Income From Writing Can Work for Small Business Owners
It used to be that very few small business owners could claim to be a published author, much less claim an income from writing. But being able to say you are a published author is one key way to being viewed as an expert in your community. In the past the barrier to entry for authorship was high and difficult, whether as a book author or as a writer for a magazine. I remember spending hours creating query letters to magazine editors, hoping that my query would be noticed and I’d actually get hired to write an article about business building or marketing. And even if I was successful (and eventually I was) the pay for full length magazine articles was very low. Being a published and paid author might have gotten me social proof that I was expert in my field, but it wasn’t much of an income stream.
Now, though, everything has changed. There is virtually no barrier to entry in becoming a published author other than your own procrastination about sitting down and creating the content that you can publish. Publishing in a digital world is very different. You still need to have a message that is useful, and you still need to be organized in how you develop and write your content. But you no longer have to go sell someone on publishing your content for you. You can be your own publisher now. And not only can you position yourself as an expert, you can create an income stream that is steady and worth your time to do.
How do you know what will sell? Here are my top four tips for creating content people will buy.
- Are people searching for this topic online?
- Is the topic interesting?
- Is it useful, solving a problem for your target market?
- If it isn’t a problem solver, does it make life better?
People will buy what helps them. If you can write (or script for a video) content that is solution-based, useful, something people are looking for, and is packaged in a compelling way you can be a successful digital publisher.
Jennifer Bourn says
February 16, 2013 at 12:11 pmSo many service providers could benefit greatly from a more diversified income base — and digital publishing is a great way to do that, providing you can create content that people need and like! This event sounds like a great learning opportunity! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Kiyla Fenell says
February 12, 2013 at 1:07 pmSue,
I think it’s wise for every biz owner to establish multiple streams of income. Having money flow in from different sources prevents a cash crunch in the event one of your streams goes down, becomes irrelevant or plateaus. Great resource for everyone. Thanks!
Kiyla Fenell
Donna Gunter says
February 12, 2013 at 11:29 amSounds like a great event, Sue! And your checklist is a great place to start the writing journey..:)
Mitch Tublin says
February 10, 2013 at 9:24 pmSue,
Great to see you are hanging out with the right people! Wow!
Writing is like anything else we want to become great at, we need to practice.
Mitch Tublin says
February 10, 2013 at 9:22 pmSue,
Writing is like anything else we want to become good at, you need to keep working on it.
Great to see you are hanging out with the right people!
GetOrganizedWithCarmen says
February 10, 2013 at 4:07 pmAs you say, there are virtually no barriers to digital publishing success, other than the ones you create for yourself like procrastination. Congrats on being part of such an amazing event that will surely help so many. 🙂
Sue Painter says
February 10, 2013 at 4:41 pmThanks, Carmen!
Sheila Wagner, PT, CN says
February 10, 2013 at 2:39 pmHow appropriate you are in the is line up Sue, you have the know how and experience behind you and your tips are great!
Tommi Wolfe says
February 9, 2013 at 8:23 pmSue
How nice to see you in the same line-up as Guy Kawasaki! Wow!
Thanks for bringing this relevant topic to our community. SO many people think it is really easy to get published (and it kinda is), but your point about “Will it sell?” is what most just miss.
Looks like a great event! I will share this on my Facebook page.
Sue Painter says
February 9, 2013 at 9:57 pmThanks, Tommi, for sharing.
Sue
Doreen Rainey says
February 9, 2013 at 2:38 pmThe list of understanding what people will buy is so important. Content should fill a need or solve a problem and asking those questions ensures that you’re on the right track. The program sounds powerful!
Sue Painter says
February 10, 2013 at 4:42 pmThanks, Doreen. You’re one I think of as having a lot of wisdom to share.
Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutrtionist says
February 9, 2013 at 2:11 pmSue
This looks like an awesome event with a great line-up of speakers – including you! well done for being part of this and thanks for sharing your 4 simple tips
I can’t make this event as my focus is elsewhere at the moment but I’d love to hear how it went and perhaps have you do a blog post with some highlights
Thanks!
Trudy
Lisa Manyon says
February 9, 2013 at 12:33 amSue,
I remember the days of query letters, too. 🙂 Great check-list to help people create content.
Write on!~
Lisa Manyon
Mary Ellen Miller says
February 8, 2013 at 11:53 amSue, I agree with Heidi that your four tips are very useful. Secondly, this looks like a great seminar. I met Guy at IMS Boston a couple years ago and found him enchanting. ISince I am very interested in publishing I will definitely sign up Sue!
Heidi Alexandra says
February 8, 2013 at 12:36 amLove the four tips Sue – simple to use as a guide in future – thanks!
Katherine C. H. E. says
February 7, 2013 at 1:52 pmPhew!! Publishing sure has changed in our lifetime, hasn’t it!! Easier to GET published, but “published author” arena is thus more crowded. Still same issues: give people something that interests them and then market the heck out of it!!
Love,
Katherine
(published author!!!) 😉
Be True Rich
Bill Painter says
February 6, 2013 at 5:42 pmGood checklist for what to write about. It goes without saying that not only the topic but how you write needs to be interesting. Your writing always is interesting.
Sue Painter says
February 6, 2013 at 5:58 pmThanks, Bill. 😉
Tiffany deSilva says
February 4, 2013 at 8:04 pmSounds like you’re part of an awesome event, Sue! I love your four tips. They are a handy checklist for making sure your content is on point. Definitely don’t want to waste time writing something no one wants to read or buy.
Sue Painter says
February 4, 2013 at 9:14 pmThanks, Tiffany!