12 Ways to Make Money With a Book (Not Royalties)

Make money with a book without royalties

If you want to make money with a book, the fastest path is usually not royalties. Instead, use your book as an authority asset that generates leads, opens doors, and converts readers into clients, speaking opportunities, partnerships, and premium offers. When positioned correctly, a book becomes a sales engine that supports higher-value revenue streams.

Here is the core mindset shift: your book is the front door, not the product shelf. Royalties can be a nice bonus, but the real profit is what the book helps you sell next, including services, coaching, consulting, events, courses, and strategic deals.

Below are 12 field-tested ways to monetize a book without depending on book sales, plus a simple execution rule that makes everything work: pick one method and run it hard for 90 days before you switch strategies.

The one “given” that makes all 12 methods work

Before we get tactical, lock in one requirement. You need an offer outside the book, something of greater value that your ideal reader would reasonably buy. This might be:

• Done-for-you services
• Consulting
• Coaching (1:1 or group)
• A course or membership
• Workshops, trainings, or implementation intensives
• A productized service (a clear deliverable for a clear price)

If you do not have this yet, use the list below as inspiration for what to build. Your book can help you discover the right offer by showing you what readers ask for and where they get stuck.

Focus 90: why most authors do not see results

Most authors try three monetization strategies in three weeks. That is a recipe for frustration. A better approach is “Focus 90,” commit to one method for 90 days, learn it, improve the process, and measure results. You can stack strategies later, but you should earn momentum first.

1) Send your book to past clients, current clients, and warm prospects

This is the highest-leverage move for service-based authors because it converts relationships you already have. Print copies are inexpensive compared to the lifetime value of a client. Do not ask people to buy your book. Send it with a short note:

• Why you wrote it
• Which chapter is most relevant to them
• How to contact you if they want help implementing

Bonus play: send two copies and ask them to pass one to a friend who fits your ideal client profile.

2) Use the book to create strategic partnerships

Strategic partners already serve your ideal clients. Your book becomes the “handoff tool” they can give to their audience, which elevates their credibility while feeding you warm introductions.

Examples:

• Estate planning attorney + financial advisors
• Business coach + accountants
• Health practitioner + local clinics
• Leadership consultant + HR leaders

Give partners a small stack of books and a simple script they can use when they hand it out. The easier you make it, the more referrals you receive.

3) Send the book to event planners to get speaking opportunities

If you want speaking gigs, your book is your proof of expertise. Build a short list of conferences, associations, corporate events, and summits where your audience gathers, then mail your book to the right person with a one-page speaking sheet.

Keep it simple:

• 3 talk titles
• 3 outcomes attendees will get
• Short bio
• 2 social proof bullets
• Link to a short speaker reel (optional)

Speaking can be a profit center by itself. For example, a PCMA survey reported an average overall budget for hiring a keynote speaker of $22,449, with many events budgeting $10,000 to $50,000 for a keynote, and speakers reporting average fees around $14,000. That range highlights why author-driven speaking is worth pursuing when it matches your strengths.

Source: PCMA speaker and planner survey.

4) Create a webinar from the book’s core framework

A webinar is one of the fastest ways to turn your book content into revenue. The structure is straightforward:

1. Teach 3 to 5 key ideas from the book
2. Show examples and case insights
3. Invite people to take the next step through your offer

For many authors, 60 to 90 minutes is the sweet spot. If you have strong content and examples, 2 to 3 hours can work well, especially when you are delivering a workshop-style experience.

5) Turn the book into a workbook (low ticket, high leverage)

A workbook is simply your book content repackaged into prompts, checklists, and fill-in sections. It is powerful because:

• It increases implementation
• It creates an “action loop” that makes readers feel progress
• It becomes an easy upsell or companion product

Workbooks also pair well with workshops and group coaching because they give people a guided path.

6) Create a course from the book

Courses turn your expertise into scalable revenue. The easiest way to structure it is to map each section of your book to a module. Then add:

• Short lessons (5 to 12 minutes each)
• Templates and examples
• Implementation assignments

Courses can be priced from entry-level to premium depending on depth and support. Even if your core business is done-for-you, a course can pre-qualify buyers and “warm them up” to your premium offer.

7) Give away the ebook to generate leads

Lead magnets still work when they are relevant and specific. Instead of giving away a random chapter, give away the full ebook (PDF) in exchange for an email address. That opt-in signals intent: the person is raising their hand to learn from you.

Then follow up with a short email sequence that:

• Guides them to the best chapter for their situation
• Shares a case insight
• Invites them to a call, workshop, or next step

8) Run a free plus shipping book funnel

This is a classic book monetization strategy: you offer the physical book “free,” and charge shipping. The key benefit is lead quality. A buyer who enters payment details is typically more qualified than a free opt-in.

If you want a practical breakdown, here is a solid guide from Best Seller Publishing on building a free plus shipping funnel:

Free plus shipping funnel guide

9) Build a community around the book

A group can be on Facebook, Circle, Skool, or another platform. The model is simple:

• People join because they want the outcome promised by the book
• You provide ongoing guidance and conversation
• You offer the book inside the group (often via a funnel)
• You invite qualified members into higher-level programs

This works best when the group has a clear theme and a clear transformation, not a vague “author community.”

10) Start a podcast based on the book’s themes

A podcast builds audience and trust. If you publish consistently and keep episodes aligned to your book’s “big promise,” you create a long-term platform that feeds your funnel.

Simple execution tip: batch record 4 to 8 episodes in one day, then release weekly.

11) Build a YouTube channel from the book’s content

If video is your strength, YouTube is a compounding asset. Create short, specific videos (often 8 to 12 minutes) that answer the real questions your ideal reader is already asking. Each video should point to one next step: your book funnel, workshop, or lead magnet.

12) Run a challenge or multi-day event from the book

Challenges work because they create momentum. Instead of “here is information,” you are leading people through action over a short time window. Your book provides the curriculum, and the event provides the structure.

A simple, effective model is a 3-day challenge:

• Day 1: diagnose the problem and set the plan
• Day 2: implement the core framework
• Day 3: remove obstacles and map next steps

Then you invite participants into a deeper program where you help them implement fully.

Use your book while networking (a bonus method)

If you already attend networking events, your book can accelerate trust, but only if you use it intentionally. Do not place books on chairs and hope for the best. Instead:

• Have a real conversation
• Identify their problem
• Recommend a specific chapter that addresses that problem
• Hand them the book with a clear reason to open it

Can authors make 100K a year?

According to Best Seller Publishing, many authors can reach six figures per year, but the strongest path is rarely royalties alone. The more reliable route is using the book to drive high-value outcomes, such as consulting retainers, coaching programs, speaking fees, workshops, or licensing deals. When your book is positioned as the front end of a clear offer, it becomes an authority tool that increases conversion rates and shortens sales cycles, which is how authors more consistently reach and exceed $100K.

Quick checklist: choose your best monetization path

• If you already have clients: start with mailing books to your network.
• If partners serve your audience: build a strategic partner book handoff system.
• If you want visibility: pursue speaking, podcasts, or YouTube.
• If you want scalable revenue: build a course, webinar, or challenge.
• If you want lead flow: build an ebook opt-in or free plus shipping funnel.

Sources

• PCMA: speaker and planner dynamics survey
• Best Seller Publishing: free plus shipping funnel guide