In this insightful episode of the Mun Avenue Muse podcast, Charlie Levin welcomes Carolyn Monaco, founder and CEO of Monaco Associates, a firm specializing in helping authors and experts launch their books and build their businesses. Drawing on extensive experience in consumer marketing and book publishing, Carolyn highlights that while authors expect much from publishers, realistic expectations mean publishers rely heavily on authors for promotion and sales, which is essential for success.
Do Author’s Need a Brand?
Authors, it's crucial to understand the landscape of book publishing today. While you may have expectations of your publisher, realistically, they often rely heavily on authors for book promotion and sales. Consider that marketing is the second half of success after writing your book.
Before diving into tactics, define your future business goals as an author. Ask yourself, "Where do you want to be in two to three to four years as a personal brand business?" Your goals might include speaking more, becoming more influential, or being a media commentator.
Regardless of whether you write fiction or non-fiction, you are building a brand, whether it's centered on you as the author or your business. You need to know who your buyer is, your current and future customer, and understand their needs. When communicating, focus on them; you have to make the reader the "hero," showing them that you see and understand them and have something valuable for them.
How Do I Do This?
Building your author brand effectively is essential in a crowded marketplace. Consider creating a personal brand statement or value proposition from your audience's point of view, which helps clarify your position. Think about what makes you a "category of one" – what makes you unique, especially in fields with a lot of books already. This unique message or point of view is vital. Ensure your brand representation is consistent across all online platforms, including your website, social media, and newsletter.
Your website should serve as your central hub, updated and designed to appeal to your target audience, where you can capture email addresses and build a list (We recomend Authorbytes for building great author websites. They built and host my CharlesLevin.com). Use tools like newsletters to engage your audience in an ongoing relationship, rather than just promoting your book constantly. Having fun and interacting creatively with your readers can be highly effective.
Writing a book is a huge commitment, so avoid common pitfalls like doing it for the wrong reasons or not having a truly unique message that will stand out. Once your book is written, the marketing phase begins. Write down your specific goals for the book or your author career, such as sales targets or awards. Develop a strategic path with clear actions and deadlines for achieving these goals.
It's important to measure your progress; you cannot manage what you don't measure. While AI tools can be helpful for tasks like brainstorming titles or analyzing your book content, use them cautiously, especially regarding sharing intellectual property, and remember that AI does not replace original thought or human creativity.
Keep in mind that while you can attempt many marketing tasks yourself, getting expert help can often lead to quicker, more effective results, as marketing requires skill and can benefit from a team effort.
Watch/Listen and enjoy this podcast on your favorite platform. Search for the “Munn Avenue Muse” or ask Siri or Alexa to “Play the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse Podcast.”
To learn more about Carolyn or to contact her, visit Monaco-Associates.com
If you would like the book you’re writing (or just dreaming about) to be a Best of 2025 or want to boost your sales on Amazon for your existing book(s), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.
Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder
PS speaking of AI, if you want to learn more about the latest developments and how to protect your intellectual property, check out this free webinar:
Authors: The AI Robots are Here!
Presented by Author/Lawyer Jodé Millman
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26 at 7pm ET.
Location: Webinar (Zoom)
Cost: FREE!
Register HERE
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