Thursday’s profit tips for authors

One of the best ways for authors to profit from book sales is to write books that help readers save time. Time is one of today’s scarcest commodities.

Authors looking for a new way to profit from today’s universal lack of time should visit the Butler Bowdon web site, shown at left.

Butler Bowden helps readers save time by providing commentaries on the important ideas contained in the 50 most important books in various self-help categories, i.e.:

• 50 Self-Help Classics
• 50 Success Books
• 50 Spiritual Classics
• 50 Psychology Classics
• 50 Prosperity Classics

Advantages of the commentary approach

This is a win-win approach for authors and readers alike!

Instead of “reinventing the wheel” by  researching and writing from scratch, their books provide an instant immersion into the literature of the personal development field, especially important for newcomers to the field, as well as others  who want to refresh their knowledge.

Would this approach work for you?

A visit to the Butler Bowdon web site is likely to spark the question, Would the approach of surveying and commenting on the major books in your field approach work for you, too?

It’s an interesting topic from several points of view. Readers of personal development books are unlikely to be unique in their desire to save time. Whatever your field is, there are likely to be time-starved readers who would welcome an opportunity to save time while learning more about their field.

Lessons from the site

A visit to the site teaches several important lessons:

• Home page. The first screen visible upon arrival at the site, shown above, combines impact with detail. Divided roughly into horizontal thirds, the home page photograph attracts your attention, the text in the “price tag” graphic offers a benefit, the USAToday quote provides credibility, and the 5 book covers invite further exploration.
• Positioning. Notice the careful use of the word “commentaries.” There’s a big difference between a commentary–which implies careful study and analysis–compared to the “Cliff’s Notes” image communicated by words like “summaries” or “reviews.” Commentary implies that the author brings knowledge to the field and offers an experienced perspective.
• Try before you buy. Click any of the book covers, and you get taken to a list of the 50 books associated with the category. You not only can check out the authors and titles, but, whenever you see a link, you can review the book’s commentary. The sample commentaries are long enough to substantiate the thought that went into them. 

Must every book be a new book?

I’m fascinated by Butler Bowdon’s Top 50 approach. It reminds me of the approach taken in the 100 Great Business Books of All Time, and a few others. There’s probably a similar need for books (or e-books) in just about every field–like yours! What do you think? Would it be easier or harder to write a series of Commentaries than a “new” book? Share your comments, below.