Podcast Show Notes
On The Indy Author Podcast, we discuss the writing craft, the publishing voyage, and how we can navigate our way to the readers who will love our books. Click the links below for the show notes for episodes since 200, including summaries and transcripts.
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Episode 354 - Social Media Strategy for Authors with Dan Blank
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Where should authors show up online when social media feels fragmented, algorithms keep changing, and AI-generated content makes authenticity harder to recognize? Dan Blank joins Matty Dalrymple to explore a more human-centered social media strategy for authors—one built around clear messages, genuine stories, and sustainable connection rather than chasing every platform.
Dan explains how the breakup of Twitter’s central role changed online communities, why imperfect and personal content can stand out in the age of AI, and how algorithms can help a new creator reach readers from a standing start. He and Matty discuss the appeal of simple story structures, the importance of capturing attention immediately, and the value of learning directly from readers, librarians, and booksellers.
The conversation also offers practical guidance for authors at different stages: defining core themes before a first book launches, resetting an established but uninspiring social presence, choosing channels that serve distinct purposes, and using long-form content as a home base for shorter social posts. The central takeaway is simple: choose one place where sharing feels comfortable, show up consistently, and learn through real conversations and experimentation.
Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers develop their author platforms, connect with readers, and launch their books. He is the author of the book Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience. He has worked with thousands of writers, and amazing organizations who support creative people such as Penguin Random House, Sesame Workshop, Hachette Book Group, Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, and many others. You can find Dan on at https://WeGrowMedia.com, his weekly newsletter at https://danblank.substack.com or on social media @DanBlank.
Episode Links
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Podcast episodes are free for everyone. Expanded episode materials, including an extensive interview summary, transcript, and access to the supporter-only discussion threads, are available to paid subscribers of The Indy Author on Substack.
Episode 352 - Building AI Trust to Improve Book Discoverability with Meg Casebolt
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How can indie authors make their books visible when readers increasingly turn to AI for recommendations? AI discoverability strategist and romance author Meg Casebolt joins Matty Dalrymple to explain how tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Amazon Rufus are changing the way readers search for their next book. Meg explores why traditional SEO keywords still matter—but are no longer enough on their own—and how consistent, relevant signals across author websites, retailer pages, podcasts, reviews, and reader conversations can help AI understand and recommend a book. She discusses the value of long-tail keywords, genre tropes, authoritative links, Reddit recommendations, Google Trends, and an omnichannel presence.
The conversation also examines why sustained marketing may matter more than short-lived promotional spikes, how indie authors can compete with the stronger publicity infrastructure behind traditionally published books, and why trying to appeal to everyone can make both a story and its marketing forgettable. Meg offers practical guidance for identifying what makes a book distinct, proving those claims through coherent online signals, and using AI as a research partner without surrendering the human creativity and community that make books worth discovering.
Meg Casebolt is a romance author, AI discoverability strategist, founder of Love At First Search, creator of Happily Ever Indie, and co-host of the First Dates & Soulmates podcast.
Episode Links
https://happilyeverindie.com and https://happilyeverindie.com/ai-book-recommendations/
https://instagram.com/baileyseabornauthor
https://www.threads.com/@baileyseabornauthor
Want the Full Companion Post?
Podcast episodes are free for everyone. Expanded episode materials, including an extensive interview summary, transcript, and access to the supporter-only discussion threads, are available to paid subscribers of The Indy Author on Substack.