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Wealth Streams Academy
368 members • Free
Lessons in Self Publishing
460 members • Free
8 contributions to Lessons in Self Publishing
29d •
The Gap Between Two Launches
I compared two authors who published in the same month, same genre, similar quality. Six months later, one had a steady stream of readers finding their book weekly. The other hadn't sold a copy since launch week. When I looked closer, the gap wasn't talent, effort, or even marketing budget. It was something much simpler. Anyone want to guess before I share?
0 likes • 3d
@Summer Riley Jumping in here, Summer, YouTube can genuinely work well for authors, especially for building that personal connection you mentioned, letting readers see the person behind the book rather than just the cover and blurb. It tends to work best as consistent content rather than a one-off video, think behind-the-scenes, writing process, or genre talk rather than pure promotion. Would love to hear if you've experimented with it yourself yet, or if you're just exploring the idea for now.
1 like • 2d
@Summer Riley Glad to hear it! One small tip that's worked for a lot of authors on YouTube, keeping it short and personal, sharing your writing process or the story behind the book, tends to land better with readers than polished promo content.
Jul 16 •
The Pattern Nobody Talks About
I've noticed something odd. The authors who eventually get the most readers are rarely the ones who write the "best" book. There's a specific reason for that, and most people never figure it out until years in. Anyone else notice this pattern?
1 like • 5d
@Beth Macy That's exactly it, Beth, and if I had to pick the single biggest factor, I would say it is consistency after the book is already out. Visibility, relationships, discoverability, they all sound like separate things, but they are really just outcomes of one habit: showing up regularly instead of treating launch as the finish line. Authors who keep engaging with readers, sharing updates, and staying visible months later almost always outperform authors with a "better" book who go quiet after week one. The book gets you started, but consistency is what actually builds the audience over time. If you don't mind, feel free to reach out to me directly, I'd be happy to walk you through a few more steps on how you can promote your book.
2 likes • 3d
@Lenore Rosewood That's exactly it, Lenore. If I had to name the single biggest factor, it would be consistency after launch, staying visible and connected with readers long after the initial excitement fades, instead of treating publish day as the finish line. Visibility and reaching the right audience really come from that ongoing effort, not a one time push. Authors who keep showing up consistently tend to build momentum slowly but steadily, while the ones who go quiet after launch often lose whatever traction they had.
Jul 24 •
One conversation can change your entire journey.
When I began building my online business, I believed success came from figuring everything out on my own. I spent countless hours learning, making mistakes, and second-guessing every decision. Looking back, I wasn't lacking effort; I was lacking the right guidance. Everything started to change when I learned from someone who had already achieved the results I wanted. That guidance saved me from unnecessary mistakes, gave me a clearer direction, and helped me make better decisions with confidence. I think self-publishing is very similar. Writing the book is only one part of the journey. Publishing, positioning, marketing, and reaching the right readers all come with their own challenges. The good news is that no one has to figure it all out alone. That's one of the reasons I joined Lessons in Self Publishing. This community is full of people with different experiences, and one shared lesson can save someone else weeks or even months of frustration. So I'd love to hear from everyone here: Where are you in your self-publishing journey? What's the biggest challenge you're facing right now? If you could get guidance in one area, writing, publishing, marketing, or getting reviews- what would it be? Don't keep your struggles to yourself. Sharing them might be the first step toward finding the answer you're looking for, and your experience could help another author move forward. Let's learn from each other. What's the one thing you need help with today?
2 likes • 29d
@Jessica Willow That's great to hear, eCommerce definitely teaches you a lot about visibility and consistency too, probably even faster than most niches. For me, aside from working with authors, I also help Etsy and Shopify sellers increase their sales, a lot of the same principles apply, understanding your audience, staying visible, and building trust consistently rather than chasing one time spikes. It's less about one specific niche and more about applying those core principles wherever they fit. What platform are you mainly selling on, and what's been the biggest challenge for you so far?
1 like • 5d
@Sophia Holloway Glad that resonates, Sophia. Honestly, the strategy that's made the biggest difference isn't a single tactic, it's staying consistent in the right places rather than spreading thin across everything. For most authors I work with, that means picking one or two platforms where their ideal readers already spend time and showing up there regularly, rather than trying to be everywhere at once. Pair that with genuinely engaging with readers, not just broadcasting, and that's usually what moves the needle most. If you don't mind, feel free to reach out to me directly, I'd be happy to walk you through a few more steps on how you can promote your book.
🔥
Jun 17 •
Authors ✍️ What's Your Biggest Struggle Right Now? 👇
What's your biggest frustration? 😊 I'm genuinely curious, and it'll help me understand what authors are struggling with most right now. Feel free to leave a comment too
Poll
7 members have voted
2 likes • Jul 28
@Adeline Carter Great question, Adeline. A few things I have seen make the biggest difference: getting really specific on who your ideal reader is before you market at all, building relationships in communities like this one instead of just broadcasting, and treating launch as the start of visibility rather than the end. Consistency after publication matters just as much as the launch itself, that is honestly where I see most authors drop off. Happy to go deeper on any of those if it would help.
0 likes • 29d
@S H That makes sense, in person sales work because the trust is already there before you even ask. Honestly, getting 2-3 sales a year just from word of mouth tells me there's real demand for your book, it just hasn't reached anyone outside your circle yet. That's actually a good sign. I have a pretty specific idea for how you could take that same word of mouth approach and translate it online without it feeling forced or salesy. Since we're just in the comments here, feel free to message me directly and I'll walk you through it.
Jul 28 •
The One Small Thing
I recently asked a handful of readers what makes them leave a 5 star review versus just quietly finishing a book and moving on. The answer had nothing to do with plot or writing quality. It came down to one small thing most authors never think to do. Anyone want to guess what it is before I share?
3 likes • Jul 29
Great point, Carley, that distinction between feeling appreciated versus feeling persuaded is everything. From what I have seen, they actually work best together, but at different points. The author note inside the book plants the seed while the reader is still emotionally connected to the story, so it feels natural rather than salesy. A follow-up email or message later works as a gentle reminder, especially for readers who meant to leave a review but got busy and forgot. Used alone, the note tends to get a few reviews right after finishing, but pairing it with a follow-up usually catches the readers who needed a nudge later on.
4 likes • Jul 31
You're spot on, Lili! It really does come down to that personal connection after the last page, a simple thank you or invitation to share their thoughts, done genuinely, makes readers feel like part of the journey rather than just an audience. That feeling is usually what turns into a review, not the quality of the writing alone. Have you tried something like that with your own readers, or is it something you're thinking about adding? By the way, would you be open to connecting sometime? I would love to hear more about your book and what you're working on.
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