Here's what I'm all about...
Hey friend – I’m Ed Downes, an author, digital marketer, and entrepreneur from Raleigh, North Carolina. Thanks for stopping by!
You might know me as the founder of Author Syndicate, one of the world’s most loved online mastermind community for writers and authors who are self-publishing books.
But I’m also a business coach, and recent author of my brand-new book, How to Deploy Your Author Platform That Brings You a Steady Flow of New, Eager Readers (919 Publishing, 2022).
Have you ever asked yourself:
Is it possible for me to publish my book without breaking the bank?
I'm busy enough as it is with work/school/family. Do I really have to hustle to publish my book like everyone says?
How can I build and grow an author platform that actually brings me a steady flow of new eager readers every week on autopilot?
Where do I even start to upgrade my writing hobby into a writing business?
If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’ve already started down the self-publishing road but just aren’t seeing your book sales and income goals, or you are overwhelmed by the idea of stepping out on your own and launching your author platform, I can help you.
Not Sure Where to Start?
I was never the entrepreneur type, especially in my writing.
I was too scared to fully commit and launch my author business, even if I wanted to. I liked the feeling of safety that comes from treating my writing like a hobby!
Between 2011 and 2018 I self-published 5 books but nothing ever happened. All that work on each of my books, always thinking “This will be the one”, but nope!
Enough is Enough!
In that season of defeat, I studied the art and science of self-publishing. I became a student of digital marketing. I was determined to figure out how this whole self-publishing thing works. I knew I could crack the code and upgrade my writing hobby into a writing business!
“I finally decided it was time to figure this self-publishing thing out. It was time to stop treating my writing like an expensive and time-consuming hobby and upgrade it into a writing business.”
This was the lowest point in my life.
Here I was, blessed to be a healthy, able, college-educated, and reasonably talented writer. But I didn't have the knowledge, experience, or strategies to make my writing relevant and available to the world. Sure, anybody can upload a book to a platform like Amazon and call themselves an author, but that is just a fantasy. If nobody knows about you or your book, then what’s the point? You might as well write in a private journal at that point; the same thing.
Fast Forward to Today!
The journey has been a long and painful one. I have studied many methods and techniques that promise self-publishing success. I purchased course after course. I earned a master’s degree in Digital Marketing from Full Sail University. I spent tens of thousands of dollars on training.
So, where did all of this investment of my time and money get me? That’s a great question. Over the past five years, I have filtered through all the noise, training, and information and figured out what works and does not. And the things that work are not always the things you might think.
The Big Three
I have figured out three primary areas to focus on to self-publish successfully. These areas are your Author Platform, Book Launches, and Book Marketing. Once you master these three areas, you take your writing from hobby status to business status.
What Does This Mean for You?
I guess you are asking what this means for you. That is a great question. Also, I have created a movement that will empower 1,000,000 people to upgrade their writing hobby into a writing business. That is my mission!
Not Sure Where to Start?
Watch my FREE workshop and learn the exact 3 part system for upgrading your writing hobby into a writing business (in 4 just hours per week!) - even if you have tried (unsuccessfully) to self-publish in the past or you have a super full and busy schedule!
In this FREE workshop, you’ll learn the following:
How to set up and deploy the 3 part system that will upgrade you from writing hobby to writing business.
The best and fastest way to find eager new readers ready to consume your books.
How you can transition from an expensive writing hobby to a lucrative writing business.
The exact systems, tools, and software I use to run my writing business like a pro.
How to automate your writing business, so you attract new readers and sell more books 24/7 on autopilot!
If you have even 30 minutes a day, you can implement this plan and begin successfully self-publishing your books.
Are You Ready?