Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Steven Spatz
Open letter to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
As a concerned constituent — and as someone aware of your 14 years as an FBI agent and federal prosecutor — I ask an important question: Where is your red line when it comes to supporting Donald Trump? A red line is a hard, nonnegotiable limit that cannot be crossed without consequences. Yet each day brings a new outrage, a new reminder that our system of justice is being bent for political ends.
What Is Your Author Brand?
You might not be a multi-national corporation, but as a self-published author, you still need to develop and nurture a consistent author brand. Estimated reading time: 6 minutes What do Mercedes-Benz, Proctor & Gamble, and every self-published author have in common? Answer: They’re all brands, large and small. While most indie authors aren’t as famous as luxury car makers or toilet paper manufacturers, they have a presence in the marketplace.
Why Amazon Keywords Matter For Your Book
Here are some important do’s and don’ts to help you choose your Amazon keywords because the better your keywords, the better your chance of discovery. Remember those days when there were thousands of bookstores in every in every state, and you’d wander in on your lunch hour and talk to a friendly person about your preferences and browse with them and maybe sit and have a cup of coffee before deciding to take some books to the counter and buy them?
ISBN FAQ: What's An ISBN And Why Do You Need One?
The book publishing process is fraught with details that confound new authors. We define ISBN, address ISBN registration, and answer some common questions about this confusing requirement for your book. What is an ISBN? The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a numeric identifier that is used around the world by bookstores, publishers, retailers, and just about everyone in the publishing industry. All ISBNs assigned since 2007 have 13 digits, those assigned prior to that are 10 digits long.
How To Get Book Reviews
A powerful element of your book marketing plan should be getting book reviews. It’s not always easy to do, but here are some ideas for how to go about getting them. Book reviews have been around forever. A 9th Century work of Constantinople Photius is composed of 279 reviews of books he read, which makes it the first set of book reviews on record.
How To Get Book Reviews
A powerful element of your book marketing plan should be getting book reviews. It’s not always easy to do, but here are some ideas for how to go about getting them. Estimated reading time: 8 minutes Book reviews have been around forever. A 9th Century work of Constantinople Photius is composed of 279 reviews of books he read, which makes it the first set of book reviews on record.
How Social Media Can Help You Find Readers
People have different opinions about social media: some hate it, some love it. But there’s no denying, it can be a pivotal element of your author platform. Adapted from our BookBaby Live series, Steven Spatz, BookBaby president and self-published author, talks about some of the ways you can use social media to help build your artist platform and drive interest in you and your books.
Start Marketing Your Book Now (Here’s How)
Adapted from our BookBaby Live series, Steven Spatz, BookBaby president and self-published author, talks about the benefits of marketing before your book is even completed. BookBaby has been around for 10 years and, when you think about it, that’s a long time in the digital publishing world and the self-publishing world.
The Four Cornerstones to Self-Publishing Success
Adapted from our BookBaby Live series, Steven Spatz, BookBaby president and self-published author, talks about the four essential things you need in place to achieve self-publishing success. Self-publishing truly is a journey. There are some parts you’ll find easy — others are more onerous, but it’s a journey that begins with the notion that you want to write a book and continues long past the point of publication. And there are a lot of questions surrounding book publishing.
Overnight Success As An Author? More Like Growing Bamboo
Overnight success takes years of work, just like bamboo takes years before it sprouts. Whether your plan is to self-publish or land a publishing deal, patience is a cornerstone for success as an author. Imagine you’re a farmer planting seeds in fertile soil. You take tender loving care of your seedlings, constantly weeding, watering, and fertilizing your starts. And then you wait for the first signs of life. And you wait… for five years. Yes, that’s right. Half a decade.
Do You Have A Winning Writing Strategy? BookBaby Blog
Having great ideas and good intentions might be the baseline of your writing efforts, but having a writing strategy can help you get your book written. When I wrote my first book, I didn’t have any kind of plan or blueprint to guide my journey to completing my project. I pretty much just relied on my homegrown “ation” strategy. What’s an “ation” strategy? I’m glad you asked. It starts with inspiration. Creating content that interests me, and hopefully my potential readers.
How To Get Holiday Book Sales This Year (and beyond)
If you don’t have the time or aren’t prepared to promote your book this holiday season, don’t worry. There are plenty of great (maybe better!) opportunities for book sales throughout the year. Can you hear those sleigh bells? The holidays are coming up fast, but I still have a few more ideas for you to try to wring out some yuletide sales — plus some encouragement for you to look beyond the holidays.
How To Get Holiday Book Sales This Year (and beyond)
If you don’t have the time or aren’t prepared to promote your book this holiday season, don’t worry. There are plenty of great (maybe better!) opportunities for book sales throughout the year. Can you hear those sleigh bells? The holidays are coming up fast, but I still have a few more ideas for you to try to wring out some yuletide sales — plus some encouragement for you to look beyond the holidays.
Getting Book Sales As The Holidays Approach: Part III
When it’s time to really get your holiday book marketing and sales going, these actions can help you get the word out during the prime gift-shopping season. As the holidays approach, you’ll be competing with so much marketing — TV ads, radio blitzes, social media feeds, triple the amount of emails landing in your in-box — but there are still plenty of opportunities to have your voice heard and your message received.
Getting Book Sales As The Holidays Approach
When it’s time to really get your holiday book marketing and sales going, these actions can help you get the word out during the prime gift-shopping season. As the holidays approach, you’ll be competing with so much marketing — TV ads, radio blitzes, social media feeds, triple the amount of emails landing in your in-box — but there are still plenty of opportunities to have your voice heard and your message received.
Holiday Book Sales, Part II: Finding Your Readers
In part two of our four-part series highlighting effective strategies to score holiday book sales, we focus on getting your book distributed and reaching readers. “How To Get Holiday Book Sales: Part I” launched our 12-step series for authors looking to market their titles for the holidays and included steps 1–3 dealing with timelines, budgets, and getting out in your community. Now let’s focus on where and how your potential readers can find and buy your books.
How to Get Holiday Book Sales: Part I
It may not feel like the holidays are just around the corner, but if you’re planning to drum up holiday book sales this year, it’s time to put these plans and strategies to work. Whatever your flavor of celebration, the rapidly approaching holiday season is a great time to sell your published eBook or printed book.
Harness Social Media To Sell Books
No matter what you write or how you choose to publish, authors can agree on one thing: social media has redefined the way books can be promoted. This is the seventh in a series of blog posts focused on essential book marketing topics for self-published authors in our campaign, 2021: The Year To Find Your Readers. These posts will cover topics in two categories: 1. 100 days before publish. Tasks to accomplish while your book is still in production. 2. 100 days after publish.
Planning A Book Launch? Don't Do This!
Here are 10 important things you should avoid to help ensure you have a successful book launch — in the short- and long-term. This is the seventh in a series of blog posts focused on essential book marketing topics for self-published authors in our campaign, 2021: The Year To Find Your Readers. These posts will cover topics in two categories: 1. 100 days before publish. Tasks to accomplish while your book is still in production. 2. 100 days after publish.
The "Do's" Of Planning A Book Launch
Over the years, I’ve collected thousands of book launch ideas. Here are 10 of the most important things you SHOULD DO to create a successful event. This is the fifth in a series of blog posts focused on essential book marketing topics for self-published authors in our campaign, 2021: The Year To Find Your Readers. These posts will cover topics in two categories: 1. 100 days before publish. Tasks to accomplish while your book is still in production. 2. 100 days after publish.
The "Do's" Of Planning A Book Launch
Over the years, I’ve collected thousands of book launch ideas. Here are 10 of the most important ideas you SHOULD DO to create a successful event. This is the sixth in a series of blog posts focused on essential book marketing topics for self-published authors in our campaign, 2021: The Year To Find Your Readers. These posts will cover topics in two categories: 1. 100 days before publish. Tasks to accomplish while your book is still in production. 2. 100 days after publish.
Planning And Capitalizing On Your Book's Pre-Sale
Your book’s pre-sale period is crucial to your book’s chances of success for so many reasons. Still, it’s one of the least understood facets of a book’s release. Hopefully, this post will change that. This is the third in a series of blog posts focused on essential book marketing topics for self-published authors in our campaign, 2021: The Year To Find Your Readers. These posts will cover topics in two categories: 1. 100 days before publish. Tasks to accomplish while your book is still in production.
Start Promoting Your Book Now!
There are dozens of things you can work on to start your book promotion before you finish writing your book. I’ll focus on the three most important areas that require authors’ attention from the get-go. This is the second in a series of blog posts focused on essential book marketing topics for self-published authors in our campaign, 2021: The Year To Find Your Readers. These posts will cover topics in two categories: 1. 100 days before publish.
Your Book ISBN: Answers To Your Questions
Of all the mysteries surrounding the process of self publishing, the book ISBN ranks among the most intimidating to many new authors. We’re here to allay your concerns and give you answers. The ISBN. Seldom have thirteen little digits been so misunderstood. Our BookBaby publishing specialists field calls all day long about the International Standard Book Number – also known as the ISBN. Let me take this opportunity to field a few of the most common questions. What is an ISBN?
Don't Forget Your Book's Back Cover
The 250 words you’ll choose to place on your book’s back cover might just be the most important in your entire book project. Think of your favorite books in your personal library. Aside from the titles and authors, what usually comes to your mind? Your favorite passages? All those beautiful covers? The most memorable images provide visual cues about what’s inside the pages, setting the mood, or giving some clues about the story. Some covers tell a story in and of themselves.
The 5 Books Any Entrepreneur Writing A Book Must Read
Business leaders today engage in a whole host of activities designed to propel their careers. But the most powerful of those activities has little to do with increasing sales or impressing investors. The real most successful tool business leaders use every day to improve themselves and their businesses? They write. I’m not talking about emails or blog posts. The most influential leaders in business today commit significant chunks of their schedule each day to writing and publishing their own books.
Can Amazon Distribute Your Book This Holiday? BookBaby Blog
Excerpted from our new guide, Book Marketing In The Age of COVID-19, we have answers to key questions authors are asking as we approach the holidays. I’ve always believed that there’s never a bad time to publish. Indie authors must ignore the “when” question for self publishing. In fact, the worst thing self-published authors can do is not publish their book because of some perceived timing advantage. For new authors, your first self-publishing journey can be an invaluable learning experience.
Three Social Media Mistakes For Would-Be Authors
Social media is a key element of many authors’ marketing plans, but you’re making a mistake if you focus on book sales — especially right out of the gate. Start early, take it seriously, and be social, and you may find success promoting on social media. Writing a book takes years of blood, sweat, and tears. Yes, it’s that hard. For any author, finishing a manuscript is a feat deserving of celebration.
Defining Self-Publishing Success: Ryan Aslesen | BookBaby Blog
I think as human beings we all have something of value to share with the world and we shouldn’t be afraid to share our stories. John Locke. Amanda Hocking. Hugh Howey. E L James. They were the original breakthrough best-sellers, the self-publishing superstars who competed against the traditional publishing mega-machine and won. As reports of their indie success became public, they were the envy and inspiration of aspiring authors around the globe. Today’s headlines tell a different story.
Before Following Other's Advice, Ask Yourself These 4 Questions To See If It's Sound
As an entrepreneur and an “OG” digital marketing professional, I get a lot of advice. Something about marketing makes many people feel like an expert. Even though they would never give their accountant unsolicited advice, most feel comfortable doling it out to a marketing professional. I regularly get tips on where to advertise, what color schemes to use, who to target, what copy to try, amongst endless other suggestions.
Poor Work-Life Balance Landed Me In The ER. Here’s What I Had To Learn To Bounce Back
Everyone dreams of having a work-life balance. That’s usually why entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs in the first place—to shrug off the nine-to-five yoke and give themselves more free time. But I’ve spent over a decade running my own businesses and living in the entrepreneurial world, and I’ve rarely seen anyone achieve that balance right away. In fact, most people start by throwing themselves into their business—to the detriment of everything else in their life.
Looking For A Long-Term Career? Here’s Why Clean Energy’s A Good Place To Start
What constitutes a “career” has changed drastically over the years. With the rise of the gig economy, especially, the days are gone where an employee would work for only a few companies over their entire career. Gone are pensions, corporate ladders, and even the security of saving reliably for retirement. Many prominent companies are trying desperately to hire people as contractors and prove that they are not employees.
Reinventing Yourself: 7 Steps To Transform Who You Are Into Who You Want To Be
Humans are not meant to stop growing. In fact, no living thing on earth is meant to stop growing. We are all alive, reaching for the sun. Progress in life is all about reinventing yourself. I am going to preface all of this by saying that reinvention is not the same thing as endlessly seeking reward or achievement. There is a difference.
How To Be More Disciplined With Your Goals: 7 Simple Strategies You Should Learn
Anyone can make a list of goals. But only a few learn how to be disciplined enough to achieve them. I grew up in a home and a family that constantly reinforced the importance of self-discipline. Every single night, I’d watch my dad set the timer on the coffee maker and put his oatmeal in the refrigerator for the next morning. By 5:30 a.m., he’d be awake. By 6:00 a.m., he’d be in the gym. By 7:00 a.m., he’d be knocking on my bedroom door, making sure I was awake.
How Netflix, Apple, And Tesla Have Inspired Me-And What All Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Their Tactics
In many ways, there has never been a better time to build something big. Aspiring entrepreneurs today have at their disposal more success stories, blueprints, and cautionary tales to inform their decision-making than ever before. If you are thinking about starting a business in 2019, there exists a variety of models to emulate.
If You’re Working To Move The Needle, Make Sure It’s The Right One
Information overload is a very real hazard when picking up a new hobby or skill. Every activity, from marketing to entrepreneurship, is home to many distinct (and often competing) schools of thought. A quick Google search will supply you with books, articles, webinars, and Youtube videos that all purport to have the best perspective. In the midst of this avalanche of information, the traditional advice is to just “do something.” Get the ball rolling, and tweak your strategy from there.
5 Steps To Craft A Memorable, Attention-Grabbing Sales Pitch
We’re all being bombarded with a constant stream of information. Every single minute, we have some news article, video, email, text message, tweet, or photo competing for our attention. When you give a sales pitch, you’re battling that information overload for your audience’s attention. You’re trying to get the people in the room to focus on you—not their phone, not their email, not their dinner plans.
Minutes - Tech, Business, Money, People, Leadership
Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as being “too productive.” I like to think about this in two ways: First, you are being “too productive” the moment that your input becomes disproportionate to your output. Let’s use writing as an example. I know a good many writers who feel all sorts of productive simply because of how many books they’re able to read in a day, week, month, or year. Now, let’s say you are an incredibly productive reader.
Designing Less Invasive Tech, The Internet Of Things, Mental Health Strategy, And More
What Is Up To The Minute? A collection of our favorite pieces of writing from the past week. A thought leadership showcase. A wealth of knowledge. Your new weekly go-to source of insight from voices big and small across industries.. 1.
One Of The Biggest Life Lessons I Learned Building, Scaling, And Successfully Exiting My First Company
Starting a company makes you grow up very quickly. It’s one of those things you don’t notice right away, because you’re so “in it” that the concept of time just flies by. But entrepreneurship can be so all-consuming that many of the things you learn about yourself, you don’t realize you’ve learned until much later—especially if you start your first company in your 20s.
5 Books That Changed The Way I Saw The World In 2019
I read constantly. But at the start of 2019, I made a commitment to myself to read two books every month—despite the fact that I’m running a high-growth agency, working on a new book, and moving across the country (from LA to NY). The reason I made this promise to myself is because I have become painfully aware of the influence reading has on my life: as a writer, as an entrepreneur, and as a human being.
How To Encourage Workplace Friendships And Increase Team Happiness
I was recently thinking about a Google Zeitgeist conference I attended. During one talk, a psychologist asked people in the audience to give examples of what they thought makes people happy at work. He got a lot of the answers you’d expect: the responsibilities, the compensation, the manager. They were all wrong. In reality, the best predictor of workplace happiness is how many friends someone has in the office. The correlation was incredible to me.
The 5 Hidden Traits CEOs Look For When Hiring A Leadership Team
In business, we like to think everything is quantifiable—but that’s not the case. Even something as essential as finding great leaders can’t be done with data or numbers alone. When hiring a leadership team, credentials factor in, but CEOs don’t blindly rely on a resume alone. Past accomplishments, college credentials, and other on-paper accolades don’t always translate to actual ability, unfortunately.
All Eyes On You: How To Grab And Hold An Audience’s Attention
A few years back, I was giving a sales pitch to a group of potential clients when I noticed one guy doodling while I was talking. So I grabbed the paper from him and started joking around, “Hey, looks like we have a Picasso over here! This is actually pretty good. Where are you taking classes?” Now, that move was a bit of a gamble. If the guy had a big ego, or I had misread the room, it would have been the end of my pitch. But it worked out well.
Authentic Collaboration In Tech Requires More Than Tools. Here’s What It Takes
The most difficult part of building a company is bringing people together as a team. Traditionally, creating a collaborative, supportive team is viewed as something that can’t be forced. It’s widely recognized as a process that takes time and effort from everyone involved. But, as startup culture has grown and the role of founders has become ever more glamorized, a new method of company creation has popped up—venture production studios.
Up To The Minute: Thought Leadership on diversity as strategy, avoiding “the rabbit hole,” and competing in saturated markets
What Is: Up To The Minute? A thought leadership showcase. A wealth of knowledge. Your new weekly go-to source of insight from voices big and small across a wide range of industries. 1. Founder & CEO of Real Life E Time Coaching and author of several time-management books Elizabeth Saunders: “Going down [an] internet rabbit hole is usually due to one of three factors: environment, avoidance, or addiction.” You do it without even thinking about it. I do it without even thinking about.
The 3 Types of Writer's Block (and How to Beat Them)
Is there really such a thing as “writer’s block”? Those who practice the craft are split. Some believe the diagnosis is too simplistic, that writer’s block is really a mixture of problems lumped by the despairing creatives into one, mostly to make it easier to define a cure — sort of the way an unusually lazy doctor might treat a broad range of ailments with a treatment of aspirin and rest. Others, such as the prolific writer Erica Jong, believe blocks stem from the fear of being judged.
This Is the Single Most Important Lesson I’ve Learned About Leading a Company
I was 29 the day that my father appointed me General Manager of our family business. I had only been involved with the company for 5 years. I hadn’t graduated from a prestigious business school. I hadn’t ever even worked in a managerial role. In short, I wasn’t qualified. And yet, today, I’m the President of BookBaby, the nation’s leading self-publishing services company. I’ve also held management roles in companies such as Mattel and Hasbro.
Five Books Entrepreneurs Writing A Book Should Read
As venture capitalist James Altucher says, “… having a book is the new business card.” In addition to displaying your expertise in a given field, publishing a book can bring you personal and business credibility. Business leaders engage in a host of activities designed to propel their careers, improve themselves, and promote their businesses. Writing is the most powerful of those activities — even though it has little to do with increasing sales or impressing investors.
How to Take Negative Feedback and Use It to Get Better
Reviews are important — both to authors and to everyone else outside of the publishing industry. In 2016, the Pew Research Center found that 82 percent of American adults say they “sometimes or always” read online reviews for new purchases. And more than two-thirds of regular review readers believe that they’re “generally accurate.” Negative reviews, in particular, seem to dramatically influence our buying behaviors. So reviews are important, right?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Steven
Contact Steven, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack