Learn how authors can build a mailing list from zero, connect with readers authentically, and sell books without spam, pressure, or overwhelm.

Email marketing is often misunderstood by authors. Many believe it's outdated, intrusive, or only useful for writers with large audiences. In this episode of the Cosmo Publishing Podcast, host Gürhan, co-founder of Cosmo Publishing and Cosmodio Books, breaks down email marketing in a calm, practical way and shows why it remains one of the most powerful tools an author can own.

This episode reframes email not as promotion, but as permission. Gürhan explains why a mailing list is different from social media followers, why ownership matters, and how email creates stability in a publishing world driven by changing algorithms and temporary reach.

Listeners will learn what an author mailing list really is, how to start one from zero without technical overwhelm, and why slow early growth is not failure but a healthy foundation. The episode walks through simple ways to invite readers to subscribe, including inside your book, on your website, and through social platforms, without feeling salesy or intrusive.

Gürhan also explores what to offer readers when they sign up, explaining how alignment matters more than production value. Fiction and nonfiction examples show how simple, relevant incentives build trust and long-term engagement. You'll learn why giving value does not hurt sales and how the right offer strengthens reader loyalty.

The episode covers what to send to your mailing list and how often, addressing common fears around bothering subscribers, unsubscribes, and silence. You'll hear why plain, honest emails outperform polished newsletters, and why consistency matters more than frequency.

Finally, the episode explains how email actually sells books. Gürhan shows how trust-based communication leads to natural sales, why small lists often outperform large ones, and how email supports launches and long-term visibility without pressure or hype.

By the end of this episode, email marketing will feel less intimidating and more supportive. You'll understand how to build a mailing list that serves your readers, protects your energy, and quietly supports your book sales over time.

Listen now to "Email Marketing 101 – Building an Author Mailing List That Sells," and learn how to turn connection into confidence and trust into long-term success..

00.24 .... Introduction
03.59 .... What is an author mailing list?
07.56 .... How do you start your mailing list from zero?
12.19 .... What to offer to readers to join you list
16.35 .... What to send and how often you should send it
20.23 .... How email actually sells books?
23.42 .... Healthy email mindset for authors

Learn how authors can use Instagram and TikTok for real visibility, without burnout, pressure, or chasing trends that don't actually sell books.

Social media can feel overwhelming for authors. Many writers believe they must post constantly, follow trends, or turn themselves into influencers just to sell books. In this episode of the Cosmo Publishing Podcast, host Gürhan, co-founder of Cosmo Publishing and Cosmodio Books, breaks that myth and shows how social media really works for authors.

This episode reframes social media as a discovery tool, not a performance stage. Gürhan explains why visibility matters more than follower counts and how readers often discover books long before they decide to buy them. Instead of chasing virality, authors learn how to build recognition, trust, and long-term momentum.

The episode focuses specifically on Instagram and TikTok, two platforms that dominate book discovery today. Gürhan explains how each platform works, what kind of content performs best for authors, and why you do not need to be everywhere to succeed. Instagram is explored as a relationship-driven space where consistency and clarity build trust over time. TikTok is explained as a storytelling platform where authenticity and emotion outperform polish and trends.

Listeners will learn what actually resonates with readers on each platform, what kinds of posts feel natural rather than forced, and how authors can show up without exhausting themselves. Real author examples illustrate how quiet, consistent accounts often outperform flashy ones, and how simple videos or reflections can create meaningful visibility.

This episode also addresses common mistakes authors make on social media, including posting only sales links, comparing numbers, forcing personality, and burning out through inconsistency. Gürhan offers a calm, realistic perspective that helps authors choose the platform that fits their energy, genre, and communication style.

By the end of the episode, authors will understand that social media is optional but powerful when used intentionally. You do not need to perform, entertain, or sell constantly. You only need to be clear, consistent, and human.

Whether you love social media, avoid it completely, or feel stuck somewhere in between, this episode gives you a sustainable framework for using Instagram and TikTok in a way that supports your writing life instead of competing with it.

Listen now to "Social Media for Authors – What Works on Instagram and TikTok," and learn how to build visibility that feels natural, manageable, and effective.

00.24 ....Why Social Media Feels Hard for Authors

04.04 .... Understanding Social Media as a Discovery Tool

08.16 .... Instagram for Authors, What Actually Works

13.36 ....TikTok for Authors and Understanding BookTok Without Pressure

18.30 .... Which One to Choose Between Instagram and TikTok

21.09 .... Common Social Media Mistakes Authors Make

23.18 .... A Sustainable Social Media Mindset for Authors

Learn how to earn your first 50 book reviews ethically, build reader trust, and increase visibility without pressure, shortcuts, or risky tactics.

Reviews are one of the most powerful and misunderstood parts of publishing. They influence how readers decide, how platforms recommend books, and how visible your work becomes over time. In this episode of the Cosmo Publishing Podcast, host Gürhan, co-founder of Cosmo Publishing and Cosmodio Books, breaks down the real role reviews play and how authors can grow them ethically and confidently.

This episode is designed for authors who feel uncomfortable asking for reviews, frustrated by slow growth, or confused about what is allowed and what is not. Gürhan reframes reviews as signals of reader experience, not judgments of talent, and explains why patience and integrity create stronger long-term results than shortcuts.

You'll learn why the first reviews matter more than high numbers, how reviews build trust with readers, and how platforms interpret review activity as engagement. The episode explains the difference between ethical review practices and risky tactics that can harm your book's credibility or limit future opportunities.

Gürhan walks you through the full review journey, starting with preparing your book before asking for feedback, understanding the right timing, and inviting reviews naturally without pressure. You'll hear why clarity, editing, formatting, and reader alignment directly affect whether readers choose to leave reviews at all.

The episode also explores how to get your first ten reviews through genuine connection and how review growth naturally changes once momentum begins. You'll learn why silence does not mean rejection, why reviews often arrive later than expected, and how visibility and reader experience work together to create steady growth.

Real author stories are woven throughout the episode, including examples of slow beginnings, ethical growth, emotional challenges, and how mixed reviews often strengthen trust rather than weaken it. Gürhan also addresses common emotional traps such as comparison, obsessively checking reviews, and reacting to negative feedback.

By the end of this episode, you'll understand that reviews are not something to chase or control. They are the result of trust, visibility, and respectful communication with readers. You'll walk away with a calm, realistic mindset and a clear understanding of how to grow reviews in a way that supports your book, your reputation, and your future publishing goals.

Listen now to "The Power of Reviews – Getting Your First 50 Reviews Ethically," and learn how to build credibility, confidence, and lasting reader trust one review at a time.

00.00 .... Why Reviews Matter More Than You Think
03.47 .... How Reviews Influence Visibility and Reader Trust
08.20 .... What Ethical Reviews Really Mean
13.31 .... Preparing Your Book Before Asking for Reviews
18.19 .... Getting Your First Ten Reviews Naturally
23.07 .... Growing from Ten to Fifty Reviews with Patience and Strategy
26.51 .... Common Review Mistakes and Emotional Traps
30.06 .... The Ethical Review Mindset