If you own a small business, microbusiness or start-up, self-publishing a book could make a significant contribution to your marketing efforts.
Running your own business is a dream come true for many people, despite all the hard work and long hours it demands. One of the most common challenges that small businesses face, however, is how to optimize their limited marketing budgets. If you’ve been on the lookout for creative new ways to promote your business, you might be surprised how well a self-published book could support your quest to get the word out about your brand, products and services.
If you’re worried about the time and effort it might take to get your book written and published, the self-publishing experts at Izzard Ink Publishing have some great news for you. It’s surprisingly quick, easy and affordable when you work with the right self-publishing company.
Why Self-Publishing Is a Great Marketing Strategy for Small Businesses
The driving force behind every small business is its owner. In fact, you are your brand. As the face of your company, your knowledge and expertise have a powerful influence over your prospects’ purchasing decisions.
Publishing a book brings an immense amount of credence to anyone’s resume. Being a published author in your field makes people stand up and take notice, and offers the potential of elevating you above your competition.
Of course, selling books is a great passive income stream. But the very existence of your book, in and of itself, can be leveraged across all of your marketing efforts. You will gain significant credibility in the eyes of your customers and prospects while increasing your exposure to the largest possible audience.
Choosing a Topic for Your Self-Published Book
One of the most common objections we hear from small business owners is that they don’t have any topics in mind for a book, or they’re not sure what they should write about. To maximize the marketing potential of your self-published book, consider what it is that you do and what aspects of your field might lend themselves well to a book.
The old adage of “write what you know” is solid advice. The more familiar you are with your subject matter, the easier it will be to get the words onto the page. But you must also consider the potential audience for your book and explore what approach would be most valuable to them.
For example, if you are a personal trainer, you could pen a step-by-step “how to” book about getting in shape this year. If you are a financial consultant, your customers and prospects might value an insider’s perspective on new economic developments in your industry or sector. If you’re a graphic artist or marketing consultant, you could get great traction from a book about how to successfully build a brand on a budget.
Another approach you might consider is telling your story. If the path you took to get where you are today was unusual or particularly inspiring, your potential audience might be excited to learn more. Think about how much you’ve learned, getting your business up and running. This is valuable insight and should be shared with the world!
Getting the Maximum Value from Your Self-Published Book
You don’t have to wait to have your book in-hand before you start reaping the potential benefits of self-publishing. You can promote your book as “coming soon” across all your social media platforms. You can insert a blurb about your upcoming publication in your regular blog posts, videos, newsletters, etc.
Once you have your book, you can really turn up the heat on your marketing efforts. Schedule seminars based around the theme of your book and have copies available for sale. Whether you sell many or not, your book on display will tell your prospects that you are truly an expert in your field.
Another way to use your book for maximum marketing value is to offer a free copy – this works particularly well with eBooks – in exchange for something. For example, this could be something as simple as signing up for your newsletter or booking an appointment with a sales rep.
We have dozens more tips and tricks on how you can boost your small business marketing efforts through self-publishing, and we would love to share those with you!
Trust the Self-Publishing Experts at Izzard Ink
If you think this sounds like a good plan for your business, it’s time to get the process started. The good news is that, when you find the best self-publishing company for you, you won’t have to tackle the process alone.
At Izzard Ink Publishing, our unique approach helps to set you up for success. We script a personalized action plan to get your book ready to go. This helps ensure that you get the maximum value out of your time, effort and investment. We can assist you with everything from professional editing and cover design to marketing, distribution and promotion.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of self-publishing, we have a wealth of resources online. For example, check out our Ten Steps to Self-Publishing a Book. Or, to learn more about Izzard Ink Publishing and get started on your self-publishing journey, contact us now.
