The Market Your Message Show
The Market Your Message Show
Ch 7. Creating Low-Content Books (How and Why)
Creating Impactful Low Content Books: A Strategic Approach for Aspiring Writers
Want access to the book? got to PlatformGrowthBooks.com
In this episode of 'The Market. Your Message Show,' host Jonathan Milligan delves into Chapter 7 of his book 'Validate Your Offer,' focusing on the strategy of creating low content books. The episode begins with a history lesson about Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, highlighting how low content books can help writers build a reputation and test their ideas without significant risk. Jonathan outlines the step-by-step process to create and refine a low content book, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right niche, designing a user-friendly template, and generating valuable content. He concludes with an exercise to brainstorm low content book ideas, encouraging listeners to start small and test the market before investing heavily in a full-length book.
00:00 Introduction to the Series
00:16 The Importance of Validating Your Offer
01:17 Chapter 7: Creating Your Low Content Book
01:22 The Story of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac
02:35 Why Low Content Books Matter Today
06:17 Steps to Create Your Low Content Book
11:15 Brainstorming Your Low Content Book Ideas
13:40 Key Takeaways and Conclusion
Implement the Blogging System that 40x My Online Business! Click here to get the training video
Hello and welcome to the market. Your message show. I'm your host, Jonathan Milligan. And we are going through the third book in the series. Validate your offer. This is an important book because a lot of people will start their business online. And then they're trying to figure out how do I create something that people will want and how do I do it without wasting time? And that's what this third book in my book series is all about. Now as a thank you for being a loyal podcast listener, I am making the audio book available one chapter at a time every single week. And as you're listening to this, we are currently going through that. Validate your offer. Now, if you ever want the audio book or you want the book or the workbook, you can go to platform growth, books.com again, it's platform, growth books.com, and you could order one of those. And of course, listen, as you go through the book or use the workbook to implement what you hear. In each episode. So with that being said, let's jump right in to today's chapter.
Speaker 13:Chapter 7. Creating Your Low Content Book. Writers. It was the early 1700s in colonial America, and a young Benjamin Franklin was trying to make a name for himself as a writer and thinker. But he's got a problem. Nobody knows who he is, and he doesn't have the money or connections to get his ideas out there. Sound familiar? So, what does he do? He gets creative. In 1732, Franklin published the first edition of Poor Richard's Almanac. He used the pseudonym Richard Saunders. It's a small, cheap book filled with practical advice, witty sayings, and entertaining stories. Kind of like the colonial version of a low content book. And guess what? It's a hit. People love it. They start quoting Poor Richard's Wisdom in their daily lives. They eagerly await each new edition. Slowly, but surely, Benjamin Franklin builds a reputation as a man of insight and intelligence. Here's the kicker. Poor Richard's Almanac wasn't a grand philosophy or groundbreaking science book. It was a simple, accessible way for Franklin to test his ideas, connect with readers, and establish his brand. All without risking a huge amount of time or money. So, why am I telling you this story? Because the same principle applies to writers today. In a world where anyone can publish a book, it's harder than ever to stand out and get noticed. But by using low content books strategically, you can validate your niche. You can also build an audience and set yourself up for long term success, just like Ben Franklin did almost 300 years ago. In this chapter, we're going to dive deep into the power of low content books as a tool for writers. We'll explore why they work, how to create them quickly and easily, and how to use them to skyrocket your writing career. Get ready to take some notes, because this could be the secret weapon you've been looking for.
Speaker 14:How to create your low content book. So you've got a brilliant idea for a book, a story that's been burning inside you for years, or a topic you're passionate about sharing with the world. You pour your heart and soul into writing. You spend many late nights hunched over your keyboard. You sacrifice time with friends and family to bring your vision to life. Finally, after months, or maybe even years of hard work, you type that last sentence, breathe a sigh of relief and hit publish. This is it. Your masterpiece is finally out there for the world to see. But then, crickets. No sales, no reviews, no recognition. Just a sinking feeling that maybe, Just maybe you wasted all that time and effort on something nobody actually wanted to read. It's a gut punching realization But here's the hard truth. Most aspiring writers put the cart before the horse. They spend forever creating a full length book without ever stopping to validate their idea Or see if there's a market for it. They assume that if they build it, readers will come. But that's a dangerous assumption. More often than not, it leads to disappointment, frustration, and books that never find their audience. You pour your blood, sweat, and tears into a project, only to watch it languish in obscurity. So, what's the solution? How can you avoid this painful scenario and set yourself up for success?
Here's a radical idea. Start small.
Speaker 14:Before you invest months or years into writing your magnum opus, test the waters with a low content book. It's a low risk, high reward way to validate your niche, get feedback from real readers and build momentum for your writing career. Think about it. With a low content book, you can Create something valuable in a fraction of the time it takes to write a full book. Get your work out there quickly and start building an audience. Gather real world data on what resonates with readers and what doesn't. Build your confidence and skills as a writer and publisher. Lay the groundwork for bigger, more ambitious projects down the road. Best of all, you can do it without breaking the bank or putting all your eggs in one basket. If your low content book takes off, great. You've got proof of concept and a built in audience for your next book. If it doesn't, no worries. You can pivot, adjust, and try again without losing months or years of your life. So, if you're an aspiring writer with a big idea, don't make the mistake of jumping straight into the deep end. Dip your toes in the water with a low content book first. Test, validate, and refine your concept. And then, when you're ready, dive in with confidence, knowing that you've got a winning formula for success. Creating a low content book can be a fast, effective way to serve your audience and generate income. By following a few key steps, you can develop a valuable resource that showcases your expertise and helps you stand out in your niche.
Speaker 15:Step one, choose your book type and niche. Like a chef, select the right ingredients. Choose the type of low content book and niche that best serves your audience. Will you create a workbook to accompany your signature course? A journal to help your coaching clients reflect on their progress? A planner tailored to busy moms in your community? Decide if you'll create a workbook, journal, planner, or a combination. Consider your target audience and their needs. Brainstorm at least five topic ideas that align with your niche and expertise. Take time to brainstorm ideas and get clear on what your people want and need. The more specific you can get, the better. Clarity on your book type and niche lays the foundation for a focused, valuable resource. Step two, set up your book template using a tool like Canva, set up a template that includes all the essential pages and elements. Consider your book cover, welcome page, copyright notice, and table of contents. Customize your fonts, colors, and graphics to create a cohesive look that reflects your unique brand style. An intentional book template ensures a professional polished final product. Use Canva or another design tool to create your book template. Include essential pages like the cover. Welcome, Copyright, and Table of Contents. Customize your design with fonts, colors, and graphics that reflect your brand. As Steve Jobs once said, Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works. Thoughtful design is essential for creating a book that not only looks great, but also functions well for your readers. Step three, develop your content pages. As you develop your book's core content pages, aim for a clean, inviting design, that's easy to recreate. For a journal, this might include a daily prompt, space for reflection, and an inspiring quote. For a workbook, you might have a chapter summary, exercises, and reflection questions. Use minimal colors to keep printing costs down and ensure your book is easy to use. Well designed, repeatable content pages are key to an engaging. Cost effective book, create master layouts for core content pages. For example, daily prompts, chapter summaries, keep the design clean, inviting, and easy to replicate. Use minimal colors to keep printing costs down. Step four, generate valuable content. A 2021 study by Cornell university found that people are more likely to engage with content that is clear, concise, and relevant to their needs. As you generate your books, content. It. Keep your target reader front and center. What questions do they have? What challenges are they facing? What insights or inspiration do they need? Write prompts, summaries, exercises, and reflections that serve your audience. Consider using AI tools like Magi to spark ideas and streamline the writing process. Ensure all content aligns with your voice, brand, and objectives. Aim to create prompts, summaries, exercises, and reflections. They should provide real value and help your readers reach their goals. AI tools like Magi can be a great way to spark ideas and streamline the writing process. Just be sure to review and edit all content to ensure it aligns with your authentic voice and brand. Providing targeted, valuable content will keep your readers engaged and coming back for more. Step 5. Refine and polish your book. As a sculptor, refines their work to reveal the masterpiece within. Review and refine your book to create a valuable resource. Go through each page with a fine tooth comb, checking for typos, formatting issues, and overall clarity. Preview your book to ensure the pages are in the right order and everything looks just right. Review each page for errors, formatting issues, and overall clarity. Preview your book to ensure proper page order and a polished final product. Consider asking a friend or professional to proofread for an extra set of eyes. Don't be afraid to ask for help in this process. A fresh set of eyes can catch things you might miss. Consider asking a friend or hiring a professional proofreader to review your work. Thorough review and refinement are essential. They make a professional, high quality book. Creating a low content book is a powerful way to serve your audience And grow your business, follow these steps, focus on providing real value. Then you can make a resource that positions you as an expert and helps you stand out in your niche. So what are you waiting for? Get started today and see where this exciting journey takes you with a little creativity and hard work. You might just surprise yourself with what you can create. Your perfect low content book is waiting to be born.
Speaker 16:Today's exercise, brainstorming your low content book ideas. It's time to put all this theory into practice, grab a notebook or a whiteboard or use whatever gets your creative juices flowing. Let's start brainstorming some low content book ideas for your niche. Set a timer for 15 minutes and challenge yourself to come up with at least three to five ideas. Don't worry about making them perfect. This is just a brainstorming session. The goal is to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page. For each idea. Ask yourself, who is my target reader? Get specific. What are their pain points, their goals, their interests. The more you can drill down into who you're creating for. The better. What key value will this book provide? Will it help them solve a problem, achieve a goal, or explore a topic they're passionate about? Your book should have a clear value proposition that speaks directly to your target reader's needs. How can I create this content quickly? Remember, the goal with low content books is to minimize your upfront investment and get your work out there fast. Think about templates, tools, or resources you could use to streamline the creation process. For example, let's say you're in the personal finance niche. Here are a few low content book ideas you might come up with. A budgeting workbook for recent college grads struggling with student loan debt. A savings tracker for couples saving for their first home. A debt payoff planner for people looking to get out of credit card debt. For each idea, you'd name the target reader and the key problem the book addresses. You'd also explain how to create the content quickly using existing templates or resources. The beauty of this exercise is that it gets you thinking creatively about how you can serve your audience in small, focused ways. You don't have to create a 300 page masterpiece right out of the gate. You can start small, test the waters, and see what resonates with your readers. So, go ahead, set that timer, grab your brainstorming tools, and let the ideas flow. You never know what brilliant low content book concept might emerge from this simple 15 minute exercise. And who knows? It might just be the thing that kickstarts your writing career. And helps you build a loyal following in your niche. Key takeaways. Low content books are a fast, low cost way for writers to test their ideas and get real market feedback. Focusing your low content book on a specific niche allows you to deliver targeted value and start building an audience. Making and publishing low content books builds your skills, credibility, and platform. It sets you up for success as an author.