6 winning steps to turn your blog content into a Book

How do you go from a Blog to Bestseller!

Imagine the phone ringing with potential customers, your inbox filling up with speaking invites, and eager and experienced people contacting you to work for you. Life after you’ve published a great book is different. 

How do you get a taste of that?

It’s your expertise and experience that got you this far in your field or industry. But what if you want to take what you’ve learned along the way—all those great ideas, tips, stories and advice—and turn it into something far-reaching and impactful that you can share with the world? And, what if you can do that in a way that grows your business?

If you’ve been tinkering with the idea of turning your personal challenges and success story into a nonfiction book that will grow your business and get you noticed, keep reading!

Here are 6 proven steps to turn your blog content into a Book

1.Identify Your Goal

If your main goal is to hit the bestseller list, you need to dig a little deeper and figure out why you really want to write a book. Chances are, it’s not just to see your name on the cover. Maybe you have an important message to share with the world. Perhaps you want to attract more clients or secure paid speaking gigs. Or maybe you want to be regarded as an industry expert and connect with other influencers and people in your community. 

Whatever your goal is, it will serve as the guidepost that determines everything else in the process of creating a nonfiction book. Being a bestseller isn’t really a goal, it’s what you believe being a bestseller will get you. That’s what your milestone is, so write that down. 

If you have multiple goals, write them down and then number them in order of importance to give you a greater sense of clarity. For most decisions you’ll make along the way you need to pick the top one and run with it.

Here’s an example

If you know you want to be a paid speaker, you need to angle your book towards topics that are more likely to get you paid. There are plenty of speaking opportunities these days but many of them do not pay. What are corporations, associations, and conventions looking for in a paid speaker in your area of expertise? Make sure you research that in order to write a book that will get you paid! 

Also read: 10 great places to Book Speaking Engagements

2. Use Your Goal to Find Your Audience 

If you know why you want to write your book, you know the type of person who wants to buy it. Get to know your target audience as you would a new friend. Better yet, try to get inside their minds. Which podcasts do they listen to and what conferences do they attend? What books have they read and what’s on their wish lists? Do some research so you know what they are skeptical about, what they already believe, and what they believe but maybe shouldn’t (and where you can help!). 

Chances are, you probably already have a lot of great content. But how you go from blog to bestseller? Take some time to sift through your published articles, blogs, and podcasts to determine what topics, information, or data will best reach your ideal reader. What problem does he or she have that your book can solve? If you can match reader preferences and behaviors with your existing content, presto—you’ve found the core of your next book.  

It’s important to note that a great book isn’t simply stringing a bunch of content together. You need to build in emotions, stories, and themes. The content helps, but you need it all to fit with your hook (see the next step).

Also read: How to generate awesome content that works for your readers and your business

Looking for inspiration to turn your blog content into a Book?

3. Start with a Hook

The hook of your book is what makes people want to read it. It’s your elevator pitch,  succinctly answering your potential reader’s question of “What’s in this book for me?”

 The hook is the thread or the main idea that ties your entire book together. 

It’s what makes your book different, grabs your reader’s attention, and delivers a sense of urgency (“I have to read this book now!”). Think about a sentence or two that people will use to describe your book and tell their friends about it. You can even test out your hook with your clients and colleagues. If you have something that has your ideal reader excited to hear from you or read in your book, then you’ve probably found your hook.

Your hook isn’t that your book is a self-help book for women about losing weight. Instead, your hook is that your book is a guide to helping women who have struggled with their body image since they were kids. Your book will  help them find a way to have a happy and healthy relationship with food and be proud to put on a bathing suit in public. It is 100% about why your reader needs this book. 

Companies and clients are hiring pros from 30+ industries! Are you there?

 4. Craft an Outline  

You’re anxious to get your amazing ideas down on paper—but if you don’t have a plan before you sit down to write, chances are you’ll feel overwhelmed and not know where to begin. A bad case of writer’s block can either put a slight bump in the road or completely derail you from writing. Creating a clear outline is your best defense against writer’s block, and it’s essential to writing a nonfiction book.

A good outline is your map, laying out where your book is going from start to finish.

It’s not easy to create an outline because you need to decide what should be included when your blog content into a book and what you can cut. Depending on your writing style, how you like to organize your thoughts, and the topic of your book, there are several ways to outline your book. Here’s one.

a. Make a list of 10 to 12 bullet points that you want to discuss in your book (e.g., your chapters).

b. Then create three to five sub-points for each topic (jot down a few words that will help you remember what the sub-point means).

c. Next, evaluate the subjects and topics. Cut or reorganize bullet points that are duplicated, don’t have enough sub-points, or don’t make sense in the context of the entire book. 

The best thing about an outline is that it helps you gather all the various pieces and topics of your book before you commit to writing a single word. So, when it IS time to write, it’s like turning on a GPS where your destination is already planned out and you just need to stay the course. 

5. Stick to a Writing Schedule

You’re ready to write your book. But how do you carve out the time in your busy schedule to get it done? Of course I recommend doing it at the same time every day if you can, and dedicating at least 45 minutes a day to your writing. But, I have a 2 year old and a busy business so I know how impossible that is. Here’s another idea and it takes 30 minutes a few times a week. 

First, completely disconnect. No internet. Turn off phones. No distractions. Find a quiet, comfortable space and get ready to write. 

Next, have your outline (see tip #3 above) at the ready, and start by writing the opening sentence, which sets the tone of the rest of the book. Then, set a timer for twelve minutes. When it starts, you do nothing but write—no rewriting, no stopping, no reading. Stop writing when the timer goes off, take a five-minute break standing up from your computer. Then repeat. If you do two of these writing sprints (takes less than 30 minutes) a few times a week, you’ll find that you will train yourself to write faster in everything you do. And within a month or two, you might just  have the first draft of your first book

Also read:: Simple habits for an organized work life

6. Keep Your Eye on the Prize 

 Your nonfiction book will boost your business, change lives, and open the door to so many opportunities from speaking engagements to industry connections. Even on those days when you don’t feel like writing (and trust me, there will be those days!) or you feel discouraged or even defeated, keep the rewards in sight and  just keep going.  

Conclusion – go from a blog to bestseller!

Here are the 6 key steps to turn your blog content into a book that grows your business:

1.   Identify Your Goal
2.   Use Your Goal to Find Your Audience 
3.   Start with a Hook  
4.   Craft an Outline
5.   Stick to a Writing Schedule
6.   Keep Your Eye on the Prize

The more you write, the faster you will produce chapter content, building a momentum that will turn your ideas into a published book that people will buy and talk about. 

Now, imagine that.

Connect with Julie

Julie Broad is an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, an International Book Award Winner, and recipient of the Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Sales book. As an entrepreneur and successful real estate investor, she was also awarded the Top 20 under 40 Award. 

Founder of Book Launchers, Julie started the company to help busy entrepreneurs and professionals build their brand and boost their business by writing, publishing, and selling a top- quality book. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their son.