5 Ways Authors Can Make More Money Right Now, Even in a Recession, from Stuff You Already Know
A couple days ago I came up with this idea to write a blog post about how authors can and should be thriving, even in an economy that’s as crappy as it is right now.
So I started writing…
And writing…
And writing.
Well, what initially was going to be a 500 word post, or perhaps a piece for Ezinearticles.com or something, turned into what can only be called a “massive missive.”
I’m not going to go on and on about it here — the report is detailed enough. But basically what I set out to prove is that there are some very simple ways for authors to make more money, right now, even in a recession, from stuff you already know.
There’s gold in this report, gang. Pure gold.
NOTE: THIS REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AUTHOR’S EDGE NEW TRAINING PORTAL.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOUR FREE BOOK MARKETING SECRETS DVD.
And please leave some comments below and let me know what you think. Will this impact your business? Will you take action on it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Tagged with: Book Marketing • Online Book Marketing • product creation
Filed under: Featured • Online Book Marketing
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20 comments
Thanks for offering this! I will take a look and get back to you!
Excellent report-very thoughtful. Like you I have been online since March of ‘07 and I’ve decided to get serious. I don’t want to wait another 3 years to work from home - your report is timely, helpful, and right on!
Thank you Chris for taking the time to write and share this. May the energy you put out with this report return to you ten-fold.
Thank you so very much
Laurie J. Brenner
Great article Chris. Just had a chance to glance at it. But look forward to reading it thoroughly as soon as I get home from speaking tonight. You are the best! Everything you send to us is so thorough and I am sure will save us a lot of time, money and effort.
Hugs
Marilyn
I have seen your request for Authors on HARO
I am excited about all the new opportunities for Authors in the new digital age.
My Book Let’s Model is self published on Lulu.com
lulu self publishing offers so many different ways to publish and market your work
I also have our book in E book format on Clickbank.com again Clickbank offers many ways to market your book including having affiliates to represent it.
We have both versions on our site Models Fashion Advice.
thanks for this timely article
renee’
Let’s Model
http://www.lulu.com/content/4212233
Great article.
Social networking, and blogs where authors can let their books and sell them is a way for authors to allow readers to download eBooks. POD seems to be another way of selling books. As the conglomerates take over publishing industry, they no longer do the PR, promoting and marketing of books; this is now being left up to the author.
To get books out to readers, anything the author can do, is what they need to do. Twitter, blogs, web rings, virtual book tours and more are the wave of the future for authors. Blog radio, or someway to let readers know of the books available. However, authors need to be careful who does their POD. I have seen some books that don’t pass muster when I receive them for review.
RJ Medak
Freelance Writer
With regard to the video portion (#5), I would love for any and all of you to consider trying to monetize any videos you make (that are instructional in nature) via MindBites (www.mindbites.com/teach). The site is a video marketplace and platform through which authors can sell their own videos. All video lessons are currently priced at $1.99, but flexible pricing will roll out with the new year. Selling your videos in the marketplace is not only a great way to create an additional revenue stream but also a good way to find interested users that you can then direct back to your own site.
Am responding to your post in Shankman’s email. Followed the link to your blog and downloaded your pdf.
This is a great piece!
I have a long and ongoing involvement with many types of media, books (including eBooks), technology and publishing. Am watching the industry change before my eyes.
Very exciting time!
I would love to be part of a discussion on publishing, media, technology and the changing world
i just had a book come out after ten years and the entire industry changed …for the better.The reason publishing is dying is because publishers are doing business the old way. People now are getting their reviews from bloggers. Librarything shelfari and others are where the readers are. You still need a good book and you have to work extremely hard but you can get people to buy through social sites and drive sales with blog reviews.
http://www.twitter.com/rocketman46
http://www.williamhazelgrove.blogspot.com
Forwarded your excellent article to my sister an Author who owns http://www.mydreamisdeadbutimnot.com to promote her once rejected now self-published book.She was rejected by 16 publishing houses and planned an event to mourn her lost dream of being a famous author. She held an actual funeral at a real cemetary coffin and all. World wide press has picked it up and now her book is selling on amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as her site. A self soothing joke actually became a very successful book launch. I was at the live event at it was a mixture of camp and real spiritual advice for struggling writers and dreamers everywhere.
Albert Gaulden’s (of http://www.sedonaintensive.com) latest book, You’re Not Who You Think You Are, launched Dec 2nd.
Jeanna Zelin, Gaulden’s publicist knew that social media was the new hot trend and it was critical to utilize this marketing tool in order to connect with Gaulden fans and potential new ones. In late November, she hired social media consultant, Lisa Loeffler, to assist with publicity for Gaulden in social media and online communities.
Since then the Gaulden camp has regularly posted to and developed profiles on Twitter (http://twitter.com/AlbertGaulden ), MySpace, Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/6m56bt), YouTube, Digg and more. They are also doing short podcasts and hope to launch a video blog, like Gary Vaynerchuk’s http://tv.winelibrary.com, in the next months so Albert can connect directly with his readers on a regular basis.
You’re Not Who You Think You Are is available on Amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Not-Who-You-Think/dp/1416583769, which of course keeps up and adapts to new technologies. The book is available on the Kindle platform and buyers can also benefit for an RSS feed of Albert’s blog http://sedonaintensive.com/albert_clayton right on the book’s http://www.amazon.com page.
Gaulden’s great passion is connecting with his readers and fans and helping them find more about their inner selves. At age 70, Gualden looks forward to learning how to build strong relationships in social media and is excited about the new people he’ll meet.
Hey Chris,
I read your inquiry on HARO and would
like to chime in.
I was just on a social network where a
fellow author was in a bind with his latest
book release.
He shared how successful he was back
in 1998 and with several other book releases.
He followed the same blueprint to launching
his current book and it has not been as successful.
With this said, the publishing industry has
changed, more so on the marketing side and
the open source to independently publishing.
I do believe the key element for authors and
writers that hasn’t changed is our ability to market
and promote effectively. With Web2.0 there’s a
lot to know and learn.
What we did back in 1998 to market a book
has changed for traditional and self-published
authors.
Great topic you have brought to the table for
discussion…
Continue to make it happen!
Won’t Be Denied,
C.F. Jackson
What If Everything You Believed
About Your Website Was Wrong?
You are the authority. I love it.
I suggest to authors that they do something that is at first blush counter-intuitive — give away something of great value for free. More than just free even - no registration required.
When people find something of value, they will want more from the author and consider buying a book.
Over 250,000 people have downloaded my free ebook The New Rules of Viral Marketing (Google the phrase if you want a copy). The result is that my print book The New Rules of Marketing & PR has been selling briskly. We’re into the 11th printing in hardcover, it is just out in paperback, and is being translated into 21 languages.
David Meerman Scott
Wow. Great site there, David. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much to everyone who is helping to move this conversation forward.
There are some amazing resources here in the comments section alone — this should keep you busy!
One thing I forgot to mention in the article…
In addition to the interview I did with Dan Janal, there’s also a prior podcast episode featuring Rick Frishman from Planned Television Arts that should be another great primer for any author who wants more media attention.
I should have put that in the bonus section of the report, but it slipped my mind.
You can find the interview here on the blog or, of course, iTunes.
Thanks again for all the kind words and comments.
Keep ‘em coming!
Awesome ideas! I am in PR for books and social media is the new way to do business. I get a lot of ideas off HARO and Twitter. There are so many different social media sites to choose from. I also blog on a site which promotes my company.
Sara
Authors need to find new pathways to readers — not just online, but in person. We can’t rely on signings at bookstores; we have to create events in other venues like coffee shops, bars, boutiques, etc, that don’t carry all the book baggage. There are only a handful of Dan Browns and Jodi Picoults — and there are a million great voices deserving to be heard.
Kelly
author of STANDING STILL from Simon & Schuster
bykellysimmons.com
thanks for the information… appreciate it…
Hello,
Saw your post via eWomen Bay Area ning site. I am a graphic designer with many years of print experience including books and publications. I have been migrating over to the web since I left a newspaper job in 2005. I find it difficult for designers since people are self-publishing, doing e-books themselves and so on. It is changing before our eyes, but many do not have the knack for good design. Any comments about where we might fit it? I am thinking about seniors as a growing market but what to do with that?
I would like to set up some social networks for groups wanting to form an online community. Also doing some web sites and e-mail blasts. I have photography skills as well.
thank you
Hi Chris
This article is absolutely amazing.
It has inspired me and given me great clarity about what I need to do next. I love the way you write. Thank you for sharing yourself and your knowledge in the way that you do.