There is a boom occurring lately, especially in
online world. More and more business people are authoring their own print book and e-books. These materials can run gamut from information books to personal life stories, as well as coaching materials, and life skills training manuals.With so many doing this, it would seem apparent that this is a great way to escalate a business to next level. After all, if a person can set themselves up as an expert by publishing materials on certain subjects, others will obviously buy more, and revenue will skyrocket, right? This is not necessarily so.
While it is an advantage in some instances, it can be a disadvantage in other instances. There are parameters that need to be followed for successful publication, and there are certain requirements that must be met for successful publication.
The advantages of authoring and publishing are as follows:
1. An individual can set themselves up as an expert in a specific field of interest, thus enhancing sales and trust with clients and customers. If a publication is effective enough, and marketing done well enough, massive exposure will occur, and an individual can fast become a "semi-celebrity" in their chosen field.
2. A print book or e-book can drive intense amounts of traffic to a Web site, if a URL is included in publication. Publications are a well-known Search Engine traffic tool.
3. The revenue from a successful publication can itself be lucrative.
4. Backend sales can be made effortlessly, by including "mention" of other products/services within published materials.
5. Public relations are increased, with some authors and publishers enjoying extensive notoriety. When this occurs, oftentimes individuals will buy "any" and "all" subsequent follow up products that are produced by author and publisher.
6. Lucrative joint ventures can be established with solid publications. Many large sized print publishers and online publishers will give massive exposure to authors that produce a well-written, wide selling publication.
The disadvantages, however, do exist, and these are as follows:
1. Producing a quality publication is time consuming, at best. Materials need to be researched, written, and re-edited many, many times before publication can be released.
2. Producing a quality publication can be costly as well. Although field of self publishing has increased exponentially (the amount of software and services available now for self publishers is astounding), there are significant costs related to authoring and publishing of materials, i.e., publication software and services, marketing costs, research costs, editorial and layout costs, etc.
3. If publication is not well written and researched, and doesn't effectively reach it's target market, author and publisher may very well create "negative publicity" which will hurt business, not enhance it.
