Listen Up Podcasters-Here's How Ebooks Can Get You Paid

And Grow Your Podcast Brand

In Today’s Newsletter:

• Workshop Announcement: How to Build a Newsletter that Pays

• How to Get Started Writing Ebooks

How to Build a Newsletter that Pays

One of the best decisions that I’ve ever made in my online business I’ve made twice.

• Grew my romance email list to 3,000+ readers

• Started Podcasters Getting Paid

Both have made me money and have been relatively simple for me to do once I understood the strategies that create a good newsletter or email list.

Based on feedback I’m developing a workshop called “How to Build a Newsletter that Pays”

There are two options to choose from

• Self-study workshop-Download and watch the workshop available after Monday, August 14, 2023. Cost: $37 (Sale price)

• In-person workshop-I will run this workshop in person and answer any questions that you may have about building your own newsletter. (TBA)

How to Build a Newsletter that Pays

This Workshop will cover the following content:

• Why EVERYONE needs to be building a list

• Naming your newsletter.

• Designing your newsletter-What is the point of it and how does it help your subscribers?

• How to monetize your free tier.

• How to write impactful and engaging newsletters.

• How to leverage your podcasting content

  • Your podcast

  • Guest appearances

• How to leverage in person events to grow your list

• How to partner with brands

Time to Write That Book

One of the key components to this newsletter is sharing all of the ways outside of getting ads that you can make money with your podcasting project.

Today we’re talking about writing books. In particular, writing and publishing ebooks. I love ebooks as a writer even though I love actual physical books.

I love reading.

In fact, one of the ways that my mom taught me how to read was to have me “read” The Wall Street Journal when I was 3 years old. I feel like that story explains a lot. I love reading fiction and non-fiction. In fact, I read a little bit every single day.

So, when I started thinking about writing a book it wasn’t a shock to anyone. What was a shock to me was the fact that I’d been writing books since I was a kid. In fact, on a recent family visit my Uncle asked if I was still writing books.

Luckily for you, you don’t have to have the same type of story that I do. There are so many ways to make money online as a podcaster and exploring your interest in writing a book is a great way to do that.

If you’ve been thinking about writing a book to compliment your work, to build your expertise, as a personal challenge or just because….

Then Write the Book!

You don’t have to write a book adjacent to the content that you’re working on either. Just write the book that is calling to you and that you’re excited about. Now is the perfect time to do it for a few very important reasons:

• The barrier to entry for publishing a book is basically non-existent. You can self-publish your work.

• The tools that you need are easily available to you:

  • Pen and paper

  • Cell phone and a dictation app

  • Chromebook (may need to change the file when you upload it to a platform)

  • PC

  • MAC

• A community of other writers to commiserate with such as 20BooksTo50K on Facebook (I’m a member)

My Book Revenue is One of My Most Consistent Streams of Revenue

I’ve written both non-fiction and fiction books. One of the most consistent revenue streams in my business have been my ebooks. In particular, my romance ebooks that I write for fun. In fact, I will begin working on a book tomorrow because I have a great story that I’ve fleshed out during the past month.

How to Get Started

There are different schools of thought around what writing a book should look like. I used to run a course called “Make Money with Ebooks” (currently on extended hiatus) and in working with my students I’ve observed the following:

• The “Rules” typically keep most people from starting their books. Ignore the rules.

• Doubts also keep people from writing their books. Thoughts such as:

  • Who would read my book? (No one-you haven’t even written the book yet)

  • Who am I to assert my authority in this space?

    • If you’re in a marginalized community and have been creating/working or showing up in your space for a long time and no one has shouted you out-IT’S TIME TO ASSERT YOUR AUTHORITY AND EXPERTISE.

• There are different types of writers:

  • Plotters-This type of writer will sit down and just plot out the entire book. Once they’ve plotted it out-they get started writing.

  • Pantsers-This person has a book idea moving around in their head and they just sit down and start working on the book.

  • A mix of both (This is me) This person plots out their book but will also go off script as they work on their project.

• How much time does it take to write a book? There are a number of different factors that influence how long it will take you to write a book.

  • Have you set aside dedicated time to work on your book?

  • How busy is your life?

  • Are you a perfectionist? Perfect gets in the way of getting things done. There are editors for a reason.

  • How willing are you to wake up early or stay up late after everyone in your home (if there are other folks in it) settles down? That quiet time will help you get your book done.

• Self-published vs. Traditional Publishing Confuses People. Here’s what to consider:

  • Would you like to publish sooner rather than later? Then you should self-publish.

  • Will people judge you for self-publishing? Most people don’t know the difference if the book is good and they don’t care.

  • Will Self-Publishing keep you from traditional publishing opportunities? NO. In fact, self-publishing somewhat successfully will likely attract traditional publishing opportunities because those publishing houses have proof that you will actually sit down and write the book. Market the book and get some sales.

Your Future Book Doesn’t Have to Be Related to Your Podcast

I know that this newsletter is directed towards podcasters and other online creatives. There is the temptation to feel like everything that you’re working on has to be connected to the work that you’re doing on your show.

It Doesn’t Have to Be.

If you’re being called to write a book and it has absolutely NOTHING to do with your current project.

Do it.

I do not regret writing romance books. I used my writing skillset and love of romances and just sat down and wrote my first book in 27 hours. That first book made $514 dollars the first month that I published it and I’ve made varying amounts ranging from $30(ish)-$2,000 a month with my ebooks. That are a fun side-project.

The skills that I’ve built up with that first book I also have used to publish non-fiction books about Colorado and holding in-person events (COVID killed those projects LOL) Remember, once a book is published you can market them over and over again.

If You Haven’t Written Your Book and You’re Worried About

• Who would want to read my story? When I hear this question, I often think that the person is asking something different. “Do I need a million people to READ my story?” I often talk about doing the numbers. When I first started writing my own books that $500 a month made a difference and it didn’t take a ton of readers to hit that number. It’s very likely that there are people out there who will resonate with your work BUT you haven’t written it yet…so, you’ll never find out until you write the book.

• Where to Publish Your Book-The book hasn’t been written yet. Write the book. Once you’re done you can decide where you publish.

  • Publish on your personal platform

  • Bookshop.org

  • Amazon

• Grammar-The book hasn’t been written yet. There’s editing software and humans to help you with that.

• Marketing-Your book hasn’t been written yet. You’re just procrastinating over something that won’t become an issue until you actually finish your book.

• Pricing of your book-That doesn’t matter because you still haven’t written your book. Stop procrastinating and overthinking things.

• An audience for your book-If there are similar books to yours out there in the world-there’s an audience for your book. I wrote a ROMANCE BOOK. There are billions of romance books. People still bought the book.

• Social Media-You don’t need social media for a book that hasn’t been written yet.

• You have to publish a physical copy of your book, audio book, etc.

  • Nope. You don’t have to do anything that you don’t have the capacity for. I’ve never published an audiobook. I likely WON’T publish an audio book for my fiction, but I will likely publish an audiobook for a future non-fiction book. We’ll see what my capacity is. Respect your capacity. Remember-once a book is done you can do whatever you would like to it.

Sharing some tough love. A little harsh, but true.

Podcast Movement Denver

The conference is less than a month away! I’m looking forward to seeing people in person. Who’s attending? Starting August 1, 2023 I will be sharing helpful tips on what to expect, how to prepare and how to have a successful Podcast Movement event.

Hey Denver

I’m hosting a meetup in Washington Park date TBA. Keep an eye out for this. Will announce soon!

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