4,000,000 books will be published in 2027. Just think about that for a second… That’s about half of the people in New York City, the world capital of book publishing. So if you’ve ever thought about writing a book—or you have a half-finished manuscript judging you from your hard drive—you should be asking one big question:
“How will my book stand out?”
As a nonfiction book coach and ghostwriter, that’s the question I’m always focused on with clients. So I studied the top 25 best-selling business books of all time to figure out if they shared any traits that helped them be so successful.
Yes, having a large platform definitely helps sell books, but authors like Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad) and even Simon Sinek (Start With Why) didn’t have massive platforms when their books first came out. So when I crunched the numbers, I found 11 traits that nonfiction authors can turn into their personal “cheat sheet.” Start with these five:
Cheat #1. Storytelling Wins. Every time.
Readers remember stories, not stats or lectures.
Cheat #2. Titles Matter. A Ton.
A clear and memorable title is far better than a “clever” title. The title is your book’s hook. If the hook doesn’t work, the book doesn’t work. And the best titles usually reveal themselves through the process, not at the beginning.
Cheat #3. Challenge Conventional Wisdom.
Two ways you can challenge conventional wisdom: (A) Share a contrarian perspective, or
(B) Reframe an unpopular idea. Even if people disagree with you, you’re still generating buzz.
Cheat #4. Niche Down. Then Niche Up.
Speak to a single target reader but then find the broad appeal angle. Most books try to only niche down or niche up. The tricky part is doing both in tandem.
Cheat #5. Become Quotable.
You need a distinct voice to differentiate yourself. With more nonfiction authors leaning heavily on AI than ever before, distinct voices and perspectives are disappearing…and readers are noticing. Your catchphrases, frameworks, and go-to advice are your “personal IP.” Use it!
If you want to read all 11 with examples, go grab my free resource the Bestsellers Cheat Sheet. Which one of the 5 above is the hardest part for you? Which one do you feel like you have nailed down?