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Self-Publishing: How Self-Publishing Your Own Book Can Help You Gain Credibility, Grow Your Business
By Robert Skrob | October 2, 2008
The field of information marketing has opened doors to limitless opportunities for lucrative online, home-based businesses. Mindful entrepreneurs are finding ways to package their expertise of information into convenient forms such as DVDs, books, e-books, CDs, magazines, Web sites, teleseminars, webinars, coaching programs, seminars and conferences.
Best of all getting started couldn’t be easier. Here’s why. The information marketing business does not require fancy offices, furniture or multiple computers. It doesn’t require special licenses (in most cases). And, it doesn’t require special education or degrees. Success comes for beginners and seasoned experts alike from all age groups, and with minimal start-up costs.
Just ask Jordan McAuley, author of Contact Any Celebrity, and one of the 12 info-marketing experts recently selected by the Information Marketing Association (IMA) as contributors to a new book that helps newcomers in the industry successfully negotiate the nuts and bolts for starting an info-business. Start Your Own Information Marketing Business is an easy-to-follow manual that gives the steps to building a successful info-business from the ground up.
In it, Jordan shares the secrets to his success which he says started with a self-published book. As it turns out, the credibility that is attached to authorship is astounding. Jordan’s book established him as an expert in his field which, in turn, made him a reputable source for journalists. He has since received generous exposure through national media outlets like USA Today, CNN and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Gone are the days when authors had to jump through hoops to publish books with major publishing houses. Today, authoring books that are accessible to consumers via major booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble is easier than ever. No wonder successful info-marketers routinely go from zero to $10,000 to $100,000 a month (and more) in just a matter of a few months.
Jordan self-published his book and sold it for $55.00. Jordan’s book provides contact information for celebrities. It’s useful for authors who want positive quotes from celebrities to put on their book covers, fans seeking autographs and charities seeking celebrity endorsements.
But he didn’t stop there. The truth is self-publishing a book opens the door to hundreds of other business opportunities. Jordan created a membership Web site with data that wouldn’t fit into the finished book. Jordan includes publicist information, additional phone numbers and charities the celebrity already supports. Jordan charges a monthly membership fee and promotes this option throughout his book.
The key is to diversify your info-marketing business by creating additional products associated with your info-product. For Jordan, the revenue from his membership site is many times higher than anything he has received from his book alone.
Instead of selling his book and getting paid once, Jordan receives recurring revenue from individuals who want constant access to more extensive and constantly updated information. Like Jordan, many info-marketers are learning how to turn their info-products into money-generating tools that drive million-dollar home businesses.
Start Your Own Information Marketing Business reveals money making secrets from Jordan and 11 other successful info-marketers. In it, Jordan shares step-by-step tips to get started, including publishing and writing resources. It is now available in bookstores.
Robert Skrob is president of the Information Marketing Association (IMA), an association supporting the information marketing industry which encompasses companies producing products like traditional books, audio programs, videos, DVD’s, magazines, newsletters, e-books, membership websites, teleseminars and webinars, telecoaching programs, seminars and conferences, and combinations thereof. For more information visit www.infomarketingstartup.com.
Topics: Information Marketing | 1 Comment »
October 5th, 2008 at 4:55 PM
I couldn’t agree more. Many blogs contend that self-publishing lacks credibility as many badly written books get self-published. But the true definition of a self-published book is a book or other informational product the author is serious about building a business around. If the author is serious, he or she will pay to have the product edited, designed and so forth.
And then, like Jordan did, the author can create other products like audio books and membership websites. An author who thinks like an entrepreneur can gain great credibility and earn real dollars through self-publishing.