The meeting covered the speaker's approach to automating and outsourcing nearly all aspects of their Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) business, leaving only minimal weekly oversight.
Main topics included which tasks to outsource vs. keep in-house, where to find talent, cost expectations, and productivity tips for scaling.
The speaker emphasized maintaining quality by handling keyword research and title creation personally while outsourcing all other aspects to virtual assistants (VAs) and freelancers.
Tools, platforms, and process tips were shared for optimal delegation and efficient management.
Action Items
Identifying Tasks to Outsource vs. Handle Personally
Tasks retained by the business owner: Keyword research and title creation (with AI assistance).
Rationale: These tasks are high-impact, harder to delegate, and crucial for business success.
Most other steps in the publishing process are outsourced to freelancers or VAs.
Outsourcing Specific Tasks and Platforms Used
Book Outlines: Outsourced to researchers on Upwork, who use AI and competitor research; rates typically $50-$100 per 30,000-word non-fiction book.
Ghostwriting: Use ghostwriting companies (e.g., Urban Writers) for new niches, then transition to a dedicated Upwork writer for brand consistency.
Illustrations: Use Canva/Creative Fabrica for simple images but typically hire illustrators (Upwork/Fiverr), paying $3-$10 per illustrated page, with discounts for bulk/long-term work.
Editing & Proofreading: Hire editors (often the same person who does the outline) for about $100 per 30,000 words; editor leverages familiarity with outline/content for better quality.
Book Covers:
Low/Medium Content: Hire on Fiverr for $5-$45, keeping costs low for non-brand books.
High Content: Use 99designs or Upwork, typically paying $100-$200 per cover for high quality.
Book Formatting: VA handles formatting (typically $20/book); can also outsource via Fiverr for $20-$100, depending on complexity.
Cover Conversions: Outsource on Fiverr ($5-$10) to convert front covers into paperback, hardcover, or audiobook formats to maximize distribution.
Uploading to KDP: Personal VA uploads to KDP and other platforms ($5 per upload); ensure strong trust and use KDP's two-factor verification for security.
Getting Reviews: VA manages outreach through email lists, Facebook groups, and services like Book Bounty for review swaps.
Email Marketing: VA sends out templated emails for reviews, launches, and promotions, updating only the title and links as needed.
Amazon Ads: Initially recommended to learn and manage personally. Outsourcing options: train a VA, hire an agency (more expensive but hands-off), or use AI software (e.g., Adigy) to streamline.
Bookkeeping and Taxes: Outsourced to a CPA/bookkeeper (~$100/month per company) after self-managing in QuickBooks became inefficient.
Tools and Strategies for Efficient Team Management
Password Sharing: Use LastPass for secure, permission-controlled password sharing with team members.
Project Management: Recommended tool is Asana (free) to track and organize multiple book projects and tasks.
Workflow Optimization: Set up group chats (Upwork, Slack, Asana, or WhatsApp) with all freelancers (writer, editor, designer, etc.) to enable direct communication and remove owner as bottleneck.
Role of Business Owner: Act as CEO, focusing on oversight and quality checks rather than performing the work.
Key Principles and Takeaways
Opportunity cost awareness: Outsource low-value/time-consuming tasks to focus on high-impact activities.
Quality control: Owner should still review final deliverables for each project step.
100% passive income is a myth in active businesses; publishing can be highly automated but still requires periodic involvement.
Build systems and templates (especially for email marketing) to streamline recurring tasks.
Decisions
Owner will retain keyword research and title creation — These are crucial, high-leverage business tasks that impact results, and are not easily or reliably outsourced.
Outsource all other routine/production tasks to vetted freelancers and VAs — Enables significant time savings, scalability, and focus on growth.
Open Questions / Follow-Ups
No open questions were raised, but link to coaching program and additional resources/tools is available in the video description for further support.