Most of the people I work with write business books. They write them to improve their reputation, income, and opportunity. If you’re writing a book to make a literary reputation, this post is not for you. Go find something that will be more helpful.
If you’re writing a business book, your book must make a difference for two people. It must make a difference for your reader, and it must make a difference for you.
Write a Book that Makes A Difference for Your Reader
People read business books to solve a problem or answer a question. That’s it. You should know your reader well enough to know what his or her problems and questions are. You should know other things, too.
Is the problem or question so important that they’ll buy your book? How many people have that problem or question? If five percent of them buy your book, is it worth writing?
If you don’t know your reader well enough to write a book that solves an important problem or answers a thorny question, don’t read any further. Stop and figure it out.
If there aren’t enough potential buyers to make your book profitable, don’t read any further. Stop and plan a different book
Figure Out How You Will Use Your Book to Change Your Life
Writing a book is hard work. So, what benefits will you get from your book?
If you answered, “Revenue from book sales,” think again. Few business authors make enough from their book sales to make a difference in their life. You will need other benefits.
Your book can help you get better clients, increase your fees, and land lucrative speaking gigs. But I’ve got news. The book won’t do it by itself. You must figure out how to make the magic happen.
Figure out how you will enhance your reputation, how you will get those better clients, how you will get those speaking gigs. Do not wait until you publish your book. You should be ready to spring into action and generate benefits as soon as you publish.
Bottom Line
Plan to write a book that solves an important problem or answers a thorny question for enough readers to make it worth writing. Then plan how you will make good things happen with your book.