Should I write a book?

One of the questions that I’ve been asked for the Ask The Book Mentor webinars is this:

Should I write a book when I’m struggling to get one-to-one clients?

This is a really great question.

It is difficult to know when to make the decision to write a book. Some people feel like they need to do other things before they can start. They may still be getting clear on their message, their client base and what they are delivering.

For others, there may be conflicting priorities. Before they write their book, they want to sort out their website, develop their social media content, or create a programme or event. And it’s possible to do this alongside writing a book – actually I’d advise it – because it will save you time in the longer term.

Many people just decide to just do it, because they see the longer term benefits of writing and know that it’s not just about the book!

The thing about writing a book is that you begin to align your message. You begin to see the bigger picture about how everything you do fits together.

It’s important to note that most of my clients who are writing a book have an established business and some sort of client base. But many of them are finding their way as they write it.

Let’s take one client for example. Through writing her book she’s become clearer on her message, and this clarity is helping her with her business and her book. By looking at her ideal clients, she has recognised some of the commonalities behind why they have chosen to work with her. This means that she can serve them better through her book.

She has also carried out a survey to find out how she can help them further. Alongside writing her book she is reviewing her packages (and putting her prices up!) and talking to more people about how she can help them.

I do believe that you need to focus on the right thing right now.

It’s easy to focus on your business and never find time to write your book.

Equally it’s easy to focus on your book and never find time to build your business.

But you can do these in tandem when you know the strategies that work. You want to have a shiny new book AND a community who want to buy it.

So the answer to this question that I will share on the Ask The Book Mentor webinars is this:

Writing your book will help you to develop and hone your message.  Stepping up and telling people you’re doing it will put you in a different league to your competitors.

It may never feel like the right time. But for you it is probably a longer term project, rather than a quick win.

I suggest that you take time to do your research and find out people want to hear from you, develop your business strategy alongside it, and doing both together will inevitably generate more clients too.

What do you want to Ask The Book Mentor?

I ran the Ask The Book Mentor webinars live in July 2016 and and you can register here to get the recording. Or please do leave your comments and questions below.