7 Reasons Why Business Owners Should Write Books

If you own or run a business, it goes without saying that you don’t have a lot of free time. You’re focused on building your business, whether this is a big company or a one-person consultancy. And as anyone with a half-written novel stuffed in a drawer knows, writing is probably best done by those who, either by temperament or vocation, must write.

But here’s the thing: writing – and electronically publishing – a book can actually be a highly efficient way to build your business.

Understand that I’m not talking about writing the next War and Peace or teenage vampire series, although if you have that in you, go for it. Instead I’m advocating for writing a relatively short, focused e-book that relates directly to your business strengths.

Why should you consider doing this? There are, of course, the reasons that have always spurred non-fiction writing, such as explaining phenomena, exploring new ideas, and arguing for or against something. But an e-book can serve as an ideal vehicle for promoting your business as well. For example:

1. A well-produced e-book serves as an exceptionally impressive business card. Attaching its hyperlink to your e-signature or LinkedIn profile instantly adds credibility to your services.
2. You can easily offer an e-book for sale as a download on your website. Without manufacturing and distribution costs, you can electronically “print” and sell as many or as few copies as needed.
3. You can use a print-on-demand service to print physical copies of the book for use as part of your marketing collateral or for trade shows and client presentations.
4. Your book can serve as an attractive gift to clients or a value-adding “gift with purchase” for your services.
5. You can collect the e-mail addresses of potential clients by offering the e-book, or an excerpt from it, as a free download on your website.
6. A book, whether in electronic or printed form, raises your perceived value as a speaker or seminar leader. Plus, you have a ready-made study guide or audience give-away. 

To start, pick a discrete slice of your services as the subject of your e-book.  One way to come up with a topic is to consider your field’s “evergreen” subjects, those that get written about over and over again. Then consider how you could add something fresh and newly helpful to those topics by channeling them through your own expertise. For example, if you run a career coaching service, you could write a guide to preparing for challenging interview questions. If you are an accountant, you could write about the best tools and techniques for saving the right tax records. If you are a C-suite executive, you could offer 10 tips for mentoring the next generation of leaders.

E-publishing has removed the high barriers that used to exist for getting a book published. For better and for worse, the editorial gate-keepers at literary agencies, publishing houses and bookstores can now be circumvented. However, any business e-book that bears your name should be impeccably edited and packaged. Anything less will detract from your professional standing. In addition to getting editorial and distribution assistance, also consider getting your book jacket designed by a graphic designer, even if your book will only live on-screen. The pay-off in visual polish and impact will be appreciable.

There are a myriad online services devoted to editing, packaging and publishing e-books, at a range of price points. Get the best services you can afford to ensure that your e-book, whether offered for sale or for free, puts you in the best possible light as a professional.

Oh, and reason #7 to write a book? It’s that you’ll be an author, and you’ll make your parents proud.