Another way to earn money from self-publishing and writing

The opportunity given to businesses by the new ways of self-publishing is something companies haven’t grasped at all. The tools that allow you and me to publish our books directly to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore and other bookstores are just as open to the Corporate Self-Publisher, a company with a message.

The tools we use to self-publish our books are just as available to businesses. Writing and self-publishing is a service you're qualified to offer.

Companies have always written books of course, but those were books they sold direct or gave away to customers, clients and leads. It was next to impossible to get those books into the bookshop around the corner, let alone on the shelves of bookshops internationally. Now a book by any business can sit on the shelves next to those by traditionally published authors.

Business books build credibility, showcase professional expertise, and they persude and influence.

A Hilton Guide to Sydney for Business Travellers could, for instance, sit on the shelves of Amazon next to the Lonely Planet’s guide to Sydney. A Deloitte book on management can sit alongside works by Tom Peters, Stephen R. Covey, Daniel Pink, and the Heath brothers.

You know this already of course, so…

Why am I mentioning this to you?

I know that I’m different from many of you in that I write non-fiction and, as a professional writer and ghostwriter for the last 15 years, I’ve done most of my writing for companies.

As I was saying to Dave Cornford, co-author of the Taleist Self-Publishing Survey, when we met last week to discuss the first draft:

If you want to write, business writing is still writing. It’s not the same as writing a novel or short stories, I grant you, but getting paid to do what you love is better than doing anything else.

I recently started a blog about online marketing and social media for business. I talk there about many of the same things I talk about here but, as someone who trains and consults to companies these things, I wanted somewhere I could discuss them beyond their application to self-publishing.

I’ve published there a white paper called The Corporate Self-Publisher. I wanted to mention it to you because I think there’s an opportunity for all writers who want to further their craft, even if this is a direction you hadn’t considered.

Businesses need good writers more than ever. If you can combine your talent for writing with your expertise in self-publishing, you have a wonderful package to offer.

I’d love your thoughts on the white paper and, if you’re interested in more of my thoughts on online marketing and social media, please do sign up for the mailing list over there. As authors in the 21st century, you’re all in the business of online marketing now!

Visit my online marketing and social media blog to download the white paper

 

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