AuthorMBA: Conversations About Book Marketing, Publishing, Author Platforms, and Other Business Strategies for Authors

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Chris Johnson and Jason Moore aren't authors, but they help some of the biggest authors launch their books with a BANG! From Seth Godin to Arianna Huffington to Ryan Holiday, Chris and Jason—and their company, Simpliflim—produce blockbuster media assets that are positioned to rocket book attention and sales into the stratosphere. In this lively episode, you'll learn all about the the state of book marketing at the highest levels as well as their insights into how the industry is evolving. We delve into a bunch of subjects, from the ROI of marketing campaigns to the appropriateness of certain types of marketing for certain kinds of books. It's a jam-packed show. After the show, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #authormba with your questions and comments. Enjoy!


C.C. Chapman has been working in the realm of content for a while now. He first seized the opportunity of emerging web 2.0 platforms to catapult his writing career, which has admittedly grown fast and done well. He now has a thriving consulting career and exciting new business prospects. But the journey hasn't always been glamorous. And questions of 'what to do next' always remain. Chapman shares how he managed to grow his career to where it is today, and what is catching his eye about the business of books tomorrow. And together, we explore the interesting intersection of what brands can learn from authors, and what authors can learn from brands. Plug in and listen up because there's a lot to get through in today's episode! After the show, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA with your questions and comments. Enjoy!


By today's standards, "build marketing into your book" has become common business advice for authors. There are, of course, a bajillion ways to go about doing that, some more effective than others. Jason Sadler, now Jason SurfrApp of IWearYourShirt.com fame, has embraced that logic in a mind-blowing way: he has a sponsor for every page in his book as well as the covers (front and back) and inside flaps. That may sound off-putting (yuck, too many sponsors!). But Jason is a seasoned professional on nurturing and integrating sponsorship relationships into consumer product experiences that are tastefully done, align with the message, and add value to the overall experience. In fact, Jason's entire book project for 'Creativity that Sales' is a wild, show-me-the-proof way of teaching how to blend creativity with business in a way that doesn't suck for the consumer. Jason's project—and entire approach and personality—is far more than just these promotions. In our chat, we explore how he's using this one-of-a-kind book project to begin a new chapter in his career as a creative professional, including future aspirations for "authorship." Join us as we delve into the truly extraordinary for author and publishing professionals. After the show, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #authormba with your questions and comments. Enjoy!

Direct download: 35_Jason_SurfrApp_Sadler_on_His_Wild_Book_Promotion_Model.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:08am EDT

More and more professionals these days are changing not only jobs but entire careers. That said, going from a pharmaceutical sales professional to a professor of and author on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship is a big and difficult leap. That's precisely the career change that David Burkus successfully made. Burkus teaches at Oral Roberts University and is the author of 'The Myths of Creativity: The Truth About How Innovative Companies and People Generate Great Ideas.' His work and personal story showcase the many artificial barriers that exist and obstruct us from developing the careers and businesses that we want for ourselves. In our chat, Burkus gets very personal and transparent about how he's overcome those struggles on his way to a blossoming author career with a highly anticipated second book already in the works. After the show, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #authormba with your questions and comments. Enjoy!


Brands don't only pertain to apparel companies like Nike, electronic manufacturers like Apple, tech companies like Twitter, or entertainment companies like Disney. For all the same marketplace positioning and economic advantage reasons, authors need to concentrate on developing magnetic and memorable brands too—both at their platform and book levels. Successful entrepreneur turned author Jeremiah Gardner is something of a Yoda about brand development. He joins the show today to share how his model for brand development—Lean Brand Development—is smarter and better tuned into the needs of today's entrepreneurial minded professionals, including authors. Oh, and Jeremiah's book campaign is going on RIGHT NOW! So, if you fancy an awesome business conversation with a savvy author who happens to be launching a book as we speak, then you're in the right place!

And for more, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA. Enjoy!

Direct download: 33_Jeremiah_Gardner_Teaches_Lean_Brand_Development_for_Authors.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

Business can be stressful, especially as an entrepreneur, right? Of course it can, and often is. But for Richard Sheridan, his life as a software entrepreneur is amazingly joyful. In fact, joy is the secret to his company's tremendous success. In 'Joy, Inc.', Richard reveals how a workplace culture build upon joy enables the most positive, productive, and profitable work. Not surprisingly, perhaps, joy is also at the root of Richard's success with the book. From nearly making a fatal mistake in writing the wrong book to pursuing a not-often-fun traditional book deal, Richard was able to remain joyful throughout. His result: an unexpected 'book effect' that is carrying his business to new heights. Join us as we explore just how Richard has managed to infused joy so successfully into his business and creative life, and how you can do the same! And for more, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA. Enjoy!

Direct download: 32_Richard_Sheridan_Discusses_His_Unexpected_Book_Effect.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:39am EDT

When big league authors like Tim Ferriss of 'The 4-Hour Workweek' fame need help with their book projects, they call Ryan Holiday. Ryan is particularly gifted at marketing, or "growth hacking" as has become the rage. And Ryan's an accomplished writer in his own right. His latest book, 'The Obstacle is the Way: Turning Adversity into Advantage', is a powerful read about the stoic qualities needed to get unstuck in your career and life. As a voracious reader (including the classics), Ryan draws upon a great wealth of knowledge for his book. Ryan joins me in this episode to talk about how stoic qualities are wonderfully advantageous for writers, and how they can embrace some "growth hacking" techniques to support their projects. Ryan is one of the smartest guys I know and have had the pleasure to speak with. I think this episode will prove such. Consequently, I think you'll really like it. Enjoy! And for more, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA. Enjoy!

Direct download: 31_Ryan_Holiday_on_Overcoming_Adversity_and_Growth_Hacking_for_Authors.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:42pm EDT

Benny Lewis is a first-time author, but you wouldn't know it from the resounding success of his first book, Fluent In 3 Months. The book became an international bestseller almost instantly thanks in part to his established and enthusiastic fan base, which happens to be a global audience. Benny joins the show to reveal some intimate details about his publishing process with HarperCollins—one of the big six traditional publishers—as well as how he's advancing his author career. Perhaps most fascinating are Benny's revelations about publishing books and become a successful author *outside* the United States. This chat is definitely one you don't want to miss as Benny is likely to blow your mind! And for more, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA. Enjoy!

Direct download: 30_Benny_Lewis_Explains_Why_Foreign_Book_Markets_Are_So_Important.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:17pm EDT

Shawn Murphy is devoted to the idea of infusing greater joy and responsibility into the modern workplace. He is turning to the world of books and publishing to expand the reach of his work. Along the way, he's learning a lot about what it's like to evolve from pure businessman to author entrepreneur. He's experimented with seeding his ideas by publishing a Snippet—a multimedia-based ebook. He's aligned himself with a book agent to seek a traditional book deal. And he's co-founded a growing community of likeminded business leaders at SwitchandShift.com. Shawn joins the show to talk about his observations as a first-time author pursuing the brighter career through books. If you're making this exciting evolution yourself, you'll really enjoy what Shawn has to say. And for more, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA. Enjoy!

Direct download: 29_Shawn_Murphy_on_Becoming_an_Author_as_a_Businessman.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:59pm EDT

Joshua Fields Millburn quit his comfortable corporate job in his thirties to pursue what he truly loved—writing books. In the few years since Joshua excited the corporate business world to work for himself in the book business world, he's developed an impressive readership and author platform at TheMinimalists.com as well as published a number of popular books. Stretching his author entrepreneur wings further, he teamed up with Ryan Nicodemus and Colin Wright (last week's guest) to create Asymmetrical Press, a micro-publishing company. Any way you slice it, Joshua has proven himself a success business-minded author with MBA-like instincts. In this candid chat, Joshua reveals a lot about his transformation into a thriving author entrepreneur, and how you can follow in his footsteps. And for more, find us on Twitter @WinningEdits or #AuthorMBA. Enjoy!

Direct download: 28_Joshua_Fields_Millburn_on_Building_a_Book_Business_from_Scratch.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:29am EDT