Hey, I've spent the last few days working on the very first episode of the Image Workshop - where I turn your book covers into killer Facebook Ads. And it's just gone live on YouTube. Watch it here. Episode One To kick things off, I focus on the most fundamental issue I see with authors' Facebook Ads: composition. We take things slowly for the first couple of covers, before whizzing through a bunch more - showing how these principles apply to romance, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, and...
4 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey, Iām going to argue with you today. Well, maybe not you specifically, but Iām going to high-tackle the growing consensus that Facebook Ads Donāt Work Anymore. The Book Marketing Tier List is backā¦ and Iām here with it, to explain myself. Namely, why Facebook Ads are S-Tier. Still. In 2024. Before you harrumph too hard over there, let me add that I havenāt been boned by the 2024 changes which have caused such dismay in Authorland. My ads are still just as effective, and I think you can...
5 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 16 min read
Hey, I spent the weekend hauling boxes across half of Portugal ā hence the delayed newsletter ā but the good news is I have my office back. Which means I can record videos again (and yes, we will cover the 2024 Facebook changes soon, which are throwing some for a loop but not yours truly, as Iām dodging AI nonsense like a pro). In fact, I made a little private video just for my Decoders peeps, showing off my most used work tool ā which is not my computer anymore. Yes, Iām now using my...
5 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 17 min read
Hey, We're not messin' around anymore - A-Tier's here, putting the fear of Shrimp Jesus into the morass of mediocre marketing options. Today we're covering some seriously heavy hitters: Amazon Ads, Freebooksy Series Promos, and the Almighty Algorithms which increasingly rule our online lives - particularly the range of platforms used by authors to publish their work, find readers, and deepen engagement with fans. Just FYI, as Iāve been asked, almost everything in this series is applicable to...
5 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 12 min read
Hey, We all want to sell more books but sometimes it can be difficult to figure out the right strategy - regardless of your experience. Step 1 is examining the options at your disposal, and prioritizing. Which can be hard to do without trying everything first... and burning through a ton of cash. But why do that when you can burn through mine LOL. Yes, it's another episode in my soon-to-be-renowned Book Marketing Tier List. And today we're looking at B-Tier. Last week we reviewed C-Tier -...
6 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 8 min read
Hey, I'm writing from a beautiful little town called [Redacted] on the south coast of Portugal. If anyone ever gives you the chance to go there, I recommend taking them up on it, assuming their identity, stealing their house, and then dumping their body at sea. (Guess who has been watching Ripley?) The reason I have murder on my mind today is because I have a deal for you which slays. Not just any deal ā THE deal. You know the one. It comes around twice a year. Everyone goes nuts. The world...
6 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 8 min read
Hey, I'm sure you know that feeling of not having enough hours in the day. Indie authors especially struggle with this because the moment we begin to unwind a sense of guilt creeps in. "Shouldn't I be doing something to promote my books?" It's an easy trap to fall into, even when at the writing desk which is supposed to be our happy place. And that's especially true when sales slow down because that tricksy inner voice we all have can plant seeds of doubt. "What's the point if no one's buying...
7 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 8 min read
Hey, Google is making a big change soonālikeā¦ in a matter of daysāwhich will have a huge impact on email marketing. Itās highly technical (and super boring) but it could prison-shank your author newsletter unless you take a couple of steps now, and also embrace best practices generally over the longer term. Be warned: these are requirements not recommendations. Today weāll run through whatās happeningāin plain Englishāi.e. who is affected, how you can sort it out, and why this is ultimately a...
9 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 6 min read
Hey, Writing a book is easy, I tell anyone with literary ambitions, just grab a dictionary and rearrange the words. Okay, okay, if you are one of those fussy sorts who cares about the quality of your books, things can be a little more complicatedāespecially if you keep putting words in the order wrong. But we really do have an endless well of words and stories inside of usā¦ if we can get out of our own way. It's the same with writing newsletters. You might think you have nothing to say to...
9 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 6 min read