Book Discoverability In An Age Of AI. GEO For Authors With Thomas Umstattd Jr.

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

Joanna Penn

Self-improvement, Arts, Books, Entrepreneurship, Business, Education

4.8 • 745 Ratings

🗓️ 13 June 2025

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How will generative AI change search and book discoverability in the years ahead? How can you make sure your books and your author website can be found in AI tools like ChatGPT? Thomas Umstattd Jr. joins me to discuss Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) and how it will replace traditional SEO marketing.

I first covered this topic in Dec 2023, How Generative Search Will Impact Book Discoverability in the Next Decade. As ever, I was early, but those changes are now starting to happen. Thomas recently covered the topic on his Novel Marketing Podcast on Does ChatGPT Recommend Your Book?

This episode is supported by my patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn

Thomas Umstattd Jr. is the CEO of AuthorMedia.com, as well as an award-winning professional speaker, non-fiction author, and host of the Novel Marketing Podcast and the Christian Publishing Show.

You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below.

Show Notes

* How authors can benefit from AI optimization

* Principles authors need to keep in mind as search is changing

* Different AI models and their capabilities

* Making your author website LLM-friendly

* How to utilize Goodreads to improve your GEO

* The future of AI agents in book buying

* Staying positive and curious in the ever-changing AI landscape

You can find Thomas at AuthorMedia.com.

Transcript of Interview with Thomas Umstattd Jr.

Joanna: Thomas Umstattd Jr. is the CEO of AuthorMedia.com, as well as an award-winning professional speaker, non-fiction author, and host of the Novel Marketing Podcast and the Christian Publishing Show. So welcome back to the show, Thomas.

Thomas: Thanks, Joanna, for having me.

Joanna: It's great to have you back. Now, for everyone listening, you were on the show a few years back. So we're going to dive straight into the topic today, which is based around a recent episode on your Novel Marketing Podcast on “AI Optimization For Authors: Does ChatGPT Recommend Your Book?”

I was like, yes, I really want to talk about this. Why did you decide to get into this topic now?

What did you see in the author community that made you want to help authors see AI differently?

Thomas: Well, what triggered this topic was actually the Google I/O Conferen...

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Creative Pen podcast. I'm Joanna Penn, thriller author and creative entrepreneur,
0:08.0	bringing you interviews, inspiration and information on writing craft and creative business.
0:14.6	You can find the episode show notes, your free author blueprint, and lots more at thecreativepen.com.
0:22.5	And that's Penn with a double N.
0:25.0	And here's the show.
0:26.6	Hello, creatives.
0:27.7	I'm Joanna Penn, and this is episode number 813 of the podcast, and it is Thursday the 12th of
0:33.9	June 2025 as I record this.
0:37.2	In today's show, I talk to Thomas Umstatt, Jr.
0:40.3	about book discoverability in an age of AI. We go into GEO for authors, that is, generative
0:48.2	engine optimization instead of SEO, search engine optimization, and why your author website and good reads might be more
0:56.6	important than ever. There are lots of links in the show notes to some of the things we talk about.
1:02.1	And if you'd like to explore the possibilities of using AI, you can join me for my AI-assisted
1:07.5	artisan author webinar on Saturday, 21st of June, 11am, US Eastern, 4pm UK.
1:14.7	You need a ticket to attend live or get the replay, and you'll also get my prompt library as well as slides and the video recording.
1:22.4	You can find the link at thecreativepen.com forward slash live.
1:26.9	Any questions? Just email me, Joanna at thecreativepen.com forward slash live. Any questions?
1:27.9	Just email me, Joanna at Thecreativepen.com.
1:31.6	So I hope you enjoy this interview with Thomas.
1:38.2	Thomas Umstatt Jr. is the CEO of authormedia.
1:42.7	As well as an award-winning professional speaker, nonfiction author
1:46.6	and host of the novel marketing podcast and the Christian publishing show. So welcome back to the show,
	...

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