Self Publishing a Book has become the New Business Card

Self-publishing has exploded in the past couple of years and for a growing number of professionals who want instant credibility, books have become the new business cards.

Whether you are looking to increase sales for your business, or for advancement in your career, ‘the book as business card’ has become one of the most powerful tools in the marketing arsenal of many successful people. For less than the cost of one cup a coffee a day for a year, seasoned experts and professionals are putting their knowledge into professionally-published books.

“When it comes to business and establishing yourself as an expert in a specific area, nothing provides more credibility than a book,” says Keith Ogorek, vice president of marketing for Author Solutions Inc.

“A book instantly establishes you as someone who has reached a level of expertise and that people should listen to what you have to say.”

According to Ogorek, business people from consultants to professional speakers to CEOs, are one of the fastest-growing groups of published authors.

One case in point is author Stacey Hanke, whose book Everything You Need From A to A To Z To Influence Others to Take Action, was self-published by AuthorHouse and has received interest from more than 120 media outlets.

“My book has given me the opportunity to promote my business in ways I could not have done before,” says Hanke.

Similarly, Randy Petrick, a writer, speaker, and money coach with more than thirty years of experience teaching financial concepts, has received nationwide media attention in the US for his book Money Games: 85 Ways to Save Money and Attract Abundance.

Petrick’s book and expertise has made him a particularly attractive source for the media in light of the recent economic difficulties in the United States.

“Writing and publishing Money Games has been a wonderful opportunity to enhance my business as a financial consultant,” says Petrick. “I can’t imagine a better ‘business card’ in these financial times than my book.”

Although there are the exceptions, more often than not, self-published authors make very little from sales of their books. The real value of self-publishing a book is that it gives you the opportunity to show potential clients, employers and the media, that you have acquired knowledge in your field of expertise.

“Imagine one business consultant calling on prospective customers with traditional marketing materials, and another calling on the same customers and supplementing materials with a book written about the field of expertise,” said Ogorek. “Who do you think has the better chance of landing that sale?”

Photo credit: Vladimir Melnikov – Fotolia.com