Publish & Prosper
Where publishing, ecommerce, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com.
Episodes
54 episodes
How to Create A Writing Habit That Actually Sticks
Is this the year you’re finally going to publish that book? Or maybe you just want to write more than you did last year. In this episode Lauren & Matt share tips for building a writing habit in a way that works best for you… and set a fe...
•
Episode 53
•
47:09
Did Indie Authors Publish and Prosper in 2024?
In this episode Matt & Lauren recap some of the hottest topics and trends in the publishing industry from 2024, and make a few predictions for 2025. Thanks for a great year of publishing and prospering with us!&...
•
Episode 52
•
49:52
Finding Your Niche, Your Ideal Reader, and Your Target Audience
In this episode Lauren & Matt explore the journey to successful audience growth by finding your content niche, defining your ideal reader, and identifying your target audience. We also discuss the value of learning from other creators, w...
•
Episode 51
•
46:22
Debunking Myths and Misconceptions About Self-Publishing
In this episode, Matt & Lauren tackle some of the most common misconceptions about self-publishing. We debunk myths like: ❌ You won’t make any money self-publishing❌ You have to spend a lot of money to self-publish...
•
Episode 50
•
44:39
What Keeps Self-Published Books Off the New York Times Best-Seller Lists?
In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss the New York Times Best Seller lists. Learn how the lists are decided, what disqualifies a book from being a potential NYT Best-Seller, and why self-published authors rarely m...
•
Episode 49
•
46:10
What Does Taylor Swift Know About Book Publishing?
In this episode, Matt & Lauren have a conversation about Taylor Swift’s upcoming book, talking through her decision to self-publish it, and what that says about the future of traditional publishing. Disclaimer: This episo...
•
Episode 48
•
45:00
Metrics That Matter: A Guide for Authors & Creators
In this episode, Lauren & Matt review the important metrics you need to be tracking to boost your book sales, grow your brand, and connect with a loyal audience. We take a look at social media, email, website, and customer data and share...
•
Episode 47
•
47:50
How to Maximize ROI on In-Person Events
In this episode, Matt & Lauren share tips for maximizing your return on investment when you attend a conference. We have our top picks for note-taking, strategies for putting your ideas into action, and using your conference experience t...
•
Episode 46
•
46:44
Ask Matt (and Lauren) Anything: Answering Your Questions
It’s officially been one year of Publish & Prosper! Join Lauren & Matt for a special Ask Us Anything episode, where we take listener questions about publishing, marketing, Lulu products, and - of course - Disney. W...
•
Episode 45
•
44:42
How to Repurpose Your Book (and Other Content) for Social Media
In this episode, Matt & Lauren review the best ways to repurpose content for social media. They talk through reusing your existing social content, reposting other people’s social content, and repurposing your book material as social cont...
•
Episode 44
•
57:40
Make Your Self-Published Books Stand Out with Custom Details
Custom and special edition books are more popular than ever - and more accessible than ever. In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore how indie authors can create custom editions of their self-published books. We look at popular customizat...
•
Episode 43
•
51:23
Should Self-Published Authors Use Beta Readers and Sensitivity Readers?
In this episode, Matt & Lauren help you maximize your book’s potential with early readers like beta readers, sensitivity readers, and industry reviewers. We take a look at how and when to engage with them, how they can help your book, an...
•
Episode 42
•
49:57
How to Drive Book Sales Without Offering Discounts
In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore creative ways to boost book sales! Learn how limited editions, bundles, personalized products, and more can incentivize new and returning shoppers to buy directly from you - without resorting ...
•
Episode 41
•
48:13
Getting Your Bookstore Ready for the Holidays
In this episode, Matt & Lauren tackle the upcoming holiday season. They’ll discuss best practices for getting your books ready, optimizing your site or bookstore, speaking to gift givers instead of your target audience, and re...
•
Episode 40
•
51:36
Pain Point Solutions for Your Ecommerce Store
In this episode, Lauren & Matt tackle some common pain points entrepreneurs and ecommerce store owners struggle with. We’ll talk through solutions and tips for collecting sales tax, setting up shipping and managing shipping issues, and p...
•
Episode 39
•
45:27
From Manuscript to Market: 5+ Tools to Help You Draft, Publish, and Sell Your Book
Self-publishing might be a DIY publishing model, but there are plenty of tools and resources to help you get your book from manuscript to market. In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss a debatable number of tools to help you draft, edit,...
•
Episode 38
•
44:42
How to Get Your Book Into Indie Bookstores
In this episode, Lauren & Matt review strategies for getting your self-published book into indie bookstores, including participating in consignment programs, pitching yourself for author events, and making your book available through ret...
•
Episode 37
•
41:29
The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
In this episode, Matt and Lauren take listeners on a journey through self-publishing and traditional publishing. We’ll look at where those paths overlap, where they diverge, and what to expect on your publishing adventure. D...
•
Episode 36
•
50:55
Designing the Right Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Book
In this episode, Lauren & Matt dive into what makes a successful go-to-market strategy for your book. Learn how to pick the right launch date and products, choose the best sales and distribution platforms, and craft effective pre-launch ...
•
Episode 35
•
46:30
Hooking New Readers With a Compelling Book Description
In this episode, Lauren attempts to convince Matt (and the listeners) of the power of a well-written book description. Listen in to learn how to craft a compelling book description that will help you hook new readers.Have a questi...
•
Episode 34
•
54:34
Books You Can Create Using Your Existing Content
In this episode, Lauren & Matt share ideas for repurposing your existing content. Hint: it's by turning that content into a book. We share ideas for both nonfiction and fiction book projects, including options that require little to no n...
•
Episode 33
•
44:20
5 Things to Know Before You Start Publishing
In this episode, Matt & Lauren review five things you’ll need to know before you start on your publishing journey! We share insights about knowing your content, knowing your goals, knowing your limits, knowing your audience, and knowing ...
•
Episode 32
•
43:41
Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore
In this episode Lauren & Matt talk through the 7 essential steps to building your own online bookstore. From choosing the right platform to launching your site, we’ll cover everything you need to know to sell your self-published books di...
•
Episode 31
•
52:34
Finding Your Place in Author & Reader Communities
In this episode, Matt & Lauren debate the distinctions between author and reader communities, discuss the value of participating in either, and share some suggestions for how to bridge the gap between them. Dive Deeper
•
Episode 30
•
45:44
3 Steps to Prep for an Author Event (and What to Do When You’re There)
In this episode, Lauren & Matt share their insights from attending dozens of author events to set you up for success. Hear tips for preparing sales strategies and inventory, promoting the event to your fans, and maximizing your presence ...
•
Episode 29
•
48:44