Direct Selling Increases Authors' Profits with Mark Leslie Lefebvre

In today’s episode of the BrandStack Podcast, Ross Brand and Dale L. Roberts speak with Mark Leslie Lefebvre , a veteran in the world of self-publishing and the creator of Kobo Writing Life. He currently serves as director of business development at Draft2Digital.

Mark’s book, Wide for the Win, encourages authors to consider diverse ways of reaching readers and generating income. As an advocate for independent publishing, Mark shares insights into what it means to sell ‘wide’—and why it’s crucial for authors looking to build sustainable careers.

The Origins of Wide for the Win

Wide for the Win began as a Facebook group founded by Aaron Wright, who wanted a space where indie authors could focus on platforms beyond Amazon. Mark, inspired by the group’s mission, took on the task of writing the book. He views ‘going wide’ as more than just distributing through multiple retailers. “It’s about opening up your mind to the possibilities,” he says, highlighting options like libraries, subscription services, and direct selling platforms such as Shopify and BookFunnel.

Direct Selling: Keeping Profits and Relationships

Mark believes one of the most empowering aspects of selling wide is the ability to sell directly to readers. “When you sell direct, you’re keeping 90-95% of the revenue and, more importantly, building a relationship with your audience,” he explains. Direct sales provide authors with greater control over their profits and, crucially, their reader relationships—a key factor in sustaining long-term success.

Collaborating with Other Authors

Known for his collaborative spirit, Mark has co-authored books with Joanna Penn, Matty Dalrymple, and D.F. Hart, among others. “Collaboration allows us to bring our unique strengths together,” he says, adding that each co-author brings something invaluable to the process. The result? A catalog of books that benefit from the combined expertise of each contributor.

Quick Pitch for Wide for the Win

“This book is about mindset,” Mark Leslie Lefebvre says of Wide for the Win. “It’s about setting yourself up for success by embracing all the amazing opportunities beyond a single platform.”

Listen to the Full Interview

For more insights from Mark, listen to the full podcast episode or watch the video interview. Learn the strategies that make a ‘wide mindset’ essential for today’s independent authors.

🎬 StreamYard 🦆

This episode was recorded using StreamYard, an easy-to-use, browser-based studio for creating professional-looking livestreams and podcast recordings.

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Resources

➡️ Gear & software recommendations for creators: https://livestreamuniverse.com/resources

Links from this episode:

📚 Wide for the Win - book by Mark Leslie Lefebvre

➡️ Mark Leslie Lefebvre’s website: https://markleslie.ca/

➡️ Mark Leslie Lefebvre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklefebvre/

Ross’ Links:

➡️ Ross Brand on Substack:

📚 Video Podcasting Made Easy - book by Ross Brand & Kevin Kolbe: https://geni.us/vidpod

📚 100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions, Volume 4 - book by Ross Brand: https://geni.us/100v4

➡️ Livestream Universe website: https://livestreamuniverse.com

➡️ Executive BrandCast - podcast strategy & production services: https://executivebrandcast.com

➡️ For help with publishing your book, contact me at https://livestreamuniverse.com/contact

Dale L. Roberts

🎬 Main YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dalelroberts🎙️ Podcast Channel: https://youtube.com/@selfpubwithdale📚 Networking for Authors: https://amzn.to/3C7pxDa📚 Advertising for Books: https://amzn.to/40lK0OI📚 Advanced Self-Publishing for Authors: https://amzn.to/3YpzdAt📚 Self-Publishing for New Authors: https://amzn.to/40sz3eo

Disclaimer: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.