How to Make Money Even When COVID-19 Throttled Your Readership
Pandemics make for strange behaviors
This isn’t going to last forever. Yep, it feels like it right now, but it won’t. While we don’t know how long it will last, we do know the only thing that is guaranteed is change.
As writers and creators we’ve got to keep the wheels turning — just as much for our mental state as for our financial. Even if you aren’t working to put food on your table, you must continue to practice your craft in some small way to maintain your sense of order amongst chaos, peace amongst trouble, and stability amongst insecurity.
Everyone is suffering in some way right now. Remember that — everyone, everywhere.
- Whining won’t make the virus go away
- Hiding from your priorities won’t increase your income
- Ignoring reality won’t make reality bend to your will
So, we fight. Not in a ‘I’m going outside, forget all these rules,’ kind of way. We fight to keep our craft alive, in new and creative ways, so our creative business will be stronger than ever once this whole nonsense settles to our new normal.
I don’t know about you, but my Medium reads are in the toilet — even as my readership grows.
I know this is happening to other writers as well — ones much bigger than I. I assume that most readers have abandoned Medium for news sites instead.
What we can’t do is nothing. Nothing never amounts to anything. For my part, I continue to write daily. I publish on Medium as often as I can. While my reads have tanked and my partner income has been cut by 75% (yep, 75%), I won’t stop working to build my platform.
You’re not alone
Yep, sure feels like it. But remember, your readers are fighting the same fight in their own way.
I’m scared too.
I won’t make up some hero story about how great I am. I still have to go to work every day, because my job has been classified as essential. While we are working on COVID-19 vaccines right now, I don’t feel very essential. I’d rather be home with my family, instead of risking my health (and theirs) daily… but I also like eating, so I show up.
There are ways you can earn extra money, right now, even if you’re stuck at home, cut-off from the world.
The best part is that these methods will translate into a non-COVID-19 world too. Once the doom-cloud is lifted and we return to shaking hands (or whatever the new thing becomes), you’ll be in position to own a thriving business, location-free.
Here are some things writers and creators can do to make money now:
- Sell your stuff on eBay. People are flocking to eBay right now, because it’s hands-off. You can unload anything for some quick cash. You can even print postal labels at home and the post office will pick-up your stuff. You don’t have to leave your compound.
- Create an inexpensive course. Create another one. Create ten more. Solve a specific problem for your readership. Give them a price-point they can afford during this pandemic. Your tribe is still buying stuff right now, but will they buy your stuff? They will if you create something they want.
- Give your work away and ask for pay-what-you-can. This is a method that works well — the donation model. In times like this, everyone gets it. Tell your readers if they can’t afford it, then take the work for noting. Let those who are more-fortunate know they should pay a bit more, so you can support those with a lot less. People are a lot more kind to each other than they were two months ago.
- Host on-line coaching sessions. Build a mastermind group that meets weekly or monthly. Charge a small, recurring fee and bring these folks together. The hive-mind will help solve each other’s problems. You get paid as the facilitator and you benefit from all the wisdom of the group.
The point is, get creative. The world is upside-down right now. Those who zig when the world zags, will have the advantage when this clears. I don’t have all the answers. Not even close. I’m struggling right now too.
But what I won’t do, is give-up. I hope you don’t either.
Should you focus on writing books right now? I you’ve already got an audience, yes. They’ve got idle time and they’re probably hungry for more. If you’re a new writer, it will be very hard to get people’s attention right now, versus the effort required to bring a new book to market.
You’d be better-off with courses, coaching, or consulting — quick wins with higher price-points that carry more value for the reader. Books have a price cap and unfortunately that cap is low.
Now is the critical time to build your tribe
When all this pandemic nonsense shakes-out, not all platforms will survive. Many of these tech companies bleed cash to keep their products free. If the cash isn’t available some will disappear.
Lately, this makes me worry about Medium. Clearly, readership has dropped like a hot rock.
Which also makes me double-down on my own tribe — a platform I own no matter where I publish my content. If we build a business on someone else’s platform, the platform owns our business.
You can’t take your followers with you.
This is why we need email lists more than ever. Email does all the hard work for you, once you do the hard work of setting everything up. When you build your email list now, before you really need one, you’ll be positioned for better success when you’re ready to release your work to the world.
…and I’ve got something for you.
I built a free email masterclass for you. I hand-crafted the whole thing. It took me a couple months. I call the masterclass the Tribe 1K.
I’ll show you how to get your first 1,000 (or your next 1,000) readers without spending a hot nickel on ads. Past students include New York Times bestselling authors. Yep, the ones you see in the bookstore.
Your email list will help you build a legacy writing business.
If you want to grow your writing business you need email before you lose that valuable reader. Start your list before you need one. Once you need one it’s almost too late.
Guarantee your seat before I start charging an enrollment fee.
We’re waiting for you.
Enroll in my Email Masterclass. Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers
August Birch (AKA the Book Mechanic) is both a fiction and non-fiction author from Michigan, USA. As a self-appointed guardian of writers and creators, August teaches folks who want to make work that sells and sell work they make. When he’s not writing or thinking about writing, August carries a pocket knife and shaves his head with a safety razor.