Don’t Write That Next Book Yet - 10 Questions to Ask Yourself

Many authors start writing their second and third book, ink barely dry on their first one. Coming from a veteran book coach, understand this decision works against your best interests.

Why? Because you need to learn the proven online book promotion techniques and apply them to your original book first. Just because your first book isn’t selling well doesn’t mean you should write another one. If you didn’t give your first book the attention it needed to be a success, your new book will not sell well either.

Before you Write Another Book, Ask Yourself These Questions

1. Will it be cost effective and a good use of my time?

Think of the time spent writing and editing your first book. These activities make you no money. Your book will only earn for you when you promote it.

2. Did I follow through with successful marketing for my first book?

After spending months getting your first book done, you feel worn out and whipped, but you need to push yourself further. You need to market your new book and get known before you write another. You need to know your first book’s audience, connect with them, and listen to their feedback.

Once your first book succeeds, then start the second book that addresses your audience’s other concerns.

Your book coach says a good ratio is write 50% of the time and market 50% of the time. If you spent 5-15 hours a week writing your book, then you need to spend at least that much promoting it.

Writing a book doesn’t bring you an audience or money. If your audience doesn’t know about your book, they can’t read or buy it, can they? Invest your time and resources marketing and your costs come back to you 10-fold.

3. Will my next book make me more money, make me more well-known?

Probably not. The #1 branding product is either a single print or ebook. It’s worth the money to make your first book more profitable and done right. A book not written with sales in mind does not sell well. It turns out to be a big waste of time and money for the author. Make sure you already wrote the best and most successful book to brand you before you start on a second.

4. Why do I feel I need to write another book now?

Think of your reasons. Is it inner passion to investigate a new topic or because you really don’t want to think about promoting the first book?

5. Will this new book sustain my business message for my target market?

Does it add anything to your message your first book did not address? Did you even clearly convey the message in your original book?

6. Will this new book directly connect to the last one so that my book is treated as a business to position my company well?

Maybe your niche is romance fiction. Then make sure you next book fits that category. For myself, my niche is book coaching. Every book, teleseminar, and social media marketing activity I engage in are connected to business people who want to brand their business with a book. That includes how to write a desirable book the first time. That includes how to promote online. That includes how to set up a website that sells, even before hiring a
web designer.

7. If I write and publish a new book, will my audience still want my first book?

Think about your business. You already have a viable title and book. Then get it out to your targeted audience before you write its sequel or update. One thing I know for sure, only the top three titles of my 13 books sell well.

8. Will I have the time to put 3-9 hours a week into promoting the first book and the second book?

From my experience, you can only promote one book at a time in any email promotion you send your lists. Your audience will only focus on one offer. Ask yourself - are you just replacing an older book with a new one?

Are you willing to do two to three High Level Activities each day to get your books into the hands of your readers?

Do you have a ready to go sound bite or tell and sell for your new book to help people buy?

9. Do I want to spend a lot more money and time on a project that may not fit into my overall plans yet?

It’s a shame that authors get tired of their book before giving the public a chance to read it. Your top High Level Activity for today is always to focus on what brings you business or book sales. Your book project is more than just writing, so be sure to follow through well on your first book, then see if you should produce another one.

10. Does my target audience really want this second book title I’m thinking about now?

Conduct a market survey first to your present audience. Ask them if they would buy a new book with your planned benefits and features? Knowing each book’s benefits and features (why should your audience buy) and sharing them in your back cover, web sales letter or emails is all important to give your prospective readers a reason to buy. But, if no one is interested in your proposed new book, why bother writing it?

Promotion. Promotion. Promotion.

You want to market your first book at least a year with active online promotion. If you don’t know social media and article marketing, get some education on it. Take teleseminars and read books. If you want to triple your results, get one-on one tailored help from an experienced coach.

Make sure that when you write another book, you have time to market it. That it serves your business purpose - to get known, get liked and trusted - so it’s worth your time and money.

Sharing is Caring!

How is your first book doing? What can be done to make it a success? Why do you feel now is the time to start on another book?