HPI
New Contributor
Hi everyone,
this is my first post. I wanted to share my story because :
- I hope it will help some of you.
- I would like to receive advices, if possible, about growing & scaling my self-publishing business.
First of all, I will try to introduce myself and explain shortly my entrepreneurship journey.
I'm a 35 years old dad, born in France (please forgive me for my English !).
I love to read since my childhood.
I have a master degree in advertising.
2010 : Directly after the obtention of my degree, I work during 2 years as a sales representative.
2 years of nightmare. At the end of those 2 years, I was fed up with (it is REALLY an euphemism) the lack of freedom and time to do what I really want (FTE).
2012 : I decide to try to work on Internet. Back in 2013, in France, it was considered as something really strange. Anyway, after 1 month of intense research, I earn my first customer as a Web Editor.
The new taste of freedom is delicious, but not enough. I want more.
2013 : I stumble upon the book of Tim Ferriss : The 4-Hour WorkWeek. I am hooked. I decide to create some information product. I learn to create a Wordpress website. Then I face my first problem : how to attract traffic. I decide to learn digital marketing. I fall in love with the discipline. I apply what I learn on my information product website. Result : Trafic. Sales. But No Productocracy.
2014 : I start a digital marketing agency (translation : I become a digital marketing freelance), in parallel of my info product business. 2nd mistake : Polygamy.
2015 : I read the Fastlane Millionaire. Hooked again.
2015 - 2018 : I continue my info product business, my freelance business, I open a restaurant with 2 associates and I start several online businesses with a chasing money mindset, trying to fit every ideas with the Fastlane Methodology. Result : EACH IDEA FAILS BECAUSE I'M A POLYGAME WHO WANT ONLY ONE THING : MONEY. FAST. EASY.
2018 : I read UNSCRIPTED . Hooked again. Back to earth. I'm fed up with my mindset (2nd FTE ?). I feel a urge need of purpose. I want from the bottom of my heart to give value, even if money doesn't come back in exchange. That is why I'm starting to write a non-fiction book in order to share my knowledge and help people of my community to be happier in life (it is a book about my religion, because I'm a student in theology since 15 years). Meanwhile, I close every businesses except my freelancing job as a digital marketer in order to pay my bills.
2019 : I learn to write a book. I learn to proof-read a book. I learn InDesign. I learn to create a book cover. I launch my book on KDP. After 1 month I earn 100€ on Amazon and 100€ with a library who found my book interesting. I'm hooked (that is, again, an euphemism). Even if my personal goal of writing a book is fulfilled, I fall in love with publishing, not writing. I shift my identity and decide to become a publisher. Indeed, I don't want to publish my own books, but to translate the books of scholars of the 8th century, from arabic to french, (their works are royalty free because they are from the public domain, and their quality are far above what I'm able to produce as a writer).
2020 : 1 year after. Results : My book is first in my niche. I have 9 translations. Results : 10 books with hundreds of reviews at 4,8/5. I earn 3000€/month but I know I'm onto something (Productocracy). I'm fulfilled with Purpose, Passion, Motivation, Ambition. I close my freelancing business because I earn enough to pay the bills. I become 100% focus on this business (Monogamy).
2021 : I break my profit record in April : 17000€ of pure profit. I have never earn this kind of money. I read The Great Rat Race Escape . I'm hooked.
Up until now, I was doing everything all alone. For the first time, I have hired a translator (freelance) in order to produce more books, to grow, to scale. This is the first time I delegate.However, I don't know if it is the right path. That is why I'm asking you advices : What do you think are the next steps for me in order to GROW & SCALE ?
NOTES : At this time My assets are :
A KDP account : 13 books : 70% of my revenue
15 clients in wholesale : Small-size libraries : 20% of my revenue
A membership website (access to all my books in digital format for 3,99€/month) : 50 members
An e-commerce website : 150€ per month (net profit)
An Amazon Ads account : ROI x6 in profit : I spent 1€ and earn 6€ of profit. Huge ROI but I'm reaching a ceiling, meaning it is hard for me to spend more (not enough volume available)
A blog : 10k visits/month
An email list : 10k leads, 1k customers
this is my first post. I wanted to share my story because :
- I hope it will help some of you.
- I would like to receive advices, if possible, about growing & scaling my self-publishing business.
First of all, I will try to introduce myself and explain shortly my entrepreneurship journey.
I'm a 35 years old dad, born in France (please forgive me for my English !).
I love to read since my childhood.
I have a master degree in advertising.
2010 : Directly after the obtention of my degree, I work during 2 years as a sales representative.
2 years of nightmare. At the end of those 2 years, I was fed up with (it is REALLY an euphemism) the lack of freedom and time to do what I really want (FTE).
2012 : I decide to try to work on Internet. Back in 2013, in France, it was considered as something really strange. Anyway, after 1 month of intense research, I earn my first customer as a Web Editor.
The new taste of freedom is delicious, but not enough. I want more.
2013 : I stumble upon the book of Tim Ferriss : The 4-Hour WorkWeek. I am hooked. I decide to create some information product. I learn to create a Wordpress website. Then I face my first problem : how to attract traffic. I decide to learn digital marketing. I fall in love with the discipline. I apply what I learn on my information product website. Result : Trafic. Sales. But No Productocracy.
2014 : I start a digital marketing agency (translation : I become a digital marketing freelance), in parallel of my info product business. 2nd mistake : Polygamy.
2015 : I read the Fastlane Millionaire. Hooked again.
2015 - 2018 : I continue my info product business, my freelance business, I open a restaurant with 2 associates and I start several online businesses with a chasing money mindset, trying to fit every ideas with the Fastlane Methodology. Result : EACH IDEA FAILS BECAUSE I'M A POLYGAME WHO WANT ONLY ONE THING : MONEY. FAST. EASY.
2018 : I read UNSCRIPTED . Hooked again. Back to earth. I'm fed up with my mindset (2nd FTE ?). I feel a urge need of purpose. I want from the bottom of my heart to give value, even if money doesn't come back in exchange. That is why I'm starting to write a non-fiction book in order to share my knowledge and help people of my community to be happier in life (it is a book about my religion, because I'm a student in theology since 15 years). Meanwhile, I close every businesses except my freelancing job as a digital marketer in order to pay my bills.
2019 : I learn to write a book. I learn to proof-read a book. I learn InDesign. I learn to create a book cover. I launch my book on KDP. After 1 month I earn 100€ on Amazon and 100€ with a library who found my book interesting. I'm hooked (that is, again, an euphemism). Even if my personal goal of writing a book is fulfilled, I fall in love with publishing, not writing. I shift my identity and decide to become a publisher. Indeed, I don't want to publish my own books, but to translate the books of scholars of the 8th century, from arabic to french, (their works are royalty free because they are from the public domain, and their quality are far above what I'm able to produce as a writer).
2020 : 1 year after. Results : My book is first in my niche. I have 9 translations. Results : 10 books with hundreds of reviews at 4,8/5. I earn 3000€/month but I know I'm onto something (Productocracy). I'm fulfilled with Purpose, Passion, Motivation, Ambition. I close my freelancing business because I earn enough to pay the bills. I become 100% focus on this business (Monogamy).
2021 : I break my profit record in April : 17000€ of pure profit. I have never earn this kind of money. I read The Great Rat Race Escape . I'm hooked.
Up until now, I was doing everything all alone. For the first time, I have hired a translator (freelance) in order to produce more books, to grow, to scale. This is the first time I delegate.However, I don't know if it is the right path. That is why I'm asking you advices : What do you think are the next steps for me in order to GROW & SCALE ?
NOTES : At this time My assets are :
A KDP account : 13 books : 70% of my revenue
15 clients in wholesale : Small-size libraries : 20% of my revenue
A membership website (access to all my books in digital format for 3,99€/month) : 50 members
An e-commerce website : 150€ per month (net profit)
An Amazon Ads account : ROI x6 in profit : I spent 1€ and earn 6€ of profit. Huge ROI but I'm reaching a ceiling, meaning it is hard for me to spend more (not enough volume available)
A blog : 10k visits/month
An email list : 10k leads, 1k customers
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