Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)

Hosted ByChristopher Locke

"Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)" wants to make you a smarter publisher by giving you access to powerful ideas, strategies, and tools for success.

Our interview guests are independent publishers, author publishers, and hybrid publishers, as well as distributors, printers, reviewers, booksellers, marketers, visionaries, and opinion leaders from all sectors of the book publishing industry.

We are sponsored and supported by the Independent Book Publishers Association, the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and author publishers. IBPA’s vision is a world where every independent publisher has the tools and knowledge needed to professionally engage in all aspects of the publishing industry.

Your host is IBPA Member Liaison Christopher Locke.


All Episodes

How Publishers Can Maximize An Author’s Brand & Avoid Book Marketing Burnout

Book marketing isn’t just about selling books, it’s about building a reputation and an audience of loyal readers. An author may be focused on their writing so much that they don’t quite know what their brand is, but that’s where a publisher comes in. Publishers can, and should, help their authors pinpoint a professional and memorable author brand in order to engage fans and sell books. On this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” personal branding expert and internet marketing strategist Jeniffer Thompson shares practical tools for creating a sustainable author brand as well as easy-to-implement steps to highlight the brand story, elevate the author’s visibility, and ensure a consistent visual presence.

How to Build Book Buzz with Social Media Influencers

Social media can be an excellent tool for publishers to build brand awareness and garner exposure for their books, but it’s also complicated to properly navigate. One advantageous social media tactic is to hire an influencer, but how do you go about hiring the right one for your books? What types of campaigns work the best? What are some challenges to hiring an influencer and how do you overcome them? CEO & Founder of Branch & Bramble Emily Lyman joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share her expertise on all things related to social media influencers!

Tips to Sell Your Books to the Education Market

There are thousands and thousands of schools in the United States, so getting your books into the education market can be quite lucrative and rewarding, knowing that you’re inspiring the next generation of readers. So what is the process of getting your books into schools? What kinds of books are marketable to schools? How do you set up school author visits? Author, educator, and speaker Jane Wood joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to answer these questions and many more!

Understanding the Importance and Benefits of Trade Reviews

Garnering a trade review can provide multiple benefits for a book, but how can you make the most out of the reviews you receive? Should you get a paid trade review? Is there anything positive you can get out of a negative review? BlueInk Review Co-Founder Patti Thorn will answer these questions and many more on this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)!”

How to Maximize Your Success Working with a Book Publicist

Hiring a book publicist can lead to excellent exposure for your titles, but there are techniques that independent publishers and author publishers can do to best maximize that experience and things that they can do that will actually hinder that experience. Smith Publicity Book Publicist and Marketing Associate Olivia McCoy is joining us today to share tips from her many years in the industry to ensure publishers have a beneficial experience during this process.

Independent Publishing’s Biggest Challenges & Opportunities in 2023

2023 is upon us, so in this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet looks back at the hot button issues that hit the publishing industry in 2022 and how they affected (and will continue to affect) indie publishers. Andrea also shares advice about what publishers can do to prepare for the major issues they’ll be facing in the new year, including Amazon changes, inflation woes, and more. Plus, she explains how IBPA plans to help independent publishers and author publishers tackle the aforementioned issues successfully.

Strategies for Indie Publishing Success in the New Year

Now that 2022 has come to a close, it’s a great time for independent publishers and author publishers to look back on the past year to analyze what worked and didn’t work for their businesses so that they can make informed decisions about how to set themselves up for a more successful year in 2023. Joining us on the podcast today is founding publisher of Publish Your Gift Tieshena Davis to share her expertise on how to maximize the potential of your business, including integrating a SWOT analysis and the “5-why analysis.”

CEO Angela Bole’s Fond Farewell to IBPA

IBPA’s CEO Angela Bole is moving on to a new opportunity after Nov. 30, 2022 as the CEO of Firebrand Technologies. So Angela joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the highlights of her time at IBPA; comment on some of the biggest challenges facing independent publishers right now, including working with Amazon and trying to land traditional distribution; and share tips about how to successfully run a company. Also, host Christopher Locke extends a heartfelt thank you to Angela for her many contributions to IBPA and indie publishing.

How Independent Publishers Can Turn Social Media Followers Into Book Buyers

Social media platforms can be a great way to build your independent publishing brand and garner exposure for your books, but how do you turn all those followers on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and so on into lifelong fans of your books? Also, which are the most effective platforms for indie publishers to use? Lulu’s VP of Marketing Matt Briel visits “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share tips about how independent publishers can get the most out of social media, as well as advice about how to improve your newsletter.

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