Authors, create multiple revenue streams from your book

Every week, it seems, I see authors who pour three or more years of their lives and entire bank accounts into writing and publishing a book.

Then, six months after it hits the shelves, they’re drained of all energy and money. So they give up, start thinking about their second book, and the whole ugly mess starts all over again.   

I wish every author wouldn’t put word to paper unless they complete this assignment. List all the ways you can make money from your book, other than from the cover price of the book. 

—How about a board game that continues where the book has left off?

—What about a wall or desk calendar that focuses on the photographic aspects of the book’s topic, or a desk calendar with excerpts or pithy quotes each day, taken from the book?

—Can you create a workbook for readers to tackle, complete with specific assignments, after they’ve completed the book?

—What about a free ezine devoted to your topic? You can monetize it by using it to market not only the book but other products and services such as consulting.

—Can the written book be turned into an audio book? Remember that your audience has different learning modalities.

—Can you convince a company that sells something that solves a problem for people who are likely to read your book to hire you as a media spokesperson?

—How many sub-topics within the book would lend themselves to short special reports that you could write and sell as low price-point electronic downloads?  I explain exactly how to do this in “Special Report #20: How to Write and Market Profitable Special Reports.”

—Can you host a boot camp for readers to teach them something related to the book topic?

—Can you produce CDs or DVDs that tie into the book?

—What about creating a keynote presentation? If you hate the thought of speaking, join Toastmasters.

—Can you offer consulting services for people who need in-depth advice and help that goes far beyond what’s in your book?

—Through paid teleseminars, could you offer guest experts that would lecture, and then answer questions, from people on the line? The topic, of course, would tie into your book. 

–Is a topic within your book perfect for a White Paper? Perry Marshall has an excellent free email course on how to “Attract More Customers with White Papers.”

–Can you create a reference guide that dovetailis with the book?

–What about a home study course?

Lots of those ideas work, too, for fiction authors. One of the biggest mistakes I see authors making is not thinking about multiple strems of revenue they can create AFTER they’ve published the book.

If this idea if foreign, or uncomfrotable, my friend Adam Witty, can help. He’s hosting a marketing conference for authors Oct. 3-4 in Charleston, South Carolina.  He will teach authors how to “unlock the invisible income streams surrounding their book.”

Adam invited me to speak at the conference but I politely declined. I promised myself a few years ago that I’d drastically curtail travel, a lifestyle choice. 

But my mentor, Tom Antion, will be there. He’ll speak on “How Authors Make Money on the Internet….for REAL.”  Also, Cadian talk show host Wayne Kelly will teach the finer points of media training. Many of the multiple streams of revenue in my list above offer numerous opportunities for publicity—and when journalists call for an interview, the author must be ready.!