The Authorpreneur: 3 Paths to a Lifetime of SuccessTo make an annual six- or seven-figure salary, create products and services that are based on your books.

Do you want to be an author? Many people still desire to author a book. Yet, more people arequestioning the profitability of an author's careernowadays.

The truth is that most authors will not sell more than 500 books. Typically, their book stops selling after their family and friends have already bought it. The reality is that many authors do not have a following, which will halt the sales of their book.

An engaged following is crucial to the success of an author's book. Although, if your book does not sell 5,000 copies, it does not mean that you should surrender as a failure.

This is whythe author needs to become entrepreneurialif they want long-term success. Once the author starts thinking like an entrepreneur, he/she eventually becomes an authorpreneur.

What is an authorpreneur? It is an entrepreneur that offers products and services that are based on their book(s).

AWall Street Journalbestselling author can teach others authors about how their book can make the list too.

Related:5 Things Every Business Author Should Know

Alternatively, a health author can sell their health coaching service as a supplement to the book.

I consider myself an authorpreneur. In my book,Reaching the Finish Line, I offer flexible career paths to ease the transition to becoming a full-time entrepreneur.

As a result of the book, I offer personal consultations and a monthly coaching program for those who wish to go beyond the content of the book. Regardless of your book, you can create products and services that supplement your book.

There are three paths that you should consider to become a successful authorpreneur. There is a path for everybody. The sensible way is to choose the path that falls within your capacity.

1. Traditional publisher.

Many people desire a traditional publisher because of their international distribution in physical bookstores.

It can be even more important if your intent is to target an American or German audience.

Ninety-two percent of American university students and 95 percent of German students prefer print books over ebooks, as discovered in a recent internationalstudy.

研究结果是相当令人振奋的,如果你的计划get your book in all the big box stores, airports, and major bookstores. Although, it is worth noting that traditional publishers will not do a lot of marketing for your book. However, their network of connections can open up an abundant amount of opportunities for you. With those connections, you can partner with some cool organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Amtrak and JetBlue.

It is these partnerships that can help you sell more books and attract potential clients.

2. Independent publisher.

More people are learning that they can make more money with their books elsewhere. Some aspiring and struggling authors do not care about the fame, but rather on making a sustainable living as an author.

Related:Best-Selling Author Tim Ferriss Doles Out Business Advice

Independent publishers offer an advantage -- better terms. They do not offer the typical terms that you will get from a traditional publisher (10 percent royalty for print books and 25 percent royalty for ebooks and audiobooks).

Independent publishers also offer the convenience of allowing you to keep the rights to your book. Often, with a traditional publisher, you commit to an agreement for a duration of five to seven years.

The only potential disadvantage that may dissuade authors is the book advance. Some independent publishers offer a small book advance, usually between $2,000 to $5,000. However, some others will not offer any book advance, especially if they are a small press or new publisher.

As an indie author, you will make more money from your books, but you will not have the privilege of leveraging a major publisher's connections. While your indie publisher may have a network of connections, it is likely that it will not be enough for you to be dependent on them.

Moreover, you will havemore success working with indie bookstores than the commercial counterparts like Barnes & Noble.

You should also consider partnering with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. It can be harder to form alliances with the national ones if they do not know your brand. However, local businesses and nonprofits are significantly easier because they are more likely to work with local residents. After all, you and they share a common objective, which is making a difference in your community.

These types of partnerships can open up opportunities to sell more books and attract potential clients.

3. Self-publisher.

Self-publishingis without a doubt the easiest way to publish a book. Before there was the book platforms (like Amazon, Kobo, Nook and iBooks) and aggregators (like Smashwords, Draft2Digital and Pronoun), the majority of people were limited to publishing with Author House, Xlibris or iUniverse.

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These publishers are commonly known as print on demand publishers. Fifteen years ago, publishing with one of these companies was not such a bad idea. Now, today's technology has made it easier to publish, and distribute your book through various eBook platforms.

If you truly want to be the publisher, you will need to use your own international standard book number (or ISBN). You can register the name of your publishing company with this number.

Alternatively, you can use an ISBN from the company that will be helping you publish your book. However, that company will become the default publisher (i.e. CreateSpace, Ingram Spark, Smashwords or Draft2Digital).

明显的优势作为一个作者自行出版is that you will make the most money in comparison to other authors. You can make a net royalty of up to $6 per ebook and $7.50 per paperback book.

Conversely, the main disadvantage is that there will be no publisher to pay you a book advance. Why? Well, you would be the publisher, hence the name, self-published.

Besides the higher profits, you will also endure the other advantages and disadvantages of indie authorpreneurs.

The final word.

The truth is that few authors are making over $100,000 a year from just writing books. If you want to make an annual six or seven figure salary, you have to create products and services that are based on your books.

Do you want to be an authorpreneur? Well, first you need to write a book. When will you start writing your book?