Writing a book for your business can help expand your influence–these titles are just a few prime examples–because thought leaders write books. When you write a book, you establish and support your credibility. Authorship, in turn, leads to business growth. How? Keep reading. Plus, if you’re wondering how you’ll ever find the time to write your book, I’ve got you covered with a few tips to get started quickly.
If you write it, you are the expert
A business book with your byline will establish you as an authority in your field. Books showcase your deep subject matter knowledge in a way no blog or think piece can rival. (Remember: filling an entire book is no small feat!) A book allows you to articulate your perspective and theories, which positions you as a thought leader.
Whether you’re sharing research, strategies, or personal anecdotes, your book will serve as your platform where you shape the conversation. Readers will pick up your book to learn from you. And your influence and authority will grow as readers engage with your ideas and adopt your methodologies. Over time, your book (or books!) will become synonymous with expertise, solidifying your reputation as the definitive authority in your field.
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A business book shows customers how to solve problems or complete a job. (Ideally, with your help!)
Businesses function by identifying pain points and how to alleviate them. Similarly, a successful business book will recognize your target audience’s needs and how your product or service will help. Your book should resonate with your specific customer base, and your target readership should be your existing customers, clients, or peers, as well as those you would like to become customers, clients, and peers.
After identifying issues plaguing your reader, your book should provide strategies and practical solutions that readers can implement with or without engaging your services. Of course, you may want to convince readers that you are the best person to solve their problems, but resist laying on the hard sell–it diminishes your authority.
Books drive revenue
Sharing your knowledge has value on its own, but your business book is ultimately a strategic tool meant to drive revenue. Rather than viewing it solely as a marketing expense, consider what your company will get in return: sales, clients, or other engagements. Identify opportunities within the book to subtly promote your products or services, creating an integration that adds value to the reader experience while driving sales for your business.
Encourage industry innovation and growth
The best business books inspire innovation. By challenging readers to think differently and embrace new ideas, your book can stimulate growth and profitability for readers within their ventures, reinforcing your brand’s value proposition.
As with any business initiative, measuring the return on investment (ROI) of your book-writing endeavor is essential. But how do you measure ROI for a book? The most obvious metrics come by way of book sales, lead generation, and customer engagement. Reader feedback can also provide insight into how your book helped them, how it influenced their perceptions of your brand, and their purchasing decisions.
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How to write a book and run your business—a quick-start guide
Of course, you might be concerned that you can’t possibly add one more thing to your to-do list–I get it: balancing work with life is already challenging enough. In the past, one of the only ways business leaders could carve out the time to write a book was to hire a ghostwriter. (I know because I spent the first decade of my career doing nothing but writing books for business executives.) But good ghostwriting is expensive, and while that may be fine for Fortune 500 firms, bootstrapping entrepreneurs and small business owners may experience sticker shock. You don’t have to resort to hiring writers of dubious origin or forgo having a book–you can write a book yourself.
First, prioritize writing your book, which means setting aside the time to do so. To set a realistic goal, examine your schedule and decide how much time you can set aside each week to write. Let’s say you can spend an hour a week working on your book. Spread that hour across a few days rather than sitting for one hour once a week. Writing for shorter periods will minimize the time you’re away from your other obligations, and spending a little time each day on your book will help keep your mind focused on it. However much time you can afford, block it in your calendar and treat it as you would any other appointment.
Once you’ve set time aside to write, set more realistic goals around the quality of your writing. Writing is an iterative process, not a linear one; don’t expect perfection on the first draft. (Or the second, for that matter.) Set sensible milestones (such as writing a certain number of words per week) and celebrate when you meet them.
There’s no better business card than a book with your name on it. “Author” is synonymous with “expert,” and having a book to your name increases the likelihood that you’ll secure more speaking engagements and build your company’s standing in the eyes of your customers and clients. Yes, writing a book may require getting creative with time management, but the growth benefits are well worth it.
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