I have always been a fan of workbooks, both as a writer and as a reader. 
Workbooks give the reader something more to do with content and can add value to a reader’s experience. They are relatively easy to create and can give a nice boost to your overall revenues. Here are some more reasons to consider adding a workbook to your product list.
1. Workbooks are a natural up-sell to a non-fiction book.
2. Readers will appreciate having an interactive experience with your content.
3. Workbooks have a higher perceived value. Typical prices range from $20 to $35.
4. You can bundle a workbook with your book to increase back-of-the-room sales.
5. Workbooks are easier to write than books because there is less content.
6. You can offer your workbook as a PDF download, cutting costs and increasing profits.
7. The PDF version of your workbook can be given away as a bonus with other purchases.
8. Workbooks can be great tools for working with consulting clients.
9. For workshops, workbooks add tremendous value for participants while also making your job as workshop leader easier.
10. A workbook doesn’t have to be spiral bound; it can be perfect bound and put into distribution like any other book on Amazon and other retail outlets.
What to include in your workbook:
- Simple, supporting text to explain exercises
- Fill in the blanks
- Essay questions
- Worksheets
- Spreadsheets
- Thoughtful questions that the reader can answer
- Plenty of white space for writing
This is an interesting concept; perhaps it is something I may be able to implement with my series at a later date. Thank you!
“The Homemaker Helper Series”
Completely agree on these points.
Where I sometimes find a challenge when working with new authors who are working completely on their own is getting them to think beyond the book into areas like this (and more.)
Some get it from the start… the book opens the door to other opportunities to build a brand.
And yet others seem so relieved that they got the book done, and it was such a major task, they can’t think beyond it. They don’t see – at least initially – a bigger picture.
So true, Mike! The workbook is an extension and creates even more opportunity. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
thought, when i saw this article’s link via a twitter tweet today, “how timely!” -
then saw the article’s date, and thought, “bummer!”
then re-considered
and decided, “hmmmm!”
yes, still timely, still useful, and much appreciated
why? because i’m in the process of doing a nine volume sports poetry series, and, from the beginning, had decided to add a creative poetry writing workbook
yea? so why so “appreciated?”
because i’m half way through, literally, ie, working ’bout 1/2 way through the “easy” workbook section of vol 5 (of 9) and was beginning to wonder if i’d just assumed people might like the extra material
and no, for me
the workbook material has been neither easy nor fast – i spend a chunk of time thinking out the sequence from vol 1 – vol 9, elaborating out that sequence each volume
granted, the workbooks are taking me less time than the poems, which span from 1994 to now
but they (workbooks) sure don’t “feel” faster 
bottomline, very nice timely article for me, glad i spotted it; thank you much!
adan
Thank you Adan, and best of luck with your workbook!
Great article. I was just contemplating making a workbook to go along with my series of self-esteem books. I think they would be a tremendous help to the readers.
Thanks for sharing this post. Something else for me to think about adding workbooks to go along with my Bible Studies. Blessings, Deborah H. Bateman-Author
Thanks for the great and useful article.