Have you ever followed popular marketing advice that worked wonders for someone else but completely fell flat for you? Or have you watched another author succeed with a strategy you were told would never work?

That’s because book marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

In this week’s episode, I talk with USA Today bestselling author Russell Nohelty about Author Ecosystems—a framework that helps you understand the type of author you are and which marketing strategies are most likely to work for you.

You’ll discover:

• Why some authors succeed with rapid release while others succeed with traditional launches
• How to identify your own ecosystem and tailor your marketing strategy accordingly
• Which types of authors complement one another best

Whether you’re struggling to gain traction or just want to work smarter, this conversation will give you clarity and direction.

Listen in or check out the blog post to find links to the Author Ecosystems quiz and other resources to help you determine where you fit in the author ecosystem. It’s a great place to start.

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Most authors are thinking about AI the wrong way. AI isn’t really a tool for writing books, but it’s quickly becoming the most powerful tool for selling them. Even if you’re not using LLMs like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, or Claude, your readers are.

In fact, today, readers across the globe asked AI, “What book should I read next?”

Did ChatGPT recommend your book? How can you make sure it does?

If your book isn’t showing up in AI-generated recommendations, this week’s episode will tell you how you can make it happen.

Tune in to discover:

• Which of your digital assets is the most important AI optimization tool
• How to structure your website’s book pages so AI can read and understand them
• Which social media platforms AI trains on (and where your book info should be!)

Soon, there will be two types of authors: those recommended by AI and those wondering why their sales plummeted.

Don’t be left wondering why your sales took a dive! Listen in or read the blog version of this episode to help readers more easily discover your book with all the new search options they’re using.

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What if you had a toolbox filled with over 30 expert-level resources to help you sell more books and spend less time marketing?

In this week’s episode, I reveal the suite of powerful tools I’ve built to simplify writing and marketing for authors like you. From crafting irresistible blurbs to designing reader magnet covers, optimizing email campaigns, and even generating book launch plans, these tools are changing the game.

In this episode, you’ll discover tools to help you:

· Get almost any book marketing question answered (by “me”)

· Generate killer book blurbs in minutes

· Create a professional-looking cover for your reader magnet

· Generate a reader magnet (and other resources) for your book or topic

If you’ve ever wished for a personal assistant who works 24/7 and has more than 30 tools to advance your career, save you time, and sell your book, this episode is for you!

Listen in or read the blog version (with links!) to discover this innovative suite of tools that can streamline your work and give you more time to write.

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Are you leaving money on the table every time you share a link to your book?

In this week’s episode, we talk with Jesse Lakes, co-founder of Geniuslink, to explore how universal book links and affiliate marketing can help you reach more readers and earn extra income.

You’ll learn:

• Why Amazon.com links could be costing you sales
• The tools that make it easy to start earning today (and keep you compliant!)
• How to future-proof your book links

You’ve already done the work to write the book and make it available online. Now, make your book links work harder for you.

Listen in or check out the blog version (with all the links) to find your roadmap to universal book links.

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Without advertising, most books only sell to the author’s friends, family, and neighbors. People across the country or across town may never hear about your book. Amazon ads can help you reach beyond your social bubble.

Many authors think they need a series to make ads work, but that’s not true. You can run profitable ads even if you only have one book published.

In the latest episode of Novel Marketing, you’ll hear from author and Amazon advertiser Scott LaPierre. We discuss proven strategies to reach readers beyond your network and turn clicks into sales.

You’ll learn

• Which type of ads are most efficient for a stand-alone book
• How you can work smarter, not harder when setting up your ads
• How much you should spend on ads to get good data about whether they’re working for you

Listen in or read the blog version to get actionable tips and start advertising to unlock the power of Amazon’s search engine to boost your book’s visibility and sales.

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Publishing is changing faster than ever before. New AI tools are dropping every time you turn around, and the way authors write, publish, and sell books is being rewritten in real-time.

On Novel Marketing has been committed to sharing evergreen marketing principles that do not change, which is why it's become such a trusted resource for authors.

However, this strategy has left many authors on their own to sort out weekly publishing news. The result is that they find a lot of sensationalistic hearsay that spreads on author Facebook groups.

So, I asked myself, "How do I connect my audience with reliable publishing news while maintaining the evergreen nature of the podcast?"

With a brand-new show called Author Update!

Author Update is where we break down the latest news in publishing, from Amazon feature rollouts to global events that could affect book printing. We go beyond the headlines to talk about what it means for you as an author.

This week on Novel Marketing, we're sharing ​an episode of Author Update​ so you can get a taste of what the new show is like.

We'll cover

• Amazon AI-Powered Search
• Tariffs on Books
• The New "Read Sample" Option on Amazon
• The Economy
• China's American Book Ban
• How to Sound Smart
• And much more!

Blog & Audio Version

​Listen in​ or read the blog ​version of this episode​ to go beyond the headlines and find out what these changes mean for you as an author.

P.S. Author Update now airs live on YouTube Fridays at 4 PM Central and is available on all major podcast apps.

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Too many writers waste hundreds or thousands of dollars on laptop features they’ll never use. Worse yet, some struggle along with outdated, unreliable machines that sabotage their creativity and productivity.

Here’s what tech companies don’t want you to know: That pricey laptop with all the bells and whistles? Most of those features are totally useless for authors.

​This week’s episode​ is my 2025 Laptop Buying Guide for Authors. You’ll discover:

• Why the processor everyone obsesses over barely matters for writers • Why most professional authors choose Apple • What to avoid when shopping for your next laptop • Links to my laptop recommendations for every budget

As a tech nerd who’s been building computers since age 12 and helping thousands of authors over the last 15 years, I’ll cut through the hype and show you what really matters.

​Listen in​ or ​read the blog version​ and finally get a laptop that works for you, not against you.

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Description & Times
Building an email list made up of more than friends and family can feel impossible, especially before you've launched your first book. Eventually, you have to attract strangers. But how?

How do you convince strangers to join your email list?

We've been using a surprisingly effective method for years, yet I have never dedicated an entire podcast to it.

In this week's episode, you'll hear from author Kelly Jo Wilson, who grew her email list to over 7,000 subscribers using a surprising tool (hint: it's not ads).

You'll learn:

• How to turn giveaways into a powerful email growth engine using KingSumo
• How to attract your ideal readers (not just freebie hunters)
• How to collaborate with other authors to multiply your reach and your results

No matter what genre you write, Kelly's strategy is very reproducible. Listen in or read the blog version for ideas on how to grow your network, serve your readers, and grow your audience.

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