Think you don’t need to write a book? Think again.
Joe Pulizzi , Content Marketing Evangelist said: “A book is perhaps the ultimate piece of content marketing that can position you or your company as a leading expert in your industry.”
Establishing yourself as an expert can do wonders for your business, but it’s not the only reason why you need to put your nose to the grindstone (and by grindstone, I mean keyboard) and get writing!
Personal and Business Credibility
Have you ever used the phrase “He wrote the book on that”?
Wouldn’t you like people to use that phrase when referencing you?
Writing a book and sharing your knowledge with the masses allows you to establish yourself as an expert both personally and professionally. (Feel free to throw up gang symbols right now while muttering “I’ve got street cred, yo!”)
There’s nothing cooler than sitting at a cocktail party (or a bar – I may be overstating my classiness here) and telling people you wrote a book. Now mind you, that book needs to be well researched, well crafted, and well written. If it’s not, don’t mention it before the 5th beer.
Imagine a potential client sitting down for their first meeting. They are hemming and hawing about signing on to work with you. You’re not pushy so you very casually lean back in your chair, take your book out of a drawer and slide it across the desk.
“I understand that you might be anxious about working with someone new,” you say. “This book may put you at ease and answer some of your questions about (insert service here).”
Your potential client sees your name on the book, realizes that you are THE EXPERT, and practically breaks a finger scrambling for the pen and the contract.
You are a Speaker
You’ve just finished a breathtaking speech on (insert your topic here). Your audience leaps to their feet to give you a standing O. People are fanning themselves to keep from fainting. Now they are rushing to the back of the room to find out how they can take your brilliance home with them. You find them gathered around your table, practically foaming at the mouth… a table that is mostly empty except for a newsletter signup sheet and a half eaten cherry danish. The disappointment is palpable.
I speak from experience, folks. I had 10 people standing around my table letting out audible grumbles of frustration that my book wasn’t anywhere near published. (To be honest, that story is not entirely true. I would never leave a pastry unfinished.) I had them sign up for my newsletter and promised to let them know when the book was available. They were not satisfied. To be clear, I’m not badmouthing newsletters, I think they are very important, but they don’t hold a candle to a tangible book people can take home and read that night.
One of my mentors goes so far as to say that it’s selfish to give people a taste of what you know, and then not give them a way to get any more. Don’t be selfish. Write a book.
Boost your Self Confidence
I don’t think I’m the only entrepreneur that doubts their abilities and awesomeness at times. If I am, go ahead and assume that my dog typed that last line when I took a potty break.
If you are often visited by the self doubt monster who makes you think you are a hack of epic proportions, putting your knowledge and your ideas down on paper is a great way to prove to yourself that you aren’t talking out of your butt.
Alan Weiss, consulting guru says, “The first sale is to yourself”. If you can’t convince yourself that you are worthy, what hope do you have of making someone else believe it?
Writing a book is like therapy for your business.
Now that you are 100% convinced that you absolutely must write a book (if you aren’t, go back to the beginning and reread this blog until you are convinced), take a deep breath and relax. It doesn’t have to be that scary. (link) You don’t have to go it alone. A book coach (that’s me!) can help you organize your thoughts, identify your purpose and your audience, and help you stay on track while you create. Email me at sheryl@sherylgreenspeaks.com and let’s have a conversation about making you an expert.
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