausting, this episode will show you why local visibility may be the smartest — and most underused — book marketing strategy available to authors right now.

Send us your feedback!

Order Penny's latest book, Think Local Sell Global and start building a book sales strategy you have more control over!

📱 Text Penny & Amy: Send your marketing questions, show feedback, and episode ideas. Text PODCAST to (888) 402-8940 to join and get new episode alerts. Save our number!

⭐ Enjoying the show? Please follow the podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help more authors discover the show!

💬 Don't use Apple Podcasts or Spotify? Email your review to info@amarketingexpert.com and we'll feature it on our website.

You hired help so publishing would feel easier. Instead, your Amazon listing disappears, your book ends up connected to the wrong author page, and suddenly nobody can figure out who actually owns the account. Sound dramatic? We wish it were rare.

In this episode, Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell pull back the curtain on the publishing disasters they keep seeing behind the scenes, many caused not by outright scams, but by freelancers, “experts,” and AI-generated advice that sounds confident while quietly breaking your publishing foundation. From KDP accounts set up incorrectly to authors losing access to their own metadata, royalties, and retail pages, we unpack the mistakes that can create months of cleanup and long-term visibility problems.

We also talk about the growing role AI is playing in publishing confusion. ChatGPT and other tools can absolutely help authors brainstorm and streamline work, but publishing platforms evolve constantly, and outdated instructions combined with inexperienced providers can create expensive messes fast. Just because advice sounds polished does not mean it is current, strategic, or even correct.

Most importantly, we explain how to protect yourself before problems happen. We cover the must-have ownership rules every author needs to know, the red flags that should immediately make you pause, the questions to ask before hiring anyone, and why retaining control of your Amazon infrastructure, website, and publishing assets is non-negotiable if you want a sustainable author career.

If you want to avoid the publishing mistakes that cost authors time, money, rankings, and sanity, this episode is required listening.

Send us your feedback!

Order Penny's latest book, Think Local Sell Global and start building a book sales strategy you have more control over!

📱 Text Penny & Amy: Send your marketing questions, show feedback, and episode ideas. Text PODCAST to (888) 402-8940 to join and get new episode alerts. Save our number!

⭐ Enjoying the show? Please follow the podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help more authors discover the show!

💬 Don't use Apple Podcasts or Spotify? Email your review to info@amarketingexpert.com and we'll feature it on our website.