The Self Publishing Show SPS-438: Bring Back the Mail! with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
Mar 12, 2026
New marketing tactics for indie authors, including experiments with BookBub ads and combining paid campaigns for long-tail sales. Talk of improving AI-assisted translations and the boost higher-quality translations can bring for international reach. Exploration of why some romance adaptations suddenly break out in popularity. A creative direct-to-reader strategy: sending postcards and physical mail to deepen reader relationships. A simple daily "Three Things" mindset practice to stay motivated.
AI Snips
Chapters
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Transcript
Episode notes
State Your AI Use To Prevent False Claims
- Consider declaring how you used AI in your book to head off false accusations and one-star campaigns.
- James said a brief explanation of AI use (e.g., revision/proofing only) can prevent readers who distrust AI from assuming full AI authorship.
Claude Reorganized My Canva In Minutes
- Cissy switched from Gemini to Claude after training Claude with her assets and praised its co-work and memory features.
- She had Claude organize her entire Canva in 10 minutes, creating folders and recognizing art across three pen names.
Run Facebook Ads During BookBub For A Longer Tail
- During a BookBub promotion, run a concurrent Facebook ad to amplify reach and lengthen the sales tail.
- Cissy ran a $50/day five-day Facebook ad alongside a 99¢ BookBub box set and saw immediate ROI and stronger long-tail sales.
