10 Powerful Ways to Make Your
Self-Published Non-Fiction Book A Success

01

What is driving you to plan, write, design, publish, market and sell your book? The deeper your emotional connection, the better, as your incredible why will be the fuel for your stamina. Once you know what it is, write this down on post-it notes and plaster it everywhere you will see it – especially in your book writing space! 

02

Imagine your book is published and you’re clutching a beloved copy in your arms. Start with the end destination in mind, of what you want your book to achieve – both for you and for your readers. Will this be a stand-alone book, or do you want it to open doors to speaking engagements? Is this book to help you leverage your business, or are you launching a new venture? What excites you about your book’s potential? Know this information. 

03

A little research goes a long way. Are people actively searching for a book like yours? If you find many books already out there in the public domain on your topic, don’t be disheartened. This is great news! Your topic is needed, and it’s in demand. Competition shows you this, but what is super important here is what I share in point 4…

04

It’s not just a business that requires a unique selling point. Your book absolutely deserves this special attention. Ask yourself the question: “How will my book on such and such a topic stand out in the masses of other publications on a similar topic?” As per point 3, a little further digging is the secret here. A really great little tip here is to focus on feelings – how does the topic of your book make someone feel or think? Then work with that – because when we connect someone to a feeling/thought that is relevant to them, it’s hard for them not to connect. Then write your book with this in mind. 

05

Identify who your ideal reader is – who are you writing the book specifically for? The more you know who this person is, their problems and desires, and what may stop them from acting on your book’s guidance, the more magnetic your words will become, as you can converse directly to this persona throughout your book. Have you ever read a book and thought, “Wow, it’s as though this author can read my mind!” Well, this will help you create a deep connection that is too powerful for a reader to ignore. These will likely be the ones to rave about your book, too! 

06

What is your book promising to do for a reader? What are you helping them with? Know this fact inside out and upside down. This is the meat and bones of your book, so share your knowledge generously and help your reader. Deeply tap into your personal WHY and make their own transformation as easy as possible. 

07

Not many people openly talk about this, but I consider it one, if not the most vital, factor in your book’s success. Everything starts with you and your energy – and that’s what you’ll be bringing to your book as you plan it, write it, design it and sell it. Your readers will feel it. I want you to own your stuff, be the ‘expert’, and don’t be shy doing so. The more you merge with the version of you who is already a successful author BEFORE you write the book, the better your results. Let go of any limiting beliefs that get in the way of you achieving this – as it will be a game-changer! 

08

You get a small span of time and word space to draw your new reader in and keep them turning the pages to reach the final chapter. This is where your compelling hook comes in. And right at the start of your first chapter. Intentionally choose a riveting part of a story to use that is relevant to your book’s transformation, and use that with a lot of emotion and interest. Make your reader experience your words and desperately want more. This is your moment. 

09

Resist this at your peril! Many shy away from book promotion as they ‘haven’t got a book cover’ or ‘haven’t finished writing the book yet’. But honestly, you don’t need to have these in place. I encourage you to start promoting your book before you write a word! Two amazing things will happen: 1. – you’ve just made yourself publicly accountable, and 2. – you’ll organically begin to build your readers’ audience. Brilliant! 

10

Please do not, whatever you do, skimp on this part. When you’ve poured your heart and soul into your book, it deserves the best treatment until the very end. Starting with a professional edit and proofread. This can make or break a book – remove the human errors and allow your words to dazzle and impact your reader. And secondly, apply the same mentality to the design – the book cover and typesetting should be spot-on and look amazing, nothing less. These will help sell your book, so do not think you can cut corners.