In this episode, Jodi and Erin Ollila discuss how business owners should use website copy strategically to sell and promote a book, whether that's a dedicated book website or a book sales page on your existing business site. Erin shares with listeners where to feature the book throughout your website for trust-building and SEO, and how blog posts and podcast show notes can drive long-term book visibility. Jodi and Erin also discuss email marketing as it relates to books, including direct sales strategies, customer data, and email list permissions best practices.

Time Stamps:

00:01 — Intro + welcome Erin back

02:40 — Book page on existing site vs. separate book website

05:23 — Why keeping the book on your site supports SEO + authority

07:36 — The must-have: a dedicated book page (and where to place it)

09:31 — Where to reference the book (About page, homepage, resources)

11:46 — Use blog posts + podcast show notes to promote the book naturally

13:00 — SEO strategy: long-tail keywords + "more windows on your house"

16:44 — Why direct sales matter: upsells, funnels, customer data

23:23 — Email compliance: permission-based opt-ins + receipt email strategy

28:20 — Build a book-specific nurture sequence (before general newsletter)

29:45 — What a book page needs (keep it simple)

32:52 — Media page vs. media section on book page

35:45 — Permission to take a "B-minus approach" and improve later

39:44 — Book recommendations + where to find Erin

Keywords:

book sales page, book website vs sales page, author website copy, website copywriting for authors, book landing page, book page on website, how to sell a book on your website, direct book sales, selling books direct, book marketing for business owners, book funnel, book nurture sequence, email opt-in compliance, CAN-SPAM laws, customer data for authors, SEO for authors, book SEO keywords, blog posts for book marketing, podcast show notes SEO, branded keywords, author platform, about page book placement, website navigation book page, media page for authors, speaking page for authors, book page conversion rate, copywriting tips for book pages, business owners writing books, book writing for business owners

Resources Mentioned:

Coffee + Commas signup: https://bit.ly/coffeeandcommassignup

Erin's podcast: Talk Copy to Me: https://erinollila.com/podcast/

About Our Guest:

onversion copywriter. Copy Coach. Lover of ice cream, especially in non-dairy forms. Erin Ollila is a conversion copywriter who believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. When she's not working with big brands and small businesses to marry strategy, storytelling, and SEO, you can find her exploring southeastern MA with her family and friends. Erin graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

Website: http://erinollila.com

Talk Copy to me (podcast): https://erinollila.com/podcast/

Links to social media accounts:

Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12NfaADDVbezVb5EPLxs3sdmq6g8M9N-eDN3BnJT67v0/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode, Jodi breaks down what sustainable book marketing really looks like for business owners and leaders, and why long-term promotion should feel manageable rather than exhausting. She explains how marketing energy shifts after launch, why business owners need a different approach than traditional authors use, and how combining active and passive strategies creates a marketing plan your book (and your schedule) can sustain.

Time Stamps:

00:00 — Introduction: Why sustainable book marketing matters

01:00 — Burnout and overwhelm in book marketing

02:20 — Launch energy vs. long-term marketing energy

03:30 — Why business owners market books differently than traditional authors

04:45 — Experimentation and data in book marketing

05:40 — Active vs. passive marketing explained

06:45 — Practical day-to-day marketing approaches

07:15 — Simple visibility tactics that work quietly

08:15 — Quarterly promotion pushes and marketing cycles

09:30 — Building a sustainable long-term marketing plan

Keywords:

sustainable book marketing, book marketing for business owners, long-term book marketing strategy, author marketing plan, book promotion strategy, passive book marketing, active book marketing, book launch vs long-term marketing, marketing a business book, entrepreneur author marketing, book marketing burnout, evergreen book funnels, book marketing systems, book marketing for CEOs, book ROI strategy, business book promotion, marketing after book launch, author platform growth, book visibility strategy, marketing books sustainably, book writing for business owners, business owners writing books

Resources Mentioned:

Coffee + Commas signup: https://bit.ly/coffeeandcommassignup

Write Publish Market Episode 179: Effective Long-Term Book Marketing for Business Owners Writing Books

Write Publish Market Episode 143: Think Beyond the Book Launch

LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15HlbN4esX56SHyL9fgJlh0hyTYoF6txEsGTfoOQkeqc/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode, Jodi explains why direct selling your book is the smartest marketing strategy for business owners and leaders. She breaks down the limitations of third-party sellers (including Amazon), explores how upsells and bundles can create increased ROI, and shows how direct sales help business owners collect data, build relationships, and guide readers through their business ecosystem.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Part 2 of the Business-First Book Series

01:10 – Why direct selling matters more than ever

02:15 – The limits of retail outlets and Amazon fatigue

03:45 – Why traditional book marketing advice doesn't work for business owners

05:10 – The real purpose of a business book

06:30 – Why royalties are not the primary goal

07:40 – Relationship-building vs. transactional sales

09:00 – The importance of owning customer data

10:20 – "Do the Math" – how direct sales multiply ROI

12:45 – Upsells, downsells, tripwires, and order bumps

14:20 – Example: pairing a book with a workbook or masterclass

16:30 – Using experimentation to refine your strategy

18:10 – Episode recommendations and resources

19:00 – Book Planning Intensive and final thoughts

Keywords:

direct book sales, book marketing for business owners, selling books directly, Amazon fatigue, third-party booksellers, book royalties, author revenue, book sales strategy, sales multipliers, upsells and downsells, order bumps, tripwires, book bundles, customer data, business ecosystem, author marketing, publishing strategy, self-publishing marketing, book ROI, tangible ROI, intangible ROI, book funnels, relationship-based marketing, business-first books, entrepreneur authors, book promotion

Resources Mentioned:

Coffee + Commas signup: https://bit.ly/coffeeandcommassignup

Episode 207: Self-Publishing: A Business-First Approach for Business Owners

Episode 204: Do the Math to Generate Tangible and Intangible ROI from Your Nonfiction Book

Episode 200: Direct Sales Are the Future of Book Marketing

Episode 170: Sales Multipliers + Your BVook

Book Planning Intensive: jodibrandoneditorial.com/services

LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wlm9UPHknZOjtrSg843DMi4a0kfS0DCY4WIArG4px_w/edit?usp=sharing