Write a book. If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, copywriter, coach, or freelancer of any kind, it will open up doors for you like nothing else.
I’m talking a non-fiction, real, physical book.
Write a good book – not a glorified blog post, skimpy ebook, or transcript of some podcast or speech you did – and the world will look at you with different eyes. You’ll have a new-found respect from your peers and prospects alike.
40 reasons to write a book
- You have important things to say, and the world needs to hear them.
- People don’t throw books out. Somewhere, 50 years from now, someone will stumble upon your book, read it, and act on it.
- When you’re sitting on a plane and the guy next to you asks what you do, you can simply say, “I’m an author.” Much easier than trying to describe what a copywriter is.
- Same thing at social functions or cocktail parties. “I’m an author” creates more interest than “I’m a copywriter” or “I’m an Internet Marketer.”
- You’ll get introduced to more people. Everyone wants to tell people about their friend, the writer.
- If you’re single, you’ll get more dates.
- If you’re married, you’ll have at least one person who thinks your book is the absolute best.
- It will give you more credibility in your field.
- You can autograph a book. Hard to do with an ebook.
- Print is far from dead. In fact, according to a recent New York Times piece, ebook sales are slipping.
- Ebooks don’t make good gifts. Print books do.
- You’ll get you speaking gigs if you want them.
- Those speaking gigs will lead to more clients.
- People will start asking for your advice more, on all kinds of topics. This could be good or bad.
- A book is much more effective than a business card.
- One book leads to a second book. It’s just the beginning.
- When you send your book to a good prospect, there’s a good chance it’ll get their attention.
- If you send it 2-day shipping via your Amazon Prime membership, your only cost will be the price of the book (and you’ll get your cut of that).
- Instead of always directing people to your website, you can tell them to check out your Author Page on Amazon.
- A good Amazon Author Page could hook as many people as your website.
- Amazon is taking over the world. Why not be a part of it?
- You’ll be able to develop programs and courses based on your book, bringing in more revenue.
- You can get interviewed on podcasts, lots of people will hear it, and your reach will spread.
- You’ll get interviewed on radio stations if you want to.
- Podcast interviews, radio interviews, and speaking gigs will drive traffic to your website.
- Offer the first two or three chapters free on your website to grow your email list.
- A bigger email list means more opportunities for selling your other products and services.
- You’ll be able to raise your fees on everything you offer because of your newly perceived expertise.
- Remember your sophomore English teacher who gave you a “C”? Send her your book (if she’s still alive).
- If she’s not? Send it to someone else who doubted your abilities.
- Market it right and you’ll have a nice, ongoing source of passive income.
- Plan from the start to write a whole series of books. Think Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad series, or Tim Ferriss’s Four-Hour books. If people buy one, they’ll want each one in the series.
- Bad at shopping for people like I am? Give them your book (autographed, of course).
- Autographing your own book has to be one of the coolest feelings. I’ll let you know.
- I don’t recommend this as a book-selling strategy, but can you imagine doing a book signing at Barnes & Noble?
- Again, this isn’t a strategy I’d recommend, but small, independent bookstores would be glad to have you do a short presentation and book signing for their members.
- Helping an independent bookstore promote your signing will give you more practice selling yourself.
- Promoting yourself will come in handy when you’re famous.
- You could become a New York Times bestselling author and make a lot of money.
- More likely, you could become wealthy by parlaying your book into a business. And one bonus reason…
- Someone you love will look at you in a whole new light.
There you go. 41 reasons to write a non-fiction book to help build your business.
Which are your three favorites? Any that I missed? Let me know.
