5 Best e-books for Business

Writer:
Julia Dupuis
Editor:
Published: Dec 27, 2022
Last Updated:
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These days, more consumers are turning to digital books, or eBooks, to get the information they need. According to the Pew Research Center, more adults than ever before are reading eBooks — about 30% of people in the U.S. They might not be replacing traditional books any time soon, but there’s no question that eBooks have powerful marketing potential.

While eBook creation is far from easy, the rewards can be well worth the effort. In fact, this investment could play a vital role in your content marketing strategy. If crafted the right way, eBooks for business can grow your audience, bolster your reputation, and bring in new leads — all at the same time.

Let’s take a closer look at how eBooks can help you uplevel your marketing, along with some of the best business eBooks to guide your own writing process.

What Are eBooks?

eBooks are exactly what they sound like — books in a digital, PDF format that can be read on hand-held devices, from smartphones to eBook readers. The term “eBook” can mean the digital version of a regular book, but that’s not the type of eBook most marketers are talking about.

It's important to remember that eBooks aren’t always books in the traditional sense. They’re often much shorter at around 5,000 to 15,000 words. The purpose of a business eBook is to hone in on a specific topic, breaking down relevant information in clear and concise terms.

The most successful eBooks are packed with value and designed to cater to the interests or needs of a target audience. For example, a plumbing company might write an eBook that shows customers DIY solutions to some of their most common household plumbing problems. Or a human resources lawyer might write an eBook explaining an employee’s legal rights in the workplace.

The goal is to deliver value, build a following, and show consumers that your brand has something worth investing in.

Benefits of eBooks for Business

Compared to other forms of content, like a social media post or a blog article, writing an eBook can demand much more of your time and resources. The best eBooks tend to be longer and more in-depth than even a long-form content blog post. And that’s only the writing process — self-publishing your eBook or finding an eBook publisher is another venture entirely.

But the time and effort it takes to craft a great eBook can pay off in the long term. The right eBook can yield powerful results, from increased brand awareness to a stream of new names for your email list.

Here are some of the reasons why eBooks are better for businesses.

eBooks Attract Potential Customers

There’s a reason why more than 27% of marketers make eBooks their lead magnet of choice, even over options like webinars, checklists, and free tools. It all comes down to value.

eBooks are a powerful way to attract new leads to your business because they promise to provide value to the reader. When readers feel like they’re getting valuable information that helps them solve a problem — instead of a sales pitch — they’re more likely to go to your website, sign up for your mailing list, and read your blog posts. And eventually, they’re more likely to turn into current customers.

eBooks Help To Grow Email Address List

In the world of marketing, there are few things more valuable than a customer’s email address. It essentially creates a direct line of contact with a potential lead, bringing in the highest ROI compared to other marketing strategies.

eBooks are an effective tool to help you collect the contact information of people who are already invested in your products and services. Through a pop-up or a landing page, you can offer the eBook as a resource to potential customers in exchange for an email address. With these emails, you can build your mailing list to share newsletters, relevant blog posts, and other offers with your new audience.

eBooks Create Brand Awareness

The growth of any business starts with strong brand awareness. It’s one of the most important factors for your audience, with 63% of customers saying they would only buy from an authentic brand.

A relevant, well-written text can strengthen your image in the eyes of your audience. If you can create a memorable eBook that leaves a lasting impression, you’ll be introducing your brand to new and returning leads in a compelling way. It can put the information your readers want or need in one place — making your brand their go-to resource for trusted advice.

eBooks Increase Brand Reputation

If you, like most businesses, are facing impressive competition in your industry, there’s one way to make your offerings stand out. That’s through brand reputation.

An eBook presents your brand as the industry authority, with all the answers a customer could need. Writing a book with relevant, unique information gives your business credibility, positioning you as an expert in your field.

But it isn’t just credibility you get with an eBook — it’s trust. When you offer information instead of a direct sales pitch, it also tells readers that you view them as more than just a potential sale. The more value you offer, the more trustworthy you become in the eyes of a consumer.

eBooks Improve Business Content Marketing Strategy

If the goal of content marketing is to offer value to your audience, eBooks offer the perfect vehicle to deliver that value.

While other forms of content, like social media posts and blogs, can be helpful, they come in smaller, more consumable pieces of text. Even long-form blogs aren’t always able to cover a topic with the detail it deserves.

An eBook, on the other hand, can elevate the depth of your content. The format allows businesses to explain a niche topic in detail, covering anything and everything customers need to know.

eBook Sales Can Generate Money

Many businesses will offer eBooks for free as a strategy to attract invested readers who might sign up for email lists or free trials. But did you know that you can actually make money with eBooks? If a business book offers enough value or unique advice that can’t be found elsewhere, readers may be willing to pay for it.

Using this strategy, your eBook will still bring the other benefits to the table — increasing brand awareness, improving authority, and more — but it will also serve as a passive stream of income for your business.

Top eBooks To Grow Your Business

There’s never been a better time to add eBooks to your list of business resources. But if you’re not ready to write your own eBook just yet, it’s OK to take your time. Reading other business eBooks can give you a feel for the game while also helping you learn a few things about entrepreneurship, productivity, and sales along the way.

Whether you're looking for inspiration or top-notch advice, here are some of the best eBooks for marketing, planning, and managing your business.

50 Startup Founders Reveal Why Their Startups Failed

Startups fail every day, which is why this eBook exists — to help you avoid becoming just another statistic. This startup business book offers a look inside 50 startups that didn't make it to the next level.

From failed music platforms to Uber knock-offs, you’ll hear from the founders themselves about how their startups crashed, as well as what they learned from the experience. By understanding the kinds of challenges these startups couldn’t overcome, you can apply those hard-learned lessons to get your own business off the ground successfully.

Overcoming Procrastination – Productivity Skills

Everyone is guilty of procrastination at one point or another. If you find yourself putting off a task again and again, this eBook can help you break that cycle.

This text takes a hard look at the psychological nature of procrastination, dissecting the reasons why people often turn to easier, less important tasks over their highest-priority responsibilities — to the detriment of their productivity. It also explores the seven most common triggers that cause procrastination. Once you’ve explored the root of the problem, the book breaks down some practical quick-fix solutions. Full of actionable advice and hands-on tactics, this eBook is designed to get even the worst procrastinator back on track to productivity.

Income Statements – Developing Your Finance Skills

In this eBook, you’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the income statement — how it’s prepared, why it’s important, and what it can tell you about the state of your finances. There’s a lot your income statement can help you accomplish, from defining operating and nonoperating expenses to measuring your financial performance.

This beginner-friendly full-text eBook is designed to help you better understand the data in your income statements to give you more power in your financial decision-making.

Sales for Startups

As one of the best books for startups, this eBook guide can help you take your startup all the way to the finish line. From drafting your business plan to the day you start making sales, it takes the right strategies to emerge on top.

Many startups struggle to make it past the early stages, but this eBook offers 24 unique insights to help you accelerate your startup to success. From common sales mistakes to tips for cold calling, learn the best practices for making sales with these simple but powerful strategies.

Sales & Use Tax Compliance for Dummies

You probably already know about the For Dummies series — the bestselling books with bright yellow covers that offer useful instruction on just about everything. In this eBook version of the popular series, they dive deep into the world of tax regulation to help you navigate the confusing world of business taxes in easy-to-understand terms.

From tax exemption to returns filing, this book has everything you need to know about getting sales taxes right, even if you're doing it on your own. Applying some of these practical how-tos and tips will help you avoid costly mistakes or even an audit of your business.

How to Start a Business You Love & That Loves You Back

There’s a lot about starting your own business that can feel like a dream: setting your own hours, making all the decisions yourself, and enjoying the financial freedom that comes with entrepreneurship.

But business ownership can be a lot more stressful than you might anticipate. With constant stress and hard work — often for little reward — it’s easy to lose the passion that set you on this path in the first place.

That’s where this eBook comes in. With all the tools and tricks to start a business the right way, you can avoid some of the common mistakes that make entrepreneurship so stressful and draining in the first place. And if you’re already feeling the pressure, this text can help you recapture the love for what you do.

The Complete Book of Business Plans

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned business owner, this eBook is the complete guide on getting a business off the ground and running.

This compilation of business plans is designed to give you a blueprint to get started, helping you create selling concepts, market analysis, financial presentations, and management systems. At the end of the book, you’ll have all the tools you need to create a rock-solid business plan.

Need Help Writing an eBook?

An eBook is a powerful marketing tool that can deliver results long after it’s published. Investing in a well-written eBook can help you build authority, trust, and leads for years to come. This, of course, comes at a cost. It can be time-consuming and frustrating to write an entire book, especially if you want to make a lasting impression on your audience. Thankfully, it’s not a task that you have to take on yourself. With Compose.ly’s content writing services, you can rely on a team of professional writers in your industry to bring your best business ideas to life. Learn more about our eBook writing services or request a sample today to see the quality for yourself.

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