What's a Service Line and Why Do You Need One?

In the business world, a service line is a grouping of all the products and services related to one particular division of that business. For example, a hospital may have a service line devoted to pediatrics and another service line for oncology. Apple has a service line for telephones and another one for personal computers.

It is helpful to think of your book as an income stream for in your business. Let's say you are a corporate coach who is writing a book on finding a job after age fifty. While you may have coaching clients who are younger than fifty, your book will generate a group of related products and services especially for the older job seeker.

Creating these income streams gives you the freedom to serve many people in your business and the ability to focus in on one particular group of people with common needs. Freedom and focus are an unbeatable combination for any entrepreneur but especially for those who are highly creative and enjoy working with many different types of people.

So how do you start to develop your service line?

The first step is to identify your perfect reader. Then, do some brainstorming. Consider these questions:

· How many of these types of people are you currently serving in your business?

· What do they buy from you now?

· What do you like about serving this group?

· Can you list the five biggest challenges this group faces?

· What products or services do you have that can be adapted to service this group in a perfect way?

Next, dream a bit. Grab some paper and imagine yourself five years from now. Your book has been published and it is selling successfully. You have a fully developed service line of seminars, audio programs, group coaching, workshops, and information products that follow your book.

· What does that look like?

· How do readers engage with you in your service line before, during and after reading your book?

· What products or services bring you the most joy?

· How does your service line produce income to support you?

· Is this your only service line or do you have additional lines?

Capture your dream and future vision on paper. Give yourself permission to dream big and to start small, knowing that your income streams will develop over time. It does not have to be built in a day but will evolve as you interact with your perfect readers and find new ways to help them.

Want to create a successful book? Free monthly author training calls with successful authors at http://www.sparkforauthors.com/. Lynne Klippel is a publisher, best-selling author and book coach who specializes in helping authors write great non-fiction books and use them to build their business and profits.

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