Books, Business and Branding

Over the last ten years, writing a book has become the in-thing for many self-employed business owners.

When you provide a service as a coach, therapist or healer, you are selling a transformation or result that often feels intangible, so it’s no secret that a book is a great tool to set you apart from your competitors.

If you’re saying the same things again and again to your clients and you’ve spent years learning your craft and honing your expertise, then it can make sense to capture those thoughts in writing. You have something that you can physically sell or hand to your clients, that will maximise the experience they have from working with you.

If you’re ready to step into your spotlight and raise your credibility, a great book will help you to stand out from your competitors and develop the foundations for a more successful business.

And if you think about it, a book will reach far more people than a website, networking or a social media presence.

But it’s one thing writing a book, and it’s another thing writing a book that will build your business and enhance your brand.

So, what do you need to know first when it comes to books, business and branding?

As The Book Mentor, I always suggest that clients start with the end in mind.

Before you start to write, get clear on the goal for your book. What do you want it to do for you, your business and your clients?

Do you want to become a go-to-expert, have a bestseller, attract more clients, be a worldwide speaker or develop a platform for future products and programmes?

Would you like to inspire and support others, change lives, help people to live differently or leave a legacy?

Imagine yourself at your book launch party or perhaps a few months after. What are people saying about your book? What difference is your book making? What successes are you achieving?

Once you know the vision for your book, it makes it easier to decide what you’re writing, how you’re writing it and find out what people want to hear from you.

I find that too many people try and make their book more complicated than it needs to be. If your vision is for your book is to enhance your brand, then it makes sense for it to focus on what you already do in your business, rather than on a different topic entirely.

In addition, when you align your business to your brand, it will make it easier to write. You’ll probably already have content in the form of blog posts, articles and presentation notes, as well as a community of people who can’t wait to buy it.

Questions I typically ask clients include: What is your niche? Who do you love to work with? What problems are these people facing? How can you help them through your book?

3. Your book and your business

Finally, how does your book link into your business? What do you want people to do once they’ve read it?

The purpose of your book is to inform and educate, and also to lead your readers on a journey. A great book will stand out from anything else that has already been written, and have a clear hook that will make people sit up and take notice. It will also provide a route map for your readers who are ready to take further steps by working with you personally.

Are you ready to write a book?

Karen Williams is The Book Mentor at Librotas. She has recently published her sixth book, Becoming An Authority, which is out now on audio. She shares her 10 principles for writing a book that will build your business, enhance your brand and get you noticed. Find out more at www.becominganauthority.co.uk.

About Karen Williams

Having started out in business in 2006, and written her first book in 2009, Karen Williams knows the difference that writing a book can make to your business when done well. She works with business experts who have a story to tell or a message to share. Karen and her team take their clients from idea to publication, ensuring that they write and publish a book that helps them to attract more clients, raise their credibility and build their business. Karen is the bestselling author of six non-fiction books including Becoming An Authority, Your Book is the Hook, and Book Marketing Made Simple. Find out more about Karen at www.librotas.com.