What’s a Book Worth?

When people asked Jay Conrad Levinson how much money he made from his famous book, Guerrilla Marketing, he would typically answer “$10 Million.” He would quickly add that the book itself only generated about $35,000 in royalties. The other $9,965,000, he said, came from “the speaking engagements, spinoff books, newsletters, columns, boot-camps, consulting, and wide-open doors” that the book made possible.

Those numbers are probably fanciful, but the principle is dead-on. The value of your book goes well beyond revenues from book sales. Your return on investment is actually measured in the enhanced reputation, new contacts, increased business, and expanded opportunities the book helps generate.

A book is a tool. Think of it as the opening end of a funnel. It introduces people to your products and services, and prompts them to come to you for more. It provides a vehicle for marketing and promotion. It helps you get interviewed by the media and invited to speak at conferences.

Most of all, it establishes you as the person who “wrote the book” on your subject. You are, in fact, already an authority in your field. But a book helps people recognize you as authoritative. Nothing builds credibility like the words “author of” appearing after your name.

Moreover, a book has a solidity and a staying power that other vehicles don’t. Web sites, blogs, newsletters, and videos are fleeting. A book has a tangible presence and lasting impact. If you can land a deal with a traditional publishing house, that’s great. But the ability to self-publish both print and ebooks ensures that your book will turn out just the way you want it, with design, printing, marketing, and distribution completely under your control.

Let’s talk about what writing a book could mean for you.