What 2024 Holds for Authors, Experts & Thought Leaders

Meet Lisa—she’s an incredible teacher and let me tell you: her expertise is undeniable.?

Her book hit the digital shelves in 2023 with high hopes and great expectations. But reality struck hard.

Even though her book was amazing, you could sense the ache behind it all. She had poured her heart into it, hoping for it to make a difference and bring in a decent income, but it just didn't connect.?

Lisa's journey is like that of so many authors I meet who are striving to make a big impact and earn a good living. Her hurdle wasn't just about getting a book out there; nope, it was about unleashing its full potential, making it truly strike a chord and bring in the impact and income she dreamed of.

I've chatted one-on-one with loads of industry insiders, shared meals and ideas with top-notch publishers, teamed up with numerous bestselling authors to develop online courses; and let me tell you, I've seen and learned a lot over the last 3 years!

As the founder and executive producer at The Author’s Leverage, my passion lies in giving authors the tools they need to shine, and let me tell you, next year promises to be a game-changer!

Whether you’re an established author or author-to-be, this article is for you. If you’re an expert in your field, aspiring to lead with your thoughts, or simply passionate about sharing knowledge, this article is for you.?

As we gear up for 2024, I can already see seven major shifts heading our way. For each shift, I’ll share a breakdown of the current challenges, the exciting developments to come, and a question to consider for yourself as an expert in the new year.

1. Authors Taking the Helm: Strategic Partnerships with their Team

Challenges: Like Lisa, many authors work with a writing coach, editor, publisher and marketing specialist. These individuals are typically contracted separately and at times, it’s the author who is burdened with leading a team of people without a strategy. In the end, they pour their heart and soul into a book, but it doesn’t always sync up with their vision.

What's to Come in 2024: In 2024, it's even more about teamwork. Authors will become more educated on how to be successful with a book and take on a more active role in steering the ship, coming to the table with a solid strategy for success before even writing or publishing the book. These collaborative relationships will offer the kind of support necessary beyond publication to ensure a book’s success. This is a win win.

Question to Consider: How will you and your support team stay on the same page all the way through the writing, publication, or promotion of your book?

2. Era of Unique Educational Assets (like Digital Workbooks)

Challenges: Ever notice how educational resources can sometimes be as exciting… as watching paint dry? Authors and experts often feel like one book in a library of thousands, struggling to differentiate themselves in an oversaturated market. On top of that, the resources they share often lack personal touch and fail to engage their audience effectively.?

What's to Come in 2024: Future-inspired authors will pioneer a new wave of educational assets. They won’t just put out books, they’ll cook up experiences. Imagine an interactive tool tailored to resonate and make a personal connection in the learning and doing process. A digital workbook is a great example of such an asset that will be leveraged in 2024 as a click-to-cart offer alongside their book or existing programs.?

Question to Consider: How can you create a digital asset that speaks straight to your audience's hearts and minds? How can you turn your expertise into a learning experience that sticks?

3. Rise of Personalized Learning Experiences

Challenges: The traditional approach to education through courses and Learning Management Systems (LMS) often fails to engage users, resulting in a disconnected learning experience. This lack of engagement poses challenges for authors aiming to monetize their expertise effectively.

What's to Come in 2024: Picture yourself not just reading but doing - journaling, exploring, and reflecting in your own digital workspace. Authors will bring this hands-on vibe to learning and it’ll feel like playtime, turning their expertise into a moneymaker.?

For authors, this revolution is not just about enhancing the learning experience but also about transforming their expertise into money-making assets. By offering hands-on, captivating learning experiences, authors can unlock new income streams.

Question to Consider: How can you turn your know-how into cool, engaging experiences that will also generate income? What educational assets are you leveraging today?

4. Collaborative Impact: Collective Potential Through Partnerships

Challenges: Ever felt like a lone wolf in your field? Individual authorship, while valuable, sometimes limits the potential for greater reaching impact. Collaboration among other experts remains an untapped resource for driving significant industry change across the board.

What's to Come in 2024: It's not just about one person's genius; it's about combining skills to create mind-blowing programs and materials. By teaming up with other big players, authors, experts and thought leaders will reach a wider audience and change the game.?

Anticipate a surge in collaborative endeavors among experts, fostering a more holistic approach to learning and training programs. These partnerships will leverage collective wisdom to address industry-specific challenges and create transformative changes.?

Question to Consider: Which key player or superstar could you team up with to shake things up in your field?

5. The Ascent of Thought Leadership: Pioneering New Ideas for Industry Evolution

Challenges: Authors often prioritize book sales and revenue over establishing themselves as thought leaders. In doing so, they miss the opportunity to foster communities and spark discussions around transformative, industry-shifting concepts.?

What's to Come in 2024: Thought leadership isn't just about talking shop; it's about being a catalyst for change. In the upcoming year, expect more authors to spearhead conversations aimed at cultivating communities and fostering meaningful connections. This shift emphasizes engagement and meaningful dialogue over overt sales pitches.

Embracing thought leadership isn’t just about community-building; it's about exploring new, unconventional ideas that shape the future of industries. Authors stepping into this realm have the unique opportunity to be catalysts for change and drive innovative conversations that lead to tangible transformations within their respective fields.

Question to Consider: How can you start conversations that transform your field without always pushing for sales?

6. AI-Powered Writing Assistance

Challenges: Ever stared at a blank page? Authors often grapple with time-consuming tasks, such as editing, proofreading, or even generating fresh ideas. The traditional writing process can be a ton of work and sometimes hinder creativity. For me, getting beyond the white page with the blinking cursor is my challenge.

What's to Come in 2024: In 2024, I anticipate a surge in sophisticated AI tools designed to streamline the writing and content creation process. From automated editing and proofreading to AI-generated content suggestions, these tools can augment the author’s capabilities, save them time and enhance creativity.

As AI seeps into our toolkits, it's crucial to understand that these technological advancements aren’t meant to replace creativity or essence. Instead, they serve as companions that enhance the writing process and expedite tasks that facilitate deeper engagement with the audience.

Question to Consider: How can you leverage AI tools to enhance your writing process in 2024??

7. Video-Centric Storytelling: Transforming Narrative Engagement

Challenges: With everyone scrolling through content faster than ever, it's hard to keep their attention. Authors, experts and thought leaders alike face the challenge of capturing and retaining audience interest among all the other content online today.

What's to Come in 2024: In the upcoming year, authors will embrace video more as a powerful narrative tool. From vlogs sharing behind-the-scenes insights to interactive video series and live Q&A sessions, authors will harness video to immerse audiences in their stories, ideas, and expertise.?

Video will emerge as the linchpin for authors seeking to connect intimately with their audience. It's not just about sharing; it's about inviting the audience on an adventure.

Question to Consider: How can you leverage video content to amplify thought leadership and demonstrate your expertise in ways that resonate deeply with your audience?

Bonus: The Continuing Reign of Podcasting

There's one more thing worth highlighting—PODCASTING.?

Challenges: With the inundation of content across various mediums, authors face the challenge of breaking through the noise and engaging with their audience authentically. Standing out amidst the digital clutter remains an ongoing hurdle.

What's to Come in 2024: Authors will increasingly turn to podcasting as a dynamic platform to share narratives, insights, and expertise. Podcasts will serve as a gateway for authors to foster intimate connections with listeners, allowing for deeper exploration of ideas and themes beyond the confines of written text.

Question to Consider: How can you harness the power of podcasting to create compelling audio narratives that resonate with audiences, foster community engagement, and further establish your thought leadership?

Authors have the opportunity in 2024 not only to enhance their craft but also to revolutionize how they engage with their audience and industry.

At The Author’s Leverage, we're here to help authors take hold of the opportunities and navigate these changes effectively.

Consider this an invitation to explore how you can leverage these shifts to your advantage. Schedule a free strategy call with us today and discover how you can elevate your book and expertise to create lasting impact and income.