Books are written for a variety of reasons; could be to fulfil a life-long goal, sharing your hard-earned knowledge on a subject or, for the prolific writers amongst us, just for fun or to test whether your so-called hilarious writing style actually is funny.
While making money may not always be the sole reason behind putting pen to paper, (or fingers to keyboard!), profit can and should be made from your hard work in creating a book.The way to make money from a book has changed over the years and it’s no longer a matter of just befriending the local bookshop owner to buy your title and place it in the shopfront window. This is a good thing because there’s now a lot more opportunity. There are multiple angles and scenarios in which your book can create an income for you.
Bringing in the cash:
Let’s take a little time out to investigate 5 proactive ways to generate book income:
1. Get up to speed
2. Engage Ideas central
3. Embrace the world wide web
4. Go beyond the book
5. Be a part of the inter-connected world that sells
Get up to speed:
Regardless of whether you choose to self-publish, work with a publisher or a mix of the two, don’t just go with the flow when it comes to making a profit. Hopefully if you’re working with a publisher, they’ll be thinking these things through too but even if so, give some time to consider new and innovate ways to promote your work to the non-fiction market. Conduct your own research: even if it doesn’t have an ultimate outcome, getting a feel for what attracts people to certain books will help get you in the right frame of mind to sell. Ask yourself and others what the last book was they bought, where they bought it and whether they bought it based on a recommendation or through searching for it themselves.
Jump online and search for a book you’d like to read. The first link will probably take you straight to a purchase point but keep searching and see where the links to information about that book are coming from. It’s likely that if they are marketed well you’ll find reference of them in social media, blog forums, review documents, online bookstores, referenced in news articles and the like. This process will show you just how significant the internet is in promoting your book.
Engage Ideas centralRemember to think outside the box and find the methods that suit you best. Here’s some ideas to get you started but don’t stop here:
Get yourself and your book in front of an audience. Impulse and emotional buying is a trap for many but when it comes to people buying your book, embrace it. If you are an expert, or even just well informed. Could you teach a workshop which relates to the topic of your book?
Check with community centres, libraries and educational organisations to find out about courses that you could get involved in teaching. You might not always get paid to teach a class but could request to sell your book at the session.
If you don’t have a publisher, send your manuscript out to some that you consider would be interesteed in your work. make sure they are already publishing books to your chosen genre. Or better still; contact a few publishers who have published books in congruence to your book’s content and share your ideas with them and explain why your book is unique and valuable to their marketplace. Convince the publisher you have a loyal platform of prospective book buyers in your niche. Tell the truth though, don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
Look into having your book added to a curriculum or recommended reading list. Again, contact education facilities, community centres and search the web to see what opportunities are available.
Embrace the world-wide webThe internet isn’t going anywhere, in fact it becomes more complex and interconnected every day. All this change doesn’t make it less accessible but more!Use the internet to:
1. Offer your nonfiction book in downloadable form. Some authors cringe at the thought of this but remember it’s not everyone’s cup of tea (or luxury) to sit back in a hammock with a book. Many people carry their life around with them on their laptop, phone or iPad, including their books!
2. Spread the word about your book. Jump on board the social media bandwagons, blogs and review sites to gain exposure. If you are not so web-inclined, take a seat in front of the computer and give it a go – you’ll be surprised at what the novice can achieve – especially with some guidance from more experienced friends.
3. Create your own website. This might be just about the book and you as its author, or you could get creative and create a multipurpose site to showcase your career or business and have a feature on your book included. You could consider creating an online store and developing a blog-site.
Go beyond the bookIt’s a common misconception that the only way to make money from a book is by selling each and every copy at a bookshop. While there is no doubt that this is a key income source, there are other ways to maximise profit.
-Spin-off items; think about what other product or service can be provided in relation to your book. Think creatively and in line with your own relationships and connections. If you’ve written a book about the art of juicing for example, could you convince a café to offer a bundle deal for customers to buy fresh juice? A small pocket-sized juicing guide that ties back to your book could also work here. Think outside the dots!
- E-books and manuals; could sections of your book be split into electronic books (e-books) or a training manual? Could your book provide information helpful to a certain trade or industry?
Be part of the inter-connected world that sellsIt’s important to remember when it comes to selling your book, no effort exists in isolation. Every thing said or written about your book becomes part of its overall image, including the spin-off items associated with it. So, get out there and promote your book – the more people are talking about it, the more money you will be making.
To ensure you have gained some value from reading this article, assess your understanding based on identifying the correct answer or answers from this multi-choice quiz…
Question 1:
The best way to make money from a book is by getting it on a bookstore shelf?
a. Yes, this is the way real books are sold and will make the most profit
b. Yes, bookstores are the most common place for people to buy a book so it makes sense
c. Bookstores are on the out – it’s best to just focus on internet sales
d. Maximise your profit everywhere – people buy books and book products in a variety of ways – don’t limit your sales by sticking to one.
Question 2:
Do spin-off products take away from the credibility of a book?
a. It depends – use your own wisdom to decide whether a product will add value or trivialize a book.
b. No, most people think if a book has an extra product, it must be important
c. Yes, off-shoot products tend to be tacky or diluted forms of the real thing
d. No, people don’t associate off-shoot products with the actual book.
Question 3:
Is an author teaching from or in relation to the topic of their book a good idea?
a. Yes, but only if they are a teacher or trainer too!
b. Yes, the more exposure the better
c. No, authors should stick to their writing and leave the speaking to those that know how.
d. It depends on the person, their confidence and their willingness. A good presentation can do wonders for book sales
Question 4:
Do you need a publisher to make money from your book?
a. Yes, the publishing world is cut-throat and only those on the inside can make any money from it
b. Yes, there are too many mountains for authors to leap over on their own
c. A publisher will help make money from a book but profit can be made without them too.
d. No, an author is better off without a publisher so they can protect their own interestsNo peeking at the answers!
Cover this section with a piece of paper and don’t uncover it until you write your answers down.
Answers: 1 (d.), 2 (a.), 3 (d.), 4 (c.)
How did you score?
Now you know the answers, go do what you now know and maximize the profit potential of your nonfiction book.
Extracted from the ebook and self-learning manual: ‘How to Write, Publish and Promote Your Nonfiction Book’ by Terry Anthony Smith.
Archive for the ‘Non Fiction’ Category
5 Ways to Maximize the Profit Potential of Your Non-fiction Book
Saturday, September 4th, 2010Non-Fiction Information Products Are Hot Commodities Online
Sunday, August 8th, 2010As a seller of non-fiction information products, you can build an empire of profits targeting a single niche of consumers. Or, branch out and offer solutions to a multitude of people who need guidance.
While the print publishing industry only gives authors a small portion of the proceeds after agent and publishing house fees, if you sell information products on the ‘net, you’ll get to charge more and keep almost 100% of the profits for yourself.
Typically, a non-fiction book at Barnes and Noble would cost the consumer an average of $9.95 to $29.95. But when you’re selling information products ready for instant download on the ‘net, you get to price it higher, because the selling point usually begins at $37 and rises all the way to the top at a $97 price point.
Plus, your overhead costs are low. Even if you outsource the creation of your information product, you’re still able to recoup the investment after a short period of sales. You never pay for things like shipping and handling because everything is done electronically. It doesn’t matter if your customer is next door or halfway around the world.
Why are consumers rapidly downloading information products? This is the age of high-tech, ultra fast development. Your readers may be sitting in an airport, accessing your eBook from their laptop. It doesn’t just have to be a written eBook, you could also create: audio eBooks and videos tutorials. With the busy life styles of people today, they easier you make it for them, the better your results will be.
They want information now, not the next business day. If their child is up sick crying from colic at 3:30 in the morning, a mom can’t drive to a bookstore to get a self-help book – but she can log onto her personal computer and download your eBook, putting your advice into action within mere minutes.
Another reason information products are hot commodities online is because they often come with ironclad money-back guarantees, giving the consumer an added spoonful of trust. One of the most important features, beside the content, is to take all the risk away from the consumer. So always include a no-hassle money back guarantee.
If you create info products for sale yourself, then you want to make sure you produce top-quality deliverables and urge your readers near the end to start taking action with what they’ve learned to keep refund requests low and demand for your products high.
You can also provide tools and resources along the way, these could be free or paid. Of course when suggesting these tools, make sure you have tried and tested them as well. They could also be information packed sites, how to articles or blogs. You always need to keep the content and quality at the highest level possible.
10 Quick, Easy Steps For Writing A Non-Fiction Book
Monday, July 12th, 2010Want to write your book in 30 days or less? That’s how I create my own non-fiction books. Now, you can discover the 10 steps I use to write books quickly, easily, even painlessly. If you can’t seem to find the time or don’t like to write, this book can help make you a book author, too.
Use these 10 steps to develop a non-fiction book to promote your business or professional practice, to advance your academic or business career, to make more money.
Now, let?s get started! Put it all down in writing, as you complete the next steps. Seeing your plan in front of you will remind and nudge you?will bring you closer to becoming a book author.
1. Begin with the basic considerations. Think about what your goals are for writing a book, who’s your audience, what niche you’re focusing on. Use your answers to guide you as you plan your book.
2. Choose a topic your target audience wants and needs to know about, a topic that also matches your goals. Make sure it?s not too broad, is doable in 30 days or less, and you already have the knowledge and expertise to undertake writing a book on this topic.
3. Identify the main idea or theme of your book, the slant you?ll use to differentiate it from the competition. Write down the takeaway idea for your readers, the key point you want them to remember after reading your book. Doing this now will keep you focused as you write your book.
4. Craft a catchy title that will attract the attention of the correct audience, will draw them in, offer a benefit to win them over. Stuck for ideas for your title? Tweak a book title or magazine article heading you like to create your book title. Or, use a formula title such as The Best 10 Ways to?
5. Develop an outline for your book. Find books similar to the one you want to write. Then, use these books as models for yours. Don?t omit this step if you truly want to write your book in 30 days.
6. Collect your content. Notice, I didn?t say WRITE your book. If you want to have a book in your hands quickly and easily, keep your writing input to a minimum.
For example, put together a compilation of quotations or tips on a particular business-related topic?a fairly easy and potentially quick way of getting content if you have others contribute to your efforts. Ask someone on your own team to gather the quotations for your book from online resources. Or, get colleagues to give you their favorite tips to use in your book, with the promise that you?ll ?reward? them with an autographed copy of the print version of your book, a note in your book about their contributions, etc.
7. Arrange your content in order to match your outline. Review your outline for missing facts and figures that aren’t in the content you’ve put together. Fill in the gaps?or, discard that part of your outline if the information isn?t relevant or important. Keep reminding yourself?30 days or less!
8. Add the extra components that will provide impact and value, such as a professional-looking cover, some photos, a few tables or charts, bulleted lists, benefits-laden headings, and so on. Don?t go overboard, or you won?t meet the deadline for writing your book.
Don?t forget the extra legal components that could add impact, too?if you OMIT them (e.g., copyright notice, disclaimers).
9. Revise and edit your book. Don?t let typos, spelling errors, punctuation mistakes ruin your credibility. Contact peer reviewers for their suggestions about your book. Ask them specific questions to elicit the information you need to improve your book. Don?t overlook the opportunity to ask them for testimonials to put in your book, too.
Again, don?t go overboard. Good enough is good enough. Avoid perfectionism. Don’t let it hold you back from becoming a book author in 30 days or less.
10. Distribute your book to your target audience, waiting with bated breath to read your well-crafted book. Leverage your book to get the most benefits from being an author. If it?s in digital format, liberally give out your e-book for free. Post it on your website. Offer it as an opt-in. Use it to say thanks to others. Hand out a coupon at an event with the URL to download your book online.
If you have your book printed, you obviously spend money to get it produced. Don’t worry. You can freely distribute excerpts from your book as a digital version. Create an e-book to use for more publicity, without the costs of printing additional copies of your book.
11. Here?s the critical bonus step. Check your book to make sure you?ve provided tons of benefits for your readers?you?ve given them practical, immediately useful information to help them solve the problems keeping them awake at night, so they get the results they?re seeking by reading your book. People are reading your book for what it offers them?not for what it offers you. Make it worthwhile for them, and it will become worthwhile for you.
Ready to write a book that can boost your business and make more money for you? You?ll find a virtually unlimited array of possibilities for growing your business once you become a book author.