Did you ever feel just a little bit jealous of the experts who get interviewed on prestigious TV talk shows or news magazines? Perhaps you’ve noticed that one thing in particular sets these guests apart from others in their field: They are all authors of books. Now you will discover an easy way for YOU to see your own name on the cover of your very own book.
People innately trust authors and esteem them more highly than non-authors. So if you are an expert in your niche, or if you are a small business owner (which still makes you an expert) without a book, it’s time to write one. In fact, becoming an author is mission critical for any business owner.
But maybe you don’t have any idea how to write a book or think that it will be hard. Like anything else, writing a book is easy when you have a system. While there are many ways to write your book, I am going to share one of the easiest ways, and I am going to walk you through putting together your own book so that you can be a published author.
How to Write a Question and Answer Book
Since you already “know your stuff” thoroughly, no doubt you already have a good handle on the biggest or most common questions people have. You can probably rattle off a dozen of them without scratching your head. So why not write a Q&A book?
Before I show you how, step by step, I know you want to know this…
Question: “How many do you need?
Answer: It’s entirely up to you. There is no standard length for what makes “a book.” For the most part, you want your book to be under 200 pages, and preferably much less than that. People want “the easy button” these days, to whatever length you choose, make your book as easy to read and follow as possible.
How to Write a Question & Answer Book
There are a couple of good approaches you can use to assemble your book.
Approach #1: Write a list of the frequently asked questions you get in your business. These will become the chapter titles for your book.
Approach #2: have your customers TELL you what their biggest questions are so that you can answer them in your book.
Example: If you are writing a book about growing prize-winning roses, you will sit down and write all the questions you typically get about roses, soil, fertilizer and so forth. Or you will put up a simple webpage or use a pile of index cards and a submission box to poll your current customers.
Now for the “how to”:
Phase 1: Make a list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) for your book.
1. Give yourself a half hour to an hour of uninterrupted time. 2. Write down all the common questions you typically get from customers and prospects. You can either write each question on an index card, write them all on paper or write them into your word processing program. I recommend using index cards because you only have one small piece of information later, and you can so easily organize the cards into themes. 3. Once time is up, leave the info where you can easily add to it later. 4. The next day, give yourself a half hour. Read over your list and add to it as needed..
Phase 2: Organize the questions into a meaningful “flow”.
1. Put all your questions in front of you and ask yourself, “How can I organize these in the simplest possible way?” 2. Put the questions into a sensible order. 3. Look for “chunks” of related questions. Perhaps your book will have Part 1, 2, and 3 with related questions in each section.
To write your book, simply follow the “outline” you have created with these questions. Since you are the expert, there will be little if any research. You might find it helpful to give yourself a target page range for each chapter, such as three to five pages. Or you may simply let yourself write until it feels like “enough.” That is up to you.
Remember – Write in a friendly style as if you are talking to a good friend over a coffee.. – Give enough information to answer the question but not too much. – Never try to edit while you write. Those are two completely different processes in the brain.
Congratulations! You now know how to write a question and answer book that sets you apart as the go-to expert in your field, niche or community.
If you are a published author of a print book, you could be featured in my upcoming book, Instant VIP, which teaches entrepreneurs & other business owners how to write a book that increases customers, contacts and profits.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
I am featuring stories from entrepreneurs/business owners sharing how being a published author has changed your business.
If this is YOU – I’d love to include your experience!
ebook cover- Instant VIP
You’ll find out how to submit your experience in a moment.
Examples of results attained because of being a published author:
I have already received some fabulous stories from author experts! I’m really excited about each and every story, AND about the wide variety of niches in which they do business. For example:
One author in a highly competitive market submitted a project bid. Competition was stiff. He included a signed copy of his book and got the job.
A pair of co-authors instantly established themselves in a related but new niche by authoring a book.
Another author uses her book to generate leads for her training program and has seen a dramatic increase in enrollments.
A coach became an author and finds it easier to attract coaching clients as a result.
These are just a few examples that I’ll be including in my book. Soon I’ll be sharing the names and stories of these authors on the blog – AND, most important – in Instant VIP.
A Flash of Inspiration
I decided to request stories when I was reading my HARO (Help A Reporter Out) update one day. HARO is a fabulous and FREE way to connect reporters with sources.
Reporters can be reporters for media outlets such as magazines, TV shows or internet radio shows – OR even someone writing a book looking for sources.
Sources can be experts in any niche or industry seeking ways to share your knowledge.
You never know what you’ll find in a HARO! And lots of people will respond, so you really can select the “cream of the crop” – the best story/resource – for your need.
The description below of what I’m seeking is a modified version of my HARO query.
How to receive the HARO reports
Experts can register to receive requests 3 times per day on weekdays. There can be 30 or 50 or more requests from reporters in each issue.
Why am I including stories from authors about how writing a book has improved your business?
(What I’m about to share applies to YOU as well) Simply take this idea and use it for YOUR niche or need.
When you see numerous stories about how writing a book improves business, you will build belief that you, too, can get results like that.
Stories catch your attention more than facts or even step-by-step. It’s part of how your brain works. You’ll remember stories You’re wired for stories.
Reaching out to people you don’t know (or don’t know well) as well as people you already know increases your circle of influence.
People love to see their name in print.
Someone who shares even a short blurb is likely to tell other people that they’re featured in a book.
And they’re likely to buy a copy and perhaps cause several or dozens more to be purchased.
Authors featured in your book may want to promote your book when it comes out.
Promoting the Book
A few of the author experts who responded to my first request have already asked me to let them know when the book is out so they can promote it. Woo-HOO! Build-in promotion partners.
If you use this strategy:
Here are some things to consider when you use this type of strategy. And actually, you’re getting the inside scoop, because I haven’t even told my HARO people some of the cool things I’m doing for them.
If you’ve worked with me or read this blog before, you know I’m going to say “start with the goal.” What do you want to happen? First, get clear on what you want from the submitters so you don’t have to go back and forth.
Now for the “cover your rear” piece of advice. Get a signed release that gives you permission to use the material in the work and in promotion of the work. Doing so gives you protection from someone, for whatever strange reason, deciding they don’t want their name and story in your material. I got 1 note back from someone with an AWESOME story who said it just didn’t feel right (to get a whole bunch of free publicity for them and their business). Go figure, but cover your assets.
Acknowledge the submission in a special way inside your book/project. I’m including all the names of authors whose stories I’m using in the Acknowledgments section of the book.
Thank the sources for their submission. They’re adding depth and richness to your book or other project.
Update the sources on the status of the project. I’ll let them know when the book is ready to publish and how to order.
Give the sources a way to profit from the project if possible. I’ll offer them the opportunity to join the affiliate program. I’m also providing them a special resource to share if they choose.
How to Submit YOUR Experience for Possible Inclusion in Instant VIP:
All you have to do is leave me your blurb (a couple of paragraphs is fine) in the comment box below.
Here is what I’m looking for:
I have a book almost ready for print that teaches entrepreneurs, business owners, speakers, coaches and the like a simple system for how to write a book that explodes your business.
I am including statements from entrepreneurs in various industries who have written a book. What I want is
a statement about how writing and publishing a book has changed your business. Have you gotten more media attention? More referrals? Bigger ticket sales? more long-term clients? Something more unusual? Your story could be selected for the book.
Please share the following information:
full Name:
Industry/niche:
Book title:
Publication year:
Logline (1–sentence description of the book)
How has becoming the author of a book changed your business?
Thank you for enriching my book with your experience. I truly appreciate YOU!
What Happens Next?
Once you submit your information below, I’ll review it. If I select you for the book, I’ll email you a release form to sign and return to me.
Thank you
OK – time to share!
Remember:
full Name:
Industry/niche:
Book title:
Publication year:
Logline (1–sentence description of the book)
How has becoming the author of a book changed your business?
The most valuable commodity of any expert is your time. Why? Because as an expert, in only a few minutes, you are able to save someone a huge amount of time and headache by sharing your expertise.
rite you this post to assist you in your own business development. Learn from a mistake I made – and I should have known better!
The husband of one of my affiliates is considering writing a book. That in itself is a good thing! My affiliate told him that I coa
ch entrepreneurs on how to write a book, which of course is very
much true.
I broke one of my own rules, and I will not break it again.
This affiliate has not made a purchase from me. Why I mention this is because I offer a $500 value strategy session with me as a gift inside of my products. That means by the time you meet with me about author coaching or business mentoring or story coaching, you are already a buyer, not a freebie seeker.
Some business mentoring for you:
I don’t sell coaching through a sales page. only offer coaching after I’ve had a consultation. This allows me to decide whether I believe you are a good candidate for author coaching. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not up to the client to choose the coach, it’s important for the coach to screen and select the best clients.
When I worked for someone else, I inherited a LOT of “problem children” because he took anyone who would throw money at him, and many of those people were expecting too much done for them. (One of many reasons I am SO glad I work totally for myself is I get to screen my own clients instead of inheriting people who want me to serve them their completely formed business on a diamond-encrusted platinum platter when they are only paying for a guidebook for how to write a book served in a wooden goblet).
When I Offer A Complimentary Consultation
In the past, I used to offer a strategy session to
Anyone who bought a product/service from me.
Anyone at a live event with me.
Anyone who came via one of my trusted allies.
Now, I typically give free strategy sessions under only 2 circumstances.
I include a consultation as a bonus inside a product.
We meet at a live event and I give you a consultation/strategy session.
In other words, I do not generally (except that I broke my own rule last week) give a free consult to an ally or affiliate. Experience shows me that these are not necessarily good candidates. I have various ways for people to experience my systems in the form of free gifts, inexpensive products and classes first.
When you develop a system, stick to it!
as I said, I broke one of my own rules to be nice to an affiliate. I know better. Please don’t make my mistake.
Back to the conversation with the affiliate’s spouse. I met with him for about a half hour about his potential book-business. I gave him top-notch business mentoring during this time. At the end of the call, he asked for a discount, figuring he deserved one as the husband of an affiliate.
Because he is not a proven buyer; he has not invested in himself and his book-business idea with me yet.
Because he immediately asked for a discount as if it were “owed to him” as an affiliate’s spouse, demonstrating he is more of a haggler than someone willing to truly invest in himself.,
Because he has not experienced any aspect of the teaching within my system.
Because a lot of his questions and concerns would be answered by knowing what and how I teach in the system and beginning to formulate his book idea before talking with me.
And remember, he would get a free strategy session anyway as a buyer of either the Instant Credibility ebook or the Instant VIP Author Multimedia Home Study Program. (both of those are links to my products available for purchase). So after either purchase, he would qualify himself to receive a half hour of my valuable time.
And here are a few other considerations as well. Keep in mind that coaching sessions are a half hour long and there is no “done for you” in it:
I got the feeling what he wanted from coaching was for me to write FOR him or at least do some of the writing with him. That is an increased level of service, not coaching.
I got the impression what he wanted was for me to read everything he wrote. Again, this is another level of service different from coaching.
He wanted approval for his work. Deep down, everyone wants approval. However in terms of your book and business, approval is demonstrated by actions such as customers investing in you, media attention, and joint venture opportunities – not by your mentor.
He wanted me to do his editing. Again, different service. Editing is not coaching.
In other words, he would have treated coaching as if it were a “do it for you” service. I do offer ghostwriting and “write with you” services at a higher investment, and I am particular about the projects I take on.
What is coaching/mentoring?
For simplicity’s sake, I call the individual sessions where I guide you through writing your book coaching. People understand author coaching but not so much “author mentoring.” Not everybody has had guidance of that nature.
So, what is coaching?
I asked the would-be author if he ever had a child in little league or other sports.
He had.
“Did the coach ever pick up the bat and hit the ball FOR your child?”
“No.”
“Because that wouldn’t be coaching. That would be doing it FOR him. Coaching or mentoring is I teach you and give you the best possible tools, and you do the work.”
When I used to work on someone else’s team, he had a TON of clients who expected to pay for breakfast and be fed for a year. In other words, they bought a coaching package and expected their coach to spend hours and hours and hours doing things for them that they needed to do themselves.
There is no real way to guarantee coaching results, because I’m not coming to your house and forcing you to sit down at the keyboard to do your market research, formulate your business and write your book. Can I do that? Yes, but it will cost you exponentially more than hiring me to coach you. use the contact form to ask me about this extra special service.
the Deeper Issue for Many Would-Be Entrepreneur Authors
First understand that what I’m about to share is NOT a criticism of this person or anyone who feels similarly. Ultimately, this individual wanted things done for him because he lacks confidence in his message. He wants to write a book and simultaneously shrink into the background and hide behind someone else’s skill.
It’s common for a “messenger” who feels a strong desire to share your truth to feel uncertainty. After all, you’re about to be bold and brave and put your thoughts into print. You’re about to “take a stand” regarding what you believe.
Every entrepreneur author needs to develop your expert voice and your confidence. Remember, you are not only writing a book but building a business around it. You will share your message, promote your book, gain customers and in every other way grow your influence.
That means you are in charge of building your platform. Part of developing your business involves developing your expert voice. You gain confidence by speaking/writing/sharing your most important message over and over again.
I only take on ghostwriting or write it with you projects under certain conditions. Generally speaking, if you have an established platform and materials already “out there,” I will let you hire me, because you already have your business in place and your voice established.
The reason is because if I become your voice for you, I will cause you not to grow, and because you won’t have confidence in your message, you won’t get the media attention, instant VIP status, instant credibility, increase of customers and other benefits of becoming an author.
Although I might financially gain from taking on un-confident wannabe authors with no voice and no platform, I would not truly gain – and YOU would lose – because I would short-circuit your personal and business development.
My mission is to guide you through bringing out every ounce of greatness within you out into the light so you can be whom you are meant to be.
I hope that sharing how I re-learned a lesson I should have known will profit you.
Working out how to write a book isn’t just about the content. Naturally, you want to write the best book you can. And you need to consider what people first notice about a book.
Is it the great content? Is it the resources you share? Is it the life-changing strategies?
NO.
It’s the title.
My audience here includes entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and other experts. The title in most cases has 2 parts: the title and subtitle.
Alex Mandossian
The main title’s job is to GRAB the reader’s attention.
The subtitle gives the benefit of the book or, as Alex Mandossian would say, the promise on which you will deliver.
So choosing a title and subtitle is a big deal.
However, I don’t want you to do what Sam did. He flat out refused to work on ANYTHING else in his book until he had the title. He stalled forleast 3 months that I knew about. Then when he finally decided to start working on his book, he made another huge but all too common mistake that I’ll talk about in another post.
Why isn’t the title important while you’re still writing?
For one thing, the title may change one or more times during creation of the book. Think of any title as a working title up to and including the time when you sell it as an ebook, all the way to where you take it to ink and paper. A title that works GREAT for an ebook isn’t the same thing as a title that works in print.
Case in point: Instant Credibility (product link) is the title of the ebook about how to write a profit exploding book. Since becoming an author gives you instant credibility, it’s a good title… for an ebook.
As I take the book to print, I knew I needed to rethink the title. The title has to be so juicy people can’t help but pick it up and purchase. It has to be so good you know just from seeing the title that you yearn for the benefit you’ll receive from having the book.
Another reason the title isn’t important WHILE you’re writing is this: you need to test the title (including the subtitle) on your customers and prospects to make sure it’s doing its job well.
Take a look at book titles and you’ll realize that they range from fantastic to horrid. Sometimes 1 part is great and the other, not so much. Can a book be a bestseller with a bad title? Well, it’s possible because the author may do great publicity and get lots of promotion partners.
But you want to stack the odds in your favor.
Will you help me choose a subtitle?
I’m having so much fun with this. I’ve been asking mastermind partners and friends to help me come up with a “short list” of potential subtitles. Now I want YOUR opinion.
See, people love sharing their opinion. I do, and I know you do too. So until I make a final decision OR get enough responses, I’m using a free survey tool to let you be part of my book writing journey.
The title is Instant VIP. Because when I brainstormed and then masterminded with some of my super friends, we all agreed that become an author makes you an instant VIP and gets you red carpet treatment. You’re automatically esteemed as more successful and accomplished than an expert who only has a business card. You’re the one the media wants to talk to, and because you’re an author, you’re the natural choice.
I won’t share the “finalists” here, because I want an unpolluted opinion from you. So I used SurveyMonkey.com to make a 2–question survey. The first is which subtitle you like and the second is an optional place for you to comment or add a selection of your own.
I’ll tell you that so far the one that is “winning” has a key element that came from a #1 bestselling author who suggested it.
Million dollar tip: You do not succeed alone. Every successful person has a mastermind team or group of what I like to call “Super Friends” around them. You don’t have to know it all, do it all or be it all. You simply need great minds with whom to collaborate.
The great thing about surveying you is that you now have a sense of ownership, engagement and interest in the project.
If you’re ready to write your profit-exploding book, I’ve created a step by step system for you and made it affordable too. Check it out at InstantCredibilityBook.com
What do you think becoming an author will do for your business? Let me count the ways.
Well, for starters, people will think better of you simply because you’re an author.
Writing a book (assuming you write/dictate it yourself) will let your prospects and customers feel and experience the type of person you are.
Writing a book shows your prospects and customers that you are indeed an expert who can solve their problems.
If a potential customer has the choice between an expert with a business card and an expert author, they’ll shop with the AUTHOR.
When someone from the media wants to interview an expert, they’ll choose the author over the non-author.
If a venue has a choice for people to hire, they’ll choose the author over the non-author.
Indeed, being an author gives you instant credibility and instant VIP (very important person) status, because you’ve proven your expertise.
Watch this short video to feel the difference between having a business card and having a book with your name on the cover.
That said, you can easily realize why YOU need to become an author of a book sooner rather than later.
The first way author experts get it wrong: The Money’s NOT in the Book
Here’s what many people get wrong. You think the money is in book royalties, and you focus on selling a lot of books. Now, selling a lot of books is cool, but it isn’t a business.
I’ll show you.
I met an author of a book at a seminar. He has no “back end” – nothing aside from the book. No class, no home study course, no coaching. No consulting. No workshops. Nothing.
Many authors are that way. And they wonder why they’re broke!
He does a little speaking, so essentially, he’s chasing 20s. How much of that $20 is profit? Not much.
If your book is traditionally published (in 1 of the 6 big houses), you’re making about $1–$1.50 per book. $2 tops. Stop and calculate how many sales that profit you $2 each you have to make to earn a living. And think of how long you can sustain interest in the same book with nothing else behind it.
His book is self published, so the profit margins are better. I have no idea how much he gave Author House for the privilege of publishing (that’s not a place I am planning to use). Leaving aside any publishing costs, let’s imagine he makes $10 per book.
So…he’s not chasing 20s, he’s chasing 10s. How many $10 bills (that’s about the cost of lunch out, in case you’re not familiar with the currency) does it take to give you a sustainable income? WAY too many to count, and you still have that concern
What he – and YOU – need is what I call a sexy back end (with thanks to Dr. Ben Mack who used that phrase). You need to build a solid business structure, from the high end (more investment) down to the low end (small products). Create top-down and your business is easier.
Want more specifics? You’ll want to take the Instant VIP Live Teleclass Nov. 14 and 15. The first day you’ll formulate a vision for your business and tie your book back to your high end programs that you have in place OR planned.
No back end yet? You’ll start getting ideas in action at the workshop.
A second way author experts get it wrong: Your book can’t be some outsourced piece of crap that you have no investment (other than small change) in creating
For your book to do you any good.
Joel Bauer tells people from the stage that all you have to do is get a public domain book, write an intro and a few additions throughout the book and publish it with your name on it. While this DOES give you a book with your name on it, it does not do the important job of establishing your credibility.
Which means a book written in that way will not get you more customers, media exposure and the red carpet VIP treatment.
You can definitely use technology to make it easy to write a book. For example, once your book is organized (flow or outline), you can talk each section into a free conference line or digital recorder, then have the audios transdcribed so you can create a book.
The main thing is to make sure that you, your system, your solutions and your voice are in your book.
That is just a taste – I’ll show you various ways to organize your book and make it easy to write when you take the Instant VIP Live Teleclass Nov. 14 and 15. We’ll go over this Sunday.
A third way people get it wrong: making the end of the book the end of the relationship
Most of the books I see get this wrong. You’ll read the last page and the book just falls off the edge. There is no invitation to do anything else with the author after reading the book. Oh, there may be a page that has a website and some products, or a sentence that says, “Visit my website awww…” – but that isn’t an invitation.
People are busy. They don’t want to “visit” your site. IF the book was good, they want to keep working with you, but since people are inherently lazy, you’ll need to create an enticing reason for them to come.
Think of the aroma of chocolate chip cookies (or substitute your favorite aromatic food). If I simply mention them as I did here, you may think, “ooh I like those,” but that’s about all. That’s “visit my website.”
Now imagine I’ve baked some and you can smell the aroma that reminds you of all your favorite memories of home. I say, “Don’t they smell delicious?” You are all but drooling. You WANT some – but so far i haven’t invited you. That’s like sharing a success story in which the reader can imagine herself. And it’s still not the same as an invitation.
Now imagine I’ve baked the cookies, enticed you with how wonderful they will taste, and now I invite you to accept my invitation to have your own optimal chocolate chip cookie experience. NOW I’ve invited you! IF my cookies are good enough (if I’ve done my job well), you’ll tell everyone how to come to me and get some.
Discover exactly how to create a desire for a long-term relationship between your readers and you when you take the Instant VIP Live Teleclass Nov. 14 and 15.
Huge Savings
I could easily teach this workshop live, but then you’d have to pay $500 in travel expenses and $1,000 in food and lodging. And if you have kids or pets, you would be out for their care. Plus you would have to pay extra for the recordings of the sessions.
Since this is a workshop from home using the power of technology, there are no travel costs, no daycare costs, and you get the audios and all the materials you need to be successful and write your book now!
You owe it to yourself to become an author now.
You can ask for higher speaker fees as an author. You get the best possible leverage with prospects, clients, partners and the media as an author. And you’ve probably been thinking you ought to write a book for quite some time now.
You could even finish 2009 as an author, if you choose.
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