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Paul Teague authorWelcome to Paul's Podcast Diary for Monday 2nd September, 2019.

Coming up this week:

  • In a specially extended episode I'll be sharing my tech toolkit for indie authors

This diary charts my self-publishing journey – the ups the downs, the successes and the failures.

Everything goes into this diary, week-by-week, but you'll also find it a source of great tips, resources, tools, podcast recommendations and so on.

If you're new to the podcast and want to easily access the back catalogue of podcast diaries, in chronological order, please check out this page.

If I ever miss something out, or you'd like more information, just drop me an email at paul@paulteague.com.

My Tech Toolkit For Indie Authors

It’s important that software services have apps – I do everything I can to use services which are cloud-based. Scrivener is the exception, but I don’t like cloud writing tools. I’d use Google Docs if I wrote in the cloud. I don’t like StoryShop and I LOVE Novel Factory, but I don’t use it for writing.

If you don't have a website, remember that you can build basic landing pages using MailerLite:

My MailerLite sci-fi landing page: https://www.subscribepage.com/paul-teague-sci-fi

My MailerLite thriller landing page: https://www.subscribepage.com/paul-teague

This gives you a simple web presence AND allows you to start building your mailing list straight away.

Website

I use WordPress for my websites: https://wordpress.org/

Note: I do not install WordPress via that website, I use an auto-installer provided via cpanel which my hosting service makes available to me.

I use Siteground's WordPress hosting for building websites – see my referral link here.

I have used OptimizePress for many years: https://www.optimizepress.com/

I use Thrive Themes for marketing related tools: https://thrivethemes.com/membership-pricing/

Elementor is a great, free WordPress website builder: https://elementor.com/

I use the Classic Editor plugin to suppress the horrible new block editor in WordPress: https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/classic-editor/ [this is supported until december 2021]

I use Manage XP to manage multiple WordPress websites: https://managewp.com/

I use Sucuri for WordPress security: https://sucuri.net/

Fasthosts for my domain names: https://www.fasthosts.co.uk/

My WordPress book:

Site security

I use Authy instead of Google Authenticator: https://authy.com/

I'm a big fan of Lastpass for managing my passwords: https://www.lastpass.com/

Web & mobile security

Avast is my preferred security tool for my PC and mobile phone: https://www.avast.com

Social scheduling

Buffer was my preferred tool, the interface is about to go horrible 🙁 https://login.buffer.com

TweetDeck at https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/ and Hootsuite at https://signuptoday.hootsuite.com and both decent alternatives.

Email

MailerLite is my preferred tool – my referral link here

Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com/

ConvertKit: https://convertkit.com

GetResponse: https://www.getresponse.co.uk

Graphics

PLEASE check out Canva here: https://www.canva.com/

BookBrush is highly recommended if you advertise your books – my referral link is here

MyEcovermaker is a great tool for creating 3D images – my referral link is here

ALSO for image cut-outs https://www.remove.bg/ 

Writing

The one software you must buy is Vellum: https://vellum.pub/

Scrivener is the ‘must have' writing software: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview

Google Drive is a great, free alternative: https://www.google.com/drive/

Video

Camtasia is my ‘must-have' video and audio editing software: https://www.techsmith.com/store/camtasia

Most people use Audacity (but I hate it!): https://www.audacityteam.org/

Podcasts

Libsyn is excellent for podcast syndication: https://libsyn.com/plans-and-pricing/

Auphonic can be used for polishing your audio quality: https://auphonic.com/

Zoom is a great Skype alternative: https://www.zoom.us

Weblinks

Use GeniusD2D for geo-located links – my referral link is here.

ReaderLinks: https://readerlinks.com/

Draft2Digital's linking tool – my referral link here.

PrettyLinks in WordPress: https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/pretty-link/

Accounts [UK]

Trying out CountingUp app – all-in-one banking & accounts: https://countingup.com/

Currently use QuickBooks self-employed, want something that takes less time … quicker to reconcile and MTD compatible: https://quickbooks.intuit.com

Delivering free e-Books

BookFunnel (my preferred service):https://bookfunnel.com/

Prolific Works: https://www.prolificworks.com/

StoryOrigin: https://storyoriginapp.com/

Keywords

Interesting, free keyword tool: https://www.publishingwithlove.com/kindle-kdp-keywords-search-tools

PublisherRocket – for book-related keyword research: https://publisherrocket.com/

KLytics – for hot niche & category research: https://k-lytics.com/ 

Virtual office address

This is an amazing service for your virtual office address: https://www.ukpostbox.com/

Telephony

I use (and love!) Invoco for business telephony: https://www.invoco.net/

Skype is a must for simple comms: https://www.skype.com

Task management

I use a whiteboard and printed sheets – you can download my printed sheet template here.

I used Trello for recording and organising notes: https://trello.com/

I used Slack for my Military Sci-Fi collaboration: https://slack.com/

Asana is another good tool: https://asana.com/

Here is the task management software that I forgot the name of: https://www.process.st/

Live calls

Zoom is a great Skype alternative: https://www.zoom.us

Skype: https://www.skype.com

Skype for web: https://www.skype.com/en/features/skype-web/

Backups

Google Drive: https://www.google.com/drive/

Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com

OneDrive: https://onedrive.live.com/

GoodSynch is great for  to hard drives: https://www.goodsync.com/

Travel – Chrome book:

MacBook simulation

MacInCloud: https://www.macincloud.com/

This week's mentions …


Vellum

Paul's Podcast Diary Archive

You can access every episode of Paul's Podcast Diary, in chronological order, here.

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