So you wrote a good book, but you can’t seem to get reviews. Do you just throw up your hands? Why do reviews and ratings even matter?

Well, the more reviews a book has, the better it will sell and the more reviews it will get. Without the social proof of reviews, readers scroll past your book listing, algorithms ignore you, and sales flatline.

So, how do you get more book reviews?

In this week’s episode, we’ll hear from Joe Walter of Independent Book Review. You’ll learn

• Three different kinds of reviews that can help your book gain visibility
• How ratings and reviews differ (and the easiest places to get each)
• Which tools can make the process of gathering reviews more efficient

No reviews = no trust = no sales. Find out how to fix that. Listen in or read the blog version and learn to use book ratings and reviews to increase your author credibility, book visibility, and sales.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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Most authors either avoid AI or use it badly. Let’s fix that.

Authors who learn to use AI find that they have more time to write better books.

In this week’s episode, Joanna Penn and I break down where to start, which tools are actually worth using, and how to get useful output instead of bland tasteless, voiceless, AI slop.

You’ll learn

• How to prompt ChatGPT like a coworker
• The best tools for images, deep research reports, audio, and marketing tasks
• Ways to use AI that you probably haven’t considered before
• The most important AI prompting tip you will ever learn

Listen now or read the blog version to learn how AI can do tasks you hate, sharpen your author voice, and give you more time to do the creative work you wanted to do when you first started writing.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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Every author needs editorial feedback. But not all feedback is good.

If you accept every edit, you risk losing your voice and writing something bland. If you ignore all edits, you risk writing something sloppy that readers won’t buy. So how do you know which edits to take and which to toss?

In this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• 7 “Bewares” to help you sort out good and bad editorial suggestions
• Whether AI or human editors are helpful or hurtful
• How to develop good tastes that guide your writing voice
  
  
  

Editing is supposed to sharpen your writing, not smother your voice. Listen in or read the blog version to find out when you should (and shouldn’t) ignore feedback.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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Most writing conferences teach you how to write a better book or how to pursue a literary agent. But what if you have already written a great book and you need help selling it? Is there a conference for you?

Yes! Announcing the 2026 Novel Marketing Conference, a live, in-person event focused on helping you market and sell more books.

The 2026 conference is packed with innovations you won’t find anywhere else:

• 100% live, interactive sessions
• A small group of writers who write in your genre
• Guidance on creating a customized plan for your upcoming year
• Excellent teaching by experts

You’ll leave the conference with a 100-page workbook full of actionable steps to grow your author platform, increase book sales, and start the year with a clear plan.

🎟️ Early bird tickets are on sale now through September 30, 2025. Prices start at just $299, and our limited number of Super Tickets are going fast, so reserve your spot today at ​NovelMarketingConference.com​.

​Listen in​ to hear more details or ​read the blog version​ to see the tentative schedule as well as photos from past conferences.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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If you write picture books, chapter books, or middle-grade fiction, you know the challenge: kids read your books, but adults buy them.

So how can you let young readers know about your books? Where can you connect with your readers? By meeting them in person in school classrooms!

In this week's episode, award-winning author Becca Wierwille shares how school visits became her best book marketing strategy and how you can start doing them too.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to get your first (and second!) school visit
• What to include in your presentation to keep students engaged and coming back for more
• How to make it easy for school administrators to say "Yes!" to your visit

School visits are fun! Listen in or read the blog version to discover how you can connect with young readers, positively impact schools, and sell more books.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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What’s up with ruthless heroes and romantasy?

And what if the real reason your book isn’t selling has nothing to do with your writing and everything to do with the zeitgeist?

In this week’s Novel Marketing episode, we’re ​featuring an episode of Author Update​. We unpack the massive cultural shift that's changing what readers crave. From romantasy's domination to the hunger for noble dark heroes, we explore what sells and why in the new "spirit of the age."

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The future of books with morally gray, sword-wielding protagonists
• How Gen Z’s love for brutal heroes reveals a deeper desire
• What the shift from grimdark to noble bright means for your next story

​Listen in​ or read the ​blog version​ to dive into the vibes shaping the future of fiction.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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Ever wonder how some authors consistently sell a thousand books a month?

What marketing tactics are they using? How can I get those results too?

In the latest episode of the Novel Marketing Podcast, I talk with Susan Neal, author of nine books and CEO of the Christian Indie Publishing Association. Susan shares how she layers her marketing efforts—from podcast interviews to press releases—to drive book sales month after month.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn:

• Which tactics helped her sell 7,000 books in 8 months
• How to successfully pitch podcasts, blogs, and media outlets
• How to avoid common author mistakes that hinder sales

Whether you’re launching your first book or looking to grow sales of your back list, listen in or read the blog version. You’ll be inspired by Susan’s method and eager to try her tactics.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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Publicity has always been important for authors. Mark Twain promoted his books by writing letters to the paper, and even Agatha Christie, who was known for being very private, still did interviews with prominent newspapers.

Yet some authors think this kind of publicity is old-fashioned. In a world dominated by social media, do we even need traditional PR anymore?

If you've ever wondered how to get your book featured in the media—or whether it's even worth trying—you won’t want to miss this episode of Novel Marketing.

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from veteran publicist Marika Flatt from PR by the Book to talk about:

• Whether or not traditional media still matters
• The difference between earned media, paid media, and everything in between
• What mistakes to avoid when giving interviews
• The surprising way Good Morning America and Joe Rogan differ when it comes to book sales

Whether you’re ready to hire a PR firm or just want to understand how media can help spread the word about your book, listen in or read the blog version of this episode.

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

https://novelmarketingconference.com/

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