10 Ways People Use Books To Make Real Money

There are a number of publishing strategies utilized to achieve wealth and success.  Not all of them work, and for some, they may not work well enough.  In any case, here are 10 ways you can benefit from successfully publishing and marketing your book: 

1.      Publish for free to build a brand.

This seems to be gaining momentum.  Many authors, especially digital-only ones, will make their new book available for free for a period of time.  Their hope?  That enough people download and read it, love it, and then tell others how wonderful it is. An offshoot of this strategy is to have a series of books published.  In order to get attention for the collection, the oldest book is made available for free for a period of time or permanently, again, in hopes of building up a fan base.

2.      Use the book as a loss leader.

Amazon will discount books to sell below its cost in hopes of getting the consumer to then buy other things on its site.  Though they have greatly increased their revenue from a year ago, the world’s largest online retailer still operates at a deficit. However, authors publish books in hopes of using the book as a calling card to generate more lucrative business deals.  For instance, the business consultant who pens a book and sells just 1500 copies of the book may end up landing three new clients as a result.  These clients could be worth thousands of dollars a piece to the author -- maybe more.

3.      The book advances your brand.

Authors write books to build their image and brand.  It’s a nice credential to have on your resume: Author.  Your book may help you generate publicity and that news media coverage also advances your brand.  Eventually, you can cash in on that brand with other books, services, and products.

4.      The book furthers a cause or important message.

No price can be put on this.  If you want your voice heard and to make a difference in the lives of others, a book is a great place to start.  This may help you network with those whom you may otherwise have not been able to get noticed by.

5.      Books can front other products.

Your book can be a gateway drug to other products or books.  You can even sell the products and books of others, not just your own.  Your book can lead people to your web site where, once there, is a point of purchase to all kinds of things.

6.      Your book can contain ads or product mentions.
      Like a newspaper, your content can be used to deliver paid ads.  Like a TV sitcom, your content can also deliver paid product mentions.

7.      Your book is an audition for a media gig.

Maybe you want to be hired as a newspaper columnist, TV personality, or radio talk show host.  One route to discoverability is a book.

8.      A book could help you rise up the corporate ladder.

Write a good book that further establishes you as an authority or expert and you may get noticed by the executives at your company.  One of the fasted routes to a raise and a promotion is to become a mini-celebrity.

9.      A book helps you get hired as a spokesperson.

Companies are always looking for good spokespeople.  After they look at high-priced celebrities and athletes, they will strongly consider hiring an author to hawk a product or service.

10.  A book could springboard into paid speaking appearances.

You may not get hired to deliver a commencement speech at Harvard, but a published book helps you win over speaking bureaus and organizations that arrange for paid speaking opportunities.

Publishing a book can also work against you.  For instance, if it’s lousy, it may gather many negative reviews.  Anyone who Google’s you will see bad things. In other cases, publishing a book can consume too much time and money and as a result, cause you to miss out on whatever else you could have applied your money and time to.

If your book looks like it was poorly put together, including an ugly cover, unappealing layout, and sloppy editing, you will embarrass yourself by handing the book out to those you hope to win over.

Still, the potential rewards of publishing a book, to me, far outweigh the possible drawbacks.  If you believe in yourself or an idea, just go ahead and write the book you always wanted to put out.  But, where necessary, leave the editing, printing, and marketing to others.  This way you’ll have a fine product and no remorse of what could have been.

Publishing a book has its own reward.  It not only serves one’s ego, but it also gives life to your words, thoughts, and ideas.  It legitimizes your experiences and it opens you up to discovery.  The book becomes you—and you may get to go a little further in life because of it.

DON’T MISS THIS!!!

Here is my 2014 Book Marketing & Publicity Toolkit: Based on 20+ years in publishing - 

Master Publishing PR Toolkit

Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, Media Connect, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2013