Unlocking New Growth: Why Adding a Publishing Business to Your Coaching Portfolio Is a Complete Game Changer
Introduction
In the fast-moving world of coaching and entrepreneurship, diversification isn't only a strategy but rather a key component when striving to achieve sustainable growth and resilience. For many business owners running coaching practices, with a significant proportion of these businesses independently owned and made up of small teams, the pursuit of stability and expansion often raises the question: How is it possible to expand a business and add additional revenue-generating streams without venturing too far from their main offering and tried-and-tested market? The answer might actually be a lot more accessible than you might initially think: integrating a publishing company into your existing coaching portfolio.
Initially, the idea of jumping from coaching to publishing might seem not only daunting but also a complete impossibility—a journey into uncharted territory, so to speak. It might also cause questions and thoughts to arise pertaining to how impossible this surely is: I have no experience in publishing. Why would I start a business in an industry I have no skillset or knowledge? Why would I essentially start a new venture rather than scale my current coaching business? But what if this transition could enhance your business model without the need to seek out a new audience or overhaul your operations? What if you didn't need experience, but rather a go-to breakdown, roadmap and blueprint of every single step to take, how, and when? And what if a publishing company could be seamlessly plugged into your current coaching business with simplicity and ease, without the need for greater bandwidth, huge teams or costly infrastructure?
Publishing offers a unique opportunity to diversify your income streams, solidify your market position, and provide your current client base with additional value, all while building on the foundation you've already established in your coaching business. (Not to mention, it adds something uniquely special and oh-so-romantic to your business model, because the entire book-publication process is just so amazing.)
When running a business inside an industry that's constantly evolving, dependency on a single niche or service offering can lead to vulnerability. This has been witnessed by many entrepreneurs and coaches—and so many businesses as a whole during 2020 and the years that followed—whereas publishing not only continued to thrive but witnessed significant industry growth. It's here that publishing can be seen to be a strategic ally; presenting stability, the potential for new levels of income and achievement, and a whole new facet to your entrepreneurial journey.
By the end of this exploration, the synergy between your coaching expertise and the world of publishing will unveil itself to not only be a possibility but a promising venture for innovation and financial attainment.
Join me as I take you by the hand and lead you through why adding a publishing arm to your business portfolio is not merely an expansion but a transformation that can happen with great ease, leveraging your existing strengths to unlock new levels of success and client satisfaction.
The Power of Diversification
In the realm of entrepreneurship, putting all your eggs in one basket has never been a prudent strategy. The volatile nature of markets and the speed with which rules, laws, and even the global economy can change demands a more well-considered, resilient approach. For female coaches and entrepreneurs, diversification is the key to building a robust business model that can not only withstand economic fluctuations and industry shifts but allows you to increase the average per-client spend without having to make significant changes to your existing framework (or, worse still, sending them elsewhere to fulfil their book-writing and -publication aspirations, even if you do earn a generous Thank You kickback for the referral). Here’s how publishing can play an incredible role in this diversification.
Beyond One Stream of Income
Depending solely on coaching income can be risky, with a whole host of factors potentially leading to significant dips in income or even ceilings on earnings (after all, you can only take on so many coaching clients and increase the investment point of your services so far). Publishing, however, not only allows you to lead your existing coaching clients into an additional offer without compromising on your current coaching solutions, but also opens the door to multiple streams of income. From book-planning and -outlining workshops, masterclasses, masterminds and programs, to publishing, co-authored collaborative books and ghostwriting, the options are vast and varied. (Inside our Launch Your Own Publishing House solution, we lead our clients through the implementation of 15 different income streams, complete with fulfilment). This diversification not only mitigates risks but also provides a steady flow of income from different sources, ensuring that your business remains profitable even when one stream experiences a downturn.
On the other hand, adding additional streams of revenue into your business and life isn't just a safety measure; rather, it's music to the serial entrepreneur's ears. It allows you to make more money with greater ease while at once helping others to achieve their goals, widening your net of impact, and helping to leave a real, tangible legacy.
Integrating Publishing into Your Business Model
A Natural Progression in the Customer Journey
Contrary to what a little voice in your head might have told you when you first started reading this article, incorporating publishing into your coaching business doesn't require starting from scratch or launching another business (especially not when working with us). As opposed to starting a whole new venture and nurturing it from the ground up, this is all about being business-savvy and efficient, which means simply adding another layer to your existing operations that enriches your client's experience. Imagine guiding your clients through their personal or professional development journey and having the perfect resource at every stage: when they have navigated the coaching aspect, they can then move on to share their experiences and all they do in their business, perhaps through their own lead-generating book or as part of a co-authored book opportunity with others in your circle. Integrating additional services gives your clients a very natural extension of what you're already doing; providing them with additional tools and resources that support their growth and solidify their loyalty to your brand, while allowing them to spend more time in your orbit and continue their relationship with you.
Expanding Offerings with Ease
The beauty of adding publishing to your portfolio is the simplicity with which it can introduce a variety of products and services. We've all witnessed the momentum of co-authored book opportunities and how coaches and entrepreneurs jump at the opportunity to be featured by writing just one chapter. Imagine being able to present this to your own circle of clients, where the know, like and trust are already off the charts. Not only does it add to your business's revenue, but it also allows your clients to get everything they need in one place.
When launching a professional publishing company to complement your current products and services, there are so many opportunities you and your clients can explore. Whether it's a self-help book that encapsulates your coaching philosophy or even offering a children's book project centred on business and entrepreneurship, this expansion allows you to reach a broader audience and offer even more entry points into your business, from low-cost book-writing programs through to premium, high-end publishing solutions—and all without you having to do any of the heavy lifting. It's an efficient way and truly incredible way to diversify your offerings and revenue without the need to drastically alter your business model or identify and nurture a new market.
Benefits for You and Your Clients
A Single Point of Contact
By incorporating publishing into your offerings, in one step, you go from being a business coach or nutritionist or marketing professional to a one-stop shop for your clients' business development needs. This expansion goes way beyond simple convenience; rather, it's a value proposition that ultimately reinforces client relationships and allows them to stay in your circle and gain more value, rather than seeking out other experts and professionals who can help them achieve their book-related goals. When clients can access a range of resources—from coaching services to published materials—through a single trusted provider, there is no doubt that their experience and overall satisfaction will be enhanced. This approach both simplifies their journey and encourages a deeper sense of loyalty and connection to your brand, as they appreciate the comprehensive support you offer.
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Leveraging Existing Markets
One of the key advantages of adding publishing to your business model can be seen in the opportunity to leverage your existing market. Your current clients, who already know, like and trust you and have long benefitted from your coaching and professional services, are likely to be interested in pursuing their publishing goals with you. This synergy allows you to tap into an established audience for your new products, thus reducing the need for extensive market research or marketing efforts to find a new clientele. It's about deepening and broadening the value you offer to those who already trust and engage with your brand, providing them with additional tools and resources to support their journey.
Creative Freedom—Forever
Considering this article's focus on unlocking growth, I would be remiss to neglect to touch on the huge benefit that owning a publishing company means for you, the owner, when it comes to pursuing your own creative endeavours...
Of course, owning a publishing house means having everything you need to enable you to write and publish as many books as you want (and although this can be done via self-publishing, nothing compares to professionally published books that are immaculate from cover to cover and available through all major retailers across the world). Of course, this doesn't necessarily resonate with everyone, but many of the entrepreneurs in my own circle love the idea of writing and publishing a number of books on not just one area but many. This also allows you to use your company and its resources to produce a stream of lead-generating books for your own business and to elevate your own authority, without paying for any writing or publishing services yourself—and that's a creative freedom that is absolutely game-changing for any entrepreneur.
Practical Steps to Incorporate Publishing
Integrating a publishing arm into your coaching business might seem like a monumental task, but with the right approach and team of experts guiding your every step—what to do, when to do it, and how—it is both achievable and immensely rewarding.
When I first sat down and outlined how I was going to take high-level coaches and entrepreneurs through the process of launching and scaling their own publishing company, I had to look back on my 19 years in the industry, complete with all the trial and error and mistakes, and identify the key, needle-moving steps taken to launch an award-winning boutique book publishing company from (notably from nothing but a six-year-old little girl's dreams). Back then, I had no guidance, no go-to textbook, and the internet was a very different thing. The strategies I have come to apply and teach during my time as the CEO of our publishing company are an amalgamation of experience, speedbumps and hurdles. It hasn't been an easy ride. But my love for all things books, publishing and impact has, over the years, allowed me to create unique processes and programs in-house, all of which have been polished, refined and copyrighted, and now offered to only a very small number of clients through this publishing house solution.
So what was once difficult and stressful can now be beautifully simple and streamlined.
Utilising Current Resources
One of the greatest misconceptions I have come to hear when discussing launching a publishing business is the belief that there is a need for a completely new infrastructure or team. In reality, many of the skills and resources you already possess can be repurposed or adapted for publishing (not to mention the fact: we train your team for you). For instance, your existing sales team can play a crucial role in the publishing process, from client success and customer service through to launch emails and sales page creation. When it comes to those areas falling beyond your team's expertise, however, such as cover design, for example, freelance contractors are available in the thousands (our own solution provides not only our go-to recommendations for a whole host of experts, such as ghostwriters and editors, but also comprehensive training and support provided by us, allowing your publication projects to be rolled out and fulfilled effectively and with ease). By looking at the huge wealth of resources you already have at your disposal inside of your business, you'll quickly see that extensive new hires or expensive infrastructure are unnecessary, with your existing strengths and capabilities just waiting to be leveraged.
A Guide to 15 Revenue Streams
Adding additional revenue streams into your existing business model doesn’t need to mean complicating your business model. Inside our own publishing company, we offer a total of 15 different products and services, each of which can be easily taught and plugged into your own business (complete with rights). Each of these streams can be adapted to your own niche, allowing you to offer a wide range of products without straying from your core expertise.
In short, this means taking your existing business, which might currently offer a handful of revenue streams, and adding a new arm that offers an additional 15 revenue streams. A complete game-changer for any business!
Conclusion
The journey from coaching to publishing is not something to be viewed as a huge leap into a new domain, but rather is a beautiful, impact-creating, strategic expansion that leverages your existing expertise, audience and resources, while adding significant revenue and a tough of magic to your current business framework. This integration creates an incredible solution to the challenges surrounding income diversification, market dependency, and client engagement, presenting a compelling case for why adding publishing to your portfolio is not only beneficial but absolutely essential when striving to achieve growth, resilience, and the next level in your business.
Publishing enriches your coaching business by providing a multi-faceted platform, enhancing client value, and securing a competitive edge in the market. It's a testament to the power of leveraging what you already have—your knowledge, client base, and team—to become a trailblazer while reinforcing the foundations of your business and further elevating the levels of know, like and trust your clients hold for you.
For female coaches and entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating the complexities of the entrepreneurial space, this approach offers not only a business strategy but a path to empowerment. It's an opportunity to amplify your voice, widen your net of impact, and deepen your work in the world, all while expanding your business portfolio and smashing through glass ceilings.
As we conclude, the call to action is clear: consider how the strategic addition of publishing can transform your coaching business. Reflect on the synergies between your current offerings and the potential of published products. With our guidance, embracing an additional 15 different revenue streams becomes not just a vision but a viable, simple, easy-to-incorporate plan—one that is ready to be executed with the resources you already possess, the market you've already cultivated, and the speed and energy you're known for.
The world of publishing awaits, ready to be demystified and harnessed. It's time to turn the page to a new chapter in your entrepreneurial journey, one where your coaching expertise and publishing aspirations come together to create a beautiful, lasting impact, complete with success and fulfilment.
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"Absolutely, integrating a book publishing company with your coaching business sounds like a transformative step! 🚀 Remember what Steve Jobs said, 'Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.' Your initiative could not only diversify revenue streams but also position you as a thought leader in your niche. Keep soaring! 📚💼 #Innovation #Leadership #GrowthMindset"
Joan Williams CEO Founder OF Living The Holistic Lifestyle Body Mind And Soul LLC
10moHayley Paige Thanks for sharing.
I help overwhelmed solopreneurs streamline operations and get more done by providing flexible virtual assistance for administrative and marketing tasks - freeing up their time for growth.
10moA book publishing company for your coaching business? That's a bridge to success!
Organizational Alchemist & Catalyst for Operational Excellence: Turning Team Dynamics into Pure Gold | Sales & Business Trainer @ UEC Business Consulting
10moExpanding your coaching business with a book publishing company is a strategic move.