Gone are the times when success was measured by the books you sold or ROI. The thoughts have shifted now, and entrepreneurs are not looking at how many copies they have sold; rather, they are counting their clients, the speaking fees, and the partnerships that their books help them generate. It is less about the money and more about what they are making in all the other ways.
The Research-Backed Reality
Different researchers have analyzed that personal branding shows that authorship brings:
- Career satisfaction
- Enhanced pricing power
- Connection with professionals
- Unmatched expertise
Several studies show that all successful firms don’t solely focus on generating revenue, but their main focus is on strategic position. It is not just about making money, but building connections and bringing more expertise.
Your Book as a Lead Magnet
Research in psychology shows that personal branding comes with five different advantages that we are going to state below:
- The first one is that these books serve as certified signals, which make you credible.
- In this competitive world, personal branding is always going to give you an edge because it communicates your value directly and more effectively.
- The books are capable of providing value, which is going to build long-lasting trust with your audience.
- Books are not just for earning, but they also help you enhance your social circle, which helps you build new connections every single day.
- Your books give you digital leverage by making a foundation for different platforms like social media, leadership campaigns, and webinars.
The ROI Mindset Shift
It is high time that you stop thinking about how many books you have sold; rather, it is the right time to start measuring the quality of inquiries generated. How many opportunities relevant to speaking and consulting have you created? Whether you are being recognized in the media industry or not? The pricing that you can command and all the strategic relationships that you have developed.
The Academic Evidence
In Industrial Marketing Management, there is research that shows that B2B markets can directly affect the decisions of businesses and the company’s direction. Your book is what makes you an influential voice. A research policy analysis study found that the main benefits are gaining external knowledge, getting talent to work with you, building credibility and reputation, and supporting all the commercialization strategies.
The Bottom Line
There are different researchers who show what successful business authors really need to do. Books are more than just for generating revenue; they are rather a development tool for everyone. It is not about whether the book can make your business a successful one or not, but whether you are ready for long-term leadership positioning or not.
Your success is not measured by how many books you have sold, but by the number of opportunities you have opened for yourself. It is important to remember that your book is a lead magnet and not a profit center. Always pay attention to providing more value, and see how many business opportunities follow.
