Thursday’s author profit tip

One of the callers on Tuesday’s Published & Profitable Amazon Cash Machines webinar (you can view it here) asked: How can I include worksheets in my Kindle ebooks? It’s a great question that relates to the importance of ebook authors creating a profit strategy based on using links in Kindle ebooks to drive qualified traffic to their websites.

As in so many other areas of author profitability, the point of writing and publishing a book isn’t so much to profit from the book as it is to use the book to build lasting and profitable relationships with the readers of your book.

Instead of including worksheets in your Kindle ebook, add links to bonus content, like downloadable worksheets, located on your website!

Ebook buyers are qualified prospects

By buying your ebook, readers are expressing interest in your topic. They’re qualified prospects likely to want to know more you and your products and services. Your future profits depend on driving them to your website where you can build lasting relationships with them, paving the way for future sales and referrals.

Reader relationships begin with “hooks” to your website

The best way to build reader relationships is to include multiple links between your ebook and your website, offering value-added resources that readers can download or view to enhance the value of your ebook. Options include bonus content like:

• Worksheets that readers can download and print.
• Online assessments that readers can use to test their understanding of the ebook topic or better understand their needs.
• Tools like software templates, i.e., Excel spreadsheets, that readers can use to implement your ideas.
• Audios & videos that ebook readers can listen to, or watch.
• Bonus content, like resource lists, that can be easily updated as new information becomes available.

Should registration be required?

It’s up to each author to determine whether or not they want to make bonus content freely available, or only available after e-mail registration and confirmation.

• Advantages. The advantages of requiring e-mail registration prior to accessing bonus content is that it quickly builds your list for follow-up contact via e-mail. This is a great way to find out who is buying your ebook. See David Meerman Scott “Marketing Reciprocity at work” post.
• Disadvantages. The disadvantages of forced registration is that some ebook readers may not want to submit their e-mail address to you. As a result, fewer readers may download your bonus content.

Long term profit perspective

The “big idea,” of course, is that authors should view publishing ebooks on Kindle from the long-term, rather than the short-term, point of view. Instead of viewing each ebook sale as a source of profit, authors should view each ebook sale as a way of driving qualified traffic traffic to their website, as the first step in building long-term profitable relationships with their ebook readers. Are you taking a long-term view of Kindle ebook profits? Or, do you view profits from Kindle ebook sales as an important revenue source in themselves? Share your questions and view as comments, below. Thank you.