Episode Highlights:





If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!



Connect with James:

- 


Resources: 

- Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com 

- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat 



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Connect with Smart Author Media:

- Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast

- Send your enquiries or drop by to say hello: support@smartauthormedia.com

Episode Highlights:
 
 
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!
 
Connect with James:
- 
 Resources: 
- Smart Author Media: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com">https://smartauthormedia.com </a>
- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/chat ">https://smartauthormedia.com/chat </a>
 
Subscribe:
- Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube</a>
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple</a>
 
Connect with Smart Author Media:
- Get notified when new episodes release: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast">https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast</a>
- Send your enquiries or drop by to say hello: <a href="mailto:support@smartauthormedia.com">support@smartauthormedia.com</a>

Welcome to the Smart Author Podcast! In this show Chris Benetti and his guests share information, insights and tools to help Smart Authors sell more books and ascend their book buyers and readers into backend sales for their core business.

Welcome to the Smart Author Podcast! In this show Chris Benetti and his guests share information, insights and tools to help Smart Authors sell more books and ascend their book buyers and readers into backend sales for their core business.

Smart Author

2 Man, 2 Day a Week, $200K/M+ Consulting Business with James Kemp

In this episode, Chris sits down with Lauren Tickner, founder of Scale Systems, to dive into the world of organic marketing and her experience with self-liquidating funnels. Lauren shares her journey of building a strong personal brand and how simplifying messaging and leveraging authority in content can drive significant sales results.

The conversation also explores Lauren's plans to write a book, which she intends to use as a key component of her marketing strategy to enhance her funnels and scale her business further. Packed with actionable insights and practical advice, this episode is perfect for anyone seeking to grow their lead generation efforts and boost sales through organic or paid strategies.

 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome, Smart Authors!

00:18 – Reconnecting with Lauren
Chris shares how he and Lauren first connected in 2017 during her fitness journey and early funnel experiments.

02:01 – The Evolution of Organic Marketing
Lauren discusses her transition from fitness to helping businesses leverage organic marketing effectively.

05:44 – Why Authority Intros Matter
The importance of establishing credibility in content to build trust and attract the right audience.

07:50 – The Power of Proving Expertise
Lauren explains how showcasing evidence and storytelling enhances authority with prospects.

11:22 – Simplifying Messaging for Sales
Why overcomplicated offers fail and how direct, clear messaging can drive better results.

19:08 – Mastering a Niche for Business Success
Lauren emphasizes the importance of specialization and mastering one area for scaling effectively.

20:44 – The Magic of Low-Ticket Funnels
Exploring the scalability, profitability, and potential of self-liquidating offers.

24:30 – A Scientific Approach to Book Funnels
Lauren’s plan for testing topics and titles before committing to a book project.

29:34 – Books as High-Quality Lead Generators
How books attract action-oriented, high-quality leads and outshine other marketing assets.

35:51 – The Future of Marketing Assets
Combining organic, paid, and low-ticket offers to create a powerful multi-channel strategy.

42:14 – Evaluating Ad Spend and ROI
Tips for scaling ad spend while mitigating risks like refunds and low-quality leads.

49:06 – Thank you for listening

 

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!

 

Connect with Lauren:

- https://www.facebook.com/@lauren.tickner

 

Resources: 

- Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com 

- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat 

 

Subscribe:

- Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube

- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple

 

Connect with Smart Author Media:

- Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast

In this episode, Chris sits down with Lauren Tickner, founder of Scale Systems, to dive into the world of organic marketing and her experience with self-liquidating funnels. Lauren shares her journey of building a strong personal brand and how simplifying messaging and leveraging authority in content can drive significant sales results.
The conversation also explores Lauren's plans to write a book, which she intends to use as a key component of her marketing strategy to enhance her funnels and scale her business further. Packed with actionable insights and practical advice, this episode is perfect for anyone seeking to grow their lead generation efforts and boost sales through organic or paid strategies.
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights:
00:00 &ndash; Welcome, Smart Authors!
00:18 &ndash; Reconnecting with Lauren Chris shares how he and Lauren first connected in 2017 during her fitness journey and early funnel experiments.
02:01 &ndash; The Evolution of Organic Marketing Lauren discusses her transition from fitness to helping businesses leverage organic marketing effectively.
05:44 &ndash; Why Authority Intros Matter The importance of establishing credibility in content to build trust and attract the right audience.
07:50 &ndash; The Power of Proving Expertise Lauren explains how showcasing evidence and storytelling enhances authority with prospects.
11:22 &ndash; Simplifying Messaging for Sales Why overcomplicated offers fail and how direct, clear messaging can drive better results.
19:08 &ndash; Mastering a Niche for Business Success Lauren emphasizes the importance of specialization and mastering one area for scaling effectively.
20:44 &ndash; The Magic of Low-Ticket Funnels Exploring the scalability, profitability, and potential of self-liquidating offers.
24:30 &ndash; A Scientific Approach to Book Funnels Lauren&rsquo;s plan for testing topics and titles before committing to a book project.
29:34 &ndash; Books as High-Quality Lead Generators How books attract action-oriented, high-quality leads and outshine other marketing assets.
35:51 &ndash; The Future of Marketing Assets Combining organic, paid, and low-ticket offers to create a powerful multi-channel strategy.
42:14 &ndash; Evaluating Ad Spend and ROI Tips for scaling ad spend while mitigating risks like refunds and low-quality leads.
49:06 &ndash; Thank you for listening
&nbsp;
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!
&nbsp;
Connect with Lauren:
- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/@lauren.tickner" data-link-card="true">https://www.facebook.com/@lauren.tickner</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wealthhealthcheck.com.au"></a>Resources: 
- Smart Author Media: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com">https://smartauthormedia.com </a>
- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/chat&nbsp;">https://smartauthormedia.com/chat&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
Subscribe:
- Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube</a>
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Smart Author Media:
- Get notified when new episodes release: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast">https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast</a>

Scaling with Social Media with Lauren Tickner

In this episode of The Smart Author Podcast, Chris is joined by Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. Leah shares her journey from journalism to becoming a leading book publicist and provides invaluable insights on leveraging PR for your book. Learn how to craft compelling pitches, build effective media lists, and secure media coverage for your book—without breaking the bank. Discover actionable strategies for promoting your book pre- and post-publication and explore how Book Publicity School empowers authors to navigate the complex world of media and publishing. Whether you're new to PR or looking to amplify your book's reach, this episode is packed with practical advice.

 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome, Smart Authors!

01:13 – Meet Leah Paulos
Leah discusses her background in PR, running both Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School.

01:38 – Leah’s Journey to PR
From journalism to PR: Leah’s career evolution and how it shaped her expertise in publicity.

02:19 – The Journalist’s Perspective
How Leah’s experience as a magazine editor helped her understand and excel in PR.

03:13 – Starting Press Shop PR
Leah shares the story of transitioning from consulting to founding her own PR agency.

04:11 – Breaking Into Book Publicity
Leah’s first author client and how it led her to specialize in book publicity.

06:20 – Demystifying Publicity for Authors
Why Leah focused on making PR accessible and jargon-free for authors through her website.

07:05 – The Birth of Book Publicity School
How Book Publicity School was created to help authors access affordable, effective PR resources.

08:17 – The Changing Role of Publishers
Why modern authors need to take charge of their own publicity efforts.

09:30 – Navigating Media and Publishing
How Book Publicity School equips authors to manage these often opaque industries.

11:19 – The Core of Book Publicity School
Leah explains the key elements of the school, including crafting pitches and building media lists.

13:09 – Tailored PR Strategies for Authors
How Leah helps authors refine their messaging and target the right audiences.

15:14 – Building Feasible and Effective Campaigns
The importance of balancing ambitious goals with realistic outreach strategies.

17:00 – Leveraging Media Placements
Using initial media wins to snowball into larger opportunities.

19:27 – The Book as a Long-Term Product
Why authors should view their book as a long-term investment, not a short-term project.

20:26 – Big Name Campaigns
Leah reflects on high-profile projects, including Neil deGrasse Tyson and Representative John Lewis.

23:16 – The Puzzle of Book Publicity
Why Leah finds working with lesser-known authors and books especially rewarding.

24:15 – Giving Journalists a Story
How crafting compelling angles for journalists leads to media coverage.

27:13 – A Unique Approach to Publicity
Why Book Publicity School fills a gap in the market with practical, campaign-based workshops.

28:03 – Where to Find Leah and Her Resources
Details on accessing Book Publicity School, Press Shop PR, and Leah’s monthly free workshops.

30:05 – Thank you for listening

 

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!

 

Connect with Leah:

Book Publicity School
- https://www.bookpublicityschool.com/

Press Shop
-https://www.pressshoppr.com/

LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpaulos/

 

Resources: 

- Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com 

- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat 

 

Subscribe:

- Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube

- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple

 

Connect with Smart Author Media:

- Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast

In this episode of The Smart Author Podcast, Chris is joined by Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. Leah shares her journey from journalism to becoming a leading book publicist and provides invaluable insights on leveraging PR for your book. Learn how to craft compelling pitches, build effective media lists, and secure media coverage for your book&mdash;without breaking the bank. Discover actionable strategies for promoting your book pre- and post-publication and explore how Book Publicity School empowers authors to navigate the complex world of media and publishing. Whether you're new to PR or looking to amplify your book's reach, this episode is packed with practical advice.
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights:
00:00 &ndash; Welcome, Smart Authors!
01:13 &ndash; Meet Leah Paulos Leah discusses her background in PR, running both Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School.
01:38 &ndash; Leah&rsquo;s Journey to PR From journalism to PR: Leah&rsquo;s career evolution and how it shaped her expertise in publicity.
02:19 &ndash; The Journalist&rsquo;s Perspective How Leah&rsquo;s experience as a magazine editor helped her understand and excel in PR.
03:13 &ndash; Starting Press Shop PR Leah shares the story of transitioning from consulting to founding her own PR agency.
04:11 &ndash; Breaking Into Book Publicity Leah&rsquo;s first author client and how it led her to specialize in book publicity.
06:20 &ndash; Demystifying Publicity for Authors Why Leah focused on making PR accessible and jargon-free for authors through her website.
07:05 &ndash; The Birth of Book Publicity School How Book Publicity School was created to help authors access affordable, effective PR resources.
08:17 &ndash; The Changing Role of Publishers Why modern authors need to take charge of their own publicity efforts.
09:30 &ndash; Navigating Media and Publishing How Book Publicity School equips authors to manage these often opaque industries.
11:19 &ndash; The Core of Book Publicity School Leah explains the key elements of the school, including crafting pitches and building media lists.
13:09 &ndash; Tailored PR Strategies for Authors How Leah helps authors refine their messaging and target the right audiences.
15:14 &ndash; Building Feasible and Effective Campaigns The importance of balancing ambitious goals with realistic outreach strategies.
17:00 &ndash; Leveraging Media Placements Using initial media wins to snowball into larger opportunities.
19:27 &ndash; The Book as a Long-Term Product Why authors should view their book as a long-term investment, not a short-term project.
20:26 &ndash; Big Name Campaigns Leah reflects on high-profile projects, including Neil deGrasse Tyson and Representative John Lewis.
23:16 &ndash; The Puzzle of Book Publicity Why Leah finds working with lesser-known authors and books especially rewarding.
24:15 &ndash; Giving Journalists a Story How crafting compelling angles for journalists leads to media coverage.
27:13 &ndash; A Unique Approach to Publicity Why Book Publicity School fills a gap in the market with practical, campaign-based workshops.
28:03 &ndash; Where to Find Leah and Her Resources Details on accessing Book Publicity School, Press Shop PR, and Leah&rsquo;s monthly free workshops.
30:05 &ndash; Thank you for listening
&nbsp;
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!
&nbsp;
Connect with Leah:
Book Publicity School - <a href="https://www.bookpublicityschool.com/">https://www.bookpublicityschool.com/</a>
Press Shop - <a href="https://www.pressshoppr.com/">https://www.pressshoppr.com/</a>
LinkedIn: - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpaulos/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpaulos/</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wealthhealthcheck.com.au"></a>Resources: 
- Smart Author Media: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com">https://smartauthormedia.com </a>
- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/chat&nbsp;">https://smartauthormedia.com/chat&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
Subscribe:
- Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube</a>
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Smart Author Media:
- Get notified when new episodes release: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast">https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast</a>

Publicity 101 for Authors with Leah Paulos

Join Chris in this episode of The Smart Author Podcast as he sits down with Stephen Diaz of The Rainmaker Family. Stephen shares his incredible journey from wedding photography to building an 8-figure coaching business that helps moms create financial freedom through Amazon businesses. The conversation dives deep into marketing strategies, including the power of live and evergreen challenges, how to turn those into books, and the systems behind scaling a successful coaching program. Stephen also reveals how his team tracks milestones, ensures client success, and continues to innovate. Whether you’re looking for marketing insights or inspiration to scale your business, this episode is packed with actionable advice and valuable lessons.

 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome, Smart Authors!

01:42 – From Wedding Photographer to $10M+ Business Owner
Stephen shares his background and how he went from shooting weddings to building a coaching empire helping moms create online businesses.

05:27 – The Bigger the Problem You Solve, the More Money You Make
How solving high-impact problems leads to bigger financial rewards and why Rainmaker Family became more profitable than Amazon selling itself.

12:14 – The Shift After the Pandemic Hit
How COVID-19 accelerated Rainmaker Family’s growth as more people looked to start online businesses.

14:20 – Challenges Catapulted the Business
Stephen explains how running challenges helped Rainmaker Family scale quickly and why they outperformed traditional webinars.

19:40 – Leveraging Assets That Work for the Audience
How Stephen and his team turned their successful challenge into an Evergreen funnel and a book to maximize reach.

21:32 – Moms Hit Six Figures Every 14 Days
Stephen reveals the impressive success rates of Rainmaker Family members and how they track milestones to optimize results.

24:07 – Challenge to Client Conversion Rates
Breakdown of conversion rates from live vs. Evergreen challenges and insights into why challenges continue to be a powerful marketing tool.

29:35 – Why Market Awareness in Marketing Is Important
The importance of understanding market awareness levels and how to adjust messaging for different types of buyers.

34:01 – Where to Find Stephen
Stephen shares where listeners can connect with him and learn more about The Rainmaker Family.

34:49 – Thank You for Listening

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!

 

Connect with Stephen: 

- https://rainmakerfamily.com/

- https://www.instagram.com/steezdiaz/

 

Resources: 

- Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com 

- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat 

 

Subscribe:

- Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube

- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple

 

Connect with Smart Author Media:

- Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast

Join Chris in this episode of The Smart Author Podcast as he sits down with Stephen Diaz of The Rainmaker Family. Stephen shares his incredible journey from wedding photography to building an 8-figure coaching business that helps moms create financial freedom through Amazon businesses. The conversation dives deep into marketing strategies, including the power of live and evergreen challenges, how to turn those into books, and the systems behind scaling a successful coaching program. Stephen also reveals how his team tracks milestones, ensures client success, and continues to innovate. Whether you&rsquo;re looking for marketing insights or inspiration to scale your business, this episode is packed with actionable advice and valuable lessons.
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights:
00:00 &ndash; Welcome, Smart Authors!
01:42 &ndash; From Wedding Photographer to $10M+ Business Owner Stephen shares his background and how he went from shooting weddings to building a coaching empire helping moms create online businesses.
05:27 &ndash; The Bigger the Problem You Solve, the More Money You Make How solving high-impact problems leads to bigger financial rewards and why Rainmaker Family became more profitable than Amazon selling itself.
12:14 &ndash; The Shift After the Pandemic Hit How COVID-19 accelerated Rainmaker Family&rsquo;s growth as more people looked to start online businesses.
14:20 &ndash; Challenges Catapulted the Business Stephen explains how running challenges helped Rainmaker Family scale quickly and why they outperformed traditional webinars.
19:40 &ndash; Leveraging Assets That Work for the Audience How Stephen and his team turned their successful challenge into an Evergreen funnel and a book to maximize reach.
21:32 &ndash; Moms Hit Six Figures Every 14 Days Stephen reveals the impressive success rates of Rainmaker Family members and how they track milestones to optimize results.
24:07 &ndash; Challenge to Client Conversion Rates Breakdown of conversion rates from live vs. Evergreen challenges and insights into why challenges continue to be a powerful marketing tool.
29:35 &ndash; Why Market Awareness in Marketing Is Important The importance of understanding market awareness levels and how to adjust messaging for different types of buyers.
34:01 &ndash; Where to Find Stephen Stephen shares where listeners can connect with him and learn more about The Rainmaker Family.
34:49 &ndash; Thank You for Listening
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share!
&nbsp;
Connect with Stephen:&nbsp;
- <a href="https://rainmakerfamily.com/">https://rainmakerfamily.com/</a>
- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/steezdiaz/">https://www.instagram.com/steezdiaz/</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wealthhealthcheck.com.au"></a>Resources: 
- Smart Author Media: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com">https://smartauthormedia.com </a>
- Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/chat&nbsp;">https://smartauthormedia.com/chat&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
Subscribe:
- Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube</a>
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple">https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Smart Author Media:
- Get notified when new episodes release: <a href="https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast">https://smartauthormedia.com/podcast</a>

2 Man, 2 Day a Week, $200K/M+ Consulting Business with James Kemp

Smart Author

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