The Power of Pairing Your Online Course With a Book
(and Why It Works)

I recently assisted Robert Herbst in creating his book, titled Cheating Death. Rob, a B2B sales leader, wanted the book to work with his online course, which he was creating at the same time.

The course was designed to teach people how to go from being a salesperson to a sales practitioner. That was well and good, but when we added the book, everything shifted.

The course delivered the “how,” while the book delivered the “why.” The course taught; the book persuaded.

Together, they created a powerful cycle where each supported and strengthened the other. His course was designed to teach students, while his book was written to convince people to take the course, burnish his reputation, reach new audiences, and open doors he hadn’t even considered.

That’s the real power of writing a book to accompany your online course.

Cheating Death, by Robert Herbst, memoir in business books

Why a Course Alone Isn’t Enough

Courses are valuable. They give people tools, frameworks, and step-by-step instructions. But once the final video ends, the connection between teacher and student often fades.

A book fills that gap. It:

Creates permanence – Unlike a login that expires or a video that gets buried, a book sits on a desk or shelf, ready to be opened again.
Builds credibility – Authors are seen as experts. A book positions you as more than just another course creator. It makes you a thought leader.
Expands reach – Books can be passed along, stocked in libraries, given to clients, and discovered in ways online courses can’t.

Simply put: a course is an event. A book is a legacy.

book, online course, computer, work together

How a Book and Course Work Together

Think of your course and book as two sides of the same coin. Done right, they reinforce each other in a cycle of growth.

The course fuels the book – Your modules, frameworks, and examples form the raw material for a book. Instead of starting from scratch, you’re building on what you already know works.
The book fuels the course – Readers who discover your book often want more. They want the structure, accountability, and community a course provides.

It’s a flywheel: the course generates ideas for the book, the book attracts readers to the course, and both increase your authority and visibility.

Please note: I’m not saying the book and the course have to be identical. They can be very different, yet still fuel each other.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Of course, not every course-to-book project succeeds. Here are the three most common mistakes, and how to avoid them:

Copying instead of creating – A book isn’t a transcript. Course scripts are written to be spoken, with room for tangents and improvisation. A book demands clarity, conciseness, and flow. Use your course as the foundation, but rebuild it for the page.
Forgetting the stories – Students may learn from frameworks and bullet points in your course, but readers connect with stories. Without them, your book becomes a manual instead of a message. Weave in case studies, client anecdotes, and real-world examples to bring your ideas alive.
Cloning the course – If the book simply repeats your course, why would anyone need both? Let the book complement, not copy. Use it to explore the “why,” the bigger picture, and the philosophy behind your approach.

avoid common mistakes when writing a book for your online course

A Practical Path: Turning a Course into a Book

Here’s a simple framework for moving from online course to published book:

Mine your content – Gather outlines, transcripts, and slides. Identify the ideas and frameworks that spark the most engagement from your students.
Define the book’s premise and promise – Ask yourself: What will the book do that the course doesn’t? It could share your backstory, expand on the research behind your method, or position your framework in the context of industry trends.
Map the structure – Courses usually follow a module-based order. Books require a narrative arc: problem, solution, transformation. Don’t be afraid to reorganize or entirely reconceptualize the book.
Expand with research and examples – Back up your claims with evidence and stories. This adds depth and authority.
Polish for permanence – A course can evolve, but a book endures. Editing, structure, and storytelling matter. Don’t rush the process. Instead, invest in making it right.

The ROI of Adding a Book

The return on investment for pairing a book with your course goes far beyond sales figures. Here’s what you gain:

Authority – A book cements your status as an expert.
Reach – Books travel farther than courses. They can be gifted, stocked, and discovered by people who never enroll in a program.
Longevity – Courses have launch cycles. Books keep working for you.
Opportunity – Media appearances, speaking invitations, and consulting engagements often start with four simple words: “I read your book.”

That’s exactly what happened with Cheating Death. The course built my client’s platform. The book gave him visibility and opportunities that would never have come from the course alone.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve already invested time and effort into creating an online course, you’re halfway to having a book. The hard work—developing frameworks, gathering stories, testing ideas—is done.

The next step is to turn that material into a book that lasts. A course teaches; a book endures. Together, they don’t just help your students succeed in the moment—they create impact, authority, and legacy that extend for years.

If You’d Like Help Writing Your Book…

Barry Fox explains how to begin a business memoir or autobiography

Contact us!

We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, professional ghostwriters and authors with a long list of satisfied clients and editors at major publishing houses.

You can learn about our ghostwriting work and credentials on our Home Page.

For more information, call us at 818-917-5362 or use our contact form to send us a message. We’d love to talk to you about your exciting idea for writing a book!