Books as a part of your brand

Publishing to boost your business or your work

More and more people are looking to publish a book with the specific goal of boosting their business or public interest in their work. I have worked with authors ranging from consultants to campaigners and they all have one thing in common: a passion for what they do. They are experts in their field with years of experience. My clients’ books have ranged in subject matter covering childcare, healthcare, cultivating resilience, leadership in business, networking, recruitment, building communities and community activism. Some projects are self-help books aimed at their average client. Others are more like memoirs and serve as a record of a career or a life’s work.

Some reasons why you might consider investing time and finance into a book:

• A book can be more effective than a business card in terms of generating leads. With POD (print-on-demand) platforms you can keep your print costs at a just a few pounds or dollars per book. (A 128pp, paperback, black and white interior with colour cover prints for £2.13 and $2.54 on KDP [correct January 2025]).

• A book can be a useful marketing tool. People who are recommended or just stumble upon your book might recognise that you could do more for them or their organisation.

• It can be a thoughtful gift or an affordable extra for clients who have attended your seminars, classes, talks, conferences or other events.

• A book is a way of recording your work history, thoughts, philosophy, experience or the knowledge you’ve gained within your field. It cements your legacy.

Many of my clients immediately decide to handle the publishing process themselves rather than seeking out a publisher and because there are several reasons for and advantages to that.

• There are a number of options for POD (print on demand) and short-run printers available. They can make sure that their title is available in all worldwide markets and it’s affordable to maintain a small stock for their immediate purposes.

• Your book is part of your brand and that is something you want to maintain control of. By publishing independently you are in control of every aspect of the book. This includes the text, the design, the price and the overall message.

• Most trade publishers have long lead times and lists are decided years in advance. Publishing independently means you can work faster and publish on the schedule that works best for you. And you can publish updated editions quickly and without waiting for a publisher’s schedule or budget to allow for that.

• Independent publishing means you get a higher percentage royalty than you would with a traditional publisher (particularly with ebook editions which have almost zero production costs once you have formatted your digital files).

• Many publishers will be looking for authors with existing large platforms. If your book is designed to promote your work and grow your platform then you are the person who should benefit most from that. Equally, when it comes to promotion, you will be the best person to get in front of your chosen audience. So why hand over control of that to someone else?

Some of my clients have just needed my help with the publishing side whilst others have brought me on board to help with the concept, the structure and the writing, too. I offer every client a bespoke service, according to their needs, so they only pay for the services they require. So, if you are considering publishing a book to boost your brand or cement your legacy and want a free no-obligation quote then get in touch and we can have a chat.

You might also find my blog series on independent publishing useful. It lays out the stages of publishing your book and invites to you look at the options open to you.