👋 WELCOME!
Directories
📃 SELF-PUBLISHING CHECKLIST + WORKBOOK + BONUS WORKSHEETS
What Makes a Good, True, and Beautiful Book?
Overview of Self-Publishing
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Video Overview (11:03)
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My Story & Getting on the Same Page (13:17)
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The Different Types of Publishing
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Setting Realistic Expectations
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Why Should You Self-Publish?
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What Makes a Successful Author?
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Why Self-Publishing is Anything But the Self
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The Fiat Self-Publishing Model (4:22)
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The Fiat Self-Publishing Model (Image + Notetaking Sheet)
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⭐Favorite Self-Publishing Resources
Discerning God's Will for Your Book
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What is Discernment?
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Discernment Overview (5:43)
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Discernment Tips from Charbel Raish (5:47)
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A Constant Process
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Discernment Tips that Apply to All Stages
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Helpful Tips and Quotes from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
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(Video) Discernment Tips from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (67:16)
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(Video) Decision-Making and Discernment with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (30:42)
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Discernment Worksheet
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⭐ Supplemental Resources
Sanctity: Keeping God at the Center of Your Work
Creative Spark: Finding Inspiration for Your Book Idea
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Finding Inspiration and Clarity for Your Book Idea
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Finding Inspiration Video Overview (3:01)
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Tips for Finding Inspiration
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10 Book Ideas to Get You Brainstorming (7:01)
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Examples of Innovative Books
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Exploring Amazon Book Categories (6:22)
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Browsing Bestsellers (14:42)
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Auto-Populating Ideas Using the Search Bar (5:26)
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📃Creative Spark Worksheet
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⭐ Supplemental Resources
Validating Your Idea: Is This Worth Pursuing?
Unique Value Proposition: Determining What Makes Your Book Unique
Goal Setting
Why It's Helpful to Think About Printers Now
Financial Considerations
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Financial Considerations Overview
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Perform a Skills Assessment and Set a Budget
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Consider How You Will Fund Your Book
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Thinking About Crowdfunding PDF Handout
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Interview with Stephanie Petters: Cut The Financial Risk By Crowdfunding Your Book (57:19)
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Presentation by Stephanie Petters: Key Components to a Kickstarter Campaign (62:01)
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Track Your Expenses
Start Your Author Platform Now
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What is an Author Platform?
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Interview with Cathy Knipper: Author Branding, Platform Building, and Book Marketing (58:37)
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Develop Your Author Brand & Aesthetic
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Interview with Dominic de Souza: Brand Archetypes (56:43)
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Build Your Email List
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Presentation by Greg Johnson: Email Marketing & Author Newsletters (69:30)
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Start Using (Or Being Intentional About) Social Media
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Interview with Molly Balint: Social Media Tips + Getting Started On Instagram (62:54)
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Author Websites
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Presentation by Kristina Romero: Overview of Author Websites (47:21)
Outlining Your Nonfiction Book
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Introduction to Outlining a Nonfiction Book (1:24)
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Brainstorming Exercise
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Nonfiction Book Structures (9:50)
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Outlining Methods and Tools (2:23)
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Example of a Traditional / Linear Outline (5:08)
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Example of a Mind Map (2:58)
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Planning Your Chapters (8:57)
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What to Do if You are Feeling Stuck
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📃 Nonfiction Outline Worksheet
Outlining Your Fiction Book
Special Considerations for Outlining Highly Visual Books
Prioritize Your Writing
The Writing Process
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Introduction
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What about AI?
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Style Guides (The USCCB Has One!)
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Where to Find Images in the Public Domain
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Where to Find Books in the Public Domain
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But What If I'm Not Finding What I Need in the Public Domain?
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Presentation: Permissions & USCCB Style Guide with Jeanette Fast Redmond (57:46)
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Industry Update with Jeanette Fast Redmond (Bible Permissions, UCSSB Style Guide) (47:47)
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Book Funnel Considerations
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Interview with Lisa Canning: Book Funnels & Turning Your Book into a Business Card! (57:02)
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Choosing a Title
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Feedback: Alpha and Beta Readers
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Front and Back Matter
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Copyright Page
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Back Cover Blurb (12:32)
The Editing Process
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Introduction
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15 Tips for Self-Editing
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What Types of Editing Do You Need? + 4 Tips for Working with an Editor Handout
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Interview with Jody Benson: Different Types of Editing & How to Work with an Editor (54:02)
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Additional Considerations
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Tips for Hiring an Editor
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(Handout) You've Hired an Editor... Now What?
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I Got My Editor's Feedback... Now What?
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Interview with Lindsay Schlegel: Receiving Feedback, Strategizing Your Time, and Building a System for Managing Edits (61:29)
Translation
Formal Review Considerations (After Finalized Manuscript & Before Publication)
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Introduction
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What Does Canon Law Say?
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What Do the Terms Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur Mean for Your Book?
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How Do I Know if I Need an Imprimatur?
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How Do I Get an Imprimatur?
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What If I am Unable to Pursue an Imprimatur, But Still Want Formal Review?
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Conformity of Catechetical Materials to the Catechism
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Endorsements
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Trade Publication Reviews
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Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs)
An Overview of Publishing Platforms
Publishing Platforms for Printed Books
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What's the Best Publishing Platform for My Printed Book?
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Print on Demand Versus Printing in Bulk
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Selling Printed Books on Amazon KDP Print
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Selling Printed Books with IngramSpark
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Selling Printed Books on Bookvault
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Amazon KDP Print, IngramSpark, and Bookvault Print Quality and Capabilities
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Selling Printed Books with Amazon (Outside of Amazon KDP Print)
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Selling Printed Books on Etsy
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Selling Printed Books on Your Own Website
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Selling on a Catholic Marketplace
Publishing Platforms for Ebooks
Publishing Platforms for Audiobooks
Understanding Distribution Options
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Introduction
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Interview with Charbel Raish: Distribution, International Rights Licensing, & Book Pricing (54:22)
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In-Person Sales
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Retail Stores
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Libraries
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Catholic Churches & Schools (16:36)
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Interview with Katie Bogner: Marketing Your Children's Book to Schools + 2 Handouts (Book Bio Template & Dos and Don'ts of Marketing to Schools) (71:53)
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Selective Rights Licensing
Publishing Terminology & Specifics
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Introduction
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Metadata (and the importance of keywords)
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ISBNs
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Barcodes
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Library of Congress Control Numbers (LCCN) & Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication (P-CIP) Data
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BISAC
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Copyright Registration
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Mandatory Deposit
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Marking of Country of Origin on U.S. Imports
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Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
Working with Printers
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Introduction
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How to Find a Printer
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Interview with Danielle Hitchen: The Logistics of Printing Your Book Overseas (41:06)
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Getting Quotes From Printers
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Printing Terminology and Important Considerations
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Obtaining Printer Specs
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Working with a Printer
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Types of Printed Copies
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How Many Printed Copies Do I Order?
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Using Pre-Orders to Make More Accurate Purchasing Decisions
Pricing Your Book
Design (The Beautiful)
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Introduction
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Stance on AI (Artificial Intelligence)
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Types of Designers You Might Need (Not All Designers are the Same)
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What Questions Should You Be Asking A Designer? + Handout on Questions to Ask a Book Cover Designer
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Design Briefs: What Your Designer Should Be Asking You!
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Books are Judged By Their Covers
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Where to Find a Book Cover Designer
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Interview with Benita Thompson: How Your Book Cover Can Make or Break Your Success as an Author (60:25)
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Interview with Benita Thompson on Book Cover Marketability (23:50)
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What are the Parts to a Book Cover? (Front, Back, Spine, & Dust Jackets)
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Special Considerations When Working With Illustrators
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Tutorial: How to Digitize Your Artwork + Tips for Working with an Illustrator // Katie Broussard (36:55)
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Typesetting & Interior Design Tips for Your Printed Book
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Designing Ebooks
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Tutorial: How to Format an Ebook Using Microsoft Word (44:50)
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Additional Design Tips
Business Responsibility
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Disclaimer
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Introduction
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Presentation by Tammy Hyska, CPA: Top 3 Financial Mistakes Business Owners Make (49:07)
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Interview with Henry Kutarna: Your Book as a Business & Thinking Like a CEO (66:01)
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Interview with Henry Kutarna: Exploring the Concept of a Catholic Economy within Book Publishing (33:19)
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Video + Business Planning Template: Developing a Business Plan (8:12)
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Project Management Tips
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Should I Sell Under My Own Name or a Company Name?
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Business Set-Up Tips
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Choosing a Business Name
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Business Bank Accounts
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Sales Tax
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P.O. Boxes
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Business Insurance
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Tips for Tax Season
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Contracts
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Interview with Lawyer James Olsen: Self-Publishing Contracts (59:25)
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Interview with Lawyer James Olsen: Legal Considerations of Self-Publishing (60:34)
Setting Up Your Book on Various Platforms
Shipping & Order Fulfillment
Marketing
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Introduction
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Marketing with Distribution Channels in Mind
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Creating a Marketing Plan
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Presentation by Kate Sell: Understanding the Catholic Landscape when it Comes to Marketing Your Book (58:21)
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TV, News & Radio: Top 50 Catholic Media Outlet List with Contact Info
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Sample Press Releases
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Presentation by Greg Johnson: Book Launch Marketing Strategy + Black Friday / Cyber Monday Tips (54:31)
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10 Tips I Would Go Back In Time to Tell Myself About Running Black Friday Sales
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Book Photography / Mock-Ups
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ARC / Book Launch Team
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Tip for Sharing Amazon Links
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Email Marketing
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Instagram - Overview & First Steps
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Instagram - Favorite Hashtags
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Instagram - Making Connections
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Instagram - Influencer Marketing
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Instagram - Giveaways
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Facebook Groups
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Blog & News Site Reviews
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Gift Guides
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Vendor Booths
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Podcasts
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Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
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Interview with Jacqueline Brown: Amazon Ads, BookBub, Marketing Strategy (66:22)
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Paid Ads + Quiz to Collect Email Leads
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Is My Marketing Working?
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List Your Book On Thy Olive Tree's Website
Special Considerations: Children's Books
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Overview
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Interview with Cassie Herrington: Children's Board Books (53:58)
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Interview with Katie Bogner: What Makes a Good Catholic Book for School-Aged Children? (75:23)
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(Handout) What to Consider When Writing Catholic Children's Books
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Children's Book Awards, Trends, & Tips: An interview with award-winning illustrator, Katie Broussard (60:22)
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Additional Resources
Bonus Articles
General Business Q & A
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What Are Your Favorite Business Podcasts?
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How Do You Balance Honoring Sunday Rest with the Realities of Running a Small Business?
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What's a Book You've Read That's Been Most Helpful to You in Business?
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What's Your Best Tip for Remaining Consistent and Accountable in Business?
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What Advice Would You Give to Someone Just Starting Out in Business?
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If You Could Go Back in Time and Do One Thing Differently in Business, What Would You Do?
