I’m a big believer in the idea that writing e-books can provide a nice passive income stream for your consulting business. But did you also know that writing an e-book can also help you increase your consulting rates?
It’s true, and I’ve seen it firsthand in my own businesses. Writing and marketing an e-book will allow you to charge more for your consulting services while also bringing in extra revenue. Here’s why:
#1 – It Positions You as an Authority
Writing an e-book about a topic in your industry helps to position you as a true authority in your niche. The more that potential clients come to see you as an authority on your topic, the more you can increase your consulting rates.
As a consultant, your goal is to be seen as THE expert on a particular topic. For example, if you work as a social media consultant and potential clients see you as THE expert on selling on Facebook (or even THE expert on selling cars on Facebook) then your consulting rates will go through the roof. When I was a political consultant focused on campaign fundraising in one particular state, I wanted candidates in that state to say, “Get me Joe Garecht. We need him.” That’s how I knew I was THE expert in their minds.
One great way to show that you are THE expert (and to be able to increase your consulting rates as a result) is to publish an e-book on topics in your industry. You already know the material… you’re working with clients to get results every day. Now, turn that knowledge into an e-book you can sell online.
#2 – It Offers Social Proof
Another way that writing an e-book will help you boost your consulting rates is by offering social proof about your work. If you are marketing your e-books the right way, you’ll soon get testimonials and reviews of your e-book on marketplaces like Amazon. Even one or two five-star reviews of your e-book will go a long way towards helping potential clients be willing to pay more to work with you.
#3 – It Allows Potential Clients to Test-Drive Your Work
Finally, writing an e-book is a simple way to allow potential clients to test-drive your work, and in turn will help convince them you are worth the higher consulting rates you are charging.
Some consultants worry that writing an e-book will mean that some people who would have hired them will no longer do so, and instead will just use the e-book to accomplish the outcomes they desire. I have found that, for the most part, this isn’t true for two primary reasons.
First, because your e-book won’t be a 250,000 word tome that describes how to do every single thing you do as a consultant… instead it will be a 40,000 word guide on how to do one particular thing that you currently do for clients. Second, because people want things done for them… they want immediate results, and the best way to get those results is often to hire someone to do the work for them.
When people read your e-book, they’ll see that you know what you are talking about. They’ll implement some of the strategies you lay out. The strategies will work, and so they will be much more likely to hire you – and pay higher consulting rates – to implement even more strategies for them. I’ve seen it over and over again in my own consulting businesses. Plus, you’ll be earning extra income from the sales of your e-books!
Writing an E-Book Doesn’t Need to Be Hard
Becoming an e-book author can sound daunting, but it’s really not. As a consultant or freelancer, you already know everything you need to write your first e-book in under 30 days. For a step-by-step-guide on writing your e-book with a minimum amount of hassle, check out our guide How to Write a Bestselling E-Book.
Marketing Your E-Books to Drive Up Your Consulting Rates
Remember that if you really want to use your e-book to help you increase your consulting rates, you’ll need to spend some time marketing the e-book.
First, you’ll need to market the book on your own website. This will not only help you make more money by selling more e-books, but it will also ensure that your clients and potential clients know that you are an author and see that you have written one or more authoritative e-books in your industry.
Second, you’ll need to market the book on Amazon and other e-book marketplaces. Again, this will help you sell more e-books, and it will also help you garner reviews on those websites. As we said above, having a few five-star reviews for your e-book on Amazon will help position you as an authority that can command higher consulting rates. Plus, everyone who finds and buys your e-book on Amazon is another potential client for your business.
Turning E-Book Buyers into Clients
Remember to be proactive in turning your e-book buyers into clients for your consulting business. One of the best ways to do this is by talking about your consulting work and the great results your clients are getting several times throughout your book. Also be sure to include contact information in your e-book… let people know how they can get in touch with you to work with you and get the same phenomenal results your clients are getting.
Writing one or more e-books is a great way to increase your exposure to potential clients, make more money through a new revenue stream, and increase your authority allowing you to charge higher consulting rates for your work. Why not get started writing a new e-book today?
Photo Credit: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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