I have been speaking to a big book publisher about writing a very basic book on affiliate marketing. I think there is a big need for a realistic guide to getting started as an affiliate.
There are a bunch of books out that targeting this audience, like Affiliate Millions, but they amount to a tragic waste of ink and paper.
However, maybe a printed book through a major publisher isn’t the right format anymore. The publishers I’ve spoken with went out of their way to talk about the versions for the Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc., as well as Audible, Scribd, and a number of other places.
Not to mention the news that Borders has filed for bankruptcy protection.
If the physical bookshelf in a bookstore is becoming a thing of the past, does it even make sense to write for “the man” anymore?
I can get electronic and audio versions made up, as well as securing placement on Amazon.com on my own.
Plus, I like the idea of going electronic and having the ability to update content along the way. Either a blog or an ebook through Clickbank.
When I wrote Success Affiliate Marketing for Merchants in 2000, I was horrified that companies I’d highlighted were out of business by the time the book hit shelves.
Also, in speaking with the publisher, they said they’d want around 250 pages. While I could certainly hit that target, I don’t think this sort of guide needs to be that long, so there would be padding.
The recent ebook from Nick Reese, How to Turn Traffic and Trust into Sales, did the job with one third as many pages.
Anyhow, after evaluating all of the pros and cons, I decided the next affiliate marketing book won’t be written by me.
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I’ve gotten started on my “affiliate marketing book”, only it’s free and it’s a blog: http://www.extramoneyanswer.com/
Hey Andrew -
There is still plenty of opportunity for people to emerge as a super affiliate, but most are not willing to invest the time, money and resources to get there.
My focus on putting something out for smaller earners was that they could realistically accomplish a modest goal by following my advice.
Interesting Shawn, Are you saying that that it’s not all that realistic for someone starting out now to become a super affiliate and that maybe he should lower his expectations to making a little extra money?
I don’t think a book from a traditional publisher is right for me – I think a more satisfying route would be to just put the information out there for free and digital, so it can be updated as needed.
Ha! Does that mean you no longer mean this, Shawn…
“Anyhow, after evaluating all of the pros and cons, I decided the next affiliate marketing book won’t be written by me.”
I bet folks were hoping you’d change your mind.
Thanks Peter -
I was thinking of doing the print on-demand option. But also leaning towards a free, ad-supported blog that’s posted as it’s written.
Shawn, you can have it all. Publish the book electronically and then hook up with one of the print-on-demand pubs so anyone who wants a hard copy can get one. There are lots of choices, lulu, bookmasters, I think Barnes and Noble has something. Also you can release it electronically with a Creative Commons license (instead of traditional copyright) that allows devotes of the book to forward the whole thing to anyone so along as they don’t get money or use it as a jumping off place for their own work. The SciFi writer/Boing Boing blogger Cody Doctorow has had great success with this kind of mix.
I agree that reading a real book is a whole different experience than reading an e-book and that’s my preference as well. What makes ebook different than a real book is that you have an access to it everywhere with computer.
… and Shawn, if you are going to write a book about Affiliate Marketing, I am all for it!
I still buy physical books myself – I don’t like the Kindle or iPad experience as much.
But with all of the electronic options, I do think paper books will continue to diminish in importance for writers.
An interesting perspective, Shawn. As other commenters have pointed out, there are still quite a few people who crave the ability to hold a physical “book” in their hands.
That’s why writers shouldn’t underestimate the impact that devices such as the Kindle and the iPad have (and will continue to have) on the market. Such devices replicate the “physical” reading experience these people crave as closely as possible, and I believe will rapidly close the gap with ink-on-paper physical books.
Then, of course, there’s the impact on the furniture industry as fewer bookshelves will be in demand by readers since their books are stored within the reading device itself.
Everybody has different experience in life and as well as in business. Combining these different experiences then write them all in a book is good. I think people will like it. Moreover, the world will also like it.
So far, all of the books I’ve read on affiliate marketing are like reading stereo instructions.
Someone needs to write it down much simpler for the layman.
Nice idea, Shawn. I imagine a book like that would be well received.
Hi Erin -
In my opinion, past books were either geared towards affiliate managers or the dream of becoming a super affiliate.
I think it would be far more useful and realistic to teach people how to make an extra $50 or $100 a month.
Hi Shawn,
I agree that there is a very real need for quality affiliate marketing educational resources, especially for anyone who has come online in the past 1-2 years to get into this business.
I love reading physical books and have also read many affiliate marketing books over the years. However, as you pointed out, so much becomes obsolete so quickly that I don’t think a hard book is the right format anymore.
Geno Prussakov posted a list of affiliate marketing books last fall…
http://www.amnavigator.com/blog/2010/10/08/affiliate-marketing-book-authors-on-twitter/
I’m wondering what you see as missing from some of these and if you wrote a new affiliate marketing book what your spin would be. In other words, what would your “realistic guide” look like?
That’s what got me started thinking about it in the first place – I have purchased every physical book on affiliate marketing over the years, and haven’t found one I think would be good for beginners.
Hi Shawn, well if you’re not going to write one perhaps you can endorse a few good ones that aren’t a bunch of spun off BS. I’m starting to dabble in the affiliate side of things now with amazon, so I’d like to dig deeper and read something worthwhiile.
Thanks Paul –
I agree about the distractions, and I prefer a physical book in my hands. I’ve tried to like reading on a Kindle and iPad, but it just doesn’t work for me.
But I think the ever evolving landscape of affiliate marketing makes for a bad match for a printed book.
I guess it all depends on who is writing the book. I love reading and for me reading a “real” book is a whole different experience than reading an e-book. Real book lovers and real book buyers like sitting in an easy chair, holding a book and just concentrate on what the writer is telling you. That is different with e-books where you are distracted by your computer and it’s challenges (just checking e-mail, peeking at Twitter or Facebook etc.).
By the way, there is a distinction between book lovers and (new) book buyers. The first category likes the words in the book, the second category likes the book itself (and also the words) and wants to own it. Book lovers can go to libraries and get total satisfaction from that. Book buyers (like me for instance) want to buy and own new books (especially in hard cover in my case).
All things said: if you are going to write a book about Affiliate Marketing I will buy this book, for sure (and I think a lot of other people will).
Good to hear – I do like the control of DIY.
I do like to look in a physical bookstore, but have found it frustrating to find books often, since people take them and put them back in the wrong place.
To that end, I’ve found that I go there to kill time and mostly buy online. Maybe this creates a renewed opportunity for mom and pop bookstores.
Hey Shawn,
I do think there is an audience for a quality book on getting started in affiliate marketing. Let’s face it, there are a lot of lousy ebooks out there on the subject, partly because it is just so easy to write and distribute one. No traditional book publisher needed. The challenge is getting a good product to stand out from all the junk.
I have to admit that I am sad to see the days of the brick-and-mortar bookstores getting shorter. I hope that one of the store chains or a new company will figure out a way to incorporate a selection of physical books with their ebook offerings in a way that still gets people to visit a physical store (maybe free streaming access to ebooks while in the store to replicate the browsing experience, etc.). I still like to actually walk into a book store and browse the shelves for new stuff to read. Amazon, the B&N online store, and iTunes hasn’t figured out how to replicate that experience yet.
My mom recently self-published after being published twice by Doubleday, and she loved it. Would never go back…
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