If you are just starting out in your business you might be asking yourself, is now the right time to invest both time and money in writing and publishing a book? The simple answer is — you can’t afford not to in today’s credibility-driven world.

Most entrepreneurs start out their careers by posting to social media and a blog in order to establish a trusted brand. While both have value it is equally vital to begin the strategic process of planning your author journey right out of the gate.

If you have an established business and haven’t written a book, this still applies to you. Owning your brand by writing a book will solidify your brand and very often take your business to a whole new level.

I’ve put together five reasons why you should begin the publishing process TODAY, and take advantage of the many opportunities available.

1 – Reach a wider audience beyond just email and search

A website, blog, and social media presence can all work together to attract loyal subscribers and prospects. But what if your brand could also be placed in front of millions of targeted readers?

Next to Google, YouTube, and Pinterest is another often forgotten search engine – Amazon, the author platform. You reach new people – readers – who are searching on Amazon for an answer to their most pressing questions and your book can be the answer for them. Additionally, by focusing on your topic and your specific audience, when your website visitors see that you “wrote the book on this subject” it elevates you and your brand.

2 – Get seen as a leader in your industry

The years of hard work and preparation for your next step as an entrepreneur can easily go unnoticed if other competitors are getting seen simply because they are published authors. It’s important to establish yourself as a leader who has the answers that others may not have, and a book can help you promote that.

Imagine after doing some careful target market research writing something that readers can turn to again and again. After receiving positive reviews people will start to see your brand as the go-to source for helping them with their problems and questions.

3 – Unlimited earning potential

The great part about having a published book is that you can sell this product over and over again; as well as, develop courses, videos, and more content from your book for additional residual income building.

A good sales page and marketing strategy can place your book on the top of the bestseller lists on Amazon, gaining both visibility for you and your work in the world. Income is derived from the book sales; and, from workshops, speaking engagements, etc.

4 – Connect with influencers

After you establish yourself with the esteemed credential of ‘published author’ there are countless golden opportunities that could follow including invitations to speaking events, publicity through online and printed media outlets, podcast interviews, and guest blogging on high profile websites such as Entrepreneur or Business Insider.

If are a coach or consultant, being a published author on your expertise helps to position you for public speaking – either virtual or in-person – and as an established author your name can help guarantee an interested audience for the meeting planner.

5 – Future proof your business

Economies go up and down in cycles. World events can cause disruptions in business. But a book is a mainstay that will keep your brand stay in the running no matter what is going on.

Are you ready to start the process of writing and publishing your first book?

I’d love to help you on your publishing journey – get answers to how here.