Shaun Loftus - Marketer
Marketing consultant, digital media expert and all around production manager with a true love for indie authors!
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Overview
Book Marketing and Promotion
You’ve written your book. You have had it edited to within a hairsbreadth of perfection. Your manuscript has been read by a trusted group of beta-readers. Now it’s time to send your baby out into the world. What’s next?
You need a great cover. You need a winning description, lightly loaded with category appropriate keywords and meta-data to appeal to the all-encompassing algorithms that dominate digital space. You need to identify your readers and analyze the competition. Then, we need to nestle you in the correct genre and subgenre and find the right keywords to help your readers find you. It sounds like rocket science, but it isn’t. It’s computer science.
When everything is ready, we'll market you like mad. Using price promotions, content marketing, social media marketing, and PPC and PPM campaigns, we will help you climb the charts on Amazon, Kobo, and all the best places. We will make sure to use best practices to acquire those ever-necessary 4 and 5-star reviews. We will make sure your AMS ads are serving and achieving a positive ROI, set up your platform and mailing list, and give you the resources to take advantage of everything self-publishing has to offer.
It is my goal to provide independent authors the tools, information, and coaching they need to achieve independent publishing success. Let me know if I can help you.
Warmest Regards and Good Writing,
Shaun
*** Now Booking for January 2021 ***
You’ve written your book. You have had it edited to within a hairsbreadth of perfection. Your manuscript has been read by a trusted group of beta-readers. Now it’s time to send your baby out into the world. What’s next?
You need a great cover. You need a winning description, lightly loaded with category appropriate keywords and meta-data to appeal to the all-encompassing algorithms that dominate digital space. You need to identify your readers and analyze the competition. Then, we need to nestle you in the correct genre and subgenre and find the right keywords to help your readers find you. It sounds like rocket science, but it isn’t. It’s computer science.
When everything is ready, we'll market you like mad. Using price promotions, content marketing, social media marketing, and PPC and PPM campaigns, we will help you climb the charts on Amazon, Kobo, and all the best places. We will make sure to use best practices to acquire those ever-necessary 4 and 5-star reviews. We will make sure your AMS ads are serving and achieving a positive ROI, set up your platform and mailing list, and give you the resources to take advantage of everything self-publishing has to offer.
It is my goal to provide independent authors the tools, information, and coaching they need to achieve independent publishing success. Let me know if I can help you.
Warmest Regards and Good Writing,
Shaun
*** Now Booking for January 2021 ***
Fiction
Christian Fiction
Historical Fiction
Historical Mysteries
Romantic Suspense
Non-Fiction
Self-help & Self-improvement
Writing & Publishing
Work experience
Marketing Strategist
Self-employed
January, 2012
–
Present
(almost 9 years)
Gratia Digital provides programming, site development and marketing strategy for online companies, retailers, individuals, and artists.
In addition to writing winning copy, my work has included site development, user interface development, SEO, SEM and media purchasing across platforms ranging from AdWords, Facebook, Twitter and PPC /PPM publishing platforms.
Artistic Director
FESTA Florence
November, 2007
–
Present
(about 13 years)
FESTA Florence is an international theatre company located in Florence Italy.
As artistic director, I have directed more than 2 dozen shows, raised a generation of young actors, edited and developed scripts and been responsible for email marketing, print graphics, logistics and more.
Projects
Beyond the Tracks
One of the best parts of my job is helping a debut author gain the recognition they so richly deserve. Michael came to us with his first novel, requesting our full services' package.
We undertook his full pre-release marketing work including the ARC push, AMS, Facebook, BookBub Advertising, LibraryThing, NetGalley, and Goodreads. We are very pleased to say that the work has paid off. Amazon has listed Michael among its Hottest New Releases in all of his top categories.
Congratulations, Michael!
Mindworks by Gary Van Warmerdam
Having participated in Gary's coaching sessions myself, I had faith in this book from the start. Non-fiction can be tricky sometimes, but we are incredibly proud of this title.
Though this book had been in print for quite some time, it was stuck in Amazon's basement. Through a combination of AMS, Facebook, BookBub, and promotional marketing, this book is now a bestseller in all 3 of its Amazon categories!
Eagles - Before The Band
We launched this title around Christmastime.
We were responsible for ARC product promotion, FB advertising, FB content marketing, formatting and layout assistance and advice, copywriting and competitor research and AMS advertising.
Five months after launch, Before the Band is still a Bestseller in its genre!
What Did You Do in the War, Sister?
This was a complete book relaunch & management job, inclusive of arranging and overseeing a new cover design, new layout, re-formatting, new forwards, afterword - a completely new edition.
We oversaw the author's FB campaign, his AMS ads, category placements, BookBub advertising, and a price promotion campaign that sold more than 1200 titles in 7 days. This title is now selling strongly, with in excess of 12000 page-reads per day, and is continually in his genre's best-seller lists.
He continues to rank among best-sellers even in 2020 - we were incredibly happy to see that he made it into the Top 500 in the Overall Kindle Store in September 2020!
I am exceptionally proud of this title!
Lady in Ermine — The Story of A Woman Who Painted the Renaissance
This title had been originally traditionally published - but was not making sales.
Our job was to reformat this title for KDP distribution (both print and ebook), to rewrite the descriptions, reconfigure the metadata, SEO, find competitive categories, to manage both FB and AMS advertising, and to relaunch the title.
Since it's re-release, Lady in Ermine — The Story of A Woman Who Painted the Renaissance has been a best-seller and has been in the bestsellers lists of several of our chosen categories - including Historical Italian Fiction.
Respect Training for Puppies
This project was inclusive of the reformatting of 3 titles, Respect Training for Puppies, Respect Training for Adult Dogs, and 11 Things You Must Do Right. In addition to formatting, we were responsible for getting these books online (to Kindle, KDP, Ingram, and D2D), keyword and metatag development, Facebook advertising and the AMS ads platform.
Respect Training for Puppies is currently the #1 New Release in Dog Training.
From the Ashes
A first in its series from a USA Today bestselling author Marion Kummerow's From the Ashes is currently ranking as a #1 New Release, rating top 100 in Historical German Fiction, and top 20 in Historical Russian Fiction.
Unrelenting Series
Currently, the author and I are updating the book covers of this World War II Trilogy. With a new book cover for the first book completed, this series has successfully climbed in its genre in both American and German Amazon stores steadily and is now in the top 50 in Historical German Biographies.
Three Book Relaunch - The Truth About Truly, Finn Again, Letters from the Ledge
Another marketing job turned Production management job.
Task was to take these three titles and get them back on the map. Job included overseeing new cover development, new descriptions, meta-tag and category analysis, social media marketing, back-matter formatting, AMS campaigns, BookBub campaigns and newsletter campaigns.
I took these titles from the 1 Mth ranked in the Amazon store - and brought them to 2-3K. Currently, Finn Again has a Bestseller badge for its category, Truly reached #2, and Letters will launch next week.
Images below show the rise in ranking for this relaunch, as well as the new covers.
Four Book Relaunch - Spite Fences, Fallout, Kinship and Uncommon Faith
Author Trudy Krisher recovered her rights to four previously Trad published Young Adult books. What began as a simple marketing consultation became a production management job - including advising on new covers, formatting, platform and new website development (trudykrisher.com) , meta-tag, and competitive analysis - as well as an overall plan to turn 4 paperbacks into ebooks and new editions of previously published work. Currently, new editions are in ARC. Launch Date: 10/15/2019
The Mystery of Julia Episcopa
The Mystery of Julia Episcopa will be one year old next month. Over this last year, it has sold more than 10,000 copies of the ebook, a thousand copies of the paperback and several hundred audiobooks.
We have been happily sitting in the top of our bestseller lists, including Italian Historical Fiction and Religious Historical Fiction. During our promotional periods, we are frequently the #1 Best Seller in our genre.
For this title and these authors, I assist with developmental editing, historical research, and tasks inclusive of layout and design. I oversee their social profiles, their Amazon pages, built their website platform and have curated a strong and active email list.
We are currently working on Book 2 - The Testament of the Scribe - due out in April 2019.
Acqua Morta
"Six people, trapped in a crime they didn’t commit, will have to rediscover the fundamental truth that what is done cannot be undone."
Acqua Morta is an Italian supernatural thriller, set in the Dolomite mountains of Northern Italy. I was the projects first developmental editor and saw it through it's Dec. 2018 launch.
The book hit the paid charts almost immediately, but to promote it worldwide, we opted for a 5 day free period before Christmas. During this promotional period, Acqua Morta hit the Italian best-seller lists for all genres in the Italian Kindle store (topping out at #36), as well as #1 in its main genre of 'supernatural thriller'. In addition, we hit #1 in Italian foreign language fiction in the US.
Currently, at full price, the ebook is in the top #20 in all related genres and in the top 5000 of Amazon.it overall.
Portfolio (40 selected works)
The Mystery of Julia Episcopa (The Vatican Chronicles Book 1)
John I. Rigoli, Diane Cummings
In ancient Rome, a woman flees for her life. Her enemies are those she once called ‘brother’. Hidden beneath her blue cloak are secrets men will kill for – forgeries that prove the newly self-appointed bishops are not followers of the way, but pretenders who have seized power and will stop at nothing to shape this new religion to their own ends. Now, Julia – a woman who had once walked with Ma... read more
Acqua Morta: Romanzo Thriller Soprannaturale
David Ballerini
Le ombre del passato hanno molto da raccontare e molto da nascondere, e nessuno è senza colpa - c’è sangue, tanto sangue, nell’acqua.Appollaiato tra le vette delle Dolomiti, l’Acqua Morta era stato un tempo un albergo lussuoso e uno stabilimento termale famoso in tutta Europa per le doti quasi miracolose delle sue acque. La fonte termale si era però improvvisamente e misteriosamente seccata su... read more
Dating, Love, Sex, Marriage - in the Digital Age!Are you expecting? Do you know someone who is? OR … do you someday HOPE to be? Whether you are eagerly awaiting your little bundle of joy or are still swiping left in search of the perfect mate, technology is now a critical -- and constant -- part of modern reproduction.Digital devices, apps, and the Internet offer obvious benefits: easy sharing... read more
Cybertraps for Educators
Frederick S. Lane
Cybertraps for Educators offers teachers and school administrators a frank and sobering look at the various legal risks they face from the use and misuse of electronic devices and social media. Covering a wide range of contemporary topices -- cyberloafing, cyberbaiting, loss of privacy, harassment, sexting, etc. -- this timely book explores the myriad challenges that technology poses for today... read more
The Rookie (A Hale Mary Mystery Book 1)
Trina Riggle
Hale Seton is no stranger to the locker room.With six overachieving athletic brothers and a few snowboarding medals of her own, Hale understands the concept of competition. That’s why when she sets her sights on the most brutal competition of all—professional athlete management—she has every intention of succeeding at it.But her aspirations suffer a setback when she finds her first client dead... read more
Waking Up Cattywampus: Memoir of a Transplanted Southerner
Steven Powers Chylinski
Do you know what it feels like to have someone you love—perhaps a parent, sibling, or spouse—try to tell you who you are and what to believe? If so, you are not alone. At times, those closest to us want to shape our beliefs and turn us into someone they want us to be. It’s likely that they even mean well and have our best interests at heart. Yet, that all-important question—“Who Am I?”--is one... read more
How Flynn the Loh'li Conquered His Fears
A.R. Morris
Flynn the Loh'li has a problem. He doesn't know how to encourage his little brother to overcome his fear of water, or how someone can overcome their fears at all. So, before he thinks he can help his brother, Flynn embarks on a mission to conquer his own fear of heights by climbing the tallest mountain in Lok'Ree Valley. But it's not the climb up that gives him trouble, it's the climb down!As ... read more
Mentally Ill Mothers
Cary Tennis
How does it feel to have a mom who is mentally ill?How does it feel to have a mom who in a psychotic break tries to kidnap your teenage sister? Who when released from the mental hospital throws away her medication? Who threatens and physically assaults her children? Who accuses her family of poisoning her? What is that like?Read this book and find out.What do you do with 30 garbage bags of emp... read more
Unaware by even the angels, God chose a relatively normal man, Chado Cole, to be a part of a mission that started over 6,000 years ago – a mission that holds the fate of humanity in the balance.As Chado makes his transition into the spiritual realm, his eyes are opened to the mysteries of God. Now he walks among angels, but is led by one; the mighty Warrior Angel, Uriel. This angel has watched... read more
Berlin, Germany 1932. In a time of political unrest and strife, one man finds the courage to fight back...Dr. Wilhelm "Q" Quedlin, chemical engineer and inventor, lives for his science. A woman is not in his plans—nor is it to be accused of industrial espionage.But things get worse from there.Watching Hitler's rise to power spurns his desire to avoid yet another war that will completely destro... read more
Spite Fences: 25th Anniversary Edition
Trudy Krisher
Thirteen-year-old Maggie Pugh has lived in Kinship, Georgia, all her life. In all that time almost nothing has changed.If you are poor, you live on the west side of town. If you are rich, you live on the hill in the north end and get to go boating at the country club in Troy. If you are white you use one bathroom at Byer’s Drugs and if you are colored you use another.All that starts to change ... read more
Kinship
Trudy Krisher
In Kinship, Georgia, a 15-year-old Pert is aching for something more than the tiny community she’s always known. Her circle of trailer park neighbors and her supportive mother and older brother aren’t enough for Pert; she is lonesome for the father she has never met. But when Pert’s Daddy suddenly returns to Kinship and sets her neighborhood spinning, Pert is forced to reassess her concepts of... read more
Uncommon Faith
Trudy Krisher
Change is coming to the mid-nineteenth-century town of Millbrook, Massachusetts, whether folks are ready for it or not. Old traditions and values are being questioned, especially by an outspoken young woman named Faith Common.She defies expectations that women be obedient and limit their education to domestic duties such as sewing. Faith is determined to find her own truth about her abilities ... read more
Fallout
Trudy Krisher
“I had been a bystander all my life,” says fourteen-year-old Genevieve, an aspiring poet. It’s 1954, and in her small, hurricane-ravaged North Carolina town, she feels at odds with current social conventions.Then Brenda Wompers, a new student from California whose favorite word is “antiestablishmentarian,” changes everything at school. Together with her parents, Brenda begins to speak out agai... read more
Every night he comes to the ledge. So far, he hasn’t jumped. Sarah watches him from her window, unable to look away. Will tonight will be the night that his body hurtles through space and crashes to the ground in a failed attempt to fly?Standing between heaven and hell, life and death, eighteen-year-old Brendan massages the ledge, arms outstretched, contemplating suicide. Cutting isn’t cutting... read more
Finn Again: Come of age - a tale of love & courage.
Lynda Meyers
When love drives you to war and war drives you to addiction, the journey home can be long and twisted. A half-Irish, half-English playboy, Finn McCarthy soon finds out there are some things that can't be bought, and some people who don't play by his rules.Raised in the pubs of and educated at Oxford, Finn never did know which half to favor. His Irish half loves women and booze, while his Engli... read more
The Truth About Truly
Lynda Meyers
She was the girl of his dreams.It was a chance meeting, but Finn knew her at a glance. The likeness was unmistakable. Even her smell was familiar.The problem was, Truly wasn’t looking for love.When Truly loved someone, it was a death sentence—and she wasn’t going to have that on her conscience. Not again. Love and death were partners in crime, and she couldn’t risk doing any more time.Finn was... read more
"Jeff Jacobson is the greatest contemporary American author you've never heard of, but it's time that changed."In this profoundly insightful collection, Jeff Jacobson presents a compelling portrait of marriage, parenthood, friendship, and faith. At turns hilarious and excruciating, Jacobson's stories illustrate our shared human experiences of love and loss and offer fresh insights into the twi... read more
War Girl Lotte: Life in the Third Reich (War Girls Book 2)
Marion Kummerow
In this extraordinary book, USA Today Bestselling author Marion Kummerow weaves a story of strength, heartbreak, and coming of age in the Third Reich.17-year-old Lotte is headstrong and stubborn, impulsive and outspoken, and an avowed enemy to injustice. In Nazi Germany, this can cost you your life.Sent to the countryside by her mother to escape the worst of the war, Lotte longs to return to B... read more
War Girl Ursula: A bittersweet novel of WWII (War Girls Book 1)
Marion Kummerow
From the bestselling author of 'Unrelenting' comes the heartbreaking first-in-series, War Girls: Ursula, a harrowing tale of courage and conscience, love and survival under the Third Reich.In Berlin, 1943, compassion is a crime.Newlywed Ursula Hermann is a simple woman, wanting nothing more than an end to the war and the return of her husband from the Russian front.But some things are not mean... read more
Reluctant Informer
Marion Kummerow
When the Gestapo extends an offer, there’s no way to refuse.Sabine always minded her own business, closing her eyes to the sinister events engulfing Germany. War is always ugly, and it's best to simply stay out of harm’s way.That changes the moment the Gestapo needs information from her. With her husband held captive, his very life depends on her willingness to cooperate in this evil enterpris... read more
Steel Journeys: The Road To Patagonia
Lynda Meyers
Book 1: The Road To PatagoniaTo some people, home might be wherever you lay your helmet, but for Abby Steel, home was wherever she laid her ass. Today it's a Harley. Tomorrow it might be a BMW or a Triumph or a Honda. Home was whatever bike fit the terrain. Home was wide open spaces tucked under an expansive sky. Home was the road.It took a lot of miles to work through the hurts of her past, b... read more
George Orwell: A Life
Bernard Crick
A sublime essayist and author of the masterful political novels 1984 and Animal Farm, George Orwell is at least as relevant in the age of Trump and Brexit as he was in his own short lifetime (1903-1950). Both of his classic novels have been hot sellers over the past two years and his name is conjured daily on newscasts and opinion pages as pundits try to make sense of the strange political mom... read more
Still Life: A Memoir
Sutherland; Jeff
An inspiring and brilliantly observed memoir in the manner of Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air and Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie.Father, husband, athlete, medical doctor, Jeff Sutherland had built an enviable life for himself and his family by the time he noticed that he was losing strength in his left arm. He visited a specialist and from that appointment, he writes, "deep person... read more
Eagles: Before the Band
Rik Forgo
With the first iconic strum of the guitar on 'Take It Easy' the Eagles set a new direction for the country-rock infused California sound. They drew their inspiration from The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby, Stills and Nash. In the band's first nine years together they scored gold records for every album release and delivered songs... read more
From the Ashes (Berlin Fractured Book 1)
Marion Kummerow
From the bestselling author of the 'War Girls Series' comes a nail-biting story about Berlin sliding into the Cold War.The Third Reich has crumbled and Berlin is governed by the four victorious Allies.Werner Böhm, a German émigré to Moscow, returns to his hometown with the highest hopes for a better future.Sent by the communist party to bring freedom, wealth and happiness to the German people,... read more
Berlin, Germany 1932. In a time of political unrest and strife, one man finds the courage to fight back...Dr. Wilhelm "Q" Quedlin, chemical engineer and inventor, lives for his science. A woman is not in his plans—nor is it to be accused of industrial espionage.But things get worse from there.Watching Hitler's rise to power spurs his desire to avoid yet another war that will completely destroy... read more
War Girl Ursula: A bittersweet novel of WWII (War Girls Book 1)
Marion Kummerow
From the bestselling author of 'Unrelenting' comes the heartbreaking first-in-series, War Girls: Ursula, a harrowing tale of courage and conscience, love and survival under the Third Reich.In Berlin, 1943, compassion is a crime.Newlywed Ursula Hermann is a simple woman, wanting nothing more than an end to the war and the return of her husband from the Russian front.But some things are not mean... read more
Chase: An Adult Dystopian Novel (Willow Book 1)
Kate Breuer
Chase Hunter knows something is wrong with the society she lives in. The fact her daughter, Willow, even exists is proof since Chase and her husband are no more than friends, despite keeping up appearances.When the government’s hospital staff expresses too much interest in Willow after her required five-year exam, Chase is ready to do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe—even if that me... read more
Matt Stone, a deep-sea diver, and Christy Moody, an A-10 fighter pilot, are living totally separate lives on opposite sides of the planet. Both have only one thing in common; they have unknowingly been chosen by God to join forces with Chado Cole and his Guardian Angel. Before doing so, they must pass through many trials and tribulations set before them. Their first encounter is to take a jour... read more
Eagles: Before the Band
Forgo, Rik
Relentless Pursuit: A Romantic Suspense Series (Private Protectors Book 5)
Giordano, Adrienne
Going Hard: The Steeles 1 (Steele Ridge)
Browning, Kelsey, Ridge, Steele
The Road to Liberation: Trials and Triumphs of WWII
Kummerow, Marion, Midwood, Ellie, Osipova, Marina, Toner, JJ, Lucyk-Berger, Chrystyna, Wesson, Rachel, Hawker, Olivia
Born to Be Different!: For all the special little kids in the world!
Rigoli, John Ignatius, Withers, Holly
Shaun has 18 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Shaun is a great consultant to work with. She "tells it like it is" and is very quick to find the crux of the matter at whatever stage you are with your project. She really knows what she is doing and is able to give the most pertinent advice in your situation in order to ensure you build a successful project. I really recommend working with her.
Benjamin Delahaye, November 2020
Shaun and her team are phenomenal. Professional, accessible and thorough. They will work with you to place the book exactly where it needs to be on Amazon to generate the absolute best exposure. Please know that a relationship with the Book Whisperer should begin early enough that as you prepare for publication, all pistons are firing and you can reap the full weight of Shaun's expertise.
Carrie Hayes, November 2020
Reply from Shaun Loftus
You get what you pay for. This is a saying with two sides.
In the world of online marketing, PR, and many 'gurus' who try to sell you their ebook PDFs, you're almost guaranteed to run into a scam or two.
With Shaun and her team, you get none of the horrors above. In fact, they're extremely upfront about what to expect from them, what they expect from you, and what kind of budget you should ...
Read more
Michael Reit, October 2020
Reply from Shaun Loftus
Shaun was fantastic. She knows what makes a difference and was diligent in helping me achieve the goals of our collaboration. I'm a first time author, and Shaun taught me what I needed to know so I can market my book myself. l She's a pleasure to work with, too. I'll happily contract with her again when I need her expertise. Thanks, Shaun.
R.M. Ravin, October 2020
Reply from Shaun Loftus
It was a pleasure working with Shaun on my project. She has strong expertise and understanding of digital marketing, including solid Amazon skills. She is passionate about helping people successfully promote their books. I very much appreciate her integrity and generosity in her pricing and output as well. If you are looking for help promoting your book or series, I recommend you take a look at...
Read more
Kim Linette, August 2020
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