How Getting Published Will Change Your BusinessWriting a book is the best way to put your expertise on display.

ByWendy Keller

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Rawpixel.com | Shutterstock

Would you like to be recognized as one of the smartest people in your industry? Would you like complete strangers tracking you down and calling to hire you on the spot -- without you doing any of the typical sales work? How would it help you if everyone thought you knew more about your topic than pretty much anybody else?

The secret path to all of that? Write a book. Not just any book. Not just some crummy self-published book that only sells (statistically) 117 copies. But a legit book with a legit publisher who hands you a check for the privilege of printing your words of wisdom.

I've helped thousands of people achieve that goal in my career, and am the literary agent behind 17 New York Times best sellers. There is no better way to scramble to the top of your industry than writing a book and having it published by a traditional publisher. A traditional book deal brings you:

  • Credibility
  • Cash up front
  • Media attention
  • Prestige
  • Distinction among your peers
  • Authority
  • Automatic lead generation
  • Pre-qualified customers
  • And more (depending on how you play it)

Luckily, getting a book deal with a serious publisher (Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster, Entrepreneur Press, McGraw Hill, HarperCollins) requires stuff that is pretty easy to get:

  • Subject matter expertise
  • A growing platform (customer base)
  • A decent, somewhat fresh idea for a book.

"Subject matter expertise", well, you've got that. You know more about your business than people who are not in it, right? You know more about what your customers really need to achieve their goal than they even do, right? Done.

A "growing platform." This is the most likely determinant of not just how much money a publisher will pay for your book, but how much they will pay in advance to acquire it. It will determine how much marketing effort they put into you, and what kind of marketing results (radio, print, television, paid speaking engagements, social media followers, etc.) you will get from it. Remember, when you're marketing your book, you're marketing your business. (To discover the straight path to growing your platform/your business,click here to attend a FREE live webinar on the topic).

“不错,新鲜的想法”是非常简单的设计。If you've got a growing platform, you'll be getting questions and feedback from the people you interact with. You probably get asked questions about your subject all the time. The best idea for your best book comes from this conversation.

Writing the book can be delegated or done yourself more easily than you think. Finally, when people read your book, they will automatically assume you know more and are better at what you do than "regular people". This preemptory trust will lead them to checking out your business, consulting or coaching services, professional speaking, whatever, and to be predisposed to hiring you.

To discover how to build a platform for a book you think you might want to write, are writing or have written, click here.

Wavy Line
Wendy Keller

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Writer

CEO and Founder of Keller Media, Inc.

Wendy Kelleris an award-winning former journalist, a respected literary agent, an author, speaker, acclaimed book marketing consultant, and branding expert. She is the author ofUltimate Guide to Platform Building(Entrepreneur Press®, 2016) and got her first job as a newspaper reporter as a 16-year-old college freshman. Since then, Wendy worked for PR Newswire; the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain; as managing editor ofDatelinemagazine; and as associate publisher of Los Angeles’ then-second-largest Spanish language weekly,La Gaceta. She works with authors, speakers and business experts to help them build and promote their brands. She foundedKeller Media, Inc. in 1989.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

An 81-Year-Old Florida CEO Just Indicted for a $250 Million Ponzi Scheme Ran a Sprawling Senior Citizen Crime Ring

Carl Ruderman is the fifth senior citizen in the Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Palm Beach metropolitan area to face charges in connection with the scam.

Business News

Taco Bell Slammed With Lawsuit Over 'Especially Concerning' Advertisements, Allegedly Deceiving Customers

The class action lawsuit claims the chain is advertising more than they deliver.

Business News

Body of Missing 27-Year-Old Goldman Sachs Banker Found in Nearby Body of Water

John Castic, a 27-year-old Goldman Sachs employee, went missing around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday after attending a concert at the Brooklyn Mirage in East Williamsburg.

Business News

Steve Jobs's Son Is Diving Into Venture Capital — and His Focus Hits Close to Home

Reed Jobs, 31, launched venture capital firm Yosemite, which already boasts $200 million from investors and institutions.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.