Professional Self-Publishing for Online and Distance Educators: Reach More Students with Ebooks and Audiobooks by Kim Staflund

The objective of this ebook is not to recommend any specific approaches on how materials should be selected and organized for online and distance education programs. Nor is it my intention to advise you on how to design and teach your courses. The primary audience for this book is self-employed tutors who are creating your own lesson plans for students, and my assumption is that you’ve been doing this for a while now. You’ve already built up a complete collection of online and distance education materials. This book will show you how to expand what you’ve already created—to, in essence, “clone yourself” so you can reach even more students around the world while earning passive income on the side. Potentially significant passive income. As someone with 25 years’ experience in book publishing, sales, and marketing, I can show you how to self-publish professional quality online and distance education guides that will allow you to supplement your income in an efficient way. I know private teachers are already busy enough as it is, so efficiency is important. EBOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS COMPLEMENT ONLINE AND DISTANCE EDUCATION We all have a preferred learning style and strength whether it be audio, visual, or kinesthetic. Some prefer a more social classroom setting where others prefer a more solitary learning environment. Obviously, ebooks and audiobooks have a great appeal for audio and visual solitary learners, and this is why they’re such a great addition to any online and distance education program. Your more visual learners will prefer to savour and digest the text in front of them, at their own pace, in the quiet comfort of a preferred learning area. An online and distance education ebook not only allows them to do this, but it also allows them to go back and review what they’ve read, to give it further thought later on. Audiobooks are also useful online and distance education tools—particularly for the busy adult learners who spend much of their time commuting on a daily basis—whether they’re driving to and from work, or taking their kids to and from extracurricular activities after school. These individuals are often left with little spare time for any kind of “traditional” tutoring, so audiobooks are a welcome online and distance education alternative. It allows them to absorb their lessons during a break at work, a morning jog, on a plane, or even in the car. WHY SIGNIFICANT INCOME IS POSSIBLE WITH ONLINE AND DISTANCE EDUCATION CAREERS Over the years, I’ve learned that the traditional (trade) book publishing method doesn’t work well for everyone. I come across more and more professionals who want to publish a book for all kinds of different reasons—to promote a business, educate others, et cetera—and they want it done quickly (e.g., within four to six weeks), and with a minimal upfront investment. This book details the independent publishing method many authors around the world are now using to earn six-figure incomes, and I believe it is a great fit for those who work in the online and distance education field. It provides an opportunity for you to expand your business and genuinely help more students without over-extending your workload.