Its been a while since I've written a "business" blog, but for those that like that aspect of it, I figured I'd throw it out there.

With the latest 50 Shades' announcement: Kelly Marcel has been assigned to adapt the books for film I thought I would discuss the idea of Expanding Your Business.  

The idea that you have to spend money to make money has been around since business was created, and while writing and indie publishing erotica has cut a good portion of our costs down, there are still certain things that will tap our account.  I've already discussed my desire to keep close to the black.  I didn't want to go into debt with this business until I could ensure that I would bring in enough to break even soon enough.  Frankly I am a risk averse person and we were not in a place we could risk funds like that. 

Its been almost a year and while I'm not touring Europe on my paycheck I have completely reimbursed my initial start up fees for my lap top, editor, covers, fonts, the few pieces of advertising I have set up.  I am currently looking into hiring a web-assistant.  Someone to check through my links and ensure they're active and correct, to give me feedback, and to help me with some extra advertising here and there around the web.  But again the risk averse person within me is saying "this is stuff you do!"  But it takes away from my writing, reducing my output and creativity with more analytic type work.  

With each business decision there are pros and cons, and a level of risk, taking time to think them through before diving in and possibly wasting a bunch of money.  When I'm faced with a decision I set up a goal, a cancellation deadline, and a baseline.  

For example - another avenue I'm looking into is web ads on a popular website.  The pros are that it is relatively cheap, has no cancellation fees if it doesn't work, the trial period could be as long or as short as I like.  The cons are that while it would advertise to my web presence and help me expand my blog and my site I don't know if it will directly influence sales, plus all my advertising thus far has been free, and stepping into the world of paid advertising means that I will have more money I need to make to stay in the black.  I have decided that I will set up a 2 month trial, with the goal of reaching 500 "new" views on my pages.

In the end my decisions are based on my overall goals for my business.  Views may not instantly translate to sales, but without views people won't know about my works.  

I went on Barnes and Noble forums the other day and was reading a post about sales.

One "gentleman" was freaking out because he'd only made 5 sales that month.  He was talking about removing his many titles from B&N because he wasn't making any sells.  

Someone had made a comment that if he removed it he wouldn't make any money, and it really started a snowball effect.  Since there isn't any cost in having them posted the idea of simply "leaving them to be discovered" is a good one.  

I read a post on One Handed Writers that brought up that each book is an investment.  You invest time and creativity.  I truly agree with that.  

Someone else posted that he should remove them to let the rest of us have a better chance, but that is the surest way to never make any money off them.  

I have a lot of "hobby" writer friends, and when they ask me how I'm making it I am happy to give them all my feedback, notes on how I am doing it, how much I am expect and hoping for, etc. But they continually say things like "Oh, well, I guess I don't really have the time." or "I don't think I want to hire an editor" or "I need my muse to help me" or "well maybe I will look into it after my big project is finished" or "I don't know how to make a cover".  In the end they have given me excuse after excuse and you know what? I'm not breaking any arms.  I am only telling them how I did it when they ask!  But they aren't willing to put in the investment, they only want to reap the rewards.  

I think the idea of success and failure is holding a lot of them back, the dream is only a dream until you start making it a goal.   

One of my friends said "what if I only make a few sales?"  I said "How many is it making in your closet?"  She laughed, but I hope she got my point.  

Sales discouragement comes with many faces.  The "I haven't made much I'm pulling them." The "I made double last month why can't I get any sales this month?"  The "Its been so many months and I'm barely bringing in $500, but others are saying they're bringing in $3,000, what am I doing wrong?"  But in the end its just excuses, and fears. 

Watch out for this monster in your own life, if you are a writer beware comparing your sales to someone else's.  Beware of letting "well sales are down this month" become "I should stop wasting my time writing."  

Remember to look at the big picture, each book can have a lifetime online.  It can sell forever.  My "worst seller" - one that had never made a sell before in fact - has been bought four times this month.  True, four times doesn't even compare to my best sellers, but four times is giving me money in my pocket, and it could very easily turn into more sales.  It will be up there for the rest of my life (or as long as eBooks last!) and longer.