Welcome to the June edition of our Speaker Series, where we bring expert advice straight from authors who’ve been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale.
This month, we sat down with Dale L. Roberts—award-winning author, self-publishing coach, and the unstoppable force behind not one, but two successful YouTube channels. His message? It’s time authors stopped seeing YouTube as a place for cat videos and vloggers—and started seeing it as the powerful, career-boosting tool it really is.
Spoiler: You don’t need fancy gear or a film degree. You just need a plan. And Dale’s here to give you one.
Dale didn’t start with a built-in audience or Hollywood-level production. He started with a webcam, a laptop mic, and the idea that maybe—just maybe—YouTube could help him connect with more readers.
Now, Dale uses video to:
And he’s not gatekeeping the strategy. In his Speaker Series talk, Dale breaks it all down—what works, what flops, and why most authors are massively underestimating the power of YouTube.
Think of YouTube as an extension of your storytelling superpower. Dale’s step-by-step advice includes:
🎯 Start simple. Use your phone. Sit by a window. Speak clearly. That’s enough to begin.
📚 Know your niche. Nonfiction authors might lean into tutorials or industry advice. Fiction authors? Try character insights, dramatic readings, or reader Q&As.
✍️ Script smart. Dale scripts most of his videos for clarity, but leaves space for off-the-cuff connection.
🖼️ Prioritize titles and thumbnails. If no one clicks, no one watches. Dale shares how to design scroll-stopping thumbnails and craft titles that make readers curious.
📅 Stick to a rhythm. One video per week is plenty. Batch your content, build consistency, and avoid burnout.
Dale doesn’t sugarcoat the growing pains:
But here’s the good news: Dale learned what works—and he’s here to help you skip the detours.
His biggest takeaway? Make content for your readers, not the algorithm. Be consistent. Be authentic. And don’t try to go viral—just show up for your people.
If you’re already juggling emails, promos, edits, and the occasional existential crisis (ah, the writer’s life), adding video might feel like too much. But YouTube is a long game that pays off—especially for authors. Here’s why:
Every video becomes a long-lasting, search-friendly asset that works for him 24/7. That’s the magic of YouTube: once you publish, it keeps working while you write your next book.
Dale’s final advice is simple:
📹 Don’t wait for the perfect idea.
📹 Don’t wait for the perfect gear.
📹 Just press record—and post something helpful, heartfelt, or fun.
Then do it again next week.
YouTube success isn’t about virality; it’s about visibility, value, and showing up consistently, just like you already do with your writing.
Huge thanks to Dale L. Roberts for sharing his hard-won insights with the Written Word Media author community. If you’ve ever felt camera-shy, tech-phobic, or just unsure where to start with YouTube, this is your sign.
Register for our next Speaker Series! Each month, we host live Speaker Series sessions with book marketing and self-publishing experts. Anyone can join the live sessions, and Gold & Platinum Members can watch the recordings anytime!