Strategic Advice for Writing a Business Book

Writing a business book is a daunting yet rewarding endeavor. It requires careful planning, strategic execution, and a deep understanding of your audience. Here, we provide strategic advice to help you embark on this journey with greater confidence and success.

Overcoming the Writing Process

The road to writing a business book is riddled with challenges and rewards. You might find yourself hating and loving the process simultaneously, just as many authors do. This is a natural part of the journey.

Write when you don't want to: Set a regular writing schedule and stick to it, even when inspiration wanes. Market it as you write: Start promoting your work while still in the writing phase. Building an audience and engagement early on can be incredibly beneficial. Edit extensively: Treat editing as an integral part of the writing process. Good books are birthed through meticulous editing. Write the introduction last: Begin with the main content and tackle the introduction after you've completed the majority of your book. Organize your content creatively: Save your favorite topics for the end, or write your least favorite chapters first to ease into more complex content. Create bullet points: When you're stuck, start by making bullet points. This can help you get unstuck and organize your thoughts. Keep motivating: When the going gets tough, read Shut Up and Write for inspiration. It's your job to create content.

Target Your Audience

To make your business book successful, you need to understand your audience and address their specific needs or challenges.

Know your market: Pick a specific topic that fulfills a want, need, or solves a problem for your target audience. Keep it concise: Aim for a page count between 30-40 pages to ensure depth and focus. Brevity can sometimes be more powerful than verbosity. Include business information: At the back of your book, include your business information and offer something valuable in exchange for their contact details, such as a free ebook, webinar, or consultation.

Underpinning Your Content

To make your book compelling and effective, ensure you have a solid foundation of well-structured content.

Create an outline: Have a detailed outline that is well-thought-out to cover all necessary topics. Identify reader expectations: Determine what you want readers to gain from your book, and structure your content accordingly. Include numerous examples: Provide ample examples and exercises to help readers fully understand each concept. Quantity over quality might be preferable to ensure comprehension. Simplify complex ideas: Avoid overwhelming readers with overly complex explanations, unless you are targeting an advanced audience.

Marketing and Distribution

Marketing your book is as important as writing it. Here are some strategic steps to promote your work.

Do your research: Check reviews and identify gaps in the current market. Engage with business experts for feedback. Define your goals: Decide whether you aim to build a brand, gain consulting work, or simply leverage your existing brand to promote the book. Work with a marketing expert: If you’re not a marketing expert, collaborate with one to plan a PR campaign. Identify distribution channels: Determine whether you want to sell your book as a physical book, an ebook, or both. Start with an ebook and scale up as needed.

By following these strategic advice, you can set yourself up for success and create a business book that not only entertains but also educates and inspires your readers.