Publishing as a business booster
2 September 2013 by Infinite Ideas in Book publishing
‘Every one lives by selling something.’
Robert Louis Stevenson
A well-published book can reap huge benefits for the author. In 2006 RainToday.com and Wellesley Hills Group published a report that confirmed this. Titled The Business Impact of Writing a Book, it was based on an extensive study of business book authors, an impressive 96% of whom reported that publishing a book positively influenced their business. The book improved their brand, generated more speaking engagements, and generated more clients, better clients and more leads. Authors were able to charge higher fees as demand for their services rose and the book allowed the business to close more deals. The overwhelming outcome of this research was, ‘Assuming you have something worthwhile to say in a book, write one!’ If you need further confirmation that book publishing can be an enormous boon find out below what some published authors have to say about their experiences.
A published book (accent on ‘published’) can bring a string of powerful indirect benefits. It can boost a CV. It can take the place of a business card, with 1000 times the impact. It can open up lucrative speaking or consulting opportunities. It can enhance an author’s reputation in a defined target market.
Barry Gibbons, former CEO Burger King and author of six books including If You Want to Make God Really Laugh Show Him Your Business Plan: 101 Universal Laws of Business, and Five Loaves, Two Fishes and Six Chicken Nuggets: Urinations from inside the fast food tent.
Being a published author has provided me with a significant second platform of authority. My business experience and achievements to date are critical for sure but being published has extended that authority beyond the world of project management into a wider audience. As an author I am finding doors opening with greater ease and indeed, in some cases, the doors of opportunity are being opened for me by others – which is a very nice experience, especially if you are ‘lazy’ like me!
Peter Taylor, EMEA PMO Director at Siemens PLM and author of The Lazy Project Manager: How to be twice as productive and still leave the office early.
Publishing a book has allowed me and my business to achieve significant new credibility. The journey from the initial idea through to seeing copies of your book in the hands of customers is exhilarating. The journey required a heightened level of commitment but the prize was worth every ounce of energy. New doors open, your profile and authority are seen in a different light, it becomes easier to turn business enquiries into contracts and other platforms, for you and your business, emerge. Since writing Turn your sales force into profit heroes I have been on TV and had numerous articles published in respected journals and online for my industry. All that plus the buzz of seeing your work professionally presented on a retailer’s shelf or website.
Peter Brook, founder and MD REL Sales Consulting and author of Turn your sales force into profit heroes: Secrets for unlocking your team’s inner strength.
Having my book published by a recognised publisher was the most significant thing that I could do to add value to my business. It added huge credibility to the message I am delivering and positively impacted the business. We picked up some major clients as a result.
Penny Ferguson, CEO PFL Ltd, 2008 Business Woman of the Year and author of The Living Leader: Become the leader you want to be.
When I started my business there were quite a few speakers on the subject but I was the only one with a bestselling book in the market and it resulted in a quantum leap in bookings to speak at conferences. I’ve since written seven more books and each time a new book hits the shelves I receive a boost in business on the speaking circuit.
Catherine de Vrye, former Australian Executive Woman of the Year and author of Good Service is Good Business.
The Financial Times guide has led to a lot more writing work and invitations to run workshops and develop training courses as well as coaching work.
Romesh Vaitilingam, author of global bestseller The Financial Times Guide to Using the Financial Pages.
Writing my books is definitely the most important investment I have made in my business. It totally changes people’s perception of you, increases your day rate by 100% and brings you into contact with people and opportunities that would never normally come your way. I am still amazed by the number of people I meet who know of me already because of the books. They are the only advertising anyone would ever need.
Will Murray, author of Corporate Denial: Confronting the World’s Most Damaging Business Taboo.
A book makes you stand out from the crowd when pitching for consultancy work.
Annemarie Caracciolo, author of Smart Things to Know about Teams.
Being a published writer has generated consultancy and coaching work for me, not to mention invitations to speak at conferences and run workshops. In many ways, the royalties a book earns are the least important part of the financial equation.
John Middleton, author of Smart Things to Know About Your Career and Writing the New Economy: The Ultimate E-business Library.
As a consultant it is critical to be credible in front of clients, especially in the early stages of the relationship. One of the ways to develop near instant credibility is to have published books in the area of expertise in which you are consulting. There have been numerous occasions where, because of the books I have written, the client engages more readily and at a different level. This not only helps to build relationships and allow the client to trust your professional judgement, but it also helps to close sales.
Andrew Holmes, consultant and author of Carl von Clausewitz’s On War: A modern-day interpretation of a self-help classic and The Painspotter’s Guide to Broken Britain.
Having a business book published can give instant credibility to an author, especially if it’s in partnership with a major publisher. This can open the door to a lucrative speaking career, especially if the author has some charisma.
Brendan Barns, CEO Speakers for Business.
Having a book published bestowed instant credibility and authenticity. The result of being a published author is that I am taken more seriously. Since the publication of The Book of Luck my network of contacts has broadened considerably and as a consequence I have won search assignments that otherwise I would not have been considered for. I have found that doors have opened that previously would have been closed and I use my book as a calling card to speak to people at the highest level. The book has replaced my company brochure. The publication of a book opens up marketing opportunities second to none. My advice to anyone in a consultancy business is, forget the brochure and produce some original material in a book form and you will reap the benefits.
Anne Watson, author of The Book of Luck.
By far the most credible way to build your brand is to get a book published. A published book opens doors, it gets people to pay more attention to you, it adds robustness to your CV, it generates more enquiries, it gives you the best calling card possible as well as cool collateral for meetings and conferences and it starts the process of becoming a thought-leader.
Nicholas Bate, CEO Strategic Edge Ltd and author of Unplugged and Have it your way: 52 brilliant ideas for getting everything you want.
Once one person has believed in you (i.e. your publisher) then of course a book opens other doors (in my case for example loads and loads of TV production companies have contacted me). It is a great PR tool for the business too.