Traditional publishing vs self publishing: A Comic
The reality of traditional publishing...
A writer/editor contractor, whom I often work with often, sent me this comic from The New Yorker magazine. The reality is, whether you self-publish, or publish through a Vanity publisher or traditional publisher, you will have to market your own book. Period! Actually, traditional publishers are only interested in authors (specifically non-fiction authors) who already have a built-in audience, a following, prospects, basically a list of people who are interested in your message.
Did you think writing the book was the hard part? Well, the reality is that marketing is the true challenge….
What is an ISBN and why do I need one?
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a book’s identifier, much like a social security number. It’s a 13-digit number which is applicable worldwide and unique to your book. The ISBN system uses a 13-digit number on the copyright/information page, and it also uses a bar code and number on the back cover.
But what’s it for? I have a lot of people who ask me that question. Do you really need an ISBN?
That depends. Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don’t. It depends on where and how you intend to sell or distribute your book.
The ISBN provides a standard way for publishers to number their products so they cannot be duplicated by other publishers. You need an ISBN if you are going to sell your book in bookstores, through retailers, or online storefronts, like Amazon.com. There are no exceptions—if you’re going to sell your book in the traditional marketplace, you must have an ISBN.
That’s the big advantage to having an ISBN, and one that is usually the driving force behind acquiring one.
However, if you don’t intend to sell your book through any of the avenues mentioned above, you don’t really need an ISBN. For instance, if your book is a free promotional item that you’ll give away or package with another product, it doesn’t really need an ISBN. Or, if you use your book as a business card, distributing it free to potential clients, it’s not necessary to have an ISBN. Also, if your book will be sold solely at the back of the room during your speaking events, you won’t need an ISBN.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an ISBN?
1. Advantage: You can sell your book in brick and mortar stores. By scanning the bar code, retailers identify the book title, publisher, and author, ensuring that you are credited with the sale and that their inventory is updated with each purchase.
2. Disadvantage: ISBNs, both the numbers and the bar code, cost money. Getting both in a package costs around $150, but you can check for current prices at Bowker.com
or BowkerLink.com, who is the exclusive supplier of ISBNs.
3. Advantage: An ISBN gives your book credibility to others. It’s viewed as a symbol of prestige to your book. By the way, the absence of an ISBN is one sign that your book is not published through a traditional mainstream publisher.
4. Disadvantage: It takes up to six weeks to receive your book’s ISBN, so if you’re not going to sell it through retail stores or on line sites which require it, it might cause an unnecessary delay in your book’s release.
5. Advantage: Purchasing an ISBN for your book puts it in the worldwide catalog of published books. You must be included in this catalog if you want your book available in libraries.
Given those points, the determining factor in whether you need an ISBN is how you intend to distribute or market it. Even if you aren’t going to sell your book through online or retail vendors, you might want to order an ISBN anyway, leaving the option open later should you change your mind. It’s your call—only you know the value that an ISBN will give to your particular book. Only you can determine the advantages it will bring to you in terms of sales and credibility.
Want to be an Amazon.com Bestseller: 3 Tips to get it right…
In my business, I encounter many people who want to go from being an author t
o being a bestselling author, particularly on Amazon.com. One of the most frequent inquiries I receive is how to become one. Well, there are ways. For starters, you can hire an expert at the rate of $20,000 plus to orchestrate a bestselling campaign for you, or you can do it yourself. The downside of doing it yourself is that most people simply don’t know where to begin or how to direct their energies to make it happen. That’s why I have provided the following three essential tips to become an Amazon.com bestseller. While there are no guarantees, following these tips, along with the support of a coach or mentor, have given many authors the level of success they’ve been looking for. So, let’s get started:
1. Ensure your book is appropriately placed in the correct browse and sub-categories.
Certainly, if you want your book to be a bestseller on Amazon, you’d love to see it ranking in the ‘Top Twenty overall category. But, you’ll see much more progress and have more success if you strive to become number one in a specific topic or sub-category. It’s also much easier to achieve bestselling status within a specific category than it is to hit the top 20 ceiling.
By categorizing your book correctly, people who are interested in books on your topic will be steered your way. When they review your book, they’ll see that it ranks number one in that category. Wow, that’s just what they were looking for! A bestselling book on a particular topic that is of interest to them. Besides that, becoming number one in a certain category will contribute toward raising your book’s sales rank in the “overall” category, as well. And even though your book is a bestseller only in one category, you still get the boasting rights of being an Amazon.com number one bestseller.
2. Ensure your book is available on POD (with a guarantee of 100 on stock) or there is at least 500 books on site at the Amazon warehouse.
If your book is not available and in stock at Amazon, or available via print-on-demand (POD) through a reputable POD company or Ingram distributor, your book will read OUT OF STOCK. Of course, when a book is out of stock, people don’t purchase it—it’s not available. Thus, you want to avoid the “out of stock” notation because it really discourages sales. Unless you’re famous or already have achieved notoriety as a bestselling author, Amazon.com will only keep on hand minimal numbers of your book. When they witness a steady sales flow, they’ll increase that number. Amazon.com makes it difficult for self-publishers or Independent publishers to provide stock-up requests, so you want to make sure you research this thoroughly before conduct your campaign. You don’t want to send 200 people to Amazon.com to buy your book if they only have 12 books on hand.
3. Select an appropriate Amazon.com bestseller date.
Amazon.com uses a formula to determine your book’s rank. The fastest and easiest way to move up the sales rank is to select one date to market to the masses. Heavy sales on one day will move you past the competition into bestseller status. However, you don’t want to pick just any day out of thin air. Other authors are using this strategic tactic, too. Look at your competition. Find out when their books are going to be released and choose a different day. It will not serve you well if your campaign push falls on the same day that the next Harry Potter book is released. Choose dates wisely – do your research.
There’s more to becoming a bestselling author than writing a great book—you have to know the inside tips to creating sales. Following these three tips are critical in achieving that status.
Want more help becoming an Amazon.com bestseller, listen to this.
More information about Amazon.com Bestseller Program, click Amazon Bestseller Homestudy Program.
10 Tips to Get Free Publicity (Blog with Audio)
My good friend, Sally Shields, and I recently held a teleseminar on Publicity Secrets Revealed: What Every PR Firm Doesn’t Want You to Know About! It was so successful that I want to share those secrets with even more business owners, entrepreneurs and authors, showing them how they, too, can navigate the world of publishing and marketing and get the publicity they need and deserve.
If you’ve already written a book, that’s great! But by now, you know that getting book sales and publicity takes work—and a lot of it. Well, we understand—we’ve been in your shoes, but along the way we’ve found some shortcuts and secrets that will help you to spark interest in your book and get free publicity—yes, free publicity! Sally Shields has used these very same tips to become a number one best-selling author on Amazon.com with her book, The Daughter-in-Law Rules.
One of the biggest obstacles authors have is getting publicity, so it’s not unusual for them to hire a PR firm. More often than not, they invest a heavy chunk of money in a PR firm, only to be disappointed with the results. You can actually get the same, and better, results on your own, and for little or no money. I’ve had tremendous success with these tips with my book, Goal Digger, and we already know the amazing results Sally got from them. However, while we encourage you to market yourself and your book on your own, we also encourage anyone who’s doing so to get media training first. Invest in learning how to deliver your message so when you get the publicity you want, you know what to say and how to use it wisely.
So, without further ado, here are the top ten things you can do to market your book and brand. Now, you don’t have to do all of them, but if you do several really well, you’re going to get some very surprising results.
1. Print business cards with your book cover on them. This is an inexpensive, but effective, way to reach a mass of people. Give them out to friends, drop some on the counter at the beauty shop, the bagel store, the corner deli, or even at doctor’s offices, clothing stores, and restaurants. You never know who will pick them up and who they might know.
2. Make sure you have a website and it can capture people’s email addresses. You can do this by asking them to sign up for your emails or your newsletter. Just get their addresses and build that client list and friend database. You can even entice them to sign up by giving all new members an opportunity to download a free chapter of your book, which will spark more interest in your book.
3. Create a book trailer. You can create your own 30-second book trailer for free at Animoto.com. Do it and put it on your website and post it on YouTube. This does generate publicity and a great deal of interest.
4. Fine tune your elevator pitch. HelpAReporterOut.com is free, and it’s a wonderful way to create and perfect your elevator pitch. Simply stated, your elevator pitch is a three-sentences giving: Your name, the title of your book and your vision and how you and your book can help others. Short and sweet, it’s an introduction to the media letting them know about you, why they should be interested in interviewing you, and why their listeners, viewers, and readers will tune in. Make sure you tell what’s in it for their listeners and readers…make it short and make it good.
5. Create a media-ready release. Now, don’t confuse this with a press release—it’s different. Your elevator pitch will help you. You’ll need a headline or a hook that is timely and which ties into the news or a specific time of the year or holiday. Your media ready release is going to lay out the main points that you can talk about. It’s actually going to make it easier for you to get on radio and TV shows because it shows you’re prepared and does most of the work for the producer.
6. Prepare letters and emails in an effort to get at least five celebrity testimonials. Now, you don’t have to solicit testimonials from mega big-screen stars, but that would be nice. By celebrities, we mean you can contact authors, athletes, radio hosts, and actors, as well as famous business people. Well-known names respected in their fields are always a plus. In your letter, include a few sample testimonials for them to choose from. By making their job easier and already providing the testimonial, you’re more likely to get a quick and favorable response. How are you going to find these celebrities? I like ContactAnyCelebrity.com. Visit that site and you’ll find contact information, as well as their PR firm, agent information, etc. Be kind, courteous, complimentary, and thankful.
7. Create a media calendar. One of the easiest secrets, this one is effective. Get a calendar and fill in the months and days where your message is pertinent. For instance, if your book is about mothers or parenting, Mother’s Day is a focal point, as are other holidays like Grandparent’s Day, etc. You could take advantage of the exposure of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, etc. Use your imagination and fill in the dates when your expertise could be relevant to that day or time of year. Then, write a media release when that time of year comes around, using a hook or headline which relates your book to that time of year. This catches a great deal of attention, showing why they should be interested in you and your book right now. Make sure the release contains the most popular keywords (you can find those on Google.com/alert.
8. Prepare articles and get them posted on five or more blogs in the next 60 days. Prepare one to three articles, and if you don’t feel confident doing that, use an article template. There are some free ones through Jeff Herring who is known as the article guy. His website is TheArticleGuy.com. Write an article or use a template, then google your keyword plus the word “blog” to find the highest-ranking blogs for your area of expertise. Pick five blogs and contact them. Introduce yourself, give the elevator pitch you prepared earlier, and volunteer to submit content or be a guest on their blog. Offer them a Question and Answer session, and of course, a giveaway, which will help promote your book. To curb costs, you can send electronic books, what we all know as ebooks, which are very inexpensive promotional giveaways.
9. Book a local speaking engagement at a library, bookstore, or event. Prepare a PowerPoint and a little speech, and do a book reading. You’ll be surprised at how many people buy your book when you’re done. If you’re afraid of public speaking, practice—attend Toastmasters—write note cards to help you stay on point. The hosts of these events often buy your book in bulk beforehand, giving you sales right away. If you’re speaking for a charity event, partner with that charity. It’s an excellent marketing tool and will give you sponsorship and a great deal more exposure. Plus, you’ll be helping a cause that’s important to you.
10. Always, always carry copies of your book with you. Tuck a few in your purse, your briefcase, wherever, but always have a copy of your book on hand, ready to give to the first person who can help you. You never know who you’re going to meet every day, and you don’t want to miss an opportunity. If your book is on parenting, the person you start talking to might know a radio host, a prominent pediatrician, or even a corporate retailer of children’s products. By giving them your book and talking about it, you’ve just made an inside contact to some influential people who can help you. So, always, always carry your book with you and don’t be shy about flaunting it!
Those are the top ten secrets that you need to know to get your books out of the garage and into the hands of people who can give it the exposure it deserves. Do a few of these, and do them very well, and you’re going to find that you are the best PR firm your book and your business will ever know.
To listen to the replay of this info-packed call, click here.
6 Advantages of Amazon Bestseller Status
The Secrets of Female Sexuality places #8 overall...
As I’ve coached authors, helping them make their book a business, I’ve had a front row seat to their success. A successful book is quite a feat, but I’ve witnessed firsthand how transformational it is when a book reaches bestseller status. The perks are phenomenal!
Why should anyone want to be a bestselling author? Here’s a quick list of the benefits:
If your book becomes a bestseller:
- You get bragging rights! And you’ll deserve them! Very few authors achieve bestselling status, so when you uncover the secret to marketing your book the right way, you are among the cream of the crop. That’s something to talk about. It also helps you to create more buzz about your book and the interest it receives.
- You can add the title “Amazon bestseller” to your marketing materials and website. Everyone knows Amazon, and everyone knows that to become an Amazon bestseller, you have to beat a lot of competition. There are millions of books available through Amazon, so when you become a bestseller, you’ve earned a prestigious title that is more than an opinion—it’s indisputable and based entirely on fact—sales numbers which outrank all the rest!
- People can introduce you as an “Amazon bestseller” before radio and TV interviews or speaking engagements. Being called an “Amazon bestseller” automatically provides you with credentials. It makes you an expert in your field, stating that you have something different to say and that people want to hear it. It’s an accomplishment that automatically portrays success.
- You gain credibility in the corporate world. As an author, you are one of millions. As a bestselling author, your commendable achievement is acknowledged. Suddenly, you’ll become a sought-after speaker or consultant to businesses who place great value on credentials and accomplishments.
- You establish yourself as an expert in your field. If you want to be an expert, write a book. If you want everyone to agree that you’re an expert, write a bestselling book. When you’ve written one of the top ten books in your industry, your expertise will have much more value and people will view you as the authority on your topic.
- You can distribute a press release the next day – toting the fact you are a bestseller. By quickly getting the word out that your book is a bestseller, you spark more interest, accolades, and prestige. A press release that once might have gotten buried will go to the top of the pile when it touts such a remarkable achievement. When it does, you’ll benefit from the speaking engagements, interviews, and articles it will produce.
Best of all, your bestseller placement puts you in front of an audience that may have never heard of you at all. Once Amazon and Google know who you are, the sky is the limit.
- Final numbers for October 7, 2009
How I Became an Amazon.com Bestseller and How You Can Too!
More information about Amazon.com Bestseller Program, click Amazon Bestseller Homestudy Program
CALL-IN DETAILS
Host Name: Sally Shields and Alicia Dunams
Teleseminar: How to become an Amazon.com Bestseller!
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, October 13th at 9:00pm Eastern
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast — it’s your choice)
TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW…
http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=9506163
3 Tips to Become an Amazon.com Bestseller…
As of 9:58 am PST, my client and colleague David Shade became an Amazon.com bestseller.
There are many authors, or wanna-be authors, who also want to achieve this status, and I always get inquiries on how one becomes an Amazon.com bestseller. Well, you can pay an expert 20K + to orchestrate the campaign for you (Currently, I charge anywhere from 12 to 15K to coach and strategize all of the intricacies of a bestseller and book launch campaign for my clients.) Or you can do it yourself, which is tough if you don’t know where to begin (see 3 tips below to help you get started). Or, there is always something in between.
And with that, here are the following programs I recommend:
My friend, colleague and best-selling author, Sally Shields has crafted an amazing program called the Amazon Bestseller and Free Publicity 101 Homestudy Program. She walks you step-by-step through the Amazon Bestseller Campaign Process, and shows you exactly what you need to become a Amazon bestseller and garner FREE national publicity. *An aside: I just spoke to Sally today and she was taping the Rachel Ray Show – so this woman is definitely someone to follow!
Also, if you are a wanna-be author who needs to write their book before they even think about becoming a bestseller, you want to check out my coaching course and product, The 17-Day Book Challenge. In this course, I coach you on how to get your book done in less than 17 days, as well as develop your book marketing plan, which goes into depth in launching your book and making it an Amazon.com bestseller. I’ve gotten steller reviews about the 17-Day Book Challenge, which also includes as a bonus a private 1-on-1 60-minute telecoaching call with me.
Nonetheless, if you do decide to ‘go it alone’, here are a few tips to get you on your way to being an Amazon.com bestseller:
1. * Ensure your book is placed in the correct browse and sub-categories.
As you see from the screen shot, David’s book is not only in the top-20 overall, but is #1 in specific sub-categories. That way, people interested in dating topics will see it’s the #1 book of the day. Also, this step is crucial, because it is much harder to become an Amazon.com “Overall” bestseller. The chances you are a bestseller in a specific category are greater.
2.* Ensure your book is available on POD (with a guarantee of 100 on stock) or there is at least 500 books on site at the Amazon warehouse.
If you book is not available in-stock at Amazon, or available on print-on-demand (POD) through a reputable POD company or Ingram distributor, your book will read OUT OF STOCK and discourage sales. Amazon.com makes it difficult for self-publisher or Independent publishers to provide stock-up requests, so you want to make sure you research this thoroughly before conduct your campaign.
3.*Select an appropriate Amazon.com bestseller date..
Authors don’t normally do these campaigns on days that Harry Potter or a similar powerhouse book comes out. Choose dates wisely – do your research.
Of course, I hope this information helps. If you want further support, I offer 15-minute complimentary sessions to discuss what is the best route to go! – To your success – AD
How to Attract Customers with your Book Title
Being Fat Sucks!
It’s not easy for an author to create buzz about his or her book. That’s especially true for first-time authors who don’t yet have a following. But, it’s not impossible, and a couple authors have found a unique and effective way to attract readers.
Experienced authors know that the competition is fierce. In order to vie other authors for you percentage of sales, you need a lot of PR and marketing. To get the word out and brand your name and message, you have to cut through the clutter and find your own niche—your own market. One great way to do that is to give your book an irreverent, controversial title that will attract curiosity, promote conversation and create “shock and awe.”
What's Your Poo Telling You?
Recently, two books which have used this concept have demonstrated its value: Being Fat Sucks by Lisa Lewis, and What’s Your Poo Telling You, a book penned by a doctor who coincidentally calls himself Dr. Stool. Think about it—how many people do you know who would rush out to buy a book about poo? Not many, I’m sure. But by writing about the subject in a comical way, complete with some very innovative illustrations, Dr. Stool has turned a serious and dry medical topic into a novelty or gift book, earning it a strategic placement next to the cash register at major book retail stores. Because he made light of a serious medical concern, millions have been entertained while they were educated on the importance of looking in the toilet.
My client, author Lisa Lewis, had a similar approach. She wrote Being Fat Sucks in such a way that it would hit people in gut and sock them in their ego. The title tells it like it is, and so does the book, which is why Lewis was able to take a personal development story and use it to create an individual brand as a frank, open, and sincere speaker and weight-loss consultant.
The end result? Both have authored business books in the self-help genre which are successfully marketing their message, building their brand, and establishing themselves as experts, while benefiting from their book’s profits.
So, when you’re writing your book, look at it from all angles. Is there a better way you can position yourself within the industry, attracting more readers and becoming a household name? Whether it’s changing your title or the delivery of your message, find the best way to create a buzz about your book and attract more readers than the competition. You’re unique, and your book should be, too.
Check out the books today!
What’s Your Poo Telling You?
Being Fat Sucks!
What Does a Ghostwriter Charge?
Since many business owners are too busy to write their own book, they want to explore the opportunity of working with a professional ghost writer. As a business book writing coach and project manager, it’s part of my job to interview ghost writers and find the best writer for the job. But before I even move to that stage, one of the first questions my client asks is, What does a ghostwriter charge?
Unfortunately, there’s no one answer to that question: writers’ fees are all over the map, and there are no fixed industry standards. A preliminary Google search turns up fees anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000 for an average-length book (300 printed pages or 60,000 words). Yet online job sites show writers accepting work for as low as $800 a book. Some employers offer even less; just today I saw a job paying $2.00 per 500-word article. Two dollars!
As an Independent Contractor, a writer has to pay taxes, maintain equipment, and pay a finder’s fee to a job site or agency. Even at $3000 a book, a writer is working for less than minimum wage. Who’d work for less than minimum wage? Believe it or not, young writers just starting out are so gung-ho, they frequently do, which is unfortunate for the more experienced writers. It’s common sense that a fledgling writer isn’t as skilled as one with a number of published books under her belt and 20 or 30 years of experience – and I don’t only mean experience with writing. A person who’s been around the block a few times is familiar with a wide variety of subjects, and probably has at least some passing knowledge of your field of business. You do get what you pay for in this world!
With so many writers working freelance, it can be confusing to decide who to hire, especially sight unseen. Ideally, you’ll want to, at least, see some previous work to find out if you like someone’s writing. A legitimate writer is glad to provide samples, and on sites like Guru.com or Elance.com you can access them before you even contact the writer. These sites also post feedback on the writer’s performance from previous employers. Here you might even get an idea of the kind of pay the writer is accustomed to – frequently less than what she or he initially asks for. This doesn’t mean you should low-ball them. Hidden resentment from an underpaid writer can lead to conflict during the work process. On the other hand, a happy ghostwriter is a good ghostwriter, so paying well is in your best interest. Which brings us to:
FAQs:
How much does it cost to ghostwrite a book?
The fee for a 200-300 page manuscript to be completed in 3-6 months starts at around $10,000 and goes up to $20,000-plus. The more you provide in the way of extensive notes, outline, or rough draft, the lower the cost. Other variables include timeline, length, and publishing assistance. If the writer has to conduct research, for instance, the fee will be higher.
For subjects that require knowledge of specialized language, such as finance, law, or any other specialty, cost is normally higher: $25,000 – $40,000. If the client has a written draft, the price will be on the lower end; if more time is needed to produce a book based mainly on verbal communication, it will be higher.
What does the ghostwriter’s fee cover?
The fee to ghostwrite your book covers all interview time between writer, client, and any other participants necessary to obtain the required information. It includes all research time, writing, editing, rewriting, and it can include finding an agent to represent you, or even finding a publisher. The ghostwriter’s fee does not include travel or lodging, although travel time is included.
How are fees paid to the ghostwriter?
Most writers require an initial deposit of one-third the total to begin work, another third paid at the mid-point of the project, and the final third upon completion. Some writers prefer monthly payments after an initial deposit at the start.
How long does it take to complete a book?
A well-organized, average-length book usually takes from three to six months to complete.
A faster turn-around may be possible, but can also raise the fee. If you have a draft of your book, or extensive notes and sketches, the work can go faster. If a lot of research is involved, then more time is needed.
Does a ghostwriter use a contract?
The ghostwriter is an Independent Contractor who usually wants a signed contract with the first payment. The contract should include the working title of the book, amount and schedule of fees, copyright agreement, and confidentiality. Additionally, stipulations are usually included regarding termination of contract, arbitration in case of disagreement, and miscellaneous matters such as complimentary copies and deadlines for portions of the book, if any. If the writer does not have her own contract, one can be obtained from a writers’ organization like the National Writers Union or the Editorial Freelancer’s Association.
17 Ways to Make More Money and Boost Your Business With a Published Book!
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: You don’t publish a book in order to make money. Unless your name is Steven King or Danielle Steele, do not look to book sales as your get-rich-quick scheme.
That said, publishing a book is a great way to make money. If that sounds like a contradiction, read on.
Your book is a tool for creating multiple streams of revenue. It’s a calling card, a résumé, a sales tool, and a door-opener. I can provide you with all the information you’ll need to leverage this tool most effectively, beginning with…
17 Ways to Make Money and Boost Your Business With a Published Book.
1. Increasing Your Core Business. Nothing marks you as an expert in your field better than a book with your name on the cover. When you’ve written a book, you become an author, and people regard you as an authoritative voice. As an expert, you can charge higher fees for your goods or services – a book can as much as quadruple your current asking price. Additionally, by writing a book you’re duplicating yourself, in the sense that, while you cannot be everywhere promoting your business, your book can stand in for you; it represents you and your business. Finally, readers love meeting authors, and will flock to book readings and signings. The bottom line is, a book enables you to reach a much wider audience and, naturally, increase your business.
2. Public Speaking. There’s quite a bit of income to be made on the public speaking circuit. Schools, corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and many other kinds of groups are always looking for experts on topics of interest to speak at their meetings and conventions. To be invited, though, people have to know about you, and they usually find out about speakers through their books. You can sign with a Speakers Bureau, of which there are many – and they expect to see a book. A good speaker can earn upwards of $5000-7000 per appearance – and that’s on the lower end– but you need to have that book by way of introduction.
3. Workshops. As with public speaking, groups are always looking for experts to offer workshops at conferences that last anywhere from a day to a week, and they pay handsomely for the right teacher. Again, they tend to hire authors: to most people, a book signifies intelligence and gives you an air of authority. People feel safer hiring someone they don’t know well, or at all, when they’ve written a book. It proves they know what they’re talking about.
4. Trainer/Continuing Education Units. Most schools of higher learning offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to students – accountants, nurses, lawyers, etc. – for attending workshops and trainings. If you’ve written a book, you can be certified to provide CEUs, increasing your pool of clients. I worked with a PhD who’s an expert on child psychology. Since publishing her book she’s been able to realize her dream of travel, going all around the country training educators how to heal children.
5. High-End Consulting. Maybe you’re already being called upon as a consultant to individual or group clientele; if so, you know how lucrative consulting can be. A book is something tangible that attracts the attention of large corporations and high-end entrepreneurs. It’s also something to give your clients as an adjunct to in-person consultation. With a book you automatically increase your fees.
6. Product Placement. Corporations and their PR agencies look for appropriate books in which to promote their products. With the right marketing and eventual visibility as a celebrity expert, you can get paid for mentioning products and services in your book. One author sold placement of a line of female products such as lingerie, toiletries, and hair products in her best-selling dating book; for each mention she was paid $10,000.
7. Expert Placements. Some authors invite other experts in the same or related fields to write guest chapters for their books, and then include information on their products or services that are relevant – but don’t compete with! – theirs. In this way you automatically increase your audience by attracting your guests’ followers, and, especially if they’re famous, you can significantly expand your business.
8. Marketing Tool. A book is a vital component of an effective marketing plan. Once your book is done, you’ll no doubt sit down and brainstorm with your coaching team, targeting people and places to send complimentary copies for reviews and publicity. This can be an exciting, idea-popping process, and can go a long way towards the creation of a comprehensive marketing plan for your core business.
9. Selling Foreign Rights. Your book might be bought by a publisher who wants to translate it into Spanish, Vietnamese, French – every language represents a potential audience. I had this experience with my book Goal Digger: a Korean publisher saw the book on Amazon, and called to ask if they could buy the rights. I agreed, and eight months later they sent me a check – possibly the easiest money I’ve ever made.
(This is called pull, as opposed to push, marketing. The latter comprises all the things you do to promote your business, while pull marketing occurs when clients simply fall into your lap – which is more likely to happen when you have a book out there.)
10. Coaching. Readers might want to further enhance their understanding of your book’s content by having you directly teach them the philosophies and principles outlined in it. I once helped a group of women publish a book on networking; now, because of their book, they’re being hired to coach other groups of women on networking and client acquisition techniques.
11. Become a Bestseller. Okay, it’s rare that a book written to promote a business ends up reaching the sales heights that comprise best-sellerdom – rare, but not unheard of. The people who wrote the first Chicken Soup for The Soul book had no idea it would end up as a runaway best-seller, becoming so popular it spawned several more Chicken Soup books for targeted audiences such as women, Christians, and others. So it can happen. It’s good news for writers that the New York Times Best-Seller List is no longer the only game in town: regional newspapers now put out lists of what’s being read in their geographical areas, as do niche magazines and bookstores, both chains and independents. The more educational content your book provides beyond your specific product or service, the likelier it is to reach best-seller status. This is something you might want to think about as you map out the outline for your book.
12. Movie Rights. Again, it’s rare that a book of this kind is snapped up by Hollywood, but it does happen. Moneyball, by Michael Lewis, which describes a system of selecting baseball players for major league teams, was to be a movie, with Brad Pitt in the starring role. (Unfortunately, the project was dropped halfway through production.) A book that did make it to the cineplex is Julie and Julia, one woman’s adventure cooking all the dishes in a Julia Child cookbook. Starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child, it’s received both critical and public acclaim.
13. Public Relations. What could be a better PR tool than a book? It’s your ticket onto television, radio talk shows, podcasts, videocasts, and blogs. Your little book goes out into the world as an ambassador for your business, and in roll invitations to appear places, reaching wide audiences, and expanding your business. Which can lead to…
14. …Celebrityhood. If you’re the kind of person who thrives under the spotlights – and you might not even know yet if you are – then you’ll love the life of a celebrity that publicity from a book can bring about. Think Suze Orman. Martha Stewart. Donald Trump. We all recognize these names from television – people who began, just like you and me, as entrepreneurs writing their first books as marketing tools. They’re now widely recognized as the top experts in their respective fields, get called by CNN and MSNBC to serve as news pundits, and regularly appear on The Today Show and other popular programs. In recent years, authors have even been asked to do their own reality shows. If celebrityhood with all its glamour and glitz appeals to you, remember: the first step down the red carpet is to write that book!
15. Non-Profit Organizations. You can package and sell books in bulk – usually discounted or at cost – to non-profit organizations for use in their fundraising drives. The group puts them into gift bags or donor baskets used to solicit donations. In this way your book finds its way to donors and philantophists, who are frequently high-income or wealthy. This is a win/win situation for everyone involved.
16. Corporate Sponsorships (see below). After you’ve written a book and developed your platform enough to make you a business celebrity, doors to corporate sponsorships will open up. David Bach, the author of The Automatic Millionare and Smart Women Finish Rich obtained sponsorship from Wells Fargo Bank, becoming a spokesperson for their financial services.
 David Bach for Wells Fargo |
Long-term homeownership is the key to growing wealth and financial security. The Great American Homeowner Challenge, sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and financial coach David Bach, is inspiring millions of Americans to buy a first, second or investment home. “The single most important investment a person will ever make is a home — it is the secret to building life-long security.”- David Bach, The Automatic Millionaire HomeownerTM . |
17. Repurpose Your Book. Finally, books these days have way more than one or two lives. Time was, a book came out in hardback, and a year later in paper, after which it hit the remainders pile. When audiotapes became a trend, books got a third spin. Today, thanks to the Internet, a book has even more incarnations: as an e-book and a podcast, to name just two. As technology changes and grows, we’ll no doubt see more ways to increase a book’s lifetime and, therefore, its earning potential.
Now that you know 17 ways to make money on your book, what are you waiting for? Write that book!
