The Power of Low Content Books

This is a guest post from Benecia Ponder. You can find her here. 

“I want to write a book that markets my business and gets me new clients…and I don’t want it to take forever for me to write it.”

That’s what Kristy said to me when I asked her about her book writing goals during our first strategy call.  A former sales executive, Kristy had been referred to me by a past business coaching client who’d heard I was now helping people to write and publish books.  Kristy had just left her corporate sales job after 20 years and was starting her own coaching and consulting business.

“I have a lot of experience and expertise that I know can really help people,” Kristy told me.

After learning more about her book ideas and knowing she wanted to have her book done really fast, I recommended Kristy create a low-content book, like a journal, workbook, or planner.  We decided on a hybrid journal/planner.

45 days after our first consultation, Kristy’s book was published. Four months later, I received this email from Kristy…

In less than six months Kristy had written and published a book  that brought her five new clients and generated almost $30,000 in income.

In this article, I’ll share 4 key strategies to help you create a low-content book that will boost your business.

But first, let’s chat for a quick moment about what low content books are and why they are the fastest and easiest way to get published, market your business, serve more clients, and make more money.

The Power of Low Content Books

Low content books are strategically designed interactive tools that provide great value to readers. Although they are often quite small, they pack a powerful punch.  Here’s why…

• Low Content Books  are less intimidating to create. Instead of being paralyzed by a huge 60,000 word barrier, you’ll get into action creating concise, actionable content that inspires and motivates your readers.
• Low Content Books are less intimidating to read. I don’t know about you but the thought of reading a 200 page book is overwhelming at times. Plus, the fact that most authors take about 150 pages to get to the good stuff, makes me less likely to even want to buy a full length book.

PLUS, Low Content Books also:

• Stimulate greater reader engagement
• Have a higher perceived value (which means they sell for a higher price)
• Engage multiple senses when readers hand write answers
• Allows you to coach your readers without compromising your 1:1 rates

Isn’t that exactly what you want?!

Now, before you go off to create your own low content books, there are some important essentials to keep in mind.

4 Secrets to Leveraging The Power of Low Content Books to Boost Your Business

1.    Determine your book goal.

This is the step that almost every author seems to skip or gloss over. However, it’s probably the single most important step you need to take! Your goal is the foundation to your book’s success and it will inform every part of the writing, publishing, and marketing process.

So, don’t take this lightly. Get very clear about why you will spend your precious time and energy to complete this project.  Don’t stop at, “I want to get  more exposure for my business.” Dig deeper.  Ask yourself what kind of exposure you want and  what you are willing and able to do to get it.  Want more clients? What kind of clients (coaching, consulting, private, group, etc.)?  What will you do for them? What will they pay you?

Do you get the idea? Great! The clearer you are about your goals, the faster and easier it will be to finish your book.

2.    Remember your book is not about you or your business.

(Record scratch) Hold on…what? Yes, you read correctly. Although you are writing your book to showcase and generate more exposure for your business, your book will have the opposite effect of what you desire if you go in guns blazing with a look at me, look at my business approach.  Ultimately, your book is about and for your readers. Focus on their needs, wants, and interests. Who is your ideal reader? What is her life like? What problems does she have? What’s important to her? Why does she need this book?

3.    Market before you write.

This is another counter-intuitive secret to creating a great low content book. As I told Kristy, “you don’t want to write a book nobody wants.”  After you get to know your ideal readers and what they need, start engaging with them. Begin to teach about the topic of your book.

For Kristy, we started a local meetup group and she hosted a few free workshops.  She was able to determine which topics resonated most with her audience and found that some of the things she thought her audience would be interested in were not attractive to them at all.

Additionally, Kristy got a few new clients even before the book was finished! On top of all that, Kristy started to develop a following.  When she released her book, the people in her meetup group were among the first to buy (and refer) her book.

4.    Have a clear next step.

After the  reader has completed your book, what’s next? Solving one problem is certain to highlight another issue.  For example, if you create a workbook to help your clients create a budget, they’ll next need to know how to spend less (or make more) money.  Your book should never be a stand alone product.  It should fit your business process  and always have a next step.

BONUS TIP—Remember low content does not mean low value.  Your low content book should provide extremely high, results-oriented value for your readers.

Kristy’s book was fewer than 100 pages and contained less than 3500 words, but it provided an action based solution that helped her readers solve a real life problem.

Make sure your book does the same!

It can be easier than you think to put together one of these powerful business boosting books. Sign up for your free 3-part video series to dive deeper and discover more.

Meet Benecia Ponder, J.D., CPEC

Benecia Ponder is a sought after speaker, best-selling author and publisher dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business owners write and publish books that attract more clients and make more money in their businesses. An attorney who devoted her career to helping small businesses form and develop, Benecia has written four popular books of her own, and as the CEO & Founder of Illumination Press, she helps other inspirational authors write and publish best selling books that make a positive impcat in the world.

After losing her eyesight as a young woman still in school, Benecia learned to rely on the Lord and her gifts to succeed despite all the odds. She believes every person has a story to tell and can inspire others. With creativity and passion, Benecia uses her organizational and analytical skills to bring her clients’ book writing and publishing dreams into reality.