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Smart Author

Smart Author

Written by: Chris Benetti
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About this listen

Welcome to the Smart Author Podcast! In this show Chris Benetti and his guests share information, insights and tools to help Smart Authors sell more books and ascend their book buyers and readers into backend sales for their core business.

 Art Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Episode 77: Scaling with Social Media with Lauren Tickner

    Episode 77: Scaling with Social Media with Lauren Tickner
    Jan 13 2025

    In this episode, Chris sits down with Lauren Tickner, founder of Scale Systems, to dive into the world of organic marketing and her experience with self-liquidating funnels. Lauren shares her journey of building a strong personal brand and how simplifying messaging and leveraging authority in content can drive significant sales results.

    The conversation also explores Lauren's plans to write a book, which she intends to use as a key component of her marketing strategy to enhance her funnels and scale her business further. Packed with actionable insights and practical advice, this episode is perfect for anyone seeking to grow their lead generation efforts and boost sales through organic or paid strategies.

    Episode Highlights:

    00:00 – Welcome, Smart Authors!

    00:18 – Reconnecting with Lauren
    Chris shares how he and Lauren first connected in 2017 during her fitness journey and early funnel experiments.

    02:01 – The Evolution of Organic Marketing
    Lauren discusses her transition from fitness to helping businesses leverage organic marketing effectively.

    05:44 – Why Authority Intros Matter
    The importance of establishing credibility in content to build trust and attract the right audience.

    07:50 – The Power of Proving Expertise
    Lauren explains how showcasing evidence and storytelling enhances authority with prospects.

    11:22 – Simplifying Messaging for Sales
    Why overcomplicated offers fail and how direct, clear messaging can drive better results.

    19:08 – Mastering a Niche for Business Success
    Lauren emphasizes the importance of specialization and mastering one area for scaling effectively.

    20:44 – The Magic of Low-Ticket Funnels
    Exploring the scalability, profitability, and potential of self-liquidating offers.

    24:30 – A Scientific Approach to Book Funnels
    Lauren’s plan for testing topics and titles before committing to a book project.

    29:34 – Books as High-Quality Lead Generators
    How books attract action-oriented, high-quality leads and outshine other marketing assets.

    35:51 – The Future of Marketing Assets
    Combining organic, paid, and low-ticket offers to create a powerful multi-channel strategy.

    42:14 – Evaluating Ad Spend and ROI
    Tips for scaling ad spend while mitigating risks like refunds and low-quality leads.

    49:06 – Thank you for listening

    If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!

    Connect with Lauren:

    - https://www.facebook.com/@lauren.tickner

    Resources:

    - Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com

    - Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat

    Subscribe:

    - Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube

    - Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple

    Connect with Smart Author Media:

    - Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    54 mins
  • Episode 76: Publicity 101 for Authors with Leah Paulos

    Episode 76: Publicity 101 for Authors with Leah Paulos
    Dec 16 2024
    In this episode of The Smart Author Podcast, Chris is joined by Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. Leah shares her journey from journalism to becoming a leading book publicist and provides invaluable insights on leveraging PR for your book. Learn how to craft compelling pitches, build effective media lists, and secure media coverage for your book—without breaking the bank. Discover actionable strategies for promoting your book pre- and post-publication and explore how Book Publicity School empowers authors to navigate the complex world of media and publishing. Whether you're new to PR or looking to amplify your book's reach, this episode is packed with practical advice. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome, Smart Authors! 01:13 – Meet Leah PaulosLeah discusses her background in PR, running both Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. 01:38 – Leah’s Journey to PRFrom journalism to PR: Leah’s career evolution and how it shaped her expertise in publicity. 02:19 – The Journalist’s PerspectiveHow Leah’s experience as a magazine editor helped her understand and excel in PR. 03:13 – Starting Press Shop PRLeah shares the story of transitioning from consulting to founding her own PR agency. 04:11 – Breaking Into Book PublicityLeah’s first author client and how it led her to specialize in book publicity. 06:20 – Demystifying Publicity for AuthorsWhy Leah focused on making PR accessible and jargon-free for authors through her website. 07:05 – The Birth of Book Publicity SchoolHow Book Publicity School was created to help authors access affordable, effective PR resources. 08:17 – The Changing Role of PublishersWhy modern authors need to take charge of their own publicity efforts. 09:30 – Navigating Media and PublishingHow Book Publicity School equips authors to manage these often opaque industries. 11:19 – The Core of Book Publicity SchoolLeah explains the key elements of the school, including crafting pitches and building media lists. 13:09 – Tailored PR Strategies for AuthorsHow Leah helps authors refine their messaging and target the right audiences. 15:14 – Building Feasible and Effective CampaignsThe importance of balancing ambitious goals with realistic outreach strategies. 17:00 – Leveraging Media PlacementsUsing initial media wins to snowball into larger opportunities. 19:27 – The Book as a Long-Term ProductWhy authors should view their book as a long-term investment, not a short-term project. 20:26 – Big Name CampaignsLeah reflects on high-profile projects, including Neil deGrasse Tyson and Representative John Lewis. 23:16 – The Puzzle of Book PublicityWhy Leah finds working with lesser-known authors and books especially rewarding. 24:15 – Giving Journalists a StoryHow crafting compelling angles for journalists leads to media coverage. 27:13 – A Unique Approach to PublicityWhy Book Publicity School fills a gap in the market with practical, campaign-based workshops. 28:03 – Where to Find Leah and Her ResourcesDetails on accessing Book Publicity School, Press Shop PR, and Leah’s monthly free workshops. 30:05 – Thank you for listening If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share! Connect with Leah: Book Publicity School- https://www.bookpublicityschool.com/ Press Shop- https://www.pressshoppr.com/ LinkedIn:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpaulos/ Resources: - Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com - Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat Subscribe: - Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube - Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple Connect with Smart Author Media: - Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    31 mins
  • Episode 75: From Wedding Photographer to 8-Figure Coaching Business with Stephen Diaz

    Episode 75: From Wedding Photographer to 8-Figure Coaching Business with Stephen Diaz
    Dec 9 2024

    Join Chris in this episode of The Smart Author Podcast as he sits down with Stephen Diaz of The Rainmaker Family. Stephen shares his incredible journey from wedding photography to building an 8-figure coaching business that helps moms create financial freedom through Amazon businesses. The conversation dives deep into marketing strategies, including the power of live and evergreen challenges, how to turn those into books, and the systems behind scaling a successful coaching program. Stephen also reveals how his team tracks milestones, ensures client success, and continues to innovate. Whether you’re looking for marketing insights or inspiration to scale your business, this episode is packed with actionable advice and valuable lessons.

    Episode Highlights:

    00:00 – Intro

    01:53 – From wedding photographer to $10M+ business owner

    05:22 – The bigger the problem you solve the more $$$ you make

    12:13 – The shift after the pandemic hit

    14:16 – Challenges catapulted the business

    19:37 – Leveraging assets that work for the audience

    21:31 – Moms hit 6-figures every 14 days

    24:06 – Challenge to client conversion rates

    29:33 – Why market awareness in marketing is important

    33:59 – Where to find Stephen

    34:48 – Thank you for listening

    If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!

    Connect with Stephen:

    - https://rainmakerfamily.com/

    - https://www.instagram.com/steezdiaz/

    Resources:

    - Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com

    - Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat

    Subscribe:

    - Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube

    - Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple

    Connect with Smart Author Media:

    - Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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