The best business card you’ll ever have
“A published book (accent on ‘published’) can bring a string of powerful indirect benefits. It can boost a CV. It can take the place of a business card, with 1000 times the impact. It can open up lucrative speaking or consulting opportunities. It can enhance an author’s reputation in a defined target market.”
Barry Gibbons, former CEO Burger King and author of six books including
If You Want to Make God Really Laugh Show Him Your Business Plan: 101 Universal Laws of Business
“Having my book published by a recognised publisher was the most significant thing that I could do to add value to my business. It added huge credibility to the message I am delivering and positively impacted the business. We picked up some major clients as a result.”
Penny Ferguson, CEO Penny Ferguson Ltd and author of
The Living Leader: Become the leader you want to be, 2008 Business Woman of the Year
“When I started my business there were quite a few speakers on the subject but I was the only one with a bestselling book in the market and it resulted in a quantum leap in bookings to speak at conferences. I’ve since written seven more books and each time a new book hits the shelves I receive a boost in business on the speaking circuit.”
Catherine de Vrye, former Australian Executive Woman of the Year
and author of Good Service is Good Business
“The Financial Times guide has led to a lot more writing work and invitations to run workshops and develop training courses as well as coaching work.”
Romesh Vaitilingam, author of the global bestseller,
The Financial Times Guide to Using the Financial Pages
“Writing my books is definitely the most important investment I have made in my business. It totally changes people’s perception of you, increases your day rate by 100% and brings you into contact with people and opportunities that would never normally come your way. I am still amazed by the number of people I meet who know of me already because of the books. They are the only advertising anyone would ever need.
Will Murray, author of Corporate Denial: Confronting the World’s
Most Damaging Business Taboo
“A book makes you stand out from the crowd when pitching for consultancy work.”
Annemarie Caracciolo, author of Smart Things to Know About Teams
“Being a published writer has generated consultancy and coaching work for me, not to mention invitations to speak at conferences and run workshops. In many ways, the royalties a book earns are the least important part of the financial equation.”
John Middleton, author of Smart Things to Know About Your Career and
Writing the New Economy: The Ultimate E-business Library
“As a consultant it is critical to be credible in front of clients, especially in the early stages of the relationship. One of the ways to develop near instant credibility is to have published books in the area of expertise in which you are consulting. There have been numerous occasions where, because of the books I have written, the client engages more readily and at a different level. This not only helps to build relationships and allow the client to trust your professional judgement, but it also helps to close sales.”
Andrew Holmes, consultant and author of many books on risk management,
lifelong learning and project management
“Having a business book published can give instant credibility to an author, especially if it’s in partnership with a major publisher. This can open the door to a lucrative speaking career, especially if the author has some charisma.”
Brendan Barns, CEO Speakers for Business
“Having a book published bestowed instant credibility and authenticity. The result of being a published author is that I am taken more seriously. Since the publication of the Book of Luck my network of contacts has broadened considerably and as a consequence I have won search assignments that otherwise I would not have been considered for. I have found that doors have opened that previously would have been closed and I use my book as a calling card to speak to people at the highest level. The book has replaced my company brochure. The publication of a book opens up marketing opportunities second to none. My advice to anyone in a consultancy business is, forget the brochure and produce some original material in a book form and you will reap the benefits.”
Anne Watson, author of The Book of Luck
“By far the most credible way to build your brand is to get a book published. A published book opens doors, it gets people to pay more attention to you, it adds robustness to your CV, it generates more enquiries, it gives you the best calling card possible as well as cool collateral for meetings and conferences and it starts the process of becoming a thought-leader.”
Nicholas Bate, CEO Strategic Edge Ltd and author of
Get a Life: Setting Your Life Compass for Success and
JFDI: The Definitive Guide To Realising Your Dreams
“Once one person has believed in you (i.e. your publisher) then of course a book opens other doors (in my case for example loads and loads of TV production companies have contacted me). It is a great PR tool for the business too.”
Kate Cook, CEO The Nutrition Coach and author of
Get healthy for good: 52 brilliant ideas for mind and body well-being