Book awards can transform your author platform, yet they remain one of the most overlooked marketing opportunities for writers at every stage of their journey. Whether you're traditionally published or self-published, these accolades are more accessible than you might think—and they pack a powerful promotional punch.When your book displays an award seal or mention, readers take notice. Our research shows that award recognition can boost Amazon click-through rates by up to 25%, with an average increase of 5%. In a marketplace where standing out is increasingly difficult, that gold seal or award mention signals quality and credibility to potential readers who may be unfamiliar with your work. As we often say, people like what other people like, and awards provide that crucial social proof.In this episode, Penny and Amy unpack what it takes to successfully select and submit books for awards. The duo offers guidance on picking the right book award genre/placement (because this matters!) and finally, how to find the best book awards for your book as well as guidlines for successful book award submissions!Book awards aren't just about prestige; they're about connecting with readers who value curated recommendations in an overwhelming sea of publishing options.Send us your feedback!Help shape our 2026 content by taking our 30-second listener poll! 📱Text Penny & Amy: send us your show feedback, burning marketing questions and new topic ideas! Text the word PODCAST to (888) 402-8940 to sign up to send us messages and receive new episode announcements. And don't forget to save our number! Check out our Book Marketing Jumpstart options if you're ready to take your brand, platform and SEO up a few notches. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Be sure you're following the show: by clicking the + Follow button on the top right of our show page. If you're already following you'll see a ↓ downward arrow. Locate Ratings & Reviews: Scroll down on our podcast page until you find the "Ratings & Reviews" section. Rate the podcast: Click on the stars to give the podcast a rating. Write your review: Under the star rating there will be the most recent review and just below that click "Write a Review" and compose your review in the text box that appears. Save: Once you've written your review, click "Save" to submit it. Can't use Apple Podcasts? Email us your review and we'll put it on our website: inf...

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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