Free Marketing: 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business, Online and Off

CHAPTER 40

WRITE A BOOK FOR AN INSTANT SALES BOOST

In the previous chapter I did my best to convince you that you need to begin calling yourself an author starting immediately. Now is probably a good time to talk about backing that up with an actual book.

Relax.

You don't have to be a great writer, or even like writing, to be a good or even great author.

The tools and technology that are available to us today make it easier than ever to accomplish the task of putting together quality content for easy distribution.

Specifically in this chapter I'd like to discuss how easy it is for you to put together a real book that can be given away, sold online via Amazon.com, and even be distributed widely on bookstore shelves.

Your best possible excuse at this point though is this:

“But Jim, isn't it true that most authors never make any serious money from their efforts?”

You got me there, sort of ...

I know for a fact that nearly all authors that set out to become rich or famous by writing a book fail, probably more frequently than do the aspiring actors that move to Hollywood or musicians that moved to Nashville hoping to strike it big. While some do meet their goals, we know for a fact that the vast majority of them never do. I'm not talking about that sort of mindset for your book efforts though. Sure, you'll be making serious money, gaining great exposure, and expanding your influence, but it won't be just based on the volume of sales of your book. Even if your book only sells a small ...