Welcome back to Branded: your comprehensive guide to creative branding. Before we get into today's topic, we have a special announcement: Branded is now officially an LLC! Check out our new website at www.workwithbranded.com to see all the great branding and podcasting services we have to offer. Now, on today's episode, we're revisiting the topic of publishing and how impactful writing a book can be on your brand. As two people who have both taken the publishing journey, albeit in very different ways, we're sharing the tools that helped us (and how much they cost!), the ah-ha! moments, and our advice and insights that we've learned through the process. Key takeaways: 1. AI-Assisted Writing: Both Larry Roberts and Sara Lohse highlighted how they've utilized AI tools—Larry with Chat GPT and Sara with Chapterly—to assist in the process of writing their books. We talked about balancing the use of AI to generate content while ensuring they inject our personal insights and stories into their work. 2. Self-Publishing Insights: The episode dove deep into the world of self-publishing, underscoring the importance of not overpaying for services, being selective about professional help, and using the right tools to minimize costs. We mentioned platforms like IngramSpark which allows authors to publish for free. 3. Physical Distribution Strategies: Sara shared her strategy for getting her book into stores through consignment programs and was successful in placing her book at Barnes & Noble. Larry shared his own experience of leveraging personal connections to get his book into a public library, highlighting the effectiveness of reaching out and the different distribution avenues available. 4. Emotional Journey and Practical Advice: We talk about our personal experiences of writing and publishing, touching on the emotional aspects such as hesitation about book signing events and the significance of overcoming self-doubt. We also provided practical advice on book publishing and marketing, including tips on self-publishing and sharing their expenses related to the book-writing process. [embed]https://youtu.be/pyrSfSG3JWw?si=4aKtnLz3oxQrabsV[/embed]
