In some fields, those who are published authors get the opportunities, while those who are not get left out. In other fields writing a book is so rare that those who do become authors really stand out. 

The reality is, even if it’s not a best seller (and most books are not!), there are many ways that writing a book can help your business or career. For example, a book can…

1. Establish your credibility – If what you’re selling requires some level of expertise, your book provides proof that you are indeed an expert. After all, you wrote a book on the topic!
   
   One of my book ghostwriting clients is essentially using his book as an impressive “business card” to hand to his potential clients when they meet. Another hopes to use his book as a springboard to a speaking career. Both strategies are all about the credibility that being an author creates.

2. Help people know, like and trust you – People like to do business with people they know, like and trust. In a sense, a book gives readers a 100- to 250-page opportunity to get to know you. Depending on the topic and how you write and structure your book, readers can get a glimpse of your personality, a feel for how you approach problems, an understanding of your background, a look at some of the projects you’ve tackled in the past, and more.  
   
   Familiarity breeds comfort, and comfort leads to trust. If your words resonate, your book will therefore also help readers to like and trust you.

3. Grow your client list – When readers are looking to hire someone who does what you do, they will naturally think of you as the “go-to expert” in your field. Your “about the author” page at the back of the book can talk about the types of services you offer and provide your contact information.

4. Fuel your content marketing program – Once written, your book’s content can also be repurposed into blogs, special reports, presentations, social media posts and more. You’ll have a treasure trove of material that you can reuse in a multitude of ways.

5. Act as a marketing piece – Plus, of course, if you’re sitting down for a meeting with a potential customer, handing them a personally autographed copy of your book is a lot more impressive than simply handing them your business card—especially if the book is about the topic that you’re there to discuss. 

Of course, you don’t have to be a writer to be an author. Instead, you can simply work with a talented book ghostwriter like me!