Author Marketing Minute

Lynn McGinnis

5.0 (2)
Business
Updated Weekly

Every author’s path is different, and visibility starts with understanding what works for you. On Author Marketing Minute, host Lynn McGinnis, a veteran marketing generalist with a decade of publishing experience, shares quick, practical insights to help self-published authors get seen, stay consistent, and keep moving forward — without the hype or overwhelm.

4d ago

Being Found Isn’t the Same as Being Understood

Getting found online is important, but what happens once someone finds you? In this episode of Author Marketing Minute, Lynn McGinnis shares the experience of a coaching client who received a glowing editorial review that didn't accurately represent the substance of her book. It raises a larger question for authors: Is the information available online simply making you visible, or is it helping readers—and AI assistants—understand your work accurately? Lynn looks at the information authors can control, why consistency across an author platform matters, and how your website can provide the context that reviews and other third-party sources may not. Show Notes Being Found Isn’t the Same as Being Understood Authors can't control how every reader, reviewer, or outside source interprets their books. They can contribute accurate, consistent information to the larger online picture. In this episode: -What a positive but misleading editorial review revealed about author visibility -The difference between being found and being understood -Why authors can't rely on reviews alone to explain their books -How AI assistants compile information about authors and their work -The online sources that can influence how your books are represented -Why your author website remains such an important part of your platform -How book descriptions, interviews, reviews, blogs, and consistent messaging add context -Why accurate information you control can help counter information someone else gets wrong Learn more about Lynn McGinnis and read the full article at LynnMcGinnis.me.
Sep 24

Which Lynn McGinnis Are You Looking For?

Episode Summary What does an AI assistant know about you and your books—and where is it getting that information? In this episode of Author Marketing Minute, Lynn McGinnis runs a simple AI discoverability test using two authors and her own name. The results show what can happen when an author has a strong, consistent online presence, what can happen when there isn’t enough information available, and why even accurate sources can still lead an AI assistant to make assumptions. Show Notes Which Lynn McGinnis Are You Looking For? Readers are increasingly turning to AI assistants to find books, learn about authors, and decide what to read next. That makes the information AI tools find about you an increasingly important part of your author platform. In this episode, Lynn talks about: -What AI discoverability means for authors -What happened when she tested a well-established science fiction author -How limited online visibility led to incorrect information about another author's genre -What Gemini found when Lynn searched her own name -How an AI assistant can synthesize information that you never actually said -Why it's worth asking where an AI answer came from -How consistency across your website, retailer listings, podcast appearances, and other online sources helps AI tools understand who you are A simple test you can run on your own author platform This week's episode is based on Lynn's latest Substack. Read the full article and learn more about Lynn McGinnis at LynnMcGinnis.me.
Sep 17

The Difference Between Visibility and Connection

You can be doing all the right marketing things—posting consistently, building your email list, running ads, planning launches—and still get very little engagement from readers. In this episode of Author Marketing Minute, Lynn McGinnis looks at the difference between being visible and actually connecting with readers. Using two authors in the same genre as an example, she explores why polished, consistent marketing can still fall flat when every interaction asks readers to buy, click, join, or sign up. Sometimes the answer isn't more marketing. It's giving readers a chance to get to know the person behind the books.
Jul 23

AI Is Making Author Scams Harder to Spot

Author scams aren't new, but they're becoming much more sophisticated. In this episode of Author Marketing Minute, Lynn McGinnis shares three recent scam attempts sent to her clients: a fake book club invitation, a convincing reader email that turned into a demand for payment, and an elaborate publisher-and-agent impersonation. What makes these scams so effective is that they begin with situations that seem completely believable. You'll learn what to watch for, why AI is making these scams harder to recognize, and the simple detail that can often reveal whether an email is legitimate. In this episode: Why author scams have become much more convincing Three real examples that landed in clients' inboxes How AI is helping scammers write professional, personalized emails The one detail that often exposes a scam What to do before responding to an unexpected opportunity To learn more about Lynn McGinnis and read the full article, visit: https://lynnmcginnis.me One small move at a time.
May 14

What Consistent Marketing Looks Like for Self-Published Authors

Consistency is the foundation of any author marketing strategy that actually works. In this episode, we break down what consistent author marketing really means, why frequency isn't the point, and how to build a sustainable rhythm that fits your real life. You'll hear about: The difference between evergreen content and live engagement, and why you need both How to batch your content so visibility doesn't depend on willpower What transactional posting looks like, and how to move away from it A simple starting point any self-published author can adapt Ready to get clear on what's holding your book back? Book a free Unstuck Appointment at https://lynnmcginnis.me/contact
Apr 9

The A10 Shift: Why Your Amazon Ads Stopped Working

The A10 Shift: Why Your Amazon Ads Stopped Working If your Amazon sales have dropped and your ads aren't doing what they used to, you're not imagining it — and you probably didn't do anything wrong. Amazon shifted to a new search algorithm called A10, and it changed what the platform rewards. This episode breaks down what that shift means, why authors are feeling it now, and what actually helps under the new rules. In this episode: Why Amazon's A10 algorithm changed the math on paid advertising What A10 is actually looking for — and why internal ads alone no longer move the needle The foundation problem A10 is exposing for authors who built everything inside Amazon Two metadata quick wins worth checking right now (categories and keywords) What relationship-based marketing looks like in practice Resources mentioned: Book an Unstuck Appointment — a 30-minute diagnostic call to identify where your book strategy is breaking down: lynnmcginnis.me/contact
Apr 3

158 Million Americans Are Listening. Are They Listening to You?

158 million Americans listen to podcasts every month — not as one large audience, but as thousands of smaller, engaged communities built around specific interests. In this episode of Author Marketing Minute, Lynn McGinnis walks through why podcast guesting can be a powerful visibility tool for authors, and why it requires more strategy than it did even a few years ago. This episode covers: – How podcast audiences function differently from social media – Why podcast guesting works for reaching new readers – What’s changed in the podcast landscape – Why response rates are lower and ghosting is common – The rise of pay-to-play podcast opportunities – How to think about podcast tiers and where you fit – What you need in place before you start pitching Podcast guesting is one of the visibility strategies Lynn helps authors evaluate inside coaching, consulting, and done-for-you work. The 30-minute Unstuck appointment is the best place to start — it helps Lynn see where you are, where you want to be, and what’s getting in the way. Learn more and schedule here: https://lynnmcginnis.me
Mar 26

You Are Statistically Miraculous. Now What?

Finishing and publishing a book puts you in a very small group of people. Most think about writing one. Fewer start. Even fewer follow through. So what you’ve done matters. But once your book is out in the world, the next phase begins — and it’s the one most authors aren’t prepared for. In this episode of Author Marketing Minute, Lynn McGinnis talks about what comes after publishing: learning how to market your work in a way that actually connects with readers. This episode covers: – The difference between transactional “buy my book” marketing and relationship-based author marketing – How to start building a platform around your reader – Why marketing feels unfamiliar at first – How to filter out advice that doesn’t apply to your genre or audience – What it means to treat marketing as a skill that develops over time Marketing is a different language. It takes time to learn, but it becomes clearer as you go. If you’re in that early stage and trying to figure out what to focus on next, Lynn offers a 30-minute Unstuck appointment to help you understand where you are and what needs attention. You can learn more and schedule here: https://lynnmcginnis.me

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Every author’s path is different, and visibility starts with understanding what works for you. On Author Marketing Minute, host Lynn McGinnis, a veteran marketing generalist with a decade of publishing experience, shares quick, practical insights to help self-published authors get seen, stay consistent, and keep moving forward — without the hype or overwhelm.

Creator

Lynn McGinnis
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

28
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Author Marketing Minute