So, you've published your book. Now what?
Feb 05, 2025
A book funnel will help you sell your book while also building an audience. This way, you can sell other offers to the audience such as a course, membership, coaching, etc. The book acts as social proof that you are the authority on this subject.
Q: I thought the purpose of a book funnel is to sell more books. Am I wrong?
A: Traditional book publishing royalties are around 10 to 15% while self-publishing royalties are 35 to 70%. Google and you'll find that the average book sells less than 500 copies. Reality check is that you're not going to become wealthy from selling your book.
The big picture goal of becoming an author is to build credibility then design offers your audience would be interested in purchasing such as paid speaking gigs (to sell more books), courses, or consulting services.
Once you have a book, you now have the foundation to build other revenue-generating offers that align with your audience’s needs.
Four Ways to Monetize Beyond Book Sales
- Paid Speaking Engagements: Being an author makes you more attractive to event organizers who are looking for credible speakers. Each speaking gig is an opportunity to not only get paid for your expertise but also to sell more books.
- Courses & Digital Products: A book provides a great outline for an online course. You can take the concepts from your book and expand on them with videos, worksheets, and interactive exercises.
- Consulting & Coaching Services: Many readers will want deeper, one-on-one support. By offering coaching or consulting, you give them an opportunity to work with you more closely.
- Membership Communities: If your book covers a topic that people want ongoing support for, a membership community can provide them with access to exclusive content, group discussions, and live Q&A sessions.
Why You Need a Sales Funnel to Sell These Offers
Having a book is a great start, but to successfully sell your higher-ticket offers like courses, coaching, and memberships, you need a well-structured sales funnel. A funnel is a step-by-step customer journey that moves someone from being a casual reader to a paying client.
Step #1 Getting Readers Onto Your Email List
Most people who buy your book won’t automatically go on to purchase your other offers. That’s why you need a way to capture their contact information.
- Inside your book, include a free bonus, such as a downloadable worksheet, checklist, or video training.
- To access this freebie, readers must enter their email address on your website.
- Now, you have a way to follow up with them and nurture the relationship.
Step #2 Build Trust
Once a reader joins your email list, don’t immediately pitch them an offer (because who wants that?!). Instead, send a series of value-driven emails that:
- Expand on key concepts from the book
- Share success stories and testimonials
- Address common challenges and how you help solve them
The goal here is to build trust and authority before introducing your paid offer.
Step #3 Consider Offering Something Lower Priced (An Easy Yes)
Before pitching a high-ticket course or coaching program, consider offering a low-cost digital product such as a $27 mini-course or $47 workshop. This small, easy-to-purchase product could turn turn a reader into a paying customer.
Step #4 Finally, Pitch the High-Ticket Offer
Once someone has engaged with your content and purchased a small offer, they are much more likely to invest in a higher-ticket service such as:
- A full online course ($297–$997)
- Group coaching program ($1,000+)
- One-on-one consulting ($2,500+)
At this stage, you’re presenting your premium offer as the logical next step for readers who want more in-depth support.
Putting It All Together: The Full Funnel Strategy
Here’s an example of how this all works together in a structured funnel:
- Book Purchase → Reader finds your book on Amazon or your website.
- Free Offer → They sign up for a freebie inside your book.
- Email Nurture Sequence → They receive automated emails that provide value and build trust.
- Low-Ticket Offer → They are invited to purchase a mini-course, workshop, or template.
- High-Ticket Offer → They receive an invitation to join your premium course, coaching, or consulting service.
By using a sales funnel, you’re ensuring that your book isn’t just a one-time purchase. Instead, it’s a gateway to a sustainable business model with multiple revenue streams.
Without a funnel, most website visitors won’t buy on their first visit because they don't know, like and/or trust you enough. A funnel warms them up so they’re more likely to purchase. A funnel is a series of landing pages and emails that guide potential customers from awareness of your product to purchasing it. It’s called a funnel because a large amount of your audience enters the system, but only a small percentage convert to buyers.
🚫 No Funnel: People visit your site, see your book, and leave.
✅ With a Funnel: They get value first, trust you, and are more likely to buy.
Book Funnel FAQ:
Q: What are some ways I can promote my book?
- Book signings or author readings at bookstores, libraries, and niche-related events
- Hosting a webinar, online book clubs, or live Q&A session
- Guest blogging for popular e-zines related to your book's genre or topic
- Guest podcast on platforms relevant to your book's audience
- Promote your book on social media by sharing updates, behind-the-scenes content, and reader reviews
- Organize giveaways or contests on social media or your website where participants can win signed copies of your book
- Film a book trailer to share on social media, your website, and at promotional events
- Partner with other authors, influencers, or organizations for joint promotions, giveaways, or events related to your book's niche
- Send out press releases to media outlets, book review websites, and literary magazines
Q: What are some ideas for a freebie offer inside my book?
A: The answer will depend on what your audience wants from you as well as your niche subject matter.
- in-depth backstories that provide additional insights into the characters featured in your book
- exclusive bonus content of additional chapters that are not included in the published book
- workbook or guide related to your book such as reflection questions or practical exercises
- exclusive video of your sharing of inspiration behind the book or behind-the-scenes anecdotes
- sneak peek or preview of an upcoming project
- a companion resource
- resource list of other recommended readings or websites
Ready to Monetize Beyond Book Sales?
Your book is just the beginning! If you’re looking to turn readers into paying clients, scale your expertise, and build a profitable business, you need a book funnel that works for you 24/7.
I'll help you set up a system that turns your book into:
✅ Paid speaking gigs
✅ High-ticket coaching & consulting
✅ Online course or membership
Don’t let your book be a one-time purchase. Turn it into a business growth engine!
Schedule a Consultation to chat about your next steps.
TLDR:
👉** All the above can be built on the Kajabi platform, which is what I offer help with. Receive a free 30-day trial to check out Kajabi, or schedule a consultation and I'll walk you through a demo.