Publishing a book on your own is thrilling. You’re in charge of your story, your brand, and your marketing. But that independence also makes you more vulnerable to people who are looking to take advantage of eager authors.

We’ve seen a substantial rise in offers promising “bestseller” status, exclusive book club spots, and splashy marketing campaigns—all for a fee. Some are harmless but ineffective. Others are outright scams. Knowing how to recognize certain red flags can save you time, money, and frustration.

And remember: If you’re working with Greenleaf, you don’t have to navigate this alone. You can always send suspicious offers to your Greenleaf team for a quick review before acting on them.

The social media landscape is always evolving, but recent political and societal shifts in the U.S. have accelerated major changes that can directly impact authors. Platforms are adjusting policies, audiences are migrating, and new alternatives are emerging—creating both challenges and opportunities for building an effective digital presence. As an author, understanding these shifts is essential to making informed decisions about where and how to engage online.

A 420% increase in website traffic in one day. Is it a coincidence that hours earlier authors Jenn Goldman and Caryn Hirshleifer sent out a newsletter to their subscribers announcing a new event?* No. It’s called email marketing, and if you are unsure of what that is or why a newsletter is part of a cohesive marketing strategy, check out Build Your List: Newsletters as an Author Platform Building Tool in our Learning Center. For those of you who want to see real stats and data, read on.

Email marketing is a powerful tool for authors to connect with their audience, build a loyal reader base, and drive book sales. However, creating an effective email campaign or newsletter requires strategic planning and execution. Here are some best practices to ensure your email campaign or newsletters are successful!

You’re an author. A Writer. Why would you need to concern yourself with podcast interviews if you want people reading your book, not listening to you talk about it?

It’s estimated that 505 million people will be listening to podcasts in 2024. 505 million people who are voluntarily tuning into shows that will provide them with new and life-changing information. 505 million chances for you to gain a larger audience and increase your book sales. If this is an avenue that you are interested in taking when marketing your book, there are a few key things to remember.

To help, we’ve created a thorough checklist for authors who are seeking podcast interviews.

Keeping your social media profiles true to yourself while also representing your brand and/or book is a difficult balance to strike. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok are full to the brim with people and businesses, most delivering daily doses of self-promotion to the masses. So how can you differentiate yourself from the thousands of other voices in this online cacophony? How can you build trust and loyalty with your followers that results in them purchasing your book? The answer is deceptively simple: be authentic.

Part 3: How Using Visuals Can Enhance Your Social Media Presence

This post is the third installment in a series of articles designed to help you elevate your social media presence and author profile.

Part 2: What Social Media Channels Are Right for You?

This post is the second installment in a series of articles designed to help you elevate your social media presence and author profile.