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The Smart CEO’s Guide to Expert Author Status

By JT Long

Every business needs to stand out from the competition in order to thrive. The good news is that you don’t have to wear a Lady Ga Ga hat to get attention. The best way to position yourself as an industry leader is to add the word “author” to your title. Writing a book that shows off your expert knowledge immediately elevates your business “cred.”

Before you protest that you don’t have time to write a book, consider collaborating with a colleague or a ghostwriter to cut the work while maintaining the payoff. Particularly with a ghostwriter, your name is on the book, your ideas are highlighted, but someone else turns them into an organized, grammatically-correct reading experience. Following is a simple test to determine if you have the right stuff to become a published author:

1. Spark: Are you passionate about moving your industry forward and have strong opinions about steps that could be taken to solve problems, improve processes and increase sales?
2. Kindling: Have you given speeches on best practices or continuing education in your industry? The PowerPoint presentations, case studies and lesson materials make great fodder for a ghostwriter putting together an outline for a book. A little bit of research can fill in the blanks and a series of content expert meetings can polish it into a valuable “How To” business resource.
3. Air: Is there an association or group that needs to hear your message and would want to know more about your ideas? By defining your audience, you focus the book and give it a purpose.

If you are passionate about something, have the knowledge and a defined audience, then you are a great candidate for setting the world on fire with a book that you can use as a calling card to open any door.

Even if you self-publish or launch an e-book, the result will be increased invitations to speak at industry events, higher search engine optimization and maybe even greater respect from your children. Well, two out of three isn’t bad. You could always try lip-synching to Lady Ga Ga’s “Telephone”.

JT Long is a Content Marketing Manager and Ghostwriter. She is also the co-author of “Writer’s Secret: Mastermind Your Way to Publishing Success.” You can reach her at jtlongandco@gmail.com