The path to making money isn’t actually about… making money.
I know, i know... Stick with me.
Ever feel like you’re doing everything right in your writing business, but the money just isn’t following?
After 15 failed businesses, here’s 3 principles that I learned:
1. Serve First, Profit Later
Making money comes from genuinely serving people, not from obsessing over how to charge them. Think about your favorite brands — they probably solved a real problem for you before they ever saw a dime of your money.
For non-fiction writers, this means:
- Share your best tips, openly on social media
- Give away detailed how-to documents, without asking for anything in return
- Help other your audience in Facebook groups and Reddit communities… without asking for anything
- Publish your insights regularly *(*especially the ones you think are “too valuable to give away”)
2. The Service Multiplier Effect
Most writers think: “If I help 10 people, I’ll potentially get 10 customers.”
Wrong.
When you consistently serve your audience, something magical happens. Those 10 people tell 10 others. Those people share your content. Your old posts keep working for you. Suddenly, your impact (and your potential market) grows exponentially.
For non-fiction writers, this looks like:
- Creating in-depth case studies of your target audience
- Build free tools or templates for your community — and give them away
- Start an accountability group
When you help the 10 people who show, they tell 10 more. THIS is how you grow and audience from day 1.
3. The Long Game Advantage
Most writers try to monetize too early.
They write three blog posts and slap a “hire me” button on their website. I know because I did exactly that…
But here’s what I finally understood: The longer you serve without asking for money, the more valuable your eventual offering becomes. Why? Because you:
- Truly understand your audience’s problems
- Have built genuine relationships
- Created a body of work that proves your expertise
- Developed trust that no marketing budget can buy
For non-fiction writers, playing the long game means:
- Building a body of free work that showcases your expertise
- Developing deep relationships with your readers through consistent interaction
- Creating multiple touch-points (newsletter, social media, medium articles) where people can experience your value
- Waiting to launch products until people are actively asking for them
This approach isn’t just about making more money. It’s about building something sustainable.
Something that grows stronger over time, not weaker. Something that turns readers into advocates and customers into friends.
