Don't Rely on Amazon! A New Publishing Model All Authors Will Need
TLDRThe speaker warns authors against relying solely on Amazon for publishing due to its decreasing royalties and unpredictable policies. Instead, they advocate for a self-reliant business model similar to traditional small businesses. The author introduces the 'Linchpin Plan' by Russell Brunson, which involves driving organic and paid traffic to an opt-in offer, followed by an upsell and email marketing strategy. The goal is to build a sustainable publishing business with a library of diverse content, including collaborations with other authors, and to implement a subscription model for steady revenue.
Takeaways
- 🚫 **Avoiding Overreliance on Amazon**: The author advises against solely relying on Amazon for publishing due to decreasing royalties and the risk of account bans.
- 📈 **Diversifying Income Streams**: Emphasizes the importance of not being dependent on a single business entity for success, similar to how traditional small businesses operate.
- 🤝 **Self-Publishing with More Control**: Highlights the shift from traditional publishers to platforms like Amazon, where authors have more control but are still reliant on Amazon's policies.
- 💡 **Implementing the Lynchpin Plan**: Introduces a business model by Russell Brunson that has been used by successful businesses and will be applied to the author's publishing business.
- 🎵 **Utilizing Organic and Paid Traffic**: Discusses the use of both organic traffic, like YouTube, and paid advertising to drive potential readers to the author's content.
- 📧 **Building an Email List**: Details the strategy of offering free content to incentivize people to sign up for an email list, which is crucial for future marketing and sales.
- 💌 **Email Marketing Sequence**: Outlines the use of an email welcome sequence to sell future products and maintain engagement with subscribers.
- 📚 **Upsell Strategy**: Describes an upsell strategy where subscribers are offered an entire book series or related products after signing up for the email list.
- 📈 **Expanding Content Library**: The author's goal is to expand their content library by writing more books, collaborating with others, and creating a shared universe similar to Marvel or DC Comics.
- 🎁 **Offering a High-Value Bundle**: Proposes creating a high-value bundle of products to sell at a price that covers the cost of customer acquisition through ads.
- ✅ **Focusing on Sustainable Business**: Stresses the need to build a truly sustainable business model that can withstand changes in the market or policies of platforms like Amazon.
Q & A
Why is it not advisable to rely solely on Amazon for publishing?
-Relying solely on Amazon for publishing is not advisable due to the reduction in royalties, the risk of getting banned, and the dependence on Amazon's business model and algorithm changes, which could undermine an author's hard work.
What is the main issue with the current publishing model where authors are dependent on Amazon?
-The main issue is that authors become overly reliant on Amazon's business, paying a significant percentage of royalties and risking business shutdown or algorithm changes that could negatively impact their income.
What alternative business model is suggested for authors in the video?
-The video suggests the 'Linchpin Plan' by Russell Brunson as an alternative business model, which is a proven method used by successful small businesses and involves a focus on organic and paid traffic, email marketing, and upsells.
What is the concept of treating your author career as a business?
-Treating your author career as a business involves shifting your mindset from being just an author to being a publisher, taking control of marketing and sales, and making strategic decisions to grow and sustain your business.
Can you explain the 'optin' or 'reader magnet' strategy mentioned in the video?
-The 'optin' or 'reader magnet' strategy involves offering something of value for free, such as a book, in exchange for people signing up for an email list, which helps in building a direct relationship with potential readers.
What is the purpose of the email welcome sequence in the business model?
-The email welcome sequence is designed to introduce new subscribers to the author's story, sell future products, and provide additional content like newsletters, updates, and book recommendations.
What is an 'upsell' in the context of the business model presented in the video?
-An 'upsell' is a marketing strategy where after a customer has made an initial purchase, they are offered a more expensive or bundled product, such as a complete book series or a package including ebooks and audiobooks.
Why is it important for authors to expand their library of content?
-Expanding a library of content is important because it increases the value proposition for readers, offers more opportunities for upsells, and contributes to the sustainability of the author's business by providing a diverse range of offerings.
What is the 'MITHY' and how does it fit into the business model?
-The 'MITHY' stands for 'Most Incredible Free Gift Ever' and is a strategy to offer a significant amount of free content, like multiple books, to entice people to sign up for a subscription plan, which provides a steady revenue stream.
How does the author plan to create a shared universe for their content?
-The author plans to create a shared universe by establishing intellectual properties and getting other authors to work within this universe, creating a cohesive world with multiple authors contributing to a larger narrative.
What are the benefits of having a subscription-based 'continuity' in the business model?
-A subscription-based 'continuity' provides a stable and recurring revenue stream, ensures continued engagement with subscribers, and offers a platform for the author to offer exclusive content and experiences to their most dedicated readers.
Outlines
📚 Transition from Author to Publisher
The speaker discusses the risks of relying solely on Amazon's KDP for publishing due to decreasing royalties and the potential for account bans. They emphasize the importance of treating one's author career as a business and transitioning from being an author to a publisher, with more control over marketing and royalties. The speaker plans to implement the 'Linchpin Plan' by Russell Brunson, a business model used by successful small businesses, to create a sustainable publishing business. The initial focus is on driving traffic to an opt-in offer, where visitors can sign up for an email list in exchange for a free book, aiming to test which book performs best in attracting subscribers.
🎯 Building a Sustainable Publishing Business Model
The speaker outlines their strategy for a sustainable publishing business, starting with paid ads to drive traffic and later shifting to organic traffic. They plan to upsell visitors who sign up for the email list with a bundle offer of an entire book series, including potential add-ons like audiobooks, concept art, and exclusive content. The goal is to cover ad costs with the upsell and then leverage organic traffic for additional sales. The speaker also discusses their intention to expand their content library by writing with AI, co-authors, and ghostwriters, envisioning a shared universe similar to DC Comics or Marvel Comics, where they own the intellectual property and can increase the value of their upsell offers.
🚀 Expanding Content Library and Introducing Subscription Models
The speaker continues to detail their business model by introducing the concept of a 'MITHY' (Most Incredible Free Gift Ever) as a way to grow their subscription base. They plan to offer several free books to entice subscriptions and create a 'level one continuity' subscription plan that includes a monthly newsletter, access to concept art, and other exclusive content. A higher-priced 'level two continuity' is also planned, offering more direct access to the speaker, including weekly calls and input on book development. The speaker emphasizes the importance of subscription models for stable business revenue and plans to use their email list to nurture subscribers and introduce them to these offers. They conclude by stating their intention to build a substantial content library over the next five years, working towards a 30-year goal of creating a business akin to Walt Disney's.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Amazon
💡Royalties
💡KDP Select
💡Self-publishing
💡Lynchpin Plan
💡Organic Traffic
💡Paid Ads
💡Email List
💡Upsell
💡Subscription Plan
💡Continuity
Highlights
Don't publish exclusively on Amazon due to decreasing royalties and the risk of account bans.
Relying solely on Amazon for your publishing business is akin to a bad Shark Tank pitch.
Transition from traditional publishers to a self-publishing model with more control and higher royalties.
The publishing industry is unique in its dependency on other businesses for market success.
Become self-reliant and establish a sustainable business model.
Implement the 'Linchpin Plan' by Russell Brunson for a proven business model.
Use a combination of organic and paid traffic to drive business.
Incentivize sign-ups for your email list with a free book offer.
Develop an email welcome sequence designed to sell future products.
Upsell the entire book series to cover ad costs and encourage organic traffic.
Expand your library of content through writing, co-authoring, and ghostwriting.
Create a shared universe of intellectual properties with multiple authors.
Introduce a 'Mithy' (Most Incredible Free Gift Ever) for a large library of free content.
Establish a level one continuity with a subscription plan for regular content.
Develop a higher-priced level two continuity for direct access and involvement.
Use email lists to nurture leads and introduce them to upsells and continuity plans.
Subscription programs provide a stable form of business revenue.
The plan is to build up content assets to make the business model work.
This model is part of a 30-year vision to become the next Walt Disney.