Written by: Lynda Sunshine West, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Starting a business is just the beginning, and once you’ve established your business, the next step is to market it. However, promoting your business can seem daunting, as it requires a lot of effort across various platforms. Fortunately, there are simpler ways to reach your target audience without distractions like pop-ups or endless scrolling. Collaborative writing, specifically anthology books, has become a popular and effective marketing tool for many business owners.
We recently spoke to several entrepreneurs to learn how participating in a collaboration book has helped their businesses grow. They shared how the experience expanded their network and introduced them to a new audience. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits they’ve experienced, keep reading to discover how this marketing strategy can help your business, too.
1. Reach a wider audience
Being part of an author list with a range of entrepreneurs across different industries is a great way to cast your marketing net wider. An anthology can increase your reach and get a completely new audience to know about your business. There’s no limit when it comes to the number of people who may come across such literature, and discovering someone new in this way often leads to intrigue and further research of your business.
Karsta Marie Hurd, CEO of Karsta Marie, shares this tip: ‘While being part of a collaboration is powerful, it will only mean something to the author if it is aligned with their message. If it’s a collaboration book that genuinely fits with their experience and expertise, even better.’
2. Tap into your creative side
Writing is an opportunity to tap into your creative side. The process can feel challenging as capturing the attention of people through words alone isn’t the easiest task. However, trusting yourself and thinking outside the box when telling your story will not only build a new skill – it will increase your opportunity to gain a wider audience and, ultimately, new customers.
3. Grow your network
We all know the saying “your network is your net worth;” this particularly rings true in business. Surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs will more than likely help in manifesting your goals with more ease. Being featured in an anthology book means you have a shared professional interest with several other business owners. This is of course an opportunity to expand your network, perhaps learn more about your industry and bounce ideas off of people who may have knowledge in an area that you’re working towards breaking into. Every entrepreneur we talked to shared their excitement at making new connections.
4. Get inspired while inspiring others
Participating in an anthology book is a powerful way to both enrich society and elevate your business. As acclaimed author Ewa Krempa emphasizes, ‘it is important to share your story, speak up and help others transform their lives.’ Your story is your gift not only for you, but also to help others. That is the selflessness of sharing your story.
According to Karen L. Rudolf, creator of TranquilSOULutions, ‘we shouldn’t be afraid to get ourselves out there. We all have gifts that are meant to be shared. When we hold back and do not share those gifts, we are robbing people of getting the results/relief we’ve gifted ourselves.’
In her insightful article titled ‘Create Fabulous Collaborations To Grow Your Business,' Henriette Danel eloquently highlights ‘the benefits of collaboration, including increased creativity, improved problem-solving skills, and enhanced productivity.’
In the realm of business, these sentiments resonate deeply, as the heart of any successful enterprise lies in problem-solving and aiding others on their journey to success.
5. Create new opportunities
The power of an anthology is that it opens you up to brand-new opportunities. Not only is it the start of your author career, but it can also lead to business partnerships, possible book deals and a wave of new, long-lasting clients. This is why Karsta Marie Hurd, CEO of Karsta Marie, believes collaboration books are the perfect way for aspiring authors to ‘dip their toe in the water’ because ‘if you’re contemplating a collaboration, you’re likely contemplating a solo book, too. As such, it is wise to use the collaboration book as an opportunity to learn the process, become inspired, and overcome your fears.’
6. Be seen as an expert in your field
‘As a published author, you’re bound to feel more confident as an expert in your field’ (Karsta Marie Hurd, CEO – Karsta Marie). Readers will therefore want to learn as much as possible from you to gain access to your expertise. Whether your way of doing this is in the form of a solo book, coaching, digital course, or live event, sharing your expert opinion in a collaborative book will prompt readers to actively find ways to invest in your business.
Writing your chapter will also help you ‘gain clarity in your business and message’. In turn, ‘having your ideas published in a book will have a positive effect on your ‘self-confidence and self-esteem’ (Sally Katherine Ross, Founder – Sally Ross International). Since people always feed on the energy of others, your target market will see your excitement and certainty about your business and buy into it accordingly.
7. Market your business
An online presence should be part of any business’ marketing plan, but a hard copy or paperback book will put you ahead of the rest. It allows you to cut through all the noise on digital platforms and reach an audience that still appreciates offline content. It can also give you global exposure, which many entrepreneurs ‘desire to be part of the elite group of authors who have a common theme of sharing their message with the world and making a difference’ (Karen L. Rudolf, Creator – TranquilSOULutions). With this level of exposure, the opportunities that will present themselves will surely put any business in a more favorable position.
To maximize the benefits of being part of a collaborative book, it is advisable to talk about it on any relevant platform. In other words – sell yourself. Being featured as a guest on podcasts is one of the best ways to market your work. Doing this allows you to be ‘seen and heard, which results in more exposure to other networks.’ The amazing thing is that we ‘never know what’s around the next corner when we put ourselves out there.’ (Karen L. Rudolf, Creator – TranquilSOULutions).
8. Enhances credibility
A response that surprisingly only appeared once in our survey was in relation to credibility. This particular entrepreneur mentioned that her involvement in a collaborative book provided ‘social proof for her business.’ (Karsta Marie Hurd, CEO – Karsta Marie). This is something that should not be taken for granted. Acquiring the title of a published author goes a long way in many settings, as it reduces the possibility of your expertise being challenged and can open doors to other opportunities with a little more ease.
9. Control your business’ perception
Having the opportunity to write in a collaborative book means that you can control how you and your business are perceived by potential customers. You also have a hand in bringing about the outcome that you desire. This can be achieved by ‘including a call to action’ in your text, to effectively help increase your ‘list of potential clients’ (Sally Katherine Ross, Founder – Sally Ross International). Once you have been successful in gathering such information, you then have free reign to market your business using tried and tested methods that are certain to convert clicks to sales.
10. Standout from other entrepreneurs
Having an online presence is now quite commonplace in entrepreneurship, but sharing your story and experience on paper is a breath of fresh air. It’s traditional, simple, and evergreen. Whoever picks up the book that you have contributed to will undoubtedly read your chapter and then want to know more about you, as well as the product/service that you provide. A collaborative book provides readers with a small lens into the author’s authentic self. Because a book is more personal, this makes it easier to feel a sense of closeness to the writer. This is exactly what every business owner wants to achieve, as that familiarity is what results in loyal customers.
All in all, marketing a business is a critical part of its success, and one way to reach a wider audience is through collaborative writing such as anthology books. This strategy offers several benefits, including expanding one’s network, tapping into creativity, inspiring others, creating new opportunities, and being seen as an expert in your field.
By sharing your story in a book, you enhance your credibility and market your business offline while cutting through the noise online. Being part of a collaborative book is an opportunity to learn the process of publishing, overcome your fears, and manifest your goals with ease. The power of such a book also lies in opening doors to new partnerships, possible book deals, and long-lasting clients. Overall, the benefits of participating in a collaborative book make it a worthwhile investment for any business owner looking to grow their audience and establish themselves as an industry thought leader.
Suddenly feeling inspired to write a book yourself? Here are some final words of encouragement from the authors we spoke to:
Being featured in a collaboration book is ‘a wonderful way to share your story, serve others and make a difference in the world. You really never know whose life you might make a difference to by sharing your story.’ (Elizabeth Bennett, Founder – Courageous Network)
If approached to write in a collaborative book, ‘yes’ should be the answer that you give. ‘Overcoming any fears around it and adopting a positive mindset will mark the beginning of a fruitful journey for your business.’ (Ewa Krempa, Author)
An anthology is perfect for those who ‘have always wanted to publish a book, but the thought of writing the entire book scares you. It enables you to still be an author without having to do it all by yourself.’ (Laura Sharp-Waites, Transformational Grief Coach – LauraSW)
To sum it all up, harness the strength of collective effort by connecting with inspirational entrepreneurs and embarking on the journey of co-authoring an anthology book. This remarkable endeavor not only serves as a dynamic marketing tool but also propels your business to new heights, expands your professional network, and, most significantly, enhances your business.
Lynda Sunshine West, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
She ran away at 5 years old and was gone an entire week. She came home riddled with fears and, in turn, became a people-pleaser. At age 51, she decided to face one fear every day for an entire year. In doing so, she gained an exorbitant amount of confidence and now uses what she learned to fulfill her mission of empowering 5 million women and men to write their stories to make a greater impact on the planet. Lynda Sunshine West is the Founder and CEO of Action Takers Publishing, a Speaker, 22 Time 1 International Bestselling and Award-Winning Author, Executive Contributing Author at Brainz Magazine, Executive Film Producer, and Red Carpet Interviewer.
