Low-content publishing can be a whirlwind of excitement and potential profits but it also comes with its fair share of sneaky little booby traps that are ready to trip you up when you least expect it.
In this video, I’ll share 10 of the most common booby traps and what you can do to avoid them. These aren’t just random missteps—they are carefully curated from my personal “Hall of Oops,” the recurrent issues that are all too common in our industry, and the questions that I encounter more frequently than a recurring déjà vu.
You can watch the video or read on for a quick summary.
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1. Not Validating Your Idea
Imagine spending countless hours pouring your heart and soul into creating a low-content book, only to discover that there’s no demand for your offering. It’s like throwing a grand party where no one shows up—a heartbreak we all want to avoid for sure.
Validating your idea through diligent niche research is your safety net. It helps you gauge the market’s pulse and ensures you’re not wasting time on a project that’s doomed to live in the shadows, unseen and unappreciated. It’s like checking the weather before you step out; it prevents you from getting drenched in disappointment.
And here’s the deal, there’s no secret tool or magic spell to skip this step. Research is your compass, your guiding light. I cannot stress this enough: research isn’t just necessary, it’s crucial to your publishing journey.
To make this process less daunting and more effective, check out my video “4 Steps For Validating Your Low-Content Book Idea.” Consider it your friendly guide to simplifying this seemingly complex process. Remember, a well-validated idea is your first step toward a successful book.
2. Not Knowing Your Target Audience
It’s tempting to cast a wide net with a generic book and hope to capture as many readers as possible. But here’s a sobering reality check—generic books are like white noise. They fail to capture anyone’s attention because they resonate with no one in particular.
Your book should be tailor-made for the person it’s intended for, reflecting their style, needs, and wants. To do this, you need to develop a crystal-clear image of your audience before laying down any part of your book.
Understanding your audience’s interests, needs, and preferences is the blueprint that will guide your design choices, your language, your content; in essence, your entire book. It’s like having a secret decoder ring that helps you speak directly to your reader’s heart.
In the crowded marketplace of books, knowing your audience is your secret weapon. It’s the magic ingredient that can transform your book from”’just another book on the shelf” to “the book that speaks to me.”
3. Not Niching Down Far Enough
Broad, sweeping categories might seem enticing but in the self-publishing world, aiming to reach everyone can often mean connecting with no one.
Instead, you should aim to reach a specific, dedicated audience. It’s like focusing on one city, one neighborhood, or even one house. This specificity might seem restrictive, but it gives you the opportunity to become a big fish in a small pond, rather than a tiny guppy lost in the ocean of generalities.
The narrower your niche, the less competition you’ll face. It’s like finding a secluded beach instead of jostling for space on a crowded shoreline. And here’s the magic of niching down—the deeper you dive into your topic, the more you carve out a unique space for yourself.
But niching down isn’t just about reducing competition; it’s also about becoming a specialist, a go-to authority on your subject. It’s like being the only store in town that sells a particular delicacy. Customers won’t just visit; they’ll make a beeline for your shop.
Remember, finding your unique niche isn’t about limiting your reach, but rather, enhancing your impact. The more specific you are, the more compelling your book becomes to the readers who matter, so don’t be afraid to niche down. Find your unique corner of the world and stake your claim!
4. Violating Copyright and Trademark
I get asked about copyright and trademarks quite a bit because my students sometimes see books for sale that obviously use copyrighted and trademarked material. While it can be frustrating to see others seemingly getting away with creating books that mimic protected work, remember that the false allure of this path can lead you down a slippery slope toward severe consequences, including getting the virtual “closed for business” sign from Amazon.
These rules apply not just to your design, which is like the inviting storefront of your book, but also to your book’s title and keywords—the signboards that tell the world what you’re offering. They may be hidden behind the scenes, but think of Amazon as your neighborhood watch; it’s always keeping an eye out and it knows what you’re doing.
So, let’s play it safe. Respect the intellectual property rights of others as you’d want them to respect yours. If nothing else, think of it as good karma. And always remember, in the world of publishing, authenticity and originality are not just admired. They’re a ticket to long-lasting success.
For more, check out my video, “Avoiding Trademark Infringement.”
5. Overlooking A Goldmine of Opportunities
Low-content publishing isn’t just about churning out books. It’s a multi-layered game full of hidden treasures and golden opportunities for promoting your work and building relationships. But the trick is, you’ve got to know where to look.
Think about Amazon’s Author Central. Imagine it as your own private nook on the Amazon platform, a personalized corner where you can strut your stuff, interact with your readers, and display all your beautiful books. Unfortunately, many self-publishers don’t take advantage of this and miss out on a great way to connect with their potential customers.
The same holds true for Amazon’s A+ Content. A+ content allows you to supercharge your book descriptions with images, comparison charts, and more, helping to boost your conversion rates and skyrocket your sales. But the sad thing is, it’s often left in the dust by many low-content publishers.
And let’s not forget about the power of email marketing. Yes, building an email list might seem like a tedious task, but think of it as planting seeds for future growth. An email list is your lifeline to your audience, your personal channel to share new releases, and special deals, or simply to say hello.
Want a neat little trick to help grow your list? Offer something for free, a valuable bonus that your readers would love to have. It’s a win-win—your audience gets something useful and you get to build a more engaged and dedicated community.
For more on building an email list, check out “How to Start An Email List From Scratch (And For Free!).”
6. Poor Design
Our eyes are drawn to visually pleasing things, and your book is no exception. Messy fonts, wonky covers, or fuzzy graphics scream amateur and trust me, that’s not the impression you want to give.
So, what’s the solution? Do your due diligence! Print out a preview copy of your book. We all know things can look different on paper compared to on screen. And hey, it’s kind of exciting to hold your creation in your hands for the first time!
Don’t skimp on the good stuff either. Invest in high-quality fonts and graphics—your book deserves it. Well-chosen font can make your book easier to read and well-chosen graphics can make it stand out. Who wants to look at pixelated images or generic clip art? Not me, and certainly not your reader.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Remember, we can sometimes be our own worst critic, so a second opinion can be really helpful. Maybe they’ll spot something you missed or they’ll have a great suggestion you hadn’t thought of.
Bottom line? Good design is crucial. It makes your book inviting, professional, and a real treat for the eyes. So, put some effort into it and let your book shine!
To learn more about design, check out “Top 5 Cover Design Mistakes That Are Killing Your Sales.”
7. Copycat Syndrome
Staying on top of trends can be a smart move in low-content publishing. It helps you understand what’s hot, what’s not, and what your readers might be on the lookout for. But here’s the trick: your book needs to sparkle with its own unique flair to stand out on a crowded virtual bookshelf.
While your cover design definitely needs to stand out, let’s not forget about the inside of your book. Pre-designed interiors and templates that promise a faster, easier way to get your book together are great for saving time and can be an absolute godsend, especially when you’re just starting out or when you’re working on a tight deadline.
But here’s the deal. If you use a template and don’t customize it, your book ends up looking like a dozen others out there. Templates are just the starting point. It’s up to you to add the sprinkles, the icing, and the cherry on top to make it truly yours. Spend some extra time tweaking the design, playing with the layout, or even adding some personal touches here and there. Remember, in a world of copies, it’s the originals that capture the spotlight.
8. Rushing Into Ads
A common pitfall I see is promoting books that have yet to make their first sale. Running ads on a book that hasn’t yet seen any organic sales is like playing to an empty room. It’s super tempting to hit the ground running with your shiny new book, blasting ads in the hopes of bagging those early sales. But trust me, a dash of patience goes a long way here.
Give your book some time to breathe. Let it find its footing and allow those natural sales and organic interest to kick in. Wait until your book begins to stir up some curiosity and starts gathering some sales and then, and only then, should you bring in the big guns—ads.
Ads can be a brilliant tool to boost visibility and reach, but they work best when there’s already a spark of interest. So hold your horses, let the anticipation build, and then, when the time is right, unleash those ads for maximum impact!
9. Focusing on Quantity Over Quality
I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “quality over quantity,” right? Well, in the realm of low-content publishing, this saying is worth its weight in gold. While it’s true that volume has its place, racing to the finish line to pump out a plethora of books that are, at best, just okay, isn’t a winning strategy.
On the flip side of that, spending time painstakingly perfecting every little detail of your book ‘til kingdom come can hold you hostage and delay your publishing process for weeks, if not months.
The best way to think about quantity vs. quality is as a balancing act. On one side, you’ve got quality: the cornerstone of your book that’ll make it shine in the reader’s eyes. And on the other, you have quantity: the ability to churn out books at a pace that keeps you in the game.
Your goal? To find your sweet spot; a place where quality and quantity shake hands, where your books are well-crafted and appealing, and yet published at a pace that keeps you competitive and relevant. So remember, it’s not about flooding the market with your books; it’s about making waves with each one you publish.
10. Having Unrealistic Expectations
In this hustle-and-bustle world where overnight success stories seem to be the norm, it’s easy to hope for instant gratification. Who wouldn’t want to hit a home run on the first swing, right? But let’s pull back the reins a bit and come back down to earth. Because the truth of the matter is, most of the time success in low-content publishing is more like a marathon than a sprint.
You’ve got to be prepared for a bit of a slow start, and that’s perfectly okay! It’s all part of the learning process. For example, one of my Low-Content Publishing Academy students, the fabulous Kim George, didn’t ring up a sale until she’d published her 30th book. Today she’s raking in thousands per month, but imagine if she would’ve thrown in the towel at book number 29?
The moral of the story is to keep your expectations realistic. Understand that while we all dream of quick wins, the reality is often a journey that takes time, patience, and a whole lot of perseverance. For more help with troubleshooting why your low-content books might not be selling, be sure to check out this video.
By sidestepping the common pitfalls I’ve outlined above, you’ll amp up your chances of striking gold in the realm of low-content publishing. And remember: every stumble, every goof-up, is a priceless learning opportunity. So, keep tweaking, keep absorbing, and most importantly, keep publishing! Let each step, whether a misstep or a leap forward, be a stepping stone on your path to success.
If you want to learn how to publish other types of low-content books like journals and planners, download my free guide, 3 Steps to Publishing Your First Low-Content Book in Less Than a Day.
For additional help, join my free Facebook Group, Low-Content Profits.
