Publish & Prosper

Matt Briel & Lauren Vassallo
  • 4.6 (21)
  • BOOKS
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Where publishing, technology, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com. 

  1. 10H AGO

    Plot Twist: Indie Authors are Landing More Traditional Publishing Deals than Ever

    In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore the rapidly rising trend in indie authors signing major traditional publishing deals. The real plot twist? These days the authors are the ones with the negotiating power and leverage. We talk through: 🔮 How media influences publishing trends 💡 Outdated self-publishing stigmas (and what publishers are actually interested in) 🤔 Why indie authors would want to secure a publishing deal And answer a few key questions to help indie authors interested in securing traditional publishing deals! Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube. Dive Deeper 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #36 | The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional PublishingEp #65 | How to Copyright the Copy That You WroteEp #71 | International Book Rights for Indie Authors💡 Explore These Resources Wall Street Journal (Paywalled) | Interview with Hugh HoweyWired (Archive) | Interview with Hugh HoweyPublishers Weekly | Book Deals Feed Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ “This is an opportunity for you to have a team of people that are helping you with your brand expansion, or with getting you in front of new audiences or licensing your, your foreign rights or your media rights and handling all that for you.” 🎙️ “The point is, you have leverage and you can use that to get a more flexible contract and something that works better for you.” 🎙️ “Anytime you can break norm, anytime you can affect, you know, some mundane, archaic practice that's been in place for hundreds of years? Do it. And this is just another example of that. And whether you want to chalk that up to they're just a business and they're following the dollars, who cares? There’s evolution happening.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    57 min

  2. MAR 11

    Why Print is the Missing Piece in Your Creator Ecosystem

    In this episode, Lauren & Matt have a conversation exploring why print needs to be part of your creator strategy. We consider the current state of digital content, influenced by algorithms and AI, and how content entrepreneurs can use print books to better establish their brand longevity and legacy (and, of course, to make money).  Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #33 | Books You Can Create Using Your Existing ContentEp #58 | Creative Ways to Use Print-On-Demand to Support Your BusinessEp #79 | How Justin Moore Sold Over 1,000 Books in 90 Days💡 Read These Blog Posts Creators’ Guide to Monetizing Your ContentTurning Your Content Into a Book: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creators💡 Watch These Videos How to Launch a Print Subscription6 Unique Ways to Use Print-on-Demand Ep #105 [Video] | Are You Selling Books or Selling with Books? Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [8:34] “How do you make that content last? How do you make it tangible? And how do you use it to reach people in a way that isn't going to immediately disappear?” 🎙️ [33:47] “'I’ve yet to ever receive a book or a piece of printed content or something where I was as quick to toss it as I am 90% of the emails that come into my inbox every day.” 🎙️ [51:21] “I think, honestly, in an age where everybody's attached to devices, the obvious play is to do something different. And that's print.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    53 min

  3. MAR 4

    Choosing Your Direct Sales Strategy

    In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore three different ways creators can get started selling direct, and the tools you’ll need along the way! Learn about: 💡 Using direct assisted platforms like Books.by to build a website for you 💰 Selling on marketplaces like Etsy for a hybrid sales approach 📚 Connecting Lulu Direct to your site for true direct-to-consumer sales 🧰 Stocking your toolkit with some of our favorite sales and marketing solutions Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!  Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn More About Lulu DirectLearn More About Books.by and Stck.meBuy Matt’s Book Profit-on-Demand💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #31 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online BookstoreEp #70 | How Does Selling Direct Actually Work?Ep #96 | Building a Landing Page for Your Book💡 Read These Blog Posts Choosing the Right Direct-to-Consumer Solution for Selling Your BooksShopify vs. Wix vs. WooCommerce: Which Ecommerce Platform is Right for Your Book?Licensing Your Foreign Book Rights with DropCap Marketplace💡 Watch These Videos Direct Sales PlaylistHow to Get Started with Direct Sales Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [4:47] “So for those of you that are interested in selling direct, but you don't have the time or the experience, or you just want to give it a quick try and you don't want to invest too much in it… These direct assisted platforms, I think, are really great for that.” 🎙️ [23:41] “There's no better way to control the customer experience from beginning to end and grow your business and capture all that data.” 🎙️ [38:23] “If your goal is long term growth and scalability, that should be a factor that you consider while you're deciding on your solutions.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    54 min

  4. FEB 25

    Developing Publishing Technology with Lulu’s CTO Christoph Kepper

    In this episode, Lauren sits down with Lulu’s Chief Technology Officer Christoph Kepper! Christoph shares his insights into what makes Lulu a publishing technology powerhouse, and his vision of an accessible, sustainable future for publishing. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn more about Wikimedia and Pedia PressLearn more about Lulu’s Order Import tool💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #62 | Sustainability in Publishing: Reducing Waste One Print Book at a TimeEp #102 | What the Publishing Industry Should Learn from Heated Rivalry Ep #106 | Building Your Book Business Using Lulu’s Print APIs Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [13:19] “I always say ideas are cheap, you know? Because having a good idea is not a problem. Executing and getting it to that stage where it's really working well takes so much more effort.” 🎙️ [17:03] “It's not the latest technology that Ingram uses. And I thought there were a few things that we could do better. And so we did them at Lulu." 🎙️ [35:32] “That's where also the notion of Lulu being a tech company is valid, because we are much less of a publishing company than traditional publishing companies or publishing companies at all. We are just providing some infrastructure for authors, for publishers, for whoever wants to use our services.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    45 min

  5. FEB 18

    Scaling for Success with Automated Book Fulfillment Solutions

    Manual fulfillment works…until it doesn’t. In this episode, Matt & Lauren break down the risks and realities of manually packing and shipping orders, signs it’s time to update your existing solutions, and the backend automations that can help you successfully scale with your growing sales.  Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn More About Lulu’s Sales & Fulfillment Options💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #32 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online BookstoreEp #80 | Scaling Up: What to Know About Bulk Book PrintingEp #106 | Building Your Book Business Using Lulu’s Print APIs💡 Read These Blog Posts Simplify Selling Books with Lulu’s Order Import ToolPOD Solutions for Growing BusinessesDirect Sales Basics for Selling Your Book with LuluChoosing the Right Direct-to-Consumer Solution for Selling Your Books💡 Watch These Videos How to Get Started with Direct SalesDistributing Your Book With Lulu: What You Need to Know  Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [9:00] “You also want to be prepared for those one-off situations, I can handle this as is right now, but if there's any unexpected spike or roadblock that's going to throw off the whole system, you need to have a plan in place for how to manage that and how to handle that.” 🎙️ [31:20] “Small problems become big problems if you let them.” 🎙️ [44:01] “Being able to open up over 150 new markets, you know, overnight with virtually no money up front and just a little bit of your time? Like, that is – there's no faster way to scale a business like that.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    49 min

  6. FEB 11

    Building Your Book Business Using Lulu’s Print APIs

    In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss how entrepreneurs are using Lulu’s suite of APIs to build brand-first book businesses. We break down how savvy creators can use API integrations to automate, personalize, and scale their printing and fulfillment, and why you may want to do the same. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn More About Lulu’s APIsLulu’s API Knowledge BaseDevelopers PageThe Pathless Path by Paul Millard 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #61 | Creating a Custom Book Business Using Lulu's Print APIEp #70 | How Does Selling Direct Actually Work?💡 Read These Blog Posts Scaling Your Business with Custom Books Using the Print APIChoosing the Right Direct-to-Consumer Solution for Selling Your BooksPersonalization at Scale: How Lulu’s API Enables Customized Printing💡 Watch These Videos Selling Direct with a Print APIWebinar | The Business of Books:  How To Use Lulu's Print API To Scale Your Business Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [2:58] “Right now, it's easier than ever to take something like our suite of APIs that are open to, you know, open source and create some really cool front end for like, personalized books. And then we just handle all of the fulfillment. It makes everything super easy.” 🎙️ [14:37] “We give you all the tools you need. You have to go build your sandcastle in the sandbox by yourself.” 🎙️ [37:24] “The APIs’ best and built for three things: automation, personalization, and scalability.”  💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    54 min

  7. FEB 4

    Are You Selling Books or Selling with Books?

    Books can be the product or the tool that helps sell the product…and sometimes even both. In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore how print-on-demand empowers creators and businesses to use books to build their business, earn revenue, generate leads, and fuel brand growth.  Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #33 | Books You Can Create Using Your Existing ContentEp #54 | Can Books Add Value to Your Business (Beyond Just Revenue)?Ep #58 | Creative Ways to Use Print-on-Demand to Support Your Business💡 Read These Blog Posts 5 Ways Large Organizations Can Benefit from Lulu's Book SolutionsScale Your Book Printing with Lulu💡 Watch These Videos Ep #79 | Book Launch Blueprint: How Justin Moore Sold Over 1,000 Books in 90 Days8 Reasons Your Business Needs Print-On-Demand6 Unique Ways to Use Print-on-Demand  Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [7:40] “Even people that I talk to that are enthusiastic about the idea of publishing a book…that are just like, yeah, I think it would be really valuable for me, for some reason or another, to publish a book with my content. But I'm not much of a writer, so I don't really know if I can. And I always push back on that.” 🎙️ [12:35] “If the concept will fall victim to technology or progress or AI, then that's going to happen regardless of the medium that you use to put the content out there.” 🎙️ [39:00] “How many of them are creating a custom piece of content and getting it into the mailbox of one of their prospective clients, versus you just landing another piece of white noise in their inbox? I'd rather be in the mailbox, not the inbox.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    49 min

  8. JAN 28

    Using Paid Ads to Drive More Book Sales

    In this episode, Lauren & Matt cover five different types of paid ads that can help you sell more books. We review the pros, cons, and best practices for: 🔍 Paid Search 🗣️ Paid Social Media Campaigns  📧 Email & Newsletter Sponsorships 🎙️ Pre-Roll & Mid-Roll Ads  📖 Trade Publication Print Ads Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources SparkToroThis Old MarketingWritten Word MediaBookBubBookFunnel💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #47 | Metrics That Matter: A Guide for Authors & CreatorsEp #76 | Making the Most of Partnerships to Grow Your AudienceEp #96 | Building a Landing Page for Your Book💡 Read These Blog Posts Boost Book Sales with Paid Search AdsTracking Your Marketing Efforts With UTM Tags Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [12:34] “With paid search you don't need to be creating the coolest, greatest graphics and video content of all time. You can still do really effective things without a creative bone in your body.” 🎙️ [18:21] “One of the biggest mistakes people make too, in any type of paid ad scenario, is they drive everybody to Amazon to buy their book. Like, you're spending money to capture traffic, but then you're turning around and driving them right over to Amazon. It doesn't make any sense.”  🎙️ [41:04] “Just add value. That's all. If your content is valuable, if somebody finds value in it, whether the value is entertainment, education, whatever, it doesn't matter. If you're adding value, and they feel like it's worth their time to read it, it doesn't matter if it's a sponsored ad or not.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    51 min
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4.6
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Where publishing, technology, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com. 

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Briel & Lauren Vassallo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Publish & Prosper
  • Show Website
    Publish & Prosper

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