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What Do I Mean by "Writing the Wrong Book?"

There's nothing worse than spending tons of time, energy and money on writing your book, only to find that it's useless as a "big business card." How could this happen?

Unfortunately, it can be really easy. Here are some of the situations and how to solve them.

1. Writing about a subject your market has no interest in. This is probably the biggest mistake business book authors make.

They fall in love with their subject and think the world will, too. The thing is, it's hard to use your book as a lead generator if no one is interested in what you have to say.

The solution: think like the people you want to attract. What kind of questions are they asking you? What do they want to know about? You can start there and then expand "an inch wide and a mile deep" to show off your expertise.

2. Putting the wrong title on your cover. And I don't mean a typo (although I've seen it happen!). Generic titles, just like generic marketing messages, don't pique interest. Instead, get as specific as you can in what your book is about (easier if you follow step one) in your title.

Another effective option is to use a catchy 2, 3 or 4 word title and then use your subhead to call out to your target audience. Examples of this include Timothy Ferriss and his book: "The 4 Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich."

My favorite is friend Michael Katz: "It Sure Beats Working: 29 Quirky Stories and Practical Business Lessons for the First Time, Mid-Life Solo Professional." He actually names his "target reader" in his title. That Michael is so clever!

3. Blame the book for lack of promotion efforts. Sometimes it's not the book's fault, but the author's for lack of follow through in promotion. Remember, writing the book is one thing, but then promoting it is a whole new area needing time, energy and attention.

Think about how you're going to market yourself and your book as much as, if not more, than what your book will contain.

Ready to throw up your hands in despair and forget the whole thing? DON'T!

I've heard it time and time again from the experts, and it's something I know for myself: there is no better vehicle than a book for establishing expertise and generating leads.

Write your book but put some thought and effort on the front end to make sure you write the right book.

Copyright © - Donna Kozik. - Reprinted with permission. Donna Kozik, founder of MyBigBusinessCard.com, is a book writing & publishing consultant who shows business owners how to write their book quickly and easily to create a no-fail marketing tool. Find out what mistakes to avoid and how close you are to publishing success with a Free Special Report & Quiz at http://www.mybigbusinesscard.com. Check out Donna's BLOG.