Everyone has thought about being an author at one time or another. Like being a doctor or pilot, it’s a profession that most people only fantasize about but never seriously consider. Writing a book is something that not many people ever end up actually doing.
Here are 5 reasons why writing a book can be a game-changer for you professionally (and personally):
1. Writing a book can help you stand out
Few people actually ever write a book because it’s not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. If it was, everybody would do it.
Writing a book takes time, discipline, and skill that most people either don’t have or can’t be bothered to acquire. But if you have some specific goals in mind, then a book is an undertaking that will often pay off better than anything else.
2. Share your expertise by writing a book
If you have an experience or expertise worth sharing, then you should write a book.
You’ve probably already told what you know to the people around you. Maybe it was your insider’s experience as an investor, how to maintain a car, or even something as common as weight loss advice.
You’ve probably seen how sharing your knowledge has benefited them in some way or another. And it’s nice to see how you’ve helped them, right?
Now, imagine you could help even people that you’ll never meet. A book will make your knowledge accessible and widely available. Anyone that has the Internet and could benefit from your knowledge will be able to find, buy, and read it. If you want to get what you have to say to as many people as possible, a book is one of the best ways to do it.
3. Writing a book can help you build your personal brand
If you’re looking to build your personal brand, write a book. Someone is going to tell your story, so it may as well be you. A book lets you craft and control your brand’s narrative/message exactly how you want it.
4. A book can establish your credibility in your industry
Aside from that, a book is bound to bring you lifelong advantages in your professional life.
Being someone that literally “wrote the book” in your industry can help you get clients, jobs, speaking engagements, and promote yourself like nothing else.
You might be an expert in your field, sure. But a book will distinguish you as a published expert and bring in a lot of extra attention. That’s the kind of distinction that could make the difference between you and another applicant for a job or a competitor for your business.
Everyone takes notice when someone has their name on the front cover.
5. Writing a book can give you opportunities, but not always sales
There are plenty of good reasons why you should write a book. There is one good reason why you should not write a nonfiction book, and that’s book sales.
If you are trying to write a nonfiction book to profit solely off of selling copies, then you are most likely setting yourself up for disappointment.
Let’s be honest. The book market is heavily saturated and highly competitive.
Typically, the only independent authors that might be able to make a living only through book sales are the ones pumping out genre fiction and can market themselves like a politician. While runaway best-sellers happen, it’s not something that you should expect at all.
Besides, there’s way more money to be made than just from the book itself.
You should write a book if you can see that a book as an investment to bring in business, not the business itself. The time and money that you put into writing and publishing your book will pay off in getting you an interview, new clients, and speaking opportunities that you otherwise wouldn’t have.
Ultimately, that’s a lot more valuable than any royalty payments.
The Bottom Line
Writing a book is a big endeavor. There’s no way around that. But if you can do it, a book will prove to be one of the most effective ways to promote your business, build your brand, and share your knowledge to the world.
But when you’re a busy professional, writing a book can take a backseat. And we get that.
If you want to get that book written and build your personal brand, schedule a call with our team of writers at BrightRay.com to learn more about our all-inclusive writing, editing, and publishing services, and get your book on the shelves!