The Backend Funnel
Stop worrying about $3 royalties. Smart non-fiction authors use books to acquire leads for free (or at a profit).
A reader who spends 5 hours with your book is the warmest lead you will ever have.
The Bait
The Book
$9.99
Builds Trust & Authority
The Bridge
Free Course
$0.00 (Email)
Captures the Lead
The Product
Coaching
$2,000+
Monetizes the Trust
Problem-Solution Positioning
Generic books fail. Specific solutions sell. You must position your book as the painkiller for a specific "bleeding neck" problem.
❌ The "Vitamin" Book
"The Guide to Better Parenting"
• Nice to have, but not urgent.
• Competing with 50,000 other general books.
• No clear "aha!" moment.
✅ The "Painkiller" Book
"Sleep Training for Colic Twins"
• Solves an urgent, painful problem.
• Zero competition.
• Desperate readers buy immediately.
Strategy: Authority vs. Royalty
Goal: Royalty Income
- • Price: $9.99 Ebook
- • Volume: Mass market appeal
- • Focus: Bestseller lists
- • Result: $2,000/month from sales
Goal: Authority/Leads
- • Price: $0.99 or Free
- • Volume: Maximum distribution
- • Focus: Getting book in hands
- • Result: 50 new consulting leads/month
The Podcast Tour Strategy
Don't pay for ads. Use your book as a business card to get on podcasts.
The Pitch Script:
"Hi [Host Name], I just released a book on [Specific Niche Problem]. I'd love to ship you a signed copy. I think your audience would get a ton of value from discussing [Controversial/Unique Idea from Book]. Interested?"
Why this works: Hosts need content. You provide content (the book). You get exposure to their audience for free.
You Are An Expert. Prove It.
A book is the ultimate authority signal. Publish it, and stop chasing clients—let them find you.