Base Hits are Easier (and More Reliably Profitable) than Home Runs
How many authors (or entrepreneurs) might benefit from some positive buzz, or a small passionate following? Most, if not all. When I meet authors, previously published or not, I often ask whether they’ve read Rework. Rework demonstrates to the aspiring published author (called a “starter” in the book), how to build a business (book) that supports the starter and the starter’s family.
Home run books are few and far between. Swinging for the fence gets exhausting. Those who advise swinging for the fence every time usually have a seven plus figure net worth, and can afford taking such risks, but most starters cannot. Training Little Leagers for the World Series makes no sense. Training them to reliably get base hits does. Fundamentals are essential.
The other book I ask about is Crush It! Crush It! demonstrates how to build an online audience for whatever you’re writing about. The audience will be loyal and just as passionate about what you’re sharing with them as you are. Using social media (blogging, video, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to build a following is simple, but not necessarily easy.
Your steps to a minimum viable product (a base hit book) might look something like this:
1. Figure out the general arena or subject area for what you want to write about.
2. Start passionately talking about it on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, and YouTube.
3. Interact with those who follow you on your social media platforms.
4. Ask them what they want you to do, build or provide.
5. Pick one of the more requested responses and figure out a way to build it in your “spare” time.
6. Continue to passionately share about what you’re doing and build your audience.
7. Chunk your build-out of what you chose in Step 5.
8. Ask your audience which chunk they will pay the most for, and start building that one.
9. Use the income from the first chunk to fund the development of those that follow.
10. Only add what’s useful. Resist adding bells and whistles.
Take these steps and get yourself a base hit.
