Today, I am speaking with Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom. Crystal is a wife, mother, speaker, and author of several books. Money Saving Mom is a coupon and blogging website about intentional living, finance, family, and business. Crystal began couponing while living on a strict budget while her husband was in law school. Her couponing and blogging eventually turned into her Money Saving Mom blog which exceeded her expectations and helped allow her and her husband to purchase their home outright.
Being around Crystal is contagious. She is just one of those people who you would trust to let your kids go to her house. I’m excited about this episode as we discuss how Crystal used her books to help promote and grow Money Saving Mom to phenomenal levels. Crystal wrote her first book The Money Saving Mom’s Budget when she was contacted by a publisher. She had a following, but she didn’t really know how to write a book and really didn’t understand the contract.
Her first book deal was a bit rocky because she did everything wrong, but it was a great learning experience. She shares her lessons and inspiration for writing a book the right way. Some of these include having a thorough plan, outline, and proposal. As well as having a ghost editor to help with cohesiveness, accountability, and input. With these experiences learned Crystal is now a book writing machine, and she shares all of this and more in today’s episode.
You can find Crystal here:
Money Saving Mom
Books by Crystal Paine
The Money Saving Mom’s Budget
Money Making Mom Book
Say Goodbye to Survival Mode
Show Notes
[01:34] Why Crystal decided to write her first book The Money Saving Mom's Budget.
[04:43] Lessons learned included needing to have a plan before writing a book.
[05:31] On her second book she spent time finding the idea and then focusing on that topic and writing a proposal that outlines every single step.
[07:20] Using ghost editors made the full-length book process much easier.
[08:21] The editing process helped with accountability and organizing and strengthening the text.
[09:54] Having published books gives a form of legitimacy and credibility that opens up opportunities.
[11:18] Going through a publisher is not as strong an income stream as self-publishing.
[11:56] Crystal had to make the time to work on her books because she is extremely busy and it becomes a family endeavor.
[13:01] Getting up early helped with her first books. She wrote her third book from midnight to 4:00 am to find time to focus.
[14:49] Her husband also helped with the homeschooling and allowed Crystal to sleep in.
[16:51] She put together a marketing plan for her first book. Publishers expect you to do the work of marketing.
[18:27] She planned 7-9 months in advance and found hot topics to write on and promote on social media. She thought about the marketing while writing the book.
[19:33] On her third book she was honed in on marketing from the beginning including finding her target audience of overwhelmed moms.
[21:35] She focused on sharing the value the book would give people in the form of articles and creating awareness.
[24:00] Using a launch team also helps get the word out.
[27:58] The book has opened doors and helped Crystal's confidence grow.
[31:05] Being a real person has been key to Crystal's success.
[32:18] Crystal used Periscope to promote her 5-day Money Making Mom course.
[37:27] Crystal offered a free 1st-day offer on her courses. This was a great teaser that led to a lot of sales.
[38:13] Her biggest revenue is from email sign ups and blog readers which lead to affiliate sales.
[38:56] Her books are also in the library which has led to readers.
[39:45] Giving away coupons and freebies from companies fell flat on its face until she gave away a chore planner. Focus on the freebie that will be the biggest incentive for people.
[44:02] Share your own unique gifts and your own unique story.
Links and Resources:
self-publishingschool.com
Spsfreetraining.com
Sell Your Book Like Wildfire
Periscope
Motivated Mom’s Chore Planner
Money Saving Mom
Books by Crystal Paine
The Money Saving Mom’s Budget
Money Making Mom Book
Say Goodbye to Survival Mode
SPS 258 $105k From My Book Launch Within 3 Months with Brian Luebben (From Passive To Passionate)
SPS 247 How To Format A Book + Atticus Overview & Deep Dive with Dave Chesson
SPS 256: Understanding AI To Grow Your Business (AI Deep Dive) with Chris Winfield
SPS:255 Brave Thinking & Growing Your Coaching Business with Mary Morrissey
SPS 254 Valuepreneurs, “Funderdome” & Publishing Before Your 60th Birthday with Steve Waddell
SPS 253 The Creative Process, Humor, And Becoming Prolific with Jon Acuff
Sold Out Coach + The Sage, Struggler, And Sherpa with John Meese
SPS 251 The 5 P’s Of Profitable Podcast Guesting with Dustin Riechmann
SPS 250 Network Marketing Lessons + “Go For No” Marketing Your Book with Ray Higdon
SPS 249 Using Your DISC Profile To Write & Publish A Book Successfully with Dr. Robert Rohm (Personality Insights)
SPS 248 The Jerry Springer vs The Oprah Approach To Writing About Tough Life Experiences with Paul Scanlon
SPS 247 Million Dollar Weekend: From $50 & A Weekend To $80M/Year In Sales with Noah Kagan
SPS 246 Using Atomic Habits To Write & Publish A Book, 4M+ Copies In 3 Years with James Clear
SPS 245 SPS Throwback Rich Dad Poor Dad & 46M+ Units Sold of his Self-Published Book (Robert Kiyosaki Interview)
SPS 244: When Faith Fails: Writing About Your Faith As A Christian or Pastor…with Dominic Done
SPS 243: The Advisor Breakthrough: Using A Book To Get Clients & Referrals with Shawn Sparks
SPS 242: Writing A Memoir On Your Health & Faith Journey with Karen Wilkinson
SPS 241: Get Scalable: Scaling Your Company Using A Book with Ryan Deiss
240: “The Empowered Woman” + Writing A Collaboration Book / Anthology with Marta Spirk
SPS 239: Launching An Updated & Revised Edition After 2M+ Copies Sold (Miracle Morning Behind The Scenes)…with Hal Elrod
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