90-Day Author
Launch Strategy

Before running a single ad or posting a single pin, your website must be AdSense-ready and conversion-ready. This week is for fixing, not building.

• Confirm all four content categories are clearly separated
• Add Privacy Policy, Terms, About, and Contact pages if missing
• Test mobile responsiveness on multiple screen sizes
• Run PageSpeed Insights — fix any score below 70
• Ensure email capture form is on every page above the fold
• Add copyright notice © 2026 to footer of every page
• Connect Google Analytics and Google Search Console

Stan Store is built for creators selling digital products and courses. It integrates Stripe natively and requires zero coding. Start with the Creator plan.

• Sign up and start 14-day free trial immediately
• Connect your existing Stripe account
• Upload your first 3 to 6 products — no more than 6 on the storefront
• Create one free lead magnet — a snippet or sample chapter
• Set up email capture through Stan's built-in tool
• Link Stan Store URL from your main website
• Test full purchase flow before going live

One Substack per content category. Never mix audiences. Each Substack feeds a separate email list which you own and control permanently.

• Create: Medical Substack
• Create: Holistic Substack
• Create: Theology Substack
• Create: Business Substack
• Write one short introduction post for each — do not publish full content yet
• Post ONLY teasers and excerpts — never full book content
• Add © copyright notice to every Substack post footer

LinkedIn is where magazine editors, event organizers, and serious readers live. Your profile must be fully built before you post anything.

• Professional headshot — even a well-lit phone photo works
• Headline: Author | Educator | [Your Expertise Areas]
• About section: Your story in 3 paragraphs — raised by journalist, creative writing award, board member, published author
• Add all four book/course categories as featured work
• Connect with 50 people in your industry this month
• Link to your website and Stan Store in profile

Pinterest is a search engine not a social platform. Pins drive traffic for years. Your visually stunning books are a natural fit for Pinterest's audience.

• Set up Pinterest Business account — free
• Claim your website in Pinterest settings — required for analytics
• Create 4 boards — one per content category
• Create 2 additional boards: Behind the Book, Author Life
• Install Pinterest tag on your website for tracking
• Design 10 pin templates in Canva using your book imagery

After 25 days of consistent content and a complete website, apply for AdSense. Do not apply before the checklist above is fully complete.

• Publish minimum 15 original articles before applying
• Verify domain is at least 3 months old
• Create Google AdSense account at adsense.google.com
• Add AdSense verification code to website HTML head
• Submit application and allow 7 to 14 days for review
• Continue publishing content during review period

Pinterest rewards consistency above everything else. 10 pins per week is the minimum for algorithm traction. Your book covers and course graphics are your best performing content type.

• Pin 10 images per week across all 4 boards
• Every pin links back to your website — not Stan Store directly
• Use keyword-rich descriptions — Pinterest is a search engine
• Create quote graphics from your books — these get repinned constantly
• Add book cover images with clear call-to-action text overlay
• Track which pins get the most clicks in Pinterest Analytics

LinkedIn rewards personal storytelling and professional insight. Your background as a board member and your father's journalism legacy — without naming him — gives you credibility that most authors cannot claim.

• Post 3 times per week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• Mix: 1 personal insight, 1 business tip, 1 book or course promotion
• Write in first person — LinkedIn rewards authentic voice
• End every post with one clear question to drive comments
• Reach out to 5 Dallas area magazine editors or journalists this month
• Join 3 LinkedIn groups in your subject areas

Four Substacks means four separate audiences being nurtured simultaneously. Post excerpts, insights, and behind-the-scenes content only. Never full book chapters.

• One post per Substack per week — that is 4 posts total
• Keep posts to 400 to 600 words — leave them wanting more
• Always end with a link to full content on your website or Stan Store
• Cross-promote between Substacks carefully — only when relevant
• Activate Substack's paid tier when each list reaches 100 subscribers

In-person events in Dallas create your most loyal buyers. People who meet you buy everything. Start small — a workshop or author talk for 15 to 20 people.

• Create free Meetup.com group in Dallas — choose your strongest category
• Plan first event for approximately Day 60 — small and intimate
• Partner with a Dallas library, bookstore, or coffee shop for free space
• Charge a small attendance fee — $10 to $25 establishes value
• Every attendee goes on your email list
• Sell books and courses at the event — Stan Store handles payment

By Day 61 your AdSense should be approved and your content is proven. Now you can add Google Ads to amplify what is already working. Never run ads to cold content — only to pages that are already converting.

• Start budget at $5 to $10 per day — no more
• Run ads to your best performing free content — not directly to paid products
• Use Google Search Ads targeting keywords in your four categories
• Track cost per email subscriber — this is your key metric
• Pause any ad that costs more than $3 per email subscriber
• Scale only what is already working organically

Local Dallas publications are your most accessible first press. You don't need to be in a national magazine first. Local credibility builds to national credibility.

• Target: D Magazine, Dallas Observer, Dallas Morning News, Voyage Dallas
• Write a one-page press kit — your story, credentials, book titles
• LinkedIn outreach to editors — personal note, not mass email
• Pitch your personal story first — the author journey is compelling
• Do this on YOUR timeline — when you feel ready and not one day before
• Your LinkedIn following by Day 90 makes this outreach far warmer

Your first event is your most important marketing asset. Even 15 people in a room who buy your book is proof of concept and generates testimonials, photos, and content for months.

• Host your first author event or workshop in Dallas
• Price point: $25 to $75 depending on format
• Promote on LinkedIn, Substack, Pinterest, and Meetup.com
• Sell books and courses at the event through Stan Store
• Collect email addresses from every single attendee
• Take photos for future LinkedIn and Pinterest content
• Ask 3 attendees for written testimonials

By Day 75 you have proven content and an audience. Now distribute your ebooks beyond your own website without giving Amazon a single dollar. Kobo reaches 190 countries, 70% royalties, no exclusivity.

• Create free Kobo Writing Life account
• Upload your best performing ebook first — test the market
• Set price between $4.99 and $9.99 for maximum 70% royalty
• Add all four content category books over time
• Also submit to Apple Books — free, 70% royalties, no exclusivity
• Consider Barnes and Noble Press for US market reach

You don't need production equipment. A well-lit phone and your voice is enough to start. YouTube videos rank on Google, drive traffic for years, and establish you as a visible authority — when you are ready.

• This is optional for Day 61 to 90 — do not add pressure
• If you start: one video per week, 5 to 10 minutes, your expertise
• Topics: insights from your books, author journey, business advice
• Every video links to your website and Stan Store in description
• YouTube builds long-term — do not expect fast results
• Start only when everything else in Phase 1 and 2 is running smoothly

Register your completed works at copyright.gov. Group registration for multiple works of the same type reduces cost. Registration gives you statutory damages — without it, proving infringement in court is extremely difficult regardless of when you published.

• Visit copyright.gov to register completed books
• Current filing fee: approximately $45 per single work online
• Group registration available for multiple unpublished works
• Register BEFORE wide distribution if possible
• Keep physical records of all draft dates and versions
• Add formal copyright page inside every book file

• Your website and domain
• Your email list — export it regularly
• Your books and courses — registered copyrights
• Your Stripe customer data
• Your reputation and credentials

• Pinterest — visual, evergreen, search-based
• LinkedIn — professional, credibility-based
• Substack — loyal reader relationships
• Google AdSense — passive revenue from traffic
• Google Ads — paid amplification of what works
• Events and Meetups — highest conversion of all

• Your website — highest margin, you keep everything
• Stan Store — digital products and courses
• Kobo Writing Life — wide ebook distribution
• Apple Books — Apple ecosystem readers
• Barnes and Noble Press — US bookstore reach
• Live events — highest revenue per person