{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Behind the Book Cover","title":"Why I'd Rather Spend $1,000 Giving Books Away Than Make $1,000 Selling Them","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/2eca8a5d\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":491,"description":"A listener asked me a two-part question: as she gets ready to publish her book and launch her speaking career, what's the simplest, most economical path to having a box of copies on hand, and what should she budget to get there? I love this question, because I'm currently doing the exact thing she's asking about with the relaunch of On Good Authority.\n\nI've been following what I call the Alex Strathdee method—seeding signed, gift-wrapped copies into communities run by people I know and treating the request as the favor it is rather than a favor I'm doing them. That approach has already turned into an October speaking opportunity, and it's why my answer to her question is simple: never sell books after you speak, because giving them away builds far more value than the $60 you might walk away with from selling a few copies.\nPrinting runs about $3 a copy—with shipping as the real cost to budget for—and I'd rather spend $1,000 giving books away than make $1,000 selling them, because that investment tends to turn into far more down the road.\nIn this episode:Why treating a book gift as a favor to someone's community, not a favor from you, changes how people respond.The specific packaging details—stickers, highlighters, custom cards, ribbon—that turn a free book into a memorable gift instead of a giveawayRobert Cialdini's concept of reciprocity and why gifting a book creates a different kind of obligation than selling oneHow collecting addresses at events, following Joe Polish's thank-you-card approach, led to an unsolicited podcast invitationP.S. — Want me to answer your book question on a future episode? DM me on Instagram (@annabdavid), message me on LinkedIn or email anna@annadavid.com.\nWant to know more about my company? Legacy Launch Pad Publishing is a boutique hybrid publisher for entrepreneurs and established founders. We help clients create books that build authority, attract opportunities and grow businesses. More info 👉 https://www.legacylaunchpadpub.com...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Xb3KmOvREtDe2gC76u6FvR351DxBU4X6pzMVALw3Snk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lYWIx/MGM4YTQxNjY2ODgx/YmY4YmY1YTM0NzBm/NWNhZi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}