How to Write a Business Book: A Detailed Guide
Do you have a business-oriented mind? Do you think your years of experience and knowledge in the business field can translate into a bestselling business book? If you are a retired business teacher or simply wish to spread your wisdom to today’s young generation, writing a business book is one way to spread your expertise on a global level.
In this comprehensive guide, you will learn step-by-step how to write a business book or eBook. The process is simple, but with professional help, it is even better. This guide will support your journey towards authorship. While a guide may not account for every step you will encounter, it sure does give you one heck of a kickstart on your journey.
So, if you are interested in learning how to write a business book, keep reading and note how your ideas will form a path toward success and possibility.
10 Steps on How to Write a Business Book
Here, we will uncover effective tips that the best writers use. What’s better is that these tips are coming straight from the professionals. So, let us get right into the list.
1. Understand Your Theory
It is normal for them not to have a burning idea for their book. In fact, it is pretty common to do so. Even if you have a lot of experience in your field, it is okay for that little block to come in. Having experience and authority in their field is important, and you can achieve this by brainstorming. Whatever you wish to communicate and teach your audience and readers, you will have to brainstorm those pointers.
Before you jump into writing your business book, you have to understand your book hypothesis and the theory behind it. This is what will help you develop the purpose of the book.
Ask yourself what the driving force behind writing a book is. This momentum will help you decide the direction of your book and what side it should learn on. For instance, some business leaders will use their book as an informational tool for prospects. It is something they can give to prospects to support their decision-making process. On the other hand, some authors want to chronicle their experiences. These authors are motivated by a want to share their personal stories with others. You never know who can gravitate towards that experience.
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2. Assess Your Experience
When you have decided to add your experiences and past to your business book, it is time to assess them and modify them slightly. However, the modification part is an option. One of the simplest ways to narrow down your book’s topic is to assess and evaluate your own experiences. What makes those experiences stand out as unique and different? Can your readers and target audience resonate with those pain points that you went through at the beginning of your journey as a businessman?
If you are able to provide new and fresh insights on the business topic you choose, you can carve space for yourself among the heaps of other books available to your audience. Note down all the lessons you learned in life and what made you who you are today.
What you can do is note them all down and create a list, then see which ones best fit your topic, make the most sense, and are not that difficult for the readers to understand. It is important to remember that there are some experiences that only you can understand, so not everything needs to be shared. So, implementing this step can really help you narrow down your options.
3. Determine Your Audience and Their Needs
A published book is an outstanding achievement. But as a CEO, business owner, or thought leader, you know that is not enough. Reach for something beyond personal satisfaction in your writing. Strive to impress and please your audience by providing entertainment, value, and a wealth of knowledge.
To do this, you must understand your audience and what they seek. Do you know their frustrations, needs, and questions? The better you can determine these factors, the better your book will resonate with your audience and become a valuable resource.
4. Figure Out Your Manuscript Preferences
If you have done your research, you know many authors don’t pen down or write the manuscript themselves. While some authors like to write their own manuscripts, other authors choose to leave the writing to a professional ghostwriter. In these cases, the authors offer their insights to a ghostwriter via dialogue or text. For those who need writing support, a third option exists — coaching.
Before you spend too long slogging over your document, decide which method you prefer for manuscript creation. Some would write it down themselves, while others would draft it on docs or online. Whatever helps you and whatever you find easy, do that.
Many business professionals and leaders prefer to hire talented ghostwriters to turn their ideas into a reality and into the next big buzz. At the same time, the book itself remains the intellectual property of the author and not the ghostwriter. So, if you fear that the ghostwriter will take credit for the work, trust that such a situation will not ever happen when you hire a professional agency.
For example, BookCreating offers several book writing services and ghostwriting services. Before our writers start working with you, our legal contract includes that your work is your work and that the purpose of the ghostwriter is to communicate the author’s ideas in an appealing format and polished structure.
More to know: How to Find the Right Target Audience for Your eBook [Our Top Tips]
5. Find Your Book Publisher
Who you choose for your book publisher will specify many aspects of your publishing process. Your publisher may provide complementary services, such as ghostwriting or book promotion packages.
Your publisher will also help you understand the distribution of your book and the copyrights to your book. After you know what support you would like in your manuscript creation, it is time to evaluate your choices for the book publisher.
Here are a couple of more things to look at:
Publishing House vs. Self-Publishing
Authors are known to have three options: either work with an independent publisher, a traditional publisher or to self-publish their book. When you work with a publisher, the process is outlined for you, creating an inclusive and everything you need in one place.
With a professional agency, you get to have your own book designers who will work with you one-on-one to help you design the book cover perfect for you. You can either request one designer or a team of skilled designers, depending on what you are comfortable with. While that is present, you get to have a team of editing and proofreading experts who will edit your manuscript and prepare it for the big game. Delivering you with error-free content. Lastly, a distributor helps you make the right deals where your work will be in retail stores, where your book will be sold the most, and how those retail stores will carry out your book.
With a professional eBook writing company such as BookCreating, everything you need will be under one roof. Wouldn’t it be better if you published your business book in two ways rather than one? A paperback book and an eBook? If you want to learn more reasons why eBooks offer several more advantages compared to paper books, then read our blog, “10 Advantages of eBooks Over Printed Books.” to get a better understanding of why.
However, if you decide to self-publish, you will need to do things in order to stay on the right track. You will have to keep all the rights to your book, but the distribution channels could be minimized as no one is presenting your book on your behalf. White self-publishing can be difficult. It is not impossible, but there are ways to achieve this as well.
Independent vs. Traditional Publishers
If you decide to go with a publisher, you have yet another decision to make: traditional publishers or independent publishers. Traditional publishers are likely what you think of when you consider a publishing house. However, only a fraction of book proposals are accepted by traditional publishers. Even if you make the cut, you resign creative control of your book and many of the rights to your book.
Independent publishers offer a different path for those who want support and prestige without the hassle of traditional publishing. As an author with an independent publisher, you get to keep all the rights to your book. Additionally, you get to maintain all creative control and authority over your work and have unlimited access to additional services such as media and book promos.
Decide Your Book Distribution Selections
Do you expect to view your book in a retail store or some other store that does not really make sense? Why is your business book there? If not, then it is important that you hire a distribution company or a team working on your behalf. Most of the retail stores will only accept books from publishers, putting self-publishing at a slight disadvantage.
This is one of the reasons why most authors prefer to write eBooks over paper books: finding a key place for them on the shelf is difficult with more and more readers on the side of eBooks. It is important to also know that when it comes to publishing a paper book, the expenses for your publishing method can also rise. In contrast, for an eBook, the payment is a one-time buy, and that is where readers can simply go on the platform you chose to retail your book and buy it from there.
6. Build Your Blueprint or Outline
Now, before you go all out and spend hours laboring for your manuscript, you need to outline the details. Just as you would sketch the design before coloring it in, the same concept is applied here. This is the part where you get to perfect any edits and finalize your publishing plan. At BookCreating, we help our authors create the perfect blueprint for their work by making sure that their plan is customized to them and their original purpose. No matter what publishing stage you are in, each stage is simplified by our process.
Part of our blueprint strategy is to help authors create a sound and strong outline of their work. Even the best writers need an outline to ensure that each chapter they have written internationally contributes to the book’s structure. For authors creating their own kind of outline, we advise doing so chapter-by-chapter to ensure that nothing is missed.
7. Create a Promotional Plan
You do not have to wait until the manuscript is finished to start creating your promotional plan for your business book. If you are working with an independent publishing company, they will help you create a plan that is perfect for you from beginning to end.
However, if you are self-publishing your work, you will need to create your own promotional plan and seek a promotional PR team to help you develop and create a plan.
8. Make a Writing Schedule
Now, this is the stage in which you have to discipline yourself. Once you have completed your initial steps, you have to take action on them. If you are writing this on your own, you will need more time and focus. If you decide to hire a ghostwriter from BookCreating, then at any given moment, you can schedule an online meeting with them to see what progress is being made for your business book.
Regardless of which option you choose, you will have to be disciplined about the rate of productivity you want for your work.
Three things can determine your writing schedule:
- The Location—Try writing in the same place every time you decide to write. It depends on what you feel comfortable with and what keeps the right thoughts flowing into your mind. It is best to choose a place with the fewest distractions and have your stationery with you so you do not need to get up every now and then.
- Your Time—You will need to set a specific time to write and try to stick with it. You will have to manage your timing and the amount of time you spend on your work.
- Your Word Count— Some authors prefer to set an expected word count per writing session rather than a time limit.
Helpful read: Best eBook SEO to Increase Traffic and Sales.
9. Know Your Deadlines
It is important to keep track of your deadlines and your business book schedule. Your distribution team uses your projected launch date to pitch your book on time to the retailers. Meeting these deadlines is important if you wish to avoid any hassle. During the book publishing process, you will write your book and get it approved.
Pin up a calendar of your critical deadlines to stay on top of your schedule. If you are working with a publishing house, you can ask them to give you the key dates well in advance, so you have plenty of time to accomplish your tasks.
10. Celebrate Your Milestones And Publish
There are many smaller victories on the way to book-launch day. Take the time to celebrate each milestone as a mark of your success. With each milestone, update your followers on social media and remember to promote the book to your customer base.
With the release of your book, it’s time to rejoice in your new status as an author. While you may wish to revel in your success, it’s ideal to first continue promoting your book and your personal image.
With a book title to your name, you may gain greater speaking engagements and business opportunities. It’s time to position yourself as an expert and discover how to use your book for increased ROI for years to come.
A helpful read for you: Is Creating an Author Website Important? [A Complete Guide]
Write Your Business Book With BookCreating
Now that you are aware of all the steps to writing a business book, this is a sign that you can take that leap and start on your project. We have mentioned in this article that you can release your book in two ways: paper book form or an eBook.While the choice is yours, it is important for you to know what is being preferred in the market and what kinds of books are in demand.
With BookCreating, you can gain all the advantages and more for your business book. Our team makes sure to provide you with a custom approach. With our services, you will gain promising results for your successful business book and more. So what are you waiting for? Do not hesitate on your goal to succeed, and choose our affordable services to help you fulfill that dream and turn it into a reality.