Click here to listen on your device and subscribe!
Welcome to Season 6 of The Book Marketing Action Podcast with Becky Robinson, where we give you information you can immediately implement to increase your influence and market your books more successfully.
In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Michelle Garrett—public relations consultant, writer, author, and speaker. Michelle shares the candid truth about her self-publishing journey—from unmet expectations to the determination it took to launch her book. If you’re navigating the ups and downs of self-publishing, Michelle’s experience offers invaluable insights into what to ask, how to find the right partner, and why strategy—and resilience—matter.
Key Points From This Episode:
[01:09] Michelle shares about herself and her work in the world.
[02:39] Michelle talks about her expectations going into the self-publishing process and how they compared to the reality she experienced.
[03:50] Michelle describes the process of selecting her support team when self-publishing her book.
[5:00] Discover some of the challenges and disappointments Michelle faced while working with her support team and where she felt she needed more guidance.
[07:31] Michelle reflects on some of the questions she didn’t ask when she was selecting a support team and what she would ask now.
[10:00] Michelle talks about the frustration of not receiving a timeline or deadlines from her support team and the importance of adhering to her goals and milestones.
[12:50] Michelle reveals the most important qualities and characteristics that authors should look for when they’re hiring an individual or an agency to assist them on the self-publishing journey.
[15:50] (AD) Schedule a call with Becky Robinson to discover how Weaving Influence’s custom strategies can support your book launch.
[16:47] Michelle explains how this experience affected her confidence and momentum for bringing her book into the world, and how she moved forward from the disappointments she faced.
[18:12] If a friend asked Michelle for self-publishing advice, what would she encourage them to consider when selecting the right partner for their project? She shares her best guidance.
[20:06] As a PR professional, Michelle discusses some of the unique challenges self-published authors face when it comes to gaining publicity.
[23:59] Michelle outlines some PR strategies and tactics that she believes work well for self-published authors.
[26:57] Michelle and Becky talk about the importance of being the “Chief Marketing Officer” for your book.
Action Steps:
- If you are wading through the challenges of bringing your first book into the world, try to imagine the finished book in your hands. This vision can increase your determination and help propel you to the finish line.
- Think about the parts of the author journey that you can do well and where you might want to hire support. Do you enjoy creating ideas for your social media channels but need help designing graphics? Create an itemized list to keep it organized.
Resources:
- Get a copy of Michelle’s book, B2B PR That Gets Results: A Guide to Simple and Targeted Public Relations Practices.
- Learn more about Michelle by exploring her website.
- Check out Michelle’s live stream podcast, PR Explored, where she interviews guests every month.
- Follow Michelle on LinkedIn, Threads, and Facebook.
- For any authors who may be looking for self-publishing support, our team can help you take your book from manuscript to publication! Explore our services here, then fill out the form at the bottom of the page to receive our free book production guide.
Key Quotes:
You want to know who you’re going to be working with on a day-to-day basis. —Michelle Garrett
I would picture that in my mind—what it was going to feel like to hold my book and to always have it. Once it’s out there, you’re a published author. —Michelle Garrett
Many people try to write a book, and they never get it across the finish line. So it’s a big deal. —Michelle Garrett
Have a plan with an itemized list of things that you need to do, and then what you need to hire someone else to do. —Michelle Garrett
For me, the purpose of writing the book was to get more consulting work; it wasn’t necessarily to sell a lot of books. It was to draw attention to my expertise. —Michelle Garrett
I kind of built an audience on social media over time, and that helped me immensely when it came time to write my book. —Michelle Garrett
Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.