DeepSummary
Kim McCosker, the founder of 4 Ingredients, shares her journey of self-publishing over 42 cookbooks and selling 9 million copies. She started with a simple idea of creating easy recipes with just 4 ingredients or less to help busy families. After failing to get a publishing deal, she decided to self-publish her first book in 2007, investing her own money and going door-to-door to sell it.
Despite initial skepticism from the industry, McCosker's relentless marketing efforts, including sending out press releases and following up persistently, led to her books being stocked in major retail chains. She attributes her success to building trust and engagement with her audience by sharing her story, providing value through free recipes, and leveraging strategic partnerships.
McCosker emphasizes the importance of self-publishing as a powerful marketing tool for businesses. She shares insights on managing brand fatigue, outsourcing tasks like design and printing, and leveraging social media to connect with her audience. Her latest venture, 'The Easiest Cooking Show Ever,' on Foxtel, is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit and the success of her self-publishing journey.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Self-publishing can be a powerful marketing tool for businesses, positioning the author as an expert and building trust with potential customers.
- Persistent and creative marketing efforts, such as sending press releases, following up, and leveraging strategic partnerships, are crucial for the success of self-published books.
- Building an engaged online community and sharing valuable content can lead to a loyal audience that advocates for your brand.
- Focusing on the benefits and solutions for your audience, rather than solely promoting your products, can resonate better and drive sales.
- Outsourcing tasks like design, printing, and distribution can be beneficial for self-published authors, while maintaining control over the content and messaging.
- Managing brand fatigue and continuously innovating with new ideas, such as TV shows or partnerships, can help sustain interest and growth.
- Persistence, determination, and a willingness to adapt in the face of skepticism or rejection are essential qualities for entrepreneurial success.
- Leveraging social media to share stories, engage with the audience, and provide value can be an effective marketing strategy for self-published authors and businesses.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And then I realized the more you give, the more that will come back to you and, you know, use it as, use your beautiful images, use your beautiful story, storytelling and use it so that people can find you, endorse you, follow you, advocate for you.“ by Kim McCosker
- “It wasn't about me. It wasn't about my four ingredients. Was just, it was. I knew there were so many people out there that were time poor, that was struggling at the end of a busy day to get good food on the table quick. So I talked about the chicken pie with four ingredients. The beautiful raspberry flummery with two ingredients. The apple crumble with four ingredients.“ by Kim McCosker
- “Books can be such an amazing marketing channel, and if you have any limiting beliefs around becoming an authority, please put them aside for the duration of this chat with today's special guest.“ by Timbo Reid
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Episode Information
The Small Business Big Marketing Podcast with Tim Reid
Tim Reid
5/8/23
Join Timbo's Membership and take control of your marketing
Do you love the idea of self-publishing a book for your business in 2023? Then imagine this scenario. You and your biggest competitor are standing in front of a prospect. Your competitor gingerly hands over their business card. You proudly hand over your book. No prizes for guessing who’s built instant trust? If you love the idea of having a book to promote you and your business then listen up as today’s guest has written 42 of them, and sold nine million copies. It’s a self-publishing episode 635 of The (13 year-old, award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing podcast.
A little more about 4 Ingredients founder Kim McCosker ... If you're a long time listener then you’ll have heard me say multiple times that a book is a business card on steroids.
It positions you as an expert, it’s a wonderful way to get that mountain of knowledge you’re standing on out of your head and on to paper, plus it builds trust and credibility with your prospects and customers.
I’ve experienced this myself with my own book The Boomerang Effect. Whilst the sale of some 7,500 copies didn’t make me rich, it’s been responsible for getting me well over one hundred keynote speaking gigs over the years. Books can be such an amazing marketing channel.
And if you have any limiting beliefs around becoming an author please put them aside for the duration of this chat with today’s special guest.
Her name is Kim McCosker, she’s the founder of 4 Ingredients and the creator of tens of thousands of recipes, all with four ingredients or less. She’s also the author of 42 self-published cookbooks of which she has sold over nine million copies.
Off the back of her self-publishing success, she’s got an eCommerce store, a beautifully shot YouTube channel (don’t watch it if you’re hungry!), and she’s just released The Easiest Cooking Show Ever on Foxtel.
So pen and paper at the ready folks as Kim takes us inside the world of self-publishing. I started off by asking her what made her think the world needed another cookbook!
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