A small book can be a big marketing tool. Learn how:
Do you have information to share that is more than an article but less than a typical 200- or 300-page book? Consider turning that into a small book.
Small books are exactly that—short, small books that address a narrow topic. They’re typically quick to write and inexpensive to produce. For example, after you’ve done the writing, editing and design work, a 30-40 page 5×8 book will cost you about $2.15 per copy with no minimum print run using a print-on-demand service like Createspace.
If you’re in business, small books are a marketing tool that is far more powerful than brochures or white papers. They establish you as an author and expert in your field. And they’re keepers. By that, I mean that people are often quick to toss brochures but they rarely throw books away.
Even though you may create your small book as something you’ll give to prospective clients, you can also put it up on Amazon where people can buy it. You may not hit bestseller status, but you’ll gain exposure and may offset some of your initial costs.
Here are some examples of how small books can be used to market a product or service or to prequalify customers:
- A personal injury lawyer could do a small book focusing on what to do if you are injured in a public place.
- A medical practice could do a small book focusing on certain surgical procedures or health tips, or whatever the practice’s specialty is.
- An insurance agency could do a small book on the basic types of insurance every business needs.
- A consultant could do a small book on a narrow part of their area of expertise.
- A product manufacturer could do a small book on how to purchase and/or use their product.
The core of the book should be solid, usable information. You can use a small book to answer the questions you wish your prospects would ask.
At the end of the book, include a call to action, such as how to contact you for a consultation or how to purchase your products.
If you have enough material for a small book, you don’t have to wait until it’s a big book to publish it. If you have material for several small books, you can create a branded series that you can publish over time and use for different market segments.
How could you use a small book to promote yourself and your company? I’d love to hear your ideas. Share them below. If you’d like to discuss moving forward with your small book, click here to send me a message so we can set up a time to talk.
Click here to check out the other videos in our series on how to make self-publishing work for you.
For more information on getting your book published, I recommend an ebook in my Conversations series: Get Your Book Published. It’s available on Amazon or you can download it for free at CreateTeachInspire.com/publish.
Update: Amazon's print-on-demand service, CreateSpace, has been replaced by Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) which provides a more streamlined service for publishing both ebooks and print books.
Jacquelyn's latest book is Christian Business Almanac: The Ultimate Daily Guide for Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
She is the author of the nonfiction books Simple Facts About Self-Publishing (Second Edition), Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs and Finding Joy in the Morning: You can make it through the night as well as the novel Choices (A Joyful Cup Story). With her husband, she is the co-creator of several coloring books for adults and the novelty My Book About series.
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