As nonfiction topic specialists, we all know that royalties aren’t quite enough, and your expertise and advice is worth a lot more than $5 per customer! So, it may be time to learn about a tool which has a way to add a simple coaching service or digital product to your book.
You used to need to use a shopping cart like WooCommerce plus Woo Payments (setup time!) and connect a processor if you wanted to sell anything virtually (through WordPress). No longer!
A product in this post is one that Jennifer uses herself and endorses to others – if you click on the link and go through the trial to purchase, Jennifer gets a commission.
Now, you can use a main EMS platform to host each product and its payment options. Or still use a sales page in your website to show the visitor what it’s all about, with a link button through to the cart/payment and automated emails.
EMS stands for email marketing system, but it’s a lot more than that with Kit. In addition, if you are accustomed to MS Outlook, comparing Outlook to Kit is like comparing Mars to Earth. Outlook sends emails. Kit offers landing pages, set up of subscriber incentives, list segmentation, unsubscribe link, timed automation, earning from promoting other creators, templated newsletters, thank you templates, and more.
Not too tech-aware? I am starting Business Author Tools services, to help authors set up your marketing platform and it includes this program – along with various templates.
You can even offer a discount for your digital product, persuading people already subscribed to buy it… (although I say value starts with a problem, not a price)
What to Offer (Digital Products)
Now the exciting part. What will you offer to your new readers, that you will mention at the end of your book?
You should also mention it in your blog, email list (if started one) and on social media as a graphic.
Here are 5 types of digital products that you can create and sell to generate income.
- Explanatory E-Books
Rather than the kind on Amazon KDP, you will be offering an eBook that explains a process or method. Your topical ebook would normally retail for $2.99 to $9.99, but as it might have screenshots, explainers, technical tips, and even links to short videos, your Explainer eBook might be set at $14 or $25.
An overseas colleague set his paperback book at $565 and sold 30 – so nothing is really off limits. Think different, as Apple says.
- Online Courses
Creating an online course can be a top-class value-add if you have expertise in a specific area. Use platforms like Teachable or Udemy to host your course. You can include video lectures, quizzes, and downloadable resources.
With the shopping cart/sales page inside your ONE TOOL for EVERYTHING DIGITAL, you can add a testimonial, and even offer payment plans to help them pay! (The commission is usually around 3%)
Why Online Courses?
- High perceived value
- Flexible learning options for students
- Scalability with minimal ongoing effort
- Memberships
You can offer a series of coaching calls with a membership community and regular resource drops, all for a monthly or yearly price.
This would require two other things: a thriving Facebook group and a Zoom subscription. Other than that, the description, emails and shopping cart are all handled right in your ONE TOOL for EVERYTHING DIGITAL.
- Printables
Printables are digital files that customers can download and print themselves. They can include planners, calendars, artwork, or educational worksheets. Using Canva cuts down design time. Selling printables on your website can be a creative way to make money. You could also use Creative Market.
Why Printables?
- No physical inventory
- Easy to create and update
- High profit margins
- Coaching Sessions
If you already give advice on any particular topic to others (unpaid), now is your chance to offer coaching on that topic. You won’t need a university degree, as these days people just want a proven solution to their burning problem. So if you can provide that, at a faster timeline than on their own, then a simple coaching session (with notes) can prove a profitable and enjoyable offering.
Offer a coaching hour in the ONE TOOL – connect it to your own domain name for easy promotion on your socials. Just saying – if you don’t promote your new service, it won’t get sold.
About the Email Marketing System’s Benefits
Kit takes the complexity out of email marketing for creators. With intuitive tools for creating captivating emails, building powerful automations, and managing your audience, Kit lets you focus on what you do best—creating amazing content.
Build your creator business, on your terms. Grow your list, connect with fans over email, automate workflows and drive sales—all on one platform. With powerful features and user-friendly tools, Kit streamlines, supercharges your new business, so you get where you want to go. You also get free video courses on it. So you dont need to know how to do the templates, you just need to create a digital product to help sell your books!
