So, you’re ready to write a book. Great! But before you start, let’s get real about your goals.

A book can be one of the most powerful assets in your business. But it works best when your goals are realistic and intentional from the start.

Many entrepreneurs dive into self-publishing with expectations that aren’t grounded in reality—like believing their book will immediately become a bestseller or generate passive income for years to come. While those things can happen, they shouldn’t be your primary goals because making those things happen can be a full-time job in itself. Those outcomes are unpredictable and shouldn’t be the only, nor primary, measure of success.

A book is not business.

A book should be seen as a business asset—a tool to boost credibility, attract clients, and establish your authority.

When you treat it that way, the goals become clearer, more achievable, and far more useful.

Below is a checklist of realistic goals entrepreneurs can aim for. You don’t need all of them. The point is to decide which ones matter to you and design your book accordingly.

Business Growth & Branding Goals

✅ Position yourself as an industry expert – A book can enhance your credibility and make people see you as a trusted authority in your field.
✅ Strengthen your personal or professional brand – Your book becomes part of your brand identity and business ecosystem, reinforcing your expertise.
✅ Use your book as a lead-generation tool – A book can drive new business by offering valuable content in exchange for emails, consultations, or product purchases when used strategically.

Marketing & Visibility Goals

✅ Leverage your book for media exposure – A published book makes it easier to pitch for podcast interviews, media features, and guest blogging opportunities.
✅ Support speaking engagements – Event organizers and event hosts often prefer speakers who are published authors, especially when it aligns with their audience.
✅ Create a foundation for future marketing efforts – Even if your first book doesn’t sell thousands of copies and sales are modest, your book gives you content, credibility, and talking points for years to come.

Financial & Sales Goals

✅ Cover the cost of production through book sales – While most self-published books won’t generate massive profits, you can aim to break even or generate side income.
✅ Upsell readers into other offerings – Your book can naturally serve as an introduction to your services, courses, or high-ticket programs.
✅ Sell books directly at events & workshops – Having a physical book to sell at conferences, trade shows, or industry events can add an extra revenue stream and often performs better than online sales.

Personal and Professional Goals

✅ Establish yourself as an author – Publishing shifts how others see you, and how you see yourself. You’re an author. You have credibility and experience.

✅ Build confidence in your expertise – The process of organizing your ideas into a book often brings clarity and confidence that carries into your business.

✅ Create a lasting legacy – Unlike short-form content, a book is durable. It doesn’t rely on algorithms or trends and continues to represent your expertise over time.

The Key Takeaway

Your book shouldn’t exist in isolation. It should support a bigger business strategy and align with what you actually want your business to do next.

When you define your goals early, you make better decisions about writing, publishing, marketing, and the level of support you need. That’s how a book stops being a passion project and starts working as an asset.

How Your Goals Connect to the Right Level of Support

Once you’re clear on what you want your book to do, the next decision becomes much easier: choosing the level of support that matches those goals.

Some entrepreneurs need help shaping and positioning their ideas so the book strengthens their authority and brand. Others already have a manuscript and want guidance through publishing and distribution. And some want a fully supported, done-with-you experience that integrates the book directly into their broader business and marketing strategy.

There’s no “best” option, only the one that aligns with where you are and what you want your book to accomplish.

That’s why Unscrewed Publishing offers three distinct levels of service. Each is designed to support different goals, timelines, and degrees of involvement, while keeping your book focused on its real job: working for your business long after it’s published.

Below, you’ll see how each option supports different publishing goals so you can choose the path that fits your strategy, not just your ambition.