Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
Book marketing podcast for authors covering how to market a book, self-publishing, Amazon for authors, proven strategies to sell more books, and how to survive in this industry.
Join bestselling author and book marketing maven Penny Sansevieri and savvy publishing insider Amy Cornell for lively, no-nonsense conversations filled with smart strategies, creative inspiration, and publishing know-how you can actually use.
Whether you’re self-published, traditionally published, or somewhere in between, this podcast delivers real-world advice to help you sell more books, build your platform, and thrive in the ever-evolving publishing landscape. From clever promo hacks to critical industry insights, each episode is designed to move the needle on your success.
Fresh ideas. Actionable tips. Unfiltered talk.
If you’re serious about your author career, hit subscribe and tune in—your next big breakthrough could be one episode away.
Episodes
326 episodes
AI Is Scamming Authors: How to Spot Fake Book Marketing Before You Lose Money
Scam emails used to be obvious. Bad grammar, generic messaging, easy to ignore. That version is gone.Today’s scams sound like a real professional—someone who’s “read your book,” understands your audience, and has a polished, confident pl...
Your Amazon Retail Page Has a Problem and You Probably Can't See It
Your Amazon book page might be costing you sales—and the worst part is, you probably can’t see it.Most authors assume that once their book is uploaded, the hard part is done. But in reality, your Amazon page is a live sales environment, ...
Publicity Doesn’t Sell Books: What Authors Get Wrong (and What Works Instead)
Publicity feels like the breakthrough moment every author is chasing—but most big interviews, features, and media hits don’t translate into book sales the way you expect. In many cases, they don’t move the needle at all.In this episode, ...
The Word-of-Mouth Engine: How to Turn Readers Into Your Best Marketing Team
95% of books are sold through word of mouth—but most authors are still chasing reach instead of building relationships. That’s a problem, especially in a market where social media visibility is unpredictable and ad costs continue to climb.<...
Podcast Pitching Secrets For Authors: What Podcast Hosts Actually Say Yes To (Part 2)
“I’d love to come on your show and talk about my new book” is one of the fastest ways to get ignored.In Part 2 of this series, we move from mindset to execution—breaking down exactly how to pitch podcasts in a way that gets attention, ea...
Podcast Pitching Secrets for Authors: How to Get Booked on Podcasts (Part 1)
Most authors want podcast interviews to sell books—and that’s exactly why so many pitches get ignored.In this first episode of a two-part series, we break down the simple shift that changes everything: pitch value first. Your book...
Borrowed Buzz: The Smarter Way to Stay Visible Year-Round
Books aren’t “news” on their own anymore—and repeating “buy my book” is one of the fastest ways to burn out (and lose your audience’s attention).In this episode, we break down a smarter, more sustainable approach: borrowed bu...
Latest Goodreads Changes and Why They Matter for Authors
Goodreads recently rolled out changes that have authors and readers debating everything from review bombing to pre-publication ratings. In this episode, we break down what actually changed, what it means for authors, and how to respond without ...
How to Hire a Book Marketing Team Without Getting Burned
“Make you a bestseller.” It’s the loudest promise in book marketing—and often the least meaningful.In this episode, we break down how to distinguish real strategy from fear-based selling, AI-polished outreach, and high-pressure tactics d...
How To Get And Keep Amazon Book Reviews Without Getting Banned
Amazon reviews are the currency of credibility—and one misstep can cost you both visibility and account standing. In this episode, we break down exactly how to earn more reviews, keep the ones you get, and build a system that works long term—wi...
The Blueprint that Sells Books
The market doesn’t reward originality alone. It rewards clarity.Readers make buying decisions in seconds—and those seconds depend on signals: cover cues, category alignment, keyword precision, and a description that instantly communicate...
The 7-Day Amazon Ads Reset: What to Fix, What to Ignore, When to Scale
Most authors don’t have an ad problem.They have a patience problem.If you’ve ever stared at your Amazon dashboard 48 hours after launch and declared your campaign a disaster, this episode is for you.We’re breaking down the 7-D...
How to Land Book Reviews Without Burnout, Begging, or Bribes
Getting book reviews shouldn’t feel exhausting, awkward, or ethically murky. Yet many authors are stuck chasing influencers, sending endless cold emails, or quietly wondering why all that effort isn’t translating into real momentum.In th...
Why Readers Break Up With Books (and How to Make Yours a Long-Term Relationship)
Want more readers who buy, finish, and recommend your books? It starts with one thing most authors underestimate: keeping the promise your brand makes.In this episode, we break down the real driver of sustainable author gro...
Consistency That Sells: How Clear Branding Converts Browsers Into Buyers
A brand that doesn’t line up is a silent sales killer. We dig into why readers make snap judgments in under a second, how confusion and inconsistency create friction, and the small, practical moves that turn browsers into buyers. Think of brand...
Finding the Right Book Positioning And Why It Changes Everything
Feeling like every promo is uphill? We unpack why marketing stalls when a book is presented to the wrong readers — and how smart positioning turns traffic into sales. Penny and Amy break down the signals that shape buying decisions in under fiv...
Turning Amazon Pages Into Conversion Engines With A+ Content
Want a simple, concrete way to sell more books on Amazon? We’re taking you inside A+ Content—the image modules beneath your description—and showing how smart visuals, tight copy, and brand consistency can raise conversions, reduce returns, and ...
Why Your Book Isn’t Selling: Categories, Covers, And Clear Hooks
You can run ads, post daily, and grind all week—and still watch your book stall. The missing piece isn’t more hustle. It’s positioning. We pull back the curtain on the quiet issues that throttle sales!We start with the most common and c...
What Actually Predicts Book Sales And How To Focus Your Effort
Six years in, we’re starting the year by cutting through the noise and zeroing in on what truly predicts book sales. We unpack a practical framework that helps you diagnose why a launch spikes and stalls, why great reviews don’t always translat...
New Year, New Launch, New Podcast Format = Smarter Author Wins
We are so excited to share our new podcast format! In this short episode we break down what to expect in the new year! Based on your feedback and input, we're changing up our podcast to serve YOU even better!Ready to stop guessing your n...
Our Favorite Episodes of the Year (Plus a Few New Takeaways)
Last week, we counted down your favorite episodes based on downloads. This week? It’s our turn.In this end-of-year episode, Penny and Amy each revisit one standout episode they couldn’t stop thinking about — not just because...
Top Lessons From Our Most-Downloaded Episodes
As we wrap up the year, we’re celebrating you — the listeners who made this podcast such a powerful space for honest, practical conversations about author success.In this episode, we’re counting down the top 3 most-downloaded...
Stop Guessing, Start Selling: Positioning Your Book for Real Traction
Tired of shouting into the void with a book you believe in? We unpack a simple, proven path to clarity that makes every marketing move easier and cheaper: find your shelf, define your reader, and deliver the payoff your genre promises. Penny Sa...
Book Marketing Without Burnout: Do Less, Reach More Readers
Feeling like you’re doing everything and getting nowhere? We’ve been there, and we’re pulling the brakes on burnout to rebuild your book marketing on a foundation that actually moves books. Because book marketing burnout is real—and if you’ve b...
The New Media Strategy Every Author Needs Now
Want a media strategy that actually fits how authors work today? We’re flipping old-school media training on its head and showing how every post, interview, and Zoom window shapes your story. Instead of waiting for a big break, we walk through ...