Chris Benetti is the founder of Smart Author Media and a book funnel marketing expert who has sold over 55,000 books for his clients. Specializing in self-liquidating book funnels and Facebook advertising, Chris helps authors turn their books into profitable lead generation tools that feed into higher-ticket offers and services. His agency focuses exclusively on the Meta suite (Facebook and Instagram) and has generated over $750,000 in revenue for clients while spending $250,000 on ads. Chris's systematic approach combines detailed funnel strategy, conversion rate optimization, and creative testing to help authors build sustainable book-based businesses rather than just selling individual books.

In this episode:

• Understanding self-liquidating book funnels and how they pay for themselves
• Why books rarely make profit on their own and need strategic backend offers
• Building effective book sales pages with headlines, social proof, and bonuses
• Order bump strategies that convert 40-50% of book buyers
• Two-step order forms for lead capture and remarketing opportunities
• Upsell sequences that solve problems created by the book content
• Facebook advertising strategies focused on creative testing over targeting
• The ASCET framework for systematic ad testing and optimization
• Case study: Nigel Moore's 10X ROI with free book funnel strategy
• Why books should serve business purposes, not just generate book sales
• Conversion rate benchmarks and key metrics for funnel optimization
• The importance of having backup offers and multiple ad creatives ready

Resources mentioned:

• Smart Author Media free resource page: https://smartauthormedia.com/resources
• Meta advertising suite
• Two-step order form systems
• ChatGPT: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/
• GoHighLevel: https://www.gohighlevel.com/
• Kartra: https://kartra.com/
• Kajabi: https://kajabi.com/
• ClickFunnels: https://www.clickfunnels.com/
• Book funnel templates
• Ad copy swipe files

Book Recommendations:

• Strategic business and systems books
• System distillation books

Connect with Chris Benetti:

• Website: https://smartauthormedia.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsbenetti/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.c

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Tony Lee is a New York Times bestselling author who has successfully reinvented himself multiple times throughout his career. Originally starting as a computer games reviewer at 16, he transitioned through street performing in Covent Garden, writing for Radio 4, newspapers, comics, film and TV, before the pandemic forced him to pivot into self-publishing. Writing under the pen name Jack Gatland, he has achieved remarkable success with his crime thriller series, generating over 277 million pages read on Kindle Unlimited. His unique background spans 30 years in traditional publishing before building a profitable self-publishing business that now outearns his entire previous career combined.

In this episode:

• How the pandemic forced a complete career pivot from traditional to self-publishing
• Why he chose Amazon exclusivity and Kindle Unlimited for maximum revenue
• The psychology of removing buying obstacles and building reader loyalty
• Creating reader magnets and building a newsletter army of passionate fans
• His unique "writing backwards" process developed from comic book experience
• Why aiming for 3-star books beats perfectionism paralysis
• The 25-step checklist he uses for every book release
• Building authentic relationships in Facebook groups and reader communities
• How 70% of his income comes from Kindle Unlimited page reads
• The transition from hired gun to publisher mindset
• Why rapid release schedules work better than perfect manuscripts
• Turning beta readers into weapons specialists and expert consultants

Resources mentioned:

• BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com/
• StoryOrigin: https://storyoriginapp.com/
• Book Linker: https://booklinker.com/
• ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
• Plotter: https://plottr.com/
• Notion: https://www.notion.com/
• Vellum: https://www.vellum.ai/

Book Recommendations:

• Jack Gatland crime thriller series (starting with "Letter from the Dead"): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N1SJ447?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• The Lionheart Curse by Tony Lee: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09P2HKFHZ?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Tom Marlowe spy series
• Ellie Reckless spin-off novels

Connect with Tony Lee:

• Website: https://jackgatland.com/
• Personal website: https://tonylee.co.uk/
• Email: hello@hoodedmanmedia.com
• Social media: @MrTonyLee (Twitter, BlueSky, Facebook)
• Hooded Man Media publishing: https://hoodedmanmedia.com/
• Upcoming: Liam Harper series and Iron Maiden comic collaboration

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

William Gasner is the founder and CMO of Stack Influence, an influencer marketing platform that specializes in connecting brands with micro and nano-influencers. With extensive experience in e-commerce and digital marketing, William has helped thousands of brands scale their marketing efforts through authentic influencer partnerships. Stack Influence operates as a marketplace platform where vetted influencers can choose products they genuinely want to promote, creating more authentic and effective campaigns. His expertise in leveraging smaller creators for product seeding campaigns has helped numerous authors and publishers reach new audiences and boost their Amazon rankings through external traffic strategies.

In this episode:

• Why micro and nano-influencers are more effective than celebrity influencers
• The difference between mega, macro, micro, and nano-influencer categories
• How authentic word-of-mouth marketing scales through smaller creators
• Why books are perfect products for influencer marketing campaigns
• Budget considerations for different influencer tiers and campaign sizes
• Finding the right influencers through hashtag research and niche targeting
• Creative content strategies including trending formats like "book face"
• Tracking ROI beyond immediate sales: content, awareness, and algorithm benefits
• How external traffic from influencers boosts Amazon algorithm rankings
• The Stack Influence marketplace model and community approach
• Case studies showing 3X to 15X ROI improvements
• Starting strategies for authors with limited budgets

Resources mentioned:

• Stack Influence: https://stackinfluence.com/
• Instagram
• TikTok

Book Recommendations:

• Stack Influence Case Study - https://stackinfluence.com/book-influencers/

Connect with William Gasner:

• Website: https://stackinfluence.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-gasner
• Email: contact@stackinfluence.com
• Social media: @StackInfluence (all platforms)
• Book a consultation call through Stack Influence website

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Eddie Rice is the founder of Eloquent Mind and author of the bestselling book "Toast: Short Speeches, Big Impact." With a background in PR and public relations, Eddie specializes in helping authors transition from invisible to in-demand through strategic podcast appearances and speech writing. His "Your Book, Your Voice" approach focuses on helping authors leverage their written expertise into spoken word opportunities, whether through podcast guesting, keynote speeches, TEDx talks, or virtual speaking engagements. Eddie believes that appearing on 100 episodes of other people's podcasts is far more effective than starting your own podcast with 100 episodes.

In this episode:

• Why podcast guesting is more effective than starting your own podcast
• The importance of positioning and finding your unique angle
• How to research and find the right podcasts for your niche
• Creating a compelling 2-3 page media kit that gets results
• Specific strategies for fiction authors to get podcast bookings
• The ladder method: starting small and building up to bigger shows
• Live case study with Teddy demonstrating the consultation process
• Tools and platforms for podcast research and content repurposing
• How to maximize each podcast appearance through promotion
• Building long-term partnerships with podcast hosts

Resources mentioned:

• ListenNotes.com (free podcast directory with listener scores)
• Rephonic (premium podcast directory - $99/month with detailed analytics)
• Headliner app (for creating audiograms from podcast clips)
• Blaze.ai (automated content creation and scheduling)
• ChatGPT (for repurposing podcast content into blogs and social posts)
• Commit Action program (high-leverage task prioritization)
• Trust Me, I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday (PR strategy book)

Book Recommendations:

• "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Cormac-McCarthy/dp/0307387895
• "Trust Me, I'm Lying" by Ryan Holiday: https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Me-Lying-Confessions-Manipulator/dp/1591846285

Connect with Eddie Rice:

• Website: eloquentmind.co
• Course: https://eddie-s-school-406c.thinkific.com/courses/speak-to-podcast-guest-course?utm_source=website&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

O'Cyrus Ink is a multi-genre author and publisher who specializes in poetry, children's fiction, young adult horror, and middle grade horror. Currently serving in the military while building his publishing career, he founded O'Cyrus Ink Publishing to help authors, particularly teenagers and young adults, navigate the publishing world. His approach focuses on finding the core message behind every story and helping authors connect authentically with their target audience. He also hosts "The Authors Lounge" podcast, dedicated to educating younger generations of writers and creators.

In this episode:

• Balancing military service with a growing publishing career
• Why he chose not to wait 20 years to pursue his publishing dreams
• Writing across multiple genres: poetry, children's books, and horror
• The importance of having a specific message and target audience
• How his first book "Sacred" taught him valuable marketing lessons
• A powerful personal story behind his poetry about saving his son's life
• Research strategies for different genres and demographics
• Working with authors to develop authentic stories and illustrations
• The book award submission process and how awards open doors
• Building a publishing business focused on helping younger authors
• Using social media algorithms to research your genre and audience

Resources mentioned:

• Book Award Pro: https://bookawardpro.com/
• Amazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/
• Dale Roberts' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SelfPublishingwithDale
• The Authors Lounge podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-authors-lounge-with-ocyrus/id1798844577

Book Recommendations:

• Works by Stephen King
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman: https://www.amazon.com/Coraline-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0380807343
• Five Nights at Freddy's series

Connect with O'Cyrus Ink:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livewithocyrus/#
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/o-cyrus-
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCchV83duiL1DlTeJf562IOw
• Podcast: The Authors Lounge

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Julie Broad is the founder of Book Launches, a comprehensive service that helps nonfiction authors successfully launch their books to market. She's also the founder of the Future of Book Marketing Summit and creator of the Author Launch Kit software. With extensive experience in book marketing, Julie has helped hundreds of authors navigate the complex world of book launches and platform building, focusing specifically on nonfiction titles that serve as business development tools.

In this episode:

• The biggest mistake authors make: thinking about marketing after the book is finished
• Why marketing should start the minute you decide to write a book
• The importance of identifying your specific reader before writing
• Creating "the hook" - understanding the outcome of the outcome for your readers
• Timeline for book launches: 6-9 months from draft to launch
• Essential pre-launch activities: early reviewers, editorial reviews, podcast interviews
• Using books as business tools rather than just focusing on book sales
• Recent changes to Amazon's ranking system and bestseller flags
• How AI and ChatGPT are changing book discovery and marketing
• The evolution of content marketing and new distribution channels

Resources mentioned:

• Author Launch Kit software: https://booklaunchers.com/alk/
• Future of Book Marketing Summit (June 19-21): https://booklaunchers.com/alk-summit/
• Amazon KDP platform: https://kdp.amazon.com/
• ChatGPT: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/
• Book Launches services: https://booklaunchers.com/top-self-publishing-services-for-authors/

Book Recommendations:

• Fever Pitch by Ben Wiener: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F72ZR4RS?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• YouTube for Authors by Dale Roberts; https://www.youtube.com/c/SelfPublishingwithDale

Connect with Julie Broad:

• Book Launches: https://booklaunchers.com/
• Future of Book Marketing Summit registration: https://booklaunchers.com/alk-summit/
• Author Launch Kit software: https://booklaunchers.com/alk/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/julieabroad

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

David P. Perlmutter is a bestselling author with 17 published books, including his breakthrough memoir "Wrong Place Wrong Time" which has garnered over 4,000 reviews and achieved bestseller status across multiple Amazon categories. What started as therapeutic blog writing in Portugal became a successful writing career when his editor friend recognized the potential in his raw, honest storytelling. David writes primarily in first person narrative, allowing readers to "walk the journey" with him through his true stories and crime thrillers. Beyond writing, he's actively working to adapt his "Right to Kill" crime thriller series for television, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit needed in today's publishing landscape.

In this episode:

• Journey from therapeutic blog writing in Portugal to bestselling author
• The importance of writing in your authentic voice and style
• How a traumatic experience in Spain became his breakthrough book
• Building a social media following through genuine engagement and helping others
• The reality of traditional publishing vs. self-publishing marketing
• Transitioning from books to screenwriting and TV adaptation
• Bold networking strategies that connect with celebrities and actors
• The challenges of getting film/TV projects greenlit without major representation
• Writing process: acting out scenes and reading dialogue aloud for authenticity

Resources mentioned:

• Amazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/

Book Recommendations:

• "Midnight Express": https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988981440?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• "The Firm" by John Grisham: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0440245923?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with David P. Perlmutter:

• LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/DavidPPerlmutter
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0089Y9DW0
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/davepperlmutter?lang=en
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/davidpperlmutter/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/davidpperlmutter
• "Wrong Place Wrong Time":https://www.amazon.com/dp/1484898109?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• "Five Weeks": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UGHUZDY?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show