Lean Publishing Tip of the Day: Interacting With Readers PLUS a Bonus New Release Interview!
Talking with people on social media, podcasts, AMAs, video calls, in-person book launches, conferences, and seminars - it's all part of the job for self-published authors these days.
Interacting with readers is a crucial dimension of being a successful self-published author.
Talking with people on social media, podcasts, AMAs, video calls, in-person book launches, conferences, and seminars - it's all part of the job for self-published authors these days.
In this livestream Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks about the many different ways you can learn to interact with your readers and build an audience for all of your work, not just your book or books.
But first...
Bonus New Release Interview Feat. Max Guernsey, III, Co-Author of Ready: Why Most Software Projects Fail and How to Fix It!
Today's livestream includes a bonus segment where Len talks with Max Guernsey, III, co-author of a great book on Leanpub, Ready: Why Most Software Projects Fail and How to Fix It!
Coupon link:
https://leanpub.com/ready/c/40off-04142026
Now, back to the Lean Publishing Tip of the Day...
Just Dive In
If all of this seems intimidating, remember the "Just Dive In" principle.
Professional speakers will basically all tell you that one of the most important things you can do is remember that people want you to succeed.
No one attends your talk, whether it's online or in person, to see you fail.
A lot of productivity gurus will tell you that you need to take control of your life by saying no to things, but if you need to learn a new skill or add a new professional dimension to your career, the only way forward is to say yes.
So, if you get invited on a podcast for the first time, just say yes. The same thing goes for a livestream or an AMA session.
Apply to speak at conferences. Start a newsletter. Create a website. Just get going on something.
Be Open
Reaching out to people is important, but what really scales as an author is having people take the initiative to reach out to you.
That means you need to be easily discoverable and contactable.
Of course, it doesn't mean giving out your phone number or address, but it does mean having a public email address and your DMs open on social media.
You should use block and mute and spam features liberally, of course, but being open is a crucial step.
No Interaction Is Too Small
Oprah Winfrey talks about how early in her career, she actually had to go out on the street and invite people in to fill the very small audience for one of her first shows.
Hugely successful stand-up comics talk about performing to rooms of basically just a handful of people.
