Children's Book Marketing Made Easy
The Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy Podcast helps self-published children’s book authors grow their audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable publishing business using simple, organic strategies. Hosted by full-time award-winning Author and Illustrator Harleigh Manske, each episode shares actionable tips for Amazon KDP, email list growth, and consistent traffic—adapted from high-value YouTube content for learning on the go.
21: The BEST 2026 Amazon KDP Children’s Book Marketing GROWTH Strategy
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares the exact step-by-step strategy she would use to rebuild her children's book author platform from zero in 2026.
If she lost her entire audience tomorrow—including her social media followers, email list, and online communities—this is the marketing system she would use to start over without relying on paid ads or trying to post everywhere at once.
Harleigh breaks down how to pair one nurture platform with one growth platform, build an email list you actually own, create a sustainable content schedule, consistently drive...
20: Steal This Strategy To Sell More Children’s Books On Amazon
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares one of the biggest shifts that transformed her own children's book business: choosing evergreen book topics that readers search for year after year.
Many self-published authors write a story they love and hope readers will find it. While that can work at in-person events, Amazon is a search engine, and books built around evergreen topics, holidays, and seasonal themes often have a much better chance of being discovered. In this episode, Harleigh explains how she applied this strategy to her own bestselling books, why recurring se...
19: 3 Low-Cost Tools to Grow Your Children's Book Publishing Business
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares the three low-cost tools she personally uses to publish, market, and grow her children's book publishing business without wasting money on unnecessary software.
Many self-published children's book authors feel pressured to purchase dozens of expensive subscriptions, but the truth is, you only need a few reliable tools to build a successful publishing business.
In this episode, Harleigh explains why Canva, Publisher Rocket, and MailerLite have become essential parts of her workflow, how each tool helps at different stages of the publishing process, and why...
18: Here's Why Your Amazon KDP Children's Book Isn't Selling
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh breaks down the five biggest reasons why children's books fail to make sales on Amazon and, more importantly, how to fix them.
Many self-published authors assume Amazon is the problem when their books aren't selling, but often it's a handful of small issues that are preventing readers from clicking the "Buy Now" button. In this episode, Harleigh walks through the most common mistakes she sees during coaching calls, from weak book covers and unclear book topics to poor Amazon descriptions, a lack of reviews, and ineffective ma...
17: How to Build Launch Momentum for Your Amazon KDP Children's Book
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares how to build excitement and momentum before your children's book is published so you can launch with more visibility, reviews, and sales from day one!
One of the biggest mistakes new children's book authors make is waiting until their book is live to start marketing it. In this episode, Harleigh walks through the exact pre-launch strategy she teaches her coaching clients, including choosing the right social media platform, creating consistent content, growing a book launch team, and building an engaged community before your book ever go...
16: Market a Brand New Amazon KDP Children’s Book With $0
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares exactly what she would do if she had a brand-new children's book on Amazon KDP and a $0 marketing budget.
Many authors think they need paid ads, a massive social media following, or complicated marketing funnels to sell books. In this episode, Harleigh breaks down a simple, beginner-friendly marketing strategy that focuses on optimizing your Amazon listing, choosing the right social media platform, creating content that attracts readers, and leveraging your local community to generate book sales.
If you're looking for practical ways to mar...
15: Using AI Illustrations for an Amazon KDP Children's Book? (Here's What to Watch Out For)
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh tackles one of the most controversial topics in the children's book industry today: AI illustrations.
With AI tools becoming more accessible than ever, many aspiring children's book authors are wondering whether they should use AI to illustrate their books. In this episode, Harleigh shares what can happen when authors choose to use AI-generated illustrations, the potential consequences that many people don't talk about, and several alternative options that can help bring your story to life without spending thousands of dollars on illustrations. Drawing from re...
14: Create a Children's Book BRAND to Sell More Books
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares why building a children's book brand can be one of the most powerful ways to increase book sales, grow a loyal audience, and create a long-term publishing business.
Many self-published authors focus on publishing one book at a time, but the most successful children's book creators often build something bigger than a single title. In this episode, Harleigh explains how recurring characters, consistent themes, recognizable artwork, and serving the same audience can help readers connect with your books and keep coming back for more. She al...
13: Get Your Amazon KDP Children’s Books Ready for Wholesale
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh breaks down how to get your Amazon KDP children's books ready for wholesale and into bookstores, gift shops, boutiques, and other retail locations.
Many self-published children's book authors assume wholesale is only for traditionally published authors or that they need a distributor to get their books into stores. In this episode, Harleigh shares two different wholesale paths you can take depending on your publishing goals: a print-on-demand approach using IngramSpark and an inventory-based approach using Shopify and Faire. She walks through the pros and co...
12: Scams Every Children’s Book Author Needs to Watch Out For
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh shares some of the most common scams targeting self-published children's book authors today. Self-publishing has created incredible opportunities for children's book authors, but unfortunately, it has also created plenty of opportunities for scammers!
Drawing from her own experiences and conversations with coaching clients, she explains the red flags to watch for so you can protect your time, money, and publishing business.
What You’ll Learn
11: How to Realistically Make $500 a Month Selling Children's Books
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh breaks down how self-published children's book authors can realistically make an extra $500 per month selling their books.
Many children's book authors assume they need to go viral, build a massive social media following, or spend thousands on ads to generate meaningful income. In this episode, Harleigh shares several practical methods she has personally used to generate book sales, as well as a simple system to help you create consistent traffic and sales over time.
If you're looking for realistic ways to grow your children's boo...
10: You NEED This if You Want to Sell More Amazon KDP Children's Books
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you grow your audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable self-publishing business.
Harleigh shares the one asset she wishes she had started building much earlier in her publishing journey. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t require ads, and most authors overlook it for far too long. Yet it has the potential to create more consistent sales, stronger launches, and a direct connection with your audience that no social media platform can take away.
Whether you're just getting...
9: 4 Steps to Take After Writing Your Children’s Book Manuscript
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you grow your audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable self-publishing business.
Harleigh walks through the four important steps to take after writing your children’s book manuscript before jumping into publishing. She shares how to gather feedback through beta readers, why editing matters, how to create a simple storyboard for your book, and how to find the right illustrator for your project.
If you've written your manuscript and are wondering, “Okay… now what?” this episode gives you a clear roadm...
8: Do You Need ISBNs to Publish a Children's Book?
Episode Summary
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you grow your audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable self-publishing business.
Harleigh breaks down one of the most confusing parts of self-publishing children’s books: ISBNs. She explains what ISBNs actually are, when you do and don’t need them, the differences between Amazon KDP’s free ISBNs and purchasing your own, and how your publishing goals affect which option is best for you. She also shares the pros and cons of platforms like Amazon KDP...
7: Children’s Book Marketing is Broken (Here’s What ACTUALLY Works)
Episode Summary
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh breaks down why traditional children’s book marketing, especially relying on ads, is broken for most self-published children's book authors and what actually works instead. She shares how to build a sustainable author platform using organic marketing strategies such as social media, email marketing, free resources, and content creation to drive long-term growth and consistent book sales.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale, this episode provides clear, actionable steps you can begin implementing right away!
What You’...
6: 35 Organic Marketing Tips to Sell More Children’s Books
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you grow your audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable self-publishing business.
Harleigh shares 35 different ways you can market and sell your children’s books without using ads, covering everything from social media and email marketing to in-person events, bookstores, and community partnerships. This episode is designed to give you a wide range of ideas so you can find what works best for you and start building momentum with your book sales.
Whether you're just getting started or loo...
5: 4 Things I’ve Learned After 4 Years of Self-Publishing Children’s Books
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, you’ll learn the four biggest lessons Harleigh has learned after four years of self-publishing children’s books and turning this into a full-time business.
She shares the real, behind-the-scenes truths that most people don’t talk about, from why long-term organic marketing matters more than quick wins, to how to handle disappointment, stay consistent, and keep showing up even when it feels like nothing is working. This episode is a mix of strategy and mindset shifts that will help you build a sustainable children’s book business o...
4: Sell Your First 100 Children’s Books WITHOUT Ads
Episode Summary
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you grow your audience, increase book sales, and build a profitable self-publishing business.
Harleigh breaks down exactly how she sold her first 100 children’s books without using ads, and the simple, organic marketing strategies that actually worked when paid ads didn’t. You’ll learn how to leverage in-person events, your personal network, and email marketing to start generating real sales and momentum.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale, this episode provides c...
3: A Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Children’s Books [Start Here]
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh walks you through a complete beginner’s guide to marketing your children’s book from the ground up.
If you’ve written or published your book and are now wondering how to actually sell it, this episode breaks down a simple, step-by-step strategy to help you build a strong marketing foundation without relying on ads.
You’ll learn how to make sure your book is marketable, where to start with social media, why building an email list matters, and how to create consistent momentum so your bo...
2: How Much Does It Really Cost to Self-Publish a Children’s Book on Amazon KDP?
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh breaks down the real cost of self-publishing a children’s book on Amazon KDP—based on her own experience publishing her first children's book.
She walks you through every expense she paid, what she would do differently, and what you actually need (and don’t need) to invest in when getting started. She also shares how long it took her to recoup her investment and what ultimately helped her turn this into a full-time business.
If you’re thinking about self-publishing or want a realistic...
1: 3 Ways to Easily Double Your Children's Book Sales
In this episode of Children’s Book Marketing Made Easy, Harleigh breaks down three simple and effective ways you can start increasing your children’s book sales right away without relying on ads.
If your book isn’t selling as much as you hoped, this episode will help you shift your focus to what actually works—building an audience, creating consistent traffic, and using the right strategies to get your book in front of more readers.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale your sales, these are practical steps you can begin implementing immediat...