Answer: 

The short answer is, sort of. In the world of book publishing, there are three main types: (1) traditional publishers (TP), (2) hybrid publishers (HP), and (3) self-publishing (SP). First, let's take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of each. Then, I'll explain where Springboard Books fits into the picture.

Traditional Book Publishers:

Pros:

- Wide distribution and bookstore access.

- Professional editing, design, and marketing support.

- Increased chances of landing bookstore placements.

Cons:

- Highly competitive and difficult to secure a publishing deal.

- Loss of creative control and lower royalty rates.

- Retain rights to your book

- Lengthy publishing timelines.

Hybrid Book Publishers:

Pros:

- Blend of traditional and self-publishing benefits.

- More control over the publishing process.

- Potential for higher royalties and faster publication.

Cons:

- Costs associated with these services are expensive.

- Varying quality and reputation among hybrid publishers.

- May still face some traditional publishing hurdles.

- Retain rights to your book and share some royalty profits.

- Require authors to do most or all of the marketing.

Self-Publishing:

Pros:

- Complete creative control over content and design.

- Rapid publication and potential for higher royalties.

- Accessibility to a global audience.

Cons:

- Large learning curve resulting in years to publication and --often homemade look.

- Full responsibility for editing, cover/interior, marketing, and distribution.

- Limited access to traditional bookstore placements.

- Potential for higher upfront costs without guaranteed success.

Springboard Books is your ultimate publishing partner, combining the strengths of different models for your benefit. As writers and business owners ourselves, we understand authors' needs inside out. Similar to traditional publishers, we offer professional beta reads, editing, and cover design, and we ensure multi-platform publication. However, unlike them, we never retain any rights, allowing you to keep 100% of your royalties while getting your book out much faster.

Like reputable hybrid publishers (beware of vanity publishers masquerading as HP), we uphold high standards and provide professional services, all while letting authors retain full rights and royalties. What sets us apart? Our Springboard To Profits Program is not only more cost-effective but also offers double the value.

Similar to self-publishing, we grant authors full control over rights and royalties. But here's where we shine: We provide comprehensive coaching, create top-tier products, handle all publishing services, significantly speed up your time to publication, and deliver a full-fledged marketing plan executed by our expert team. Springboard Books is your all-in-one solution for a successful book journey.

Answer: 

While Springboard Books and our Springboard To Profits Program primarily cater to authors looking to leverage their books for business growth, we've got something special for those who want to write just for the sheer joy of it! Introducing the "Newbie Book Writer" online course, created by Joel himself.

This course is your personal roadmap from Idea to Publication and beyond. It equips you with all the essential tools to plan, outline, write, design, edit, and launch your book. And the best part? You'll have the opportunity to engage in free coaching calls directly with Joel to guide you on your journey.

Whether your goal is to publish a book for personal satisfaction or to kickstart your writing career, the Newbie Book Writer course at www.newbiebookwriter.com is your ideal companion. Dive in and turn your book dreams into reality today!

Answer:

At Springboard Books, we don't offer ghostwriting services, and here's why: Firstly, ghostwriting can be exceptionally costly, often starting at $15,000 and reaching $50,000 or more. More importantly, the primary reason is that you're writing a book to enhance your business, and there's no one better equipped to do that than you. You possess an unparalleled understanding of your business—its challenges, aspirations, and unique offerings. Your book should be a source of immense pride, as it directly reflects your expertise, your personal history, and your distinctive stories. It's a reflection of you and your business, and that's something only you can create.

Answer: 

You can, but not if you want to work with us. While artificial intelligence has made significant advancements in various fields, there are several reasons why it may not be the best way to write a book, particularly for certain types of books:

1. Lack of Creativity and Originality: AI-generated content often lacks true creativity and originality. It can generate text based on patterns and data but may struggle with creating innovative and unique ideas that captivate readers in a novel way. Writing a book often requires creative thinking and a deep understanding of the subject matter, which AI may not fully grasp.

2. Limited Understanding of Human Emotions and Nuances: AI lacks the ability to truly understand and convey complex human emotions, nuances, and cultural sensitivities effectively. Writing, especially in genres like fiction or memoirs, often relies on capturing the depth of human experiences and emotions, which can be challenging for AI to replicate authentically.

3. Author's Voice and Perspective: Every writer has a unique voice and perspective that adds a personal touch to their work. AI-generated content may lack the distinctiveness and authenticity that comes from an individual author's voice, making it challenging to engage readers on a personal level. Readers often connect with the author's voice and viewpoint, which can be lost with AI-generated content.

While AI can be a valuable tool for tasks like generating reports, data analysis, or even assisting in drafting certain types of content, the art of writing a book, especially one that requires creativity, emotion, and a distinct authorial voice, is a highly human endeavor. AI may aid authors in research or editing, but it's unlikely to replace the core elements of writing that make books truly compelling and unique. (BTW, this answer came by asking ChatGPT why it’s not the best way to write a book! All other answers in these FAQs are written by a human).

Answer: 

Absolutely! We leverage artificial intelligence in a supportive role within our service. For instance, if our human beta readers identify areas in a client's manuscript that require additional clarity, examples, structural adjustments, or a deeper understanding, we may employ A.I. to assist. However, it's essential to clarify that we never rely on A.I. as the final editor. When it comes to editing, you need a seasoned human professional who can truly grasp your writer's voice, tone, style, and flow.

Furthermore, we harness A.I. behind the scenes to enhance your marketing campaign. For instance, A.I. aids us in swiftly crafting precise text and key points for your book's landing page, formulating captivating email subject headlines, and refining the clarity, conciseness, and overall impact of our initially drafted automated emails. It's a valuable tool that complements our human expertise in providing you with the best possible service.

Answer: 

No, not in any way. We address this question more comprehensively in the first question here about whether Springboard Books is a book publisher. In summary, clients retain complete ownership of their books, including their ISBN (making them the imprint or actual publisher). We do not require any contracts that entitle us to a share of your royalties or profits. You will keep 100% of your book's royalties. However, it's important to note that royalties typically constitute only a small part of the overall profit equation. The Springboard Method is designed to help you leverage your book as a lead magnet to boost sales for your existing business, making it a powerful tool for your success.

Answer: 

Springboard Books is a Done-With-You service as opposed to a Done-For-You service. Again, it’s the best of both worlds. We do most of the heavy lifting for you while you retain control over all your work and aid us to give you the best products. can expect to actively participate in the book writing process while receiving guidance and support from the coach. Here are some duties and work that a person hiring a book writing coach can expect to be involved in:

1. Writing: You will be responsible for writing the content of your book. This includes drafting chapters, sections, or content based on your coach's guidance and feedback. Don’t worry, we will help you every step of the way.

2. Ideation and Planning: You should collaborate with your coach to brainstorm ideas, outline the book's structure, and develop a clear plan for the book's content.

3. Self-Revision: Revising and editing the book is a crucial task. The beta readers assigned to your book will address any issues such as clarity, coherence, and style. You will need to use their feedback (as you see fit) and do any necessary revisions on your manuscript.

4. Setting Goals and Milestones: Together with your coach, you should set writing goals and milestones to track progress and stay on schedule. At Springboard Books, we use the software called Trello to set these milestones and keep everyone on track.

5. Time Management: Managing your time effectively to meet deadlines and writing goals is ultimately your responsibility.

6. Communication: Maintaining open and regular communication with your coach and team is vital to ensure that both parties are aligned on the book's direction and objectives.

7. Self-Motivation: Writing a book can be a lengthy and challenging process. You will need to stay motivated and committed to your writing goals. Keep in mind, we will help kick you in the butt when needed!

8. Marketing: Together with your team, you will at times be asked to provide feedback on elements of the marketing funnel we are working on so it best represents you and your business.

Basically, your primary responsibility is to write your book manuscript, but again, we will help you throughout the process.

Answer: 

No worries! Your aim isn't to craft a literary masterpiece but to create content that genuinely assists people and guides them toward your premium products or services. It's essential to remember that, as an entrepreneurial author following the Springboard Method, your primary objective isn't solely selling books on platforms like Amazon (the traditional author's goal). Instead, your book serves as a powerful tool to grow your business.

Furthermore, consider that many readers have a preference for content presented in a conversational tone, which is highly effective in reaching potential customers. This approach often outperforms formal, academic writing that might only resonate with a select few.

Lastly, this is precisely why we have editors on hand! A skilled editor works like a washing machine for your manuscript. You provide the raw, unpolished material, and they work their magic to refine it, ensuring your unique writer's voice shines through. It's a transformative process that leaves your content polished, clean, and ready for publication while preserving your original style. It's like literary magic in action!

Answer: 

Haha, wouldn't it be nice if it were exactly 32.5 days? But in all seriousness, the timeframe for writing your book varies because it depends on your unique strengths, motivation, available time, and your desired timeline. However, there are strategies that can expedite the process without compromising quality.

First, we emphasize thorough planning and outlining. This upfront effort makes the actual writing process smoother, faster, and even enjoyable. With a clear roadmap, you'll progress more swiftly.

Second, with a writing coach and beta readers by your side, you'll have the tools to speed up your writing journey while maintaining quality. For instance, we'll help you find your optimal writing environment, eliminate distractions, establish a writing schedule, and set daily word count goals. These strategies will be tailored to your needs.

Lastly, we recommend opting for smaller books, typically with a final word count between 25,000 to 35,000 words (approximately 120 to 160 pages). Following these approaches, you can expect to complete a rough manuscript in 4-6 weeks. However, please remember that everyone's pace is unique, so it might take you more or less time.

Answer: 

In the vast landscape of book publishing, Amazon stands as the dominant force, hosting around 60 million titles. Consequently, Amazon is our first and foremost destination for publishing your book. Once your manuscript is prepared, we take care of the publishing process for you. Moreover, we utilize specialized publishing software to pinpoint the most discoverable book categories and keywords/phrases, a crucial step often overlooked by many novice authors and smaller publishing companies. We publish your book in two formats: Kindle eBook and paperback. Additionally, we offer professional audiobook services, a recommended choice as audiobooks continue to gain popularity worldwide.

Following the Amazon publication, we extend our reach by publishing your book through Draft2Digital. This aggregation company ensures that your eBook reaches various platforms, including the Apple Store, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Canada), and numerous other global book retailers.

You may have heard of Ingram Spark, but we typically do not utilize this service. The reason is simple: Ingram Spark is more aligned with traditional authorship goals rather than entrepreneurial objectives. Our primary strategy for getting your book into the hands of readers involves running targeted ads on social media platforms, which aligns better with your entrepreneurial aspirations.

Answer: 

We adapt to each client's unique needs rather than sticking to a single platform. The choice depends on factors like complexity and funnel requirements. For instance, some clients prefer a straightforward opt-in funnel, while others require advanced options like acquisition sales funnels with order bumps, upsells, and downsells.

We're flexible with platforms, accommodating clients who prefer their existing ones (e.g., Wix, Squarespace, Kajabi) or those open to exploring alternatives better suited to their goals. While we're proficient in various platforms, our preferred choices are WordPress, Kajabi, and Kaifecta, offering versatility to align with your specific needs.

We also use a funnel mapping, planning, and strategy simulation tool (GERU) to help us forecast performance, identify optimization opportunities, and ensure our client funnels are finely tuned for maximum efficiency and results.

Answer: 

In Pillar #3 of the Springboard Method, we employ the "Steel Thread" approach. Instead of using a scattered or shotgun approach by attempting to market to a broad audience across various platforms, we emphasize laser-focused precision with a single plan of attack. This entails:

- Having one primary offer (typically your book).

- Creating one dedicated landing page.

- Employing one clear and compelling call to action (e.g., "download now").

- Focusing on one advertising platform, such as Facebook or Instagram.

- Running one or two optimized ads to maximize effectiveness and results.

This streamlined strategy helps ensure that marketing efforts are concentrated, targeted, and highly efficient.

Answer: 

The method we teach varies based on each client's specific goals, particularly in relation to their backend premium offer, which is the ultimate objective of using a book as a lead magnet. Different strategies align with different goals:

Freebie Opt-In: The simplest approach involves offering a digital (PDF) copy of your book in exchange for an email address.

Acquisition Funnel: This strategy may involve charging a nominal fee for a PDF copy of the book or leading viewers to a webinar, video sales letter (VSL), or call booking page after delivering the book.

Free Plus Shipping: Clients can adopt a "free plus shipping" model, where prospects pay a small amount (e.g., $9.95) to receive a physical paperback copy of the book by mail. For clients dealing with larger book quantities, there are drop shipping print-on-demand (POD) services available to handle paperback distribution.

Audiobooks: Similar distribution methods can be applied to audiobooks as well.

We collaborate closely with each client to determine the strategy that best aligns with their specific goals and requirements, ensuring that the chosen method serves their overall objectives effectively.

Answer: 

Our main approach for sourcing cold but highly targeted traffic for clients primarily involves running paid ads on Facebook and Instagram. However, we maintain flexibility to adapt to the client's preferred platform, including options like YouTube. Our team includes a skilled videographer who specializes in aiding clients in ad creation and fostering brand awareness through consistent content creation.

Additionally, we educate and motivate clients to develop organic and evergreen strategies, enhancing their discoverability even further. These strategies, along with paid ads, form a comprehensive approach to driving traffic to our clients' offerings.

Answer: 

The "Springboard Method" serves as the cornerstone of our approach at Springboard Books, encompassing three essential pillars:

1. Write Like an Entrepreneur, Not an Author: We teach individuals to write their books with an entrepreneurial mindset. This means your book functions as a dual-purpose tool. It stands as a valuable resource that genuinely helps people while also serving as a dynamic marketing tool, propelling them into your business and igniting their desire for your premium products or services.

2. Publish Like a Bonafide Author: We guide individuals through the publishing process, ensuring they become recognized authors rather than merely producing a generic 7 or 12-page PDF. Offering your book as a lead magnet as a published author enhances your credibility and appeal.

3. Embrace the "Steel Thread" Approach: Instead of employing a scattered or shotgun marketing approach that targets a broad audience across multiple platforms, we advocate for precise, laser-focused strategies. This involves:

- A single primary offer (typically your book).

-A dedicated landing page.

- A clear and compelling call to action (e.g., "download now").

- A specific advertising platform, such as Facebook or Instagram.

- Running one or two optimized ads to maximize effectiveness and results.

This streamlined strategy ensures that marketing efforts are concentrated, targeted, and highly efficient.

Answer: 

The fundamental concept revolves around utilizing your book as a catalyst–or springboard–to guide individuals (readers) into your business's marketing ecosystem. Eventually, this journey leads them to engage with and purchase your higher-tier services or offerings. For a comprehensive explanation, I delve into this topic in great detail in my book, "Fishing With Dynamite." If you haven't already, reading the book is the next recommended step to gain deeper insights into this strategy.

To achieve success in this strategy, it's crucial that the client's backend offer is crystal clear, robust, and highly appealing. We collaborate closely with the client to strengthen this aspect, ensuring a seamless connection from the book to the offer, encompassing all the necessary steps in between.

Answer: 

To alleviate people’s initial concerns we offer our “You Can’t Lose Guarantee.”

Here's how it works:

1. After actively engaging in our Springboard To Profits Program and promoting your book for one year, if your business's profit hasn't increased by at least 10% compared to the previous year, our team will continue working with you at no additional charge until we meet that goal.

2. If, despite our combined efforts, we fall short of this target, you will receive a full refund of all your payments, no questions asked.

To maintain the validity of this guarantee, we simply ask that you actively participate in coaching calls, adhere to the plan, and collaborate with us throughout the book writing, publishing, and marketing process.

We are committed to making this investment one of the most valuable decisions you've ever made for both your business and personal growth.