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Use Small Books to Do Big Things
Use Small Books for Big Results
Many people never start their book because they fear they don’t have enough material. I say start small, just start. You can always build it bigger, but in the meantime you could be losing sales.
Let me give you an example.
One of my best selling books, “Photoshop Recipe Cards” is a mere 64 pages long. Yet this book has sold in over a dozen countries worldwide, has buyers in nearly all 50 states, and has given me untold credibility in the photography/Photoshop arena.
What this means is that I have made money from the book sales and have made money from those who sought me out for private consulting/instruction after reading the book. Thousands and thousands of dollars made and it continues to provide revenue to this date, all from the work I did once.
If I had waited to build it bigger (like the “Big Boys”) I may have never started or finished the book and would have lost untold dollars. Moreover, I would have deprived those who only wanted the short, to-the-point version.
Here’s why I think this book has been successful and why I believe you can follow this same “recipe” to create your own success story…
There are dozens and dozens of books on Photoshop from authors far more knowledgeable than I. But their books tend to be long and detailed while mine is short. I think many people are busy and just want to get the knowledge without the fluff and filler. That’s why I created the book in the step-by-step recipe format.
Do this, do that, you’re done. Great photos.
Often, big is intimidating.
Ever get one of those offers from the big internet marketing “Gurus”? The one with twelve, 1 hour CD’s, plus 7 manuals, and 15 bonus items?
Whoa Nellie! Too much information!!!
When you see this you have to think, “Do I really have time for this?”
In the early days of publishing the physical weight of the book had a large impact on the pricing, the value a reader would associate with that book. The larger the book, the more they would expect to pay. Not so today.
Today, value is more closely tied to content. How will your book help me do what I want to do? And if it will help me get to the results faster (ie. a shorter read) then I would be willing to pay more.
I use this example in my talks:
Two authors write a book on how to get rich mining gold.
The first author, very knowledgeable in this field writes a comprehensive book including every element of the mining industry, He writes about equipment, historical techniques, geological surveys, the structure of rock and every pitfall imaginable. His hardcover book is over 700 pages long and sits on the shelf at the bookstore, listed at $29.95.
The second author is a bit of a maverick. His “book” is just three pages long including the front and back covers. On the lone interior page is a map with a big red X. The caption under the map says this, “To get rich mining gold, dig here, gold strike guaranteed!” He sells his “book” from a website sales letter and charges $99.
If put side by side which book do you think readers would prefer?
You’re right!
Whatever you answered you’re right. There will be readers who want both books, for different reasons. Some want a thorough knowledge. Some want just enough knowledge to get to work.
When in doubt, start small. But start.
Write the small book first. Sell it.
You can always add more chapters/information later for version 2.
Plus, here are two great reasons to start small rather than wait…
1. Less work. If you write a small book and no one buys it, think of how much time and effort you will have saved. If they do buy, you know folks are interested in your topic and you will have a much easier time selling your next expanded edition. (People want to buy more of what they already buy.)
2. You can be making money on the short version while you create the longer version. But if you wait to sell until the longer is completed, you lose all the advantages of #1 plus you risk wasting a lot of time writing a long book about a topic no one is buying.
The key factor in your success will be quality content.
Tide figured this out a while ago with their laundry soap. Condense it. Why not take as much water out as possible and ship the same high quality soap without the added “water”.
Right?
You know enough to write a book about something right now.
Why not test the waters and see if you can start some lifetime book royalty income flowing into your bank account from work you do just once?
Anyone can write, publish and sell their own book now.
If you have the information, but need someone to create the actual book, hire a ghost writer to assemble your knowledge into a book. Or have someone interview you and create a transcript of that. That’s your book.
No more excuses. Small is just fine.
Often , the BIG MONEY is not made from the book, but from the consulting and others offers which come your way because you have become a “celebrity” of sorts. an authority on your topic, by the simple publishing of your thoughts.
Author = Authority. Perception is reality.
Let me know if I can help you.
P.S. If you’re writing fiction (not my specialty) you’ll be happy to know that a series of books often sells better than one book. In other words, several short books centered on one theme and cast of characters sells better than one long book. How can you create a series?
Same with How-To books. Same with recipe books, think one book for appetizers, one book for main course, one book for dessert rather than lumping them all into one recipe book.
Sign Here for Fame and Fortune
Signing Ups the Value
New authors quickly learn that doing one simple thing can increase the value of their book ten fold, maybe more. At the very least it creates a friend for life.
It was one of the first books I had ever ordered online. I was scared because it was a used book. But the cost was so much cheaper than a new book, I just couldn’t resist.
That book I ordered was “Marketing With Newsletters” and I’ll never forget how delighted I was when it arrived.
From the outside I could see that it was well cared for, not all scuffed and tattered.
However, upon opening the front cover I saw that someone had written in this book. At first I was highly annoyed. But closer inspection revealed it was the author herself that had written in the book. This was a SIGNED copy of the authors book.
Zoom! The value immediately went up, in my mind if nowhere else.
Now this book was VERY special to me. It was a signed copy of the author’s work. Held directly in her hands at one time and presented with pride and distinction to the book’s first owner.
Think about it. How much value would the Declaration of Independence have if it were never signed? Plus, we’d never know where to put our “John Hancock”, a term synonymous with signing our name due to it’s fame.
Elvis Presley signatures are rare. In fact, a simple letter he wrote and signed while in the service fetched $35,000 at auction. Imagine, a piece of notebook paper worth less than a penny could be sold for more than 3.5 million times its value because it was signed by the author.
Now you may never be as famous as John Hancock or Elvis Presley, but I know you could be as famous as Elaine Floyd, the author of Marketing With Newsletters.
And while your autograph may never fetch you $1000’s at auction, it can endear the recipient of your book with a priceless bond or friendship to you in the future.
Do not underestimate the increase in value your book receives when you sign it.
Instantly it becomes special, “one-of-a-kind”. Signing the book costs you but a moment of your time yet creates a huge impression in the mind of the recipient.
In fact, it creates a debt. Subconsciously, when you do something special for someone, no matter how small the act, the tendency is for the recipient to feel a need to even the score. They feel obliged to do something for you in return. Often, the value of the return favor can be completely out of proportion to the value of the gift received.
You give me a signed book, (adding the signature cost you nothing, even if I had just paid cash for your book) and in return I decide to hire you on as my consultant – a job worth over $1000 per month.
It happens.
Or maybe the recipient just introduces you to the one person you need to skyrocket your career?
Why do you think book signings are so popular?
Imagine if you held one of the first Harry Potter books signed by J.K. Rowling?
At the time it may have been fairly worthless. Who knew then she would be such a hit?
And so it is with you. You may be great one day. Maybe you are today?
Many new authors underestimate the power and value created by a simple signature included in the front of their book. If you can personalize it by adding the recipients name and a relevant, legible comment about them, so much the better.
I was reminded of this great, simple, value-adding tip by my friend Greg Liberto this week. Greg presented me a signed copy of his new golf book, “18 Holes: How to Stop the A.N.T.’s From Stealing Your Game”
You can bet this book will have a special place on my bookshelf. Not just because I had helped him finally create it from thoughts in his head to book form, but moreover, it will serve as a constant reminded of who I should call if I ever decide to improve my atrocious golf game.
Would you like to secure a special place in the mind of your prospect or reader?
Sign the book.
It costs you nothing but a moment of time, yet creates a lifetime of value.
How’s that for a phenomenal return on investment?
