In episode 596, Megan Ellam teaches us how to write and market cookbooks to earn a significant portion of our income from self-publishing.

Megan Ellam is an Australian-based author, photographer, and recipe developer, best known for Mad Creations and 365 Keto Club. Since 2017, Megan has shared her low-carb recipes and weight loss journey, leading to the self-publication of over 10 keto cookbooks and more than 60 eBooks, including two World Gourmand Cookbook Award winners! A passionate foodie, Megan runs Mad Creations alongside her partner in love and life, Dave Hunter.

In this episode, you’ll learn more about how to add extra value to your cookbook or ebook, pricing books correctly and successful marketing ideas to sell more books fast.

Key points discussed:

- Niche down and create a clear theme and vision for your book: Determine the topic, focus and feel of your book to ensure a cohesive final product.

- Develop an index of recipe ideas before writing: Plan out the content of your book to make the writing process more efficient.

- Assemble a team of diverse recipe testers: Include both skilled and novice cooks to get well-rounded feedback on your recipes.

- Offer unique, original recipes that stand out: Develop creative, eye-catching dishes that your audience can't find elsewhere.

- Add extra value through cook's notes, variations, and additional content: Enhance your books by providing helpful information beyond just the recipes.

- Leverage your existing blog content by refreshing and repurposing it: Reshoot and repackage your popular recipes to create new book offerings.

- Price your books and ebooks higher to reflect their value: Don't underestimate the time and effort you've invested; charge accordingly.

- Utilize various marketing channels, including social media and email: Promote your books through a diverse range of platforms to reach your audience.

- Consider collaborations and partnerships to expand your reach: Explore opportunities to work with brands or other creators to cross-promote your books.

Connect with Megan Ellam

Website | Instagram