3 Big Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Book
Posted: Sunday, September 05, 2010
by Ronda Del Boccio
http://ProfitableStorytelling.com
As an expert, you know a lot about your subject. This is both good news and bad news for you. Having coached numerous experts and business owners, I notice 3 business-BUSTING mistakes that you can avoid.
The blessing is that you have real solutions for people. You are a problem solver. You've either learned how to avoid those mistakes in the school of hard knocks, or you've spent time, money and trouble figuring something out, or you've created a system that makes hard tasks simple.
Here are the 3 biggest mistakes that 99% of experts make concerning how to write a book that boosts your business.
Big Mistake #1: Too Much Information.
I remember one expert who was pouring over 40 years of notes, trying to figure out what to write about. "Forget all that and just write the book," I told him. Unfortunately, as far as I know, he never finished. He let his own knowledge get in the way of connecting with his ideal readers.
What you want to remember is that you are not writing a set of encyclopedias. You're not trying to write the Ultimate Tome on your subject. Furthermore, you don't want to overwhelm your reader or talk like a PhD, even if you are one.
You want to write your book in a conversational tone, like a friend over a coffee, so that the reader will begin to know, like and trust you. It's not your degrees, certifications, or even your years of experience doing what you do that counts. The reader wants a connection with you as their trusted guide.
Imagine how you would feel if you said you have a problem and someone handed you a 500-page volume and said, "Here's your solution. Happy reading." Would you feel well served? I'm sure you wouldn't, and that is precisely why you want to write a smaller book in a friendly style.
Avoiding the Too Much Information Mistake:
There are several ways you can avoid this mistake, including these:
Remember that we live in an immediate gratification world. Who wants to read 300 or 400 pages? That's fine for novels but not nonfiction. Realize that less is more. Some of the best books I have ever read are less than 150 pages. Give an "aerial view" of what you are covering. Force a deadline on yourself so you will complete the book instead of continuing to put it off.
Big Mistake #2: Just a Book
The second big mistake experts make when writing a book is that the book is all you have. I see this so often. When I ask a would-be author expert "what else do you have besides the book" and am met with a blank stare, I cringe.
Books don't bring you much profit. Honestly, that's not their job. You write a book for credibility, media attention, leads, rising above your competition, and your own self-satisfaction. You don't write one with the idea that you make money FROM the book.
As an expert, you make money BECAUSE you are an author. As a published author, you can increase your speaker fees, get into local and national media, generate leads for your business, stand out in a crowded marketplace, increase customer loyalty, and so much more.
Avoiding the "Just a Book" Mistake
The way to avoid this mistake is to be sure you have something else - at least one product or service - in place besides your book. This could be your bricks-and-mortar business that you mention in the book, a kit, a class, or anything else that will generate business. Make sure to direct the reader from your book to your business. Don't just say, "Visit my website." That's not a call to action; that's merely a week suggestion.
Big Mistake #3: No Call to Action
I know you've experienced a call to action even if you don't know the term. "Order now and get these gifts free" is an example. Like any advertisement, your book should cause the reader to take an additional action. When the reader finishes your book, they should come straight back to you.
Avoid putting phrases like this near the end of your book: "In conclusion," "thanks for reading," "I hope this has solved your problem" or the dreaded "The End." Of course you're glad the reader read the book, and of course you hope the book was helpful, and obviously when the reader runs out of pages, the book is finished.
But your book should be a beginning, not an end. If you end the book with a feeling of closure, here's what happens. Your reader sees "the end" (or something conveying a sense of "we're done here" and they close the book, put it on their shelf, and forget about you.
Avoiding the "No Call to Action" Mistake
The way to avoid this mistake is to have a specific step you want the reader to take after reading the book. Perhaps you want them to claim a bonus, such as an action plan or template. Or maybe you want them to register for a class or accept a free strategy session. Give clear, specific directions as to what action you want the reader take at the end.
Now that you understand these 3 big mistakes, you can avoid them so that your book does its job of growing your influence.
Every expert and business owner who wants to get noticed in this crowded marketplace needs to become an author. Ronda Del Boccio, author of The Instant VIP! has created a simple, proven system for how to write a book that you can use to elevate yourself to VIP status. Claim your free online writing course at http://ProfitableStorytelling.com/writeabook.htm
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Thanks...nice article...very helpful also...keep it up...Regards...CP
Good information in this article Ronda, thanks for sharing.
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