All Self-help Books Are the Same, Why Should Anyone Buy Yours?
Read one, read all of them. That’s it basically; that’s the trend with self-help books these days. Readers are intuitive and smart, and they can tell when someone is trying to sell them platitudes wrapped in a fancy design book cover. Many people feel there’s no point in reading self-help or motivational books or any inspiring book for that matter because they are probably thinking, “what’s the writer going to say that I haven’t already heard?”
But does that mean you shouldn’t write your self-help or motivational book? Of course not. People need to be inspired, and they certainly need the help that comes from a well-written self-help book. What they don’t need is another generic book giving them the same 10-steps to a better life.
So, how can you make your book different?
Choose an Audience
Yes, everyone needs help, and everyone needs to be inspired, but not everyone needs your brand of help or inspiration. That’s why you need to pick a target audience and write to them. That not only helps you focus your book; it makes it easier to sell. Think about it this way: if you wanted to buy a book about body image for women, which of these would you buy? One written for women at a specific age range or one that spoke in general about all women?
You cannot simply write a book saying, “Hey this book is for you,” without explicitly defining the You. So, focus your audience, and when you do, write like you are talking to one person in that audience.
Share Personal Stories
How would you feel if you read a book where the author spent the entire time telling you what was wrong with you and how to fix what was wrong with you? Attacked? Exasperated? But I bet you’d feel differently if the author said, “this happened to me, this is how I got through it, and if you are in my position, this can help too. Sharing personal stories in your self-help, motivational, or even leadership book will tell your reader that you are a fallible, weak human, just like them. And then they’ll think, “well, if she can do this, so can I.”
Not only that, sharing your personal stories can be the ground on which you market your book. Like, “Hey, I went through a period in my life where so and so happened to me. That’s what inspired me to write this book. I hope you find comfort and help reading this.”
Too many times, self-help authors forget the power of empathy. Don’t be one of them.
Don’t Be Afraid to Be Controversial or Contrary
Self-help authors have been following the same formula and saying the same thing for years. You need to break that cycle. You need to not be afraid to be contrary or controversial, especially if you are writing on a topic that’s been recycled over and over again.
Being contrary not only makes you stand out; it brings a fresh take on that subject. That’s what readers want to read. They don’t need you to tell them what they already know; they need you to say, “you think, you know this? What if I told you what you know, isn’t really what you know?”
Most self-help books are the same; give people a reason to buy yours.
If you need help ghost-writing your book, including research and outlining, and figuring out your target audience, book a free consult!
Cheers!
