KB's SelfPubEmpire (Kevin Brandt)

📚✨ Dive into the captivating world of LitRPG and embark on an epic adventure where pages come to life with levels, stats, and quest lines! 🎮💫 Join the journey today and level up your reading experience! #LitRPG #Authors

Today we’re talking about the book genre called Literary Role-Playing Games or LitRPG. In this genre you delve into a realm where every turn of the page immerses you deeper into a world governed by levels, stats, and quest lines. It’s a genre that blends traditional storytelling with the mechanics of role-playing games, offering readers an experience like playing a game while engaging with a narrative.

- LitRPG combines traditional storytelling with game elements like stats and quest lines.

- The genre gained popularity internationally in the 2010s, rooted in speculative fiction.

- LitRPG genre's growth fueled by self-publishing, particularly on platforms like Amazon and KDP.

- Goodreads and Amazon show increasing interest and releases in the LitRPG genre.

- LitRPG's appeal lies in its versatility to blend various genres with game mechanics.

- Authors interested in the genre can research on Amazon, join LitRPG Facebook groups, and explore Royal Road for fan fiction.

- The genre offers marketing opportunities through online platforms and direct engagement with fans.

Top 100 LitRPG on Amazon

Royal Road

Check out AF Kay’s books of LitRPG on Amazon!

Check out my FREE Guide to Getting Started with KDP!

Edited with Resound

✨🎨 Creating magic, one project at a time!

1. You love to create.

2. You want your creations to have reach.

3. You like vanity metrics but what you really want is to go from posts to profit.

These things unite creators and the strategies for online marketing, self publishing and online content all tend to be very, very similar. Join me on a journey as we start out with the selfpubempire podcast!

Check out the show notes!

🌟 Top Ten Reasons You Need A Website

🌐💼 Stand out in the online world, boost credibility, reach new customers, and more!

💡 Ready to take your business to the next level? Start today!

Gary Vaynerchuk said famously “When we launched the WineLibrary website in 1996, I didn’t even own a computer yet. I just understood that there was an opportunity here to market in a different way.”

Check out the show notes!

📚✨ Ready to publish your print book as an eBook? Here's your step-by-step guide! 🖥️➡️📝 Part 3 of my KDP series! Time to turn your manuscript into a masterpiece ✨📖 #AuthorLife #PublishingJourney #self-publishing 🌟🖋️

- Ensure the print version is ready and in an acceptable format (DOCX, HTML, RTF, plain text).

- Download Kindle Create to convert, edit, and preview your document.

- Format within Kindle Create, review headings, pages, and export to KPF or EPUB.

- Create a cover using GIMP or other tools; ideal dimensions are 1,600 x 2,560 pixels.

- Finalize details on KDP, upload KPF and cover, set price, and publish.

- For additional distribution, use Draft2Digital for wider reach.

🎧💥 Unlock the secret to reach 90% of listeners with these 7 insanely simple strategies!

🔥 Don't miss out on growing your podcast audience!

51% of podcast listeners have a household income of at least $75,000. On top of that 61% of podcast listeners have a 4-year college degree. In comparison, only 44% of the entire population has a 4-year degree. Podcasting is a huge opportunity compared to blogging. If possible, do both, here's how!

Check out the show notes!

📚 Ready to unleash your book into the literary world? 🚀 Learn how to get your masterpiece on 99% of book outlets with this podcast! 💪

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is great, but it’s not the only game in town! To truly add more creative and distribution control, you may want to branch out to an ebook publishing aggregator for indie and self-publishing needs!

✨ The secret of getting ahead is getting started. - Aristotle 🌟

📚✨ Ready to make your mark as Amazon's Next Bestseller? 🌟

Dive into the world of self-publishing with KDP and turn your ideas into page-turning stories! 🚀💻

Learn from my nearly ten years of publishing ebooks and print books online. I will cover the basics to get you started quickly with independent publishing and help you eliminate fears of jumping getting that book inside out to the universe!

Some of the brands I've published (some I've authored or co-authored) on KDP:

Senior Dummies

KSquare

Boiled Down Basics

Check out the show notes!

🕵️‍♂️💼 Have you heard about Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI)? 🤔 It's the new requirement for small business owners from the Federal financial crimes enforcement network! Why isn't anyone talking about this? 🤷‍♂️ Stay informed and take action! 🚨

🔙✨ Welcome back, everyone! I'm thrilled to dive into the exciting world of publishing once again. 📚 This time, you'll get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how a book gets published. 🚀

- Discusses the process of publishing a book, specifically Peering in the Darkness.

- Steps include manuscript formatting, KDP Bookshelf entry, setting details, and creating a book cover.

- Manuscript formatting tips:

  - Use the KDP template and modify in Word.

  - Use a larger screen and multiple pages view.

  - Ensure proper margins, wider on the inside.

  - Handle bleed carefully.

  - Utilize section breaks for formatting changes.

  - Use automatic Table of Contents and page/word counting.

  - Match page size with KDP bookshelf settings.

  - Choose easy-to-read fonts, avoid default fonts.

  - Consider the impact of images on printing costs and adjust accordingly.

FREE Kindle publishing getting started guide!

🌟✨ Calling all creators!

🚀 Elevate your projects with Project Management Light.

⚡️ Get organized, get creative, and get things done! 💪

Aristotle wrote “First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.”

Check out the show notes!

🎧✨ Dive into the world of storytelling with Amazon Virtual Voice! Easily create your own audiobooks and bring stories to life. 📚🔥 Ready to turn words into magic? Start now! 👉

- **Amazon virtual voice service**: Still in Beta, now over 40,000 AI-narrated books since November 2023.

- **Mixed reactions**: Critics argue it eliminates human narrators; supporters see benefits for self-publishing.

- **Advantages**: Fast, cost-effective audiobook creation; option to use human narrators later.

- **Quality concerns**: Human narrators offer better inflections and tone for bringing characters to life.

- **Audiobook market growth**: Expected CAGR of 24.4-26.3%, with market potentially tripling from $5 billion in 2022 to nearly $15 billion by 2028.

- **Step-by-step guide**:

  - Open bookshelf and find eBook

  - Test and select Virtual Voice

  - Set Pricing

  - Review with Virtual Voice Studio

  - Publish Audiobook

- **Requirements for eBooks**

Free eBook: Getting started with KDP!

I decided to “cookbook” my way through starting up a podcast. The key takeaways for part 1 are:

1. Mistake #1: Do not start recording audio right away.

2. Mistake #2: Do not go forward without a topic, goal or domain of knowledge.

3. Mistake #3: Do not assume you can host your podcast files anywhere.

a. Squarespace will host a podcast, but do not assume that it (or just any host) will be able to syndicate it correctly.  Use the Podba.se checkup.

4. Mistake #4: Do not ignore podcast terminology.

Check out the show notes!

Audio requirements - Apple Podcasts for Creators

Distributing your podcast - Spotify

Podbase - Podcast Validator

🧠✨ Ready to kickstart your creative journey?

Dive into Psychology's top tips for unleashing your creativity part 2! 🚀💡

Last episode we started with seven thought provoking tips on how to get started on your creative work! We’ll round out this two-part series with another seven and some bonus material on Motivation versus Discipline.

Check out the show notes!

🚀✨ Dive into the world of self-publishing with me! 📚 Hear about my journey in creating eye-catching book covers 🎨 and why getting your artwork ready for KDP is key! 🔑 Not the best artist? No worries, I share tips on placing images & designing stunning graphics. 🎆💡Check out the latest episode! 🎙️🔗#SelfPublishing #BookCovers #KDP #AuthorLife #CreativeJourney

- Hear about self-publishing and creating book covers.

- I’m not the best artist but here’s how I enjoy placing images and designing graphics.

- It’s important to get good artwork and upload it to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

- Listeners are encouraged to check out previous episodes for more context.

- There are 5 steps for creating a book cover using KDP and GIMP software.

- Step 1: Use KDP's cover creator and download the template for layout guidance.

- Step 2: Obtain high-quality artwork for front and back covers, ensuring proper resolution.

- Step 3: Understand basic features of GIMP, such as layers and image manipulation.

- Step 4: Import the KDP template into GIMP and add layers for artwork and text.

- Step 5: Add text, ensure alignment, flatten the image, and export as a PDF.

- Save the work in GIMP's native format before exporting.

- Engage with me on social media and share your self-publishing experiences.

GIMP

Check out my FREE Guide to Getting Started with KDP!

Edited with Resound

🌟Unlocking the secrets of success with #ThinkAndGrowRich

💡 Embracing the power of mindset, persistence, and vision ✨ What's your favorite lesson from this transformative read?

Share below! 📚 #InspiredToAchieve #NapoleonHillWisdom

In a world where over one million books are published annually in the United States alone, standing out as a self-publishing author requires not just creativity but a strategic mindset. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill can help.  Despite being first published in 1937, it holds unparalleled insights for authors aspiring to create a buzz around their books today. With over 100 million copies sold worldwide, this book is considered the granddaddy of all self-help books.

- Napoleon Hill's book Think and Grow Rich offers timeless insights for self-publishing authors.

- The book emphasizes harnessing desire, leveraging autosuggestion, creating a mastermind, developing persistence, and embracing decision-making.

- Hill's principles, like visualization and belief, have influenced many self-help authors and books.

- The tips from the book focus on the power of the mind in achieving success and setting clear goals.

- The importance of persistence and surrounding oneself with a supportive network is highlighted.

Summary of Think and Grow Rich

Check out my FREE Guide to Getting Started with KDP!

Edited with Resound

Stand out in the world of self-publishing with Amazon's A+ content feature on KDP!

📚✨ Capture your readers' attention from the first glance and boost sales with enhanced visuals and engaging text.

Are you ready to shine in the crowded marketplace? Let's get you’re A+ content game strong! 💪🌟 #AContent #SelfPublishingSuccess

With Amazon's A+ content feature on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), authors have a powerful tool at their disposal to make their books shine in a crowded marketplace. Imagine capturing your readers' attention from the first glance and driving more sales with compelling visuals and informative text - that's the magic of A+ content.

- Amazon's A+ content feature on KDP helps self-published authors stand out in a competitive market.

- A+ content allows for enhanced visuals and text to increase book sales.

- I have a step-by-step guide provided here for creating A+ content on the KDP platform.

- Planning and strategy are crucial for effective use of A+ content.

- Tips for creating A+ content include using unique images and following Amazon's guidelines.

Check out my FREE Guide to Getting Started with KDP!

Edited with Resound

I decided to “cookbook” my way through starting up a podcast. The key takeaways for part 2 are:

1. Mistake #5: Do not go it alone when syndicating your podcast. I used Podcasters on Spotify (was Anchor.FM).

2. Mistake #6: Do not deviate from the Getting Started on Spotify (or your platform of choice).

3. Mistake #7: Do not try to just talk or just interview. Write an outline at least.

4. Mistake #8: Do not use expensive DAW software. Audacity is free!

5. Mistake #9: Do not assume you need an expensive microphone.

6. Mistake #10: Do not edit your podcast yourself. Ok, you can, but it can be very difficult. I recommend and am an affiliate of Resound.FM.

7. Mistake #11: Do not ignore having a plan for monetization.

8. Mistake #12: Do not be afraid to dig deeper and have fun!

Check out the show notes!

Audacity

Resound

📚✨ Ready to level up your self-publishing game? Check out these tips on creating an imprint for a strong book branding strategy!

🌟💡Let's build a unique brand identity for your books together! #SelfPublishingTips #ImprintBranding #BookMarketing

🧠✨ Want to kickstart your creative projects?

💡 Dive into Psychology's Top Tips for starting your journey!

Let’s start with seven thought provoking tips on how to get started on your creative work!

Check out the show notes!

🖋️📚 Unlock Your Self-Publishing Potential with Discord! 🚀✨ From connecting with fans to discovering invaluable resources, Discord is your ultimate community hub. Ready to take your book to the next level? Learn how to create your own Discord server! 💬👇  - Discord offers authors a new way to connect with their fan base.

- Initially for gamers, Discord now serves various communities with 140 million monthly active users.

- Authors like AF Kay effectively use Discord to engage with fans.

- Topics covered: Why Discord, Getting Set Up, Best Practices, Measuring Success.

- Discord can either distract or help grow a community around your content.

- It's a powerful tool for self-published authors to deepen connections and expand reach.

- Creating an interactive community boosts engagement and loyalty among fans.

Try out my free Getting Started with KDP Guide!

🚀💼 Ready to turn your business dreams into reality?

🌟 Learn the ropes of setting up a legit business entity like a boss!

Being business ready means being prepared to think in business terms for your online creator work. Learn about the benefits of incorporating your work as a business for online creators, marketing and self publishing!

Check out the show notes!

Don’t have a website? Your KDP author central page can serve as your professional front in the vast Amazon marketplace. According to Kindlepreneur.com, authors who actively update and maintain their author pages have seen an increase in both book visibility and sales. This isn't just about putting a face to a name; it’s about creating an inviting space for readers to learn more about you and your work.

- Author Central on KDP can replace a personal website for authors.

- Active page maintenance increases book visibility and sales.

- Essential content for Author Central: Biography, Photo, Book List, Sales Rank/Reviews, Book Recommendations.

- Recent updates have removed author photos/videos, blog feeds, and editorial reviews.

- It is very important to have customer reviews and authentic content.

- I encourage you to use Author Central for marketing and connecting with readers.

https://selfpubempire.com/free

📚✨ Exciting News! We have the incredible Brian King joining us on the show to dive into his thrilling LitRPG series, Death and the Sword Saint! 🗡️📖 His third book just dropped in January and is already making waves on Amazon! 🌊 #LitRPG #NewRelease #AuthorInterview #BookLovers 📚💡

- Brian King discusses his LitRPG series, Death and the Sword Saint.

- The third book in the series was released in January and is available on Amazon.

- Brian gives us an overview of the story.

- Brian’s interview includes his inspiration, integrating game mechanics, and balancing world-building with character development.

- Other topics cover challenges in self-publishing, influences, reader engagement, and essential tools for writing.

- Brian also talks about his self-publishing processes and advice for aspiring authors.

Death and the Sword Saint vol 1

Death and the Sword Saint vol 2

Death and the Sword Saint vol 3

Check out my FREE Guide to Getting Started with KDP!

🎙️ Ready to amplify your voice? 🚀 Dive into the world of YouTube podcasting today and share your message with the world! 🌟 Unlock your potential and connect with listeners beyond boundaries. 🎧

Google podcasting is moving to YouTube podcasts which show up in YouTube music. Similar to creating a video playlist, the main differences being that it can consume an RSS feed and that setting up your page specifically for podcasting is important. 

Jump in for a discussion on YouTube podcasting tips and tricks!