Today, I want to introduce you to Alyssa Padgett. You might remember her from the story about how she and her husband bought an $11,500 RV, traveled to all 50 states, and built a successful business.
Alyssa self-published her first book and has sold over 13,000 copies, earning a great passive income of more than $200 a day from her book, totaling $6,500 last month alone. She and her husband are full-time RVers, making a living and sharing their journey on their blog, HeathandAlyssa.com.
In 2014, they quit their jobs, bought a motorhome, and embarked on a year-long road trip across the U.S., working jobs in all 50 states for their documentary, Hourly America. After a year, they realized they loved the RV lifestyle, paid off debt, and built their video production business.
Alyssa is a film producer, travel blogger, and co-pilot of their Winnebago. She directed and produced Hourly America, which was featured on major media outlets. She also authored the best-selling book, A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV, and created a course, From Blog To Book, to help others write, launch, and market their books.
Alyssa shares their story about becoming full-time RVers, figuring out how to make money on the road, and paying off student debt. They’ve tried various ways to earn, including video production, speaking at events, making affiliate income, finding sponsors, hosting a conference, and writing a book.
Writing a book was a significant step for Alyssa. It helped monetize their blog, established credibility, and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, she learned that writing a book is just the beginning; marketing it is equally important.
Alyssa decided to write a book after watching her husband, Heath, go through the process. She realized that knowing how to publish and market the book was crucial. Despite initial fears, she focused on learning self-publishing and marketing strategies. Her first draft took about a month, but the entire process, including overcoming fears and learning KDP, took 18 months.
Marketing the book involved a detailed launch plan, including gathering influencer reviews, creating a launch team, and leveraging relationships with brands. She found that offering the book for free initially helped boost its visibility and sales on Amazon.
Pricing the book involved using Amazon’s Kindle Pricing Support to find the optimal price point. Alyssa experimented with different prices and found that higher prices, supported by good reviews, did not negatively impact sales.
Alyssa’s success with her book came from a combination of thorough research, strategic marketing, and continuous promotion. She emphasizes the importance of validating your book idea, gathering feedback, and being willing to invest time in marketing.
For those considering writing a book, Alyssa advises determining how much you want it and being prepared to put in the necessary work. The journey involves late nights, research, and overcoming fears, but the sense of accomplishment is worth it.
If you’re interested in writing a book, Alyssa’s course, From Blog To Book, provides a comprehensive guide to the process.