Podcast: AI and the Art of Publishing Business Books & Building a Thought Leadership Ecosystem
Meeting at the Crossroads of Book Publishing
Marissa Eigenbrood, president at Smith Publicity, hosts the All Things Book Marketing Podcast and speaks with Alison Jones, founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing. Marissa describes her initial meeting with Alison at the Frankfurt Book Fair. This pivotal encounter reflects the importance of networking within the publishing industry, showcasing how face-to-face meetings can foster meaningful collaborations.
Alison’s Journey: From Traditional to Innovative Publishing
Alison Jones shared her transformative journey from a conventional publishing career to founding Practical Inspiration Publishing. This leap was not the product of a premeditated plan but rather a mix of personal circumstances and professional insight. Alison highlights how her dissatisfaction with the traditional publishing models and a personal aversion to relocating to London catalyzed her decision to carve out a new path.
Exploring Hybrid Models in Publishing
Alison discussed the hybrid publishing model embraced by her company, where the author plays a pivotal role. This model allows for collaboration that prioritizes both the publisher’s expertise and the author’s vision. It’s an approach that transforms publishing into a partnership, enabling authors to incorporate their branding and vision into their work.
The Continuous Journey of Writing
The podcast illuminated the perennial journey that is writing, particularly for business authors. Writing isn’t solely about the book and its contents; it’s part of an ongoing dialogue. Alison emphasized the value of exploratory writing, which enables authors to evolve their ideas and deepen their intellectual property by consistently engaging with their audience.
Embracing Artificial Intelligence in Publishing
Another significant theme of the podcast was the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on publishing. Alison advocates for using AI as a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. While AI can optimize processes and assist in technical tasks, the essence of writing—the human thought process and unique voice—remains irreplaceable.
Tapping Into the Essence of Publishing: Personal and Professional Insights
Marissa and Alison unfolded the need for authors to think beyond the book despite the everchanging landscape of AI tools. A book on its own isn’t enough; it’s about creating an ecosystem of content that supports wider engagement with the author’s audience.
Upcoming Trends and Opportunities
Looking forward, Alison expresses optimism about publishing’s resilient nature. From leveraging the tangible value of books to pioneering innovative formats like the “Six Minute Smarts” series, Practical Inspiration Publishing continues to cater to varied reader preferences.
Conclusion: Forward Momentum in Publishing
In wrapping up, Marissa and Alison touch on the tools and mindset essential for authors to thrive in today’s market, stressing the importance of authenticity and personalization. Alison emphasizes initiatives like the 10-day business book proposal challenge, which supports authors in refining their ideas into tangible manuscripts.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Alison Jones is a publisher, podcaster, speaker and book coach, founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing and host of The Extraordinary Business Book Club podcast. She worked as an editor and publisher with leading companies such as Chambers, Oxford University Press and Macmillan, most recently as Director of Innovation Strategy at Palgrave Macmillan until she left to set up her own publishing imprint.
Through her training and coaching programs she enables business leaders and entrepreneurs to deepen their thinking and communicate more effectively, using their writing to build a platform for their expertise and business success.
A champion of the value of books for businesses, she is a former Head Judge of the Business Book Awards in the UK and recommends and reviews business books for the thousands of subscribers to her weekly newsletter.
She has written and edited several books, including This Book Means Business (2018) and Exploratory Writing (2022), speaks regularly at industry and business events (she has twice chaired the London Book Fair’s Quantum conference), and regularly contributes articles on business books and business writing to press and other publications. In 2022 she delivered a TEDx talk, ‘Let’s Rethink Writing’.
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