Why Every Expert Should Publish a Book
The Main Gist: A book can become one of your most powerful marketing assets. It builds authority, earns trust, attracts clients, and creates opportunities that go far beyond sales.
Key Takeaways:
A book turns your best ideas, stories, and frameworks into a lasting resource (much longer-lasting than a social media post).
A book separates you from the countless others competing for attention and establishes you as someone worth listening to.
Publishing a book can lead to new clients, speaking opportunities, interviews, partnerships, and greater visibility.
Backlist Builders helps busy experts who don’t have the time or confidence in their writing skills to build their backlist of books.
If you’re an entrepreneur, thought leader, or expert in your field, you’ve probably had this thought at one point or another:
“Should I write a book?”
Maybe you’ve heard the advice to write a book from business owners or coaches online, or maybe you’ve seen industry leaders and consultants rocket off into stardom after publishing a book.
“Could I do that?” you wonder. You’ve got the experience and expertise, after all.
But you’re not really a writer. It might take months, or even years, to finish a book. Isn't publishing a book just another item on an already loooong to-do list? Would it really be worth it?
Well, it turns out that those industry leaders aren’t just blowing smoke when they say that you should write a book.
A book isn't just a product you sell (although it can be an additional source of income!). It's one of the most powerful business and personal branding tools you can create.
Let's look at why publishing a book can be one of the smartest investments for an expert like you.
A Book Instantly Builds Credibility
If you’ve got “Author of ___________” next to your name, that instantly makes you sound more credible.
People naturally associate authors with expertise. Publishing a book signals that you have enough knowledge to, well, fill a whole book! A book becomes proof that you know your subject well enough to teach it.
That doesn't mean you need to know everything. It just means you've developed a unique perspective worth sharing.
In a crowded market where everyone is posting half-formed opinions and hot takes on social media, a book helps you stand out.
A Book Outlasts a Social Media Post
You may already be sharing your expertise with the world on social media, which is great! Social media is an awesome method for getting attention.
But the difference in quality between a social media post and a book is huge.
In a book, you can explain your ideas completely, instead of squeezing them into a short post or a two-minute video.
You can:
Tell stories–whether they’re personal experiences or stories of others.
Share lessons you've learned.
Walk readers through your process.
Address common objections.
Explain the "why" behind your methods.
Instead of hundreds of disconnected pieces of content, your book becomes one clear resource that represents your best thinking–the one-stop shop for your followers and potential clients to see everything you have to offer.
A Book Helps Turn Readers Into Clients
One of the biggest benefits of publishing a book is the potential a book has to turn readers into clients.
When someone reads your book, they're spending hours learning from you. They get to see how you think, how you solve problems, and what it's like to work with you—all before you've ever spoken to each other.
So, if you have a service to sell to potential clients, a book is the perfect way to start.
Instead of convincing someone you're qualified, your book will do most of the heavy lifting. Readers will see your expertise in action. They'll learn from your stories, your insights, and your framework. By the time they reach out, they’ll already trust that you know what you're doing.
This is especially valuable for consultants, coaches, agency owners, and other service-based businesses. Hiring an expert can feel like a risk, after all. Prospective clients are asking themselves, "Is it worth it? Can this person really help me?"
A book answers that question before the first meeting even happens!
Rather than competing on price or trying to stand out with another polished website, you're demonstrating your expertise in the most convincing way possible—by teaching. When readers finish your book thinking, "This is exactly the guidance I needed," many will naturally wonder what it would be like to work with you directly.
Hello, dream clients!
A Book Opens Doors You Didn't Expect
Many first-time authors think they'll make money from book sales. While that's possible, the biggest opportunities usually come in other ways, after someone reads their book.
Besides helping you land your dream clients, a book can lead to:
Speaking invitations
Podcast interviews
Media coverage
Consulting clients
Coaching opportunities
Corporate training
Partnerships
Networking with other industry leaders
And so much more!
The long and the short of it is, your book can become your best marketing tool. That’s why so many authors include information about how to get in touch with them, so that potential clients and business partners can reach out for additional opportunities.
A Book Works While You Sleep
You can only attend one meeting at a time, or give one presentation at a time.
But your book can be read by hundreds—or thousands—of people at the same time. It keeps introducing you to new readers every day.
Someone might discover your book long after it's published. After all, books have a much longer lifespan than social media posts, and there are thousands of readers out there who are searching for books on your topic on websites like Amazon and Apple Books.
A great book will continue working for you years after you've finished writing it.
So, we agree. A book is a no-brainer for your brand.
But can you really write a book? Let's clear up some myths so you can feel confident that you—yes, you—can be an author.
You Don't Need to Be Famous to Write a Book
Not famous? No problem.
Luckily, that doesn’t matter when you’re publishing a book. You don’t need a huge following to get started.
People aren't always looking for the world's greatest expert. Most of the time, they're looking for someone who can solve their specific problem.
If your knowledge can help people save time, avoid mistakes, make more money, improve their health, or become better leaders, you already have something valuable to share.
A Book is Just One Idea, Expanded
At this point, you might be thinking, “I have some ideas… but are they enough to fill a whole book?”
Listen: You don’t need to do decades of research to write a book. You don’t need 100 different ideas to include.
Some of the most successful books are just one simple idea that is expanded upon.
Let me give you an example: Mel Robbins, a mega-popular and super successful expert on personal growth, has a best-selling book called The Five-Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage. This book has sold millions of copies and helped countless people.
But the premise of her book is very simple. In fact, her “five-second rule” strategy could be taught in a single sentence. The 250-page book is fleshed out with her personal experiences, success stories from clients, and some scientific research, but it’s only one core idea.
The truth is, the simplicity of her book might be the reason why it’s so successful. It teaches her readers ONE lesson that they can use to improve their life.
That’s all you need to write a book: ONE lesson that can help readers solve a problem.
Pair that with your voice, your personal experiences, and your passion for the subject, and you’ll have a pretty great book.
Start With One Book, But Don't Stop There...
Ready for a riddle? Here it is:
Q: What’s more impressive than publishing a book?
A: Publishing two books! (Or three books, or four books…)
If you look at some of the major experts or thought leaders in major markets (business, self-help, relationships, personal growth, etc.), many of them have published multiple books.
That being said, there is no hard-and-fast answer to the question “How many books do I need to write?” because it depends on your goals.
You might find that one book is enough to get your main message across–at least for now.
So, start with one book. Once you publish your first book, you can start think about building your backlist.
Established authors have something called a backlist, which is their set of previously published books that readers can discover.
For example, if a reader picks up Brene Brown’s book Atlas of the Heart and is instantly hooked on Brown’s work, that reader will have 10+ books from Brown’s backlist to choose for their next read, such as The Gifts of Imperfection, Dare to Lead, and Daring Greatly.
A robust backlist is a useful asset, because more books = more readers finding you, boosted credibility, and additional book royalty income.
Need help building your backlist? We'll turn your ideas into 3 completely ready-to-publish books... and it only takes six months!
Ready to Change Your Life, Your Brand, and Your Business?
If you’ve ever wondered if publishing a book could boost your brand or help your business, the answer is YES.
You may not become a bestselling author (although let’s not rule it out!). But you will become a recognized authority in your field, build trust before the first conversation with your dream clients, and create opportunities that wouldn't exist otherwise.
And you’ll be sharing knowledge that can help people long after you've finished writing.
If you've built expertise through years of experience, you've already done the hard part. Now it's simply a matter of putting that knowledge into a format that can reach more people.
Your book may not change the world. But it could change someone's business, career, or life.
And it might change yours, too.
So what are you waiting for? WRITE THAT BOOK!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be famous to write a book?
No. You don't need a large following or celebrity status to publish a book. If you have valuable expertise that can help people solve a specific problem, you already have the foundation for a useful book.
How does writing a book help build credibility?
Being the author of a book signals expertise and demonstrates that you have enough knowledge and experience to teach others about your subject. A book can help distinguish you from competitors and establish you as an authority in your field.
Can a book help me get more clients?
Absolutely! A book can help potential clients understand your expertise, approach, and problem-solving process before they ever speak with you. By the time a reader contacts you, they may already have confidence in your abilities, making the book a powerful lead-generation and trust-building tool.
Do I need to be a professional writer to write a book?
No. Subject-matter expertise is more important than having years of writing experience. Your personal experiences, knowledge, stories, and unique perspective are the raw material for the book. You can also work with ghostwriters or companies to Backlist Builders to help shape your ideas.
What should I write a book about?
Start with a problem you know how to solve or a lesson you can teach. Your book doesn't need to cover your entire field. A focused idea that provides practical value to a specific audience can be more effective than an overly broad book.
How many ideas do I need to write a book?
Usually, you need just one strong core idea. You can expand that idea through examples, stories, personal experiences, research, practical advice, and different applications. A focused book can be more valuable to readers than one that tries to cover everything.
How long does a business or expertise-based book need to be?
There is no single required length. The goal should be to provide enough useful information to fully develop your central idea without adding unnecessary material simply to make the book longer. A concise, focused book can be highly effective.
Can a book make me money?
Yes, but book royalties aren't necessarily the biggest financial benefit. A book can generate income through sales while also helping you attract consulting clients, coaching clients, speaking opportunities, corporate training engagements, partnerships, and other business opportunities.
How can a book help me get speaking or podcast opportunities?
A published book gives event organizers, podcast hosts, and media professionals a clear representation of your expertise and ideas. It can serve as a credibility signal and give them a specific topic or framework around which to build an interview, presentation, or event.
How long does a book stay relevant compared with social media content?
A book generally has a much longer lifespan than an individual social media post. While social content can disappear quickly in a busy feed, a book can continue reaching new readers years after publication, particularly when people actively search for information about your subject.
Should I publish more than one book?
Creating additional books can expand your reach, strengthen your credibility, boost additional royalty income, and build a backlist of work for readers to discover. Once you’ve established your core message with your first book, future books can explore related topics, address new problems, or reach different audiences.
What is a book backlist?
A backlist is an author's collection of previously published books. Once you publish your first book, additional books can give new readers more opportunities to explore your expertise and can continue generating visibility and income over time.
Is writing a book worth it for a service-based business?
Yes! It can be an especially valuable investment for consultants, coaches, agency owners, and other experts who sell services. Instead of simply telling potential clients that you're qualified, your book allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and approach before the first sales conversation.