The Art of Writing a Coaching Book That Solves Real Problems

Choosing the right topic is the foundation of a successful coaching book. It’s the key to creating a resource that resonates with your target audience, provides real value, and positions you as an expert in your field.

In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the essential steps for selecting and refining your book’s topic.

By following these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to writing a coaching book that makes a lasting impact.

Let’s dig in.

Understanding Your Ideal Reader

When it comes to writing a coaching book that truly resonates with your audience, the first and most crucial step is to understand your ideal reader. At Difference Press, we believe that having a deep understanding of your target audience is the foundation of creating a successful and impactful book.

Identifying Your Ideal Reader’s Demographics and Characteristics

To begin, you need to identify your ideal reader’s demographics and characteristics. This includes factors such as their age, gender, location, occupation, income level, education, and family status. By painting a clear picture of who your ideal reader is, you can tailor your coaching book’s content, tone, and style to best suit their needs and preferences.

For example, if you’re writing a coaching book aimed at recent college graduates, your ideal reader might be in their early to mid-twenties, single, and working in an entry-level position. On the other hand, if your book targets executives in their forties and fifties, your ideal reader is likely to be married with children and have a higher income and education level.

READ MORE: How to Write a Good Book: Dr. Angela’s Top 5 Tips

Creating a Detailed Profile of Your Ideal Reader

Once you have a general understanding of your ideal reader’s demographics, it’s time to dig deeper and create a detailed profile. This involves going beyond surface-level characteristics and exploring their daily routines, challenges, aspirations, and pain points.

Consider questions like:

• What does a typical day look like for your ideal reader?
• What are their biggest frustrations and obstacles?
• What motivates them to seek out solutions and invest in personal growth?
• What do they value most in life, and how does this influence their decision-making?

By answering these questions and developing a comprehensive profile of your ideal reader, you’ll be better equipped to create a coaching book that speaks directly to their needs and resonates on a personal level.

READ MORE: The Secret to Finding the Right Readership for Your Book

Discovering the Problem Your Ideal Reader is Facing

The most effective coaching books are those that address a specific problem or challenge that your ideal reader is facing. To uncover this problem, you need to put yourself in your reader’s shoes and understand their struggles from their perspective.

Ask yourself:

• What keeps my ideal reader up at night?
• What are they actively searching for solutions to?
• What do they believe is holding them back from achieving their goals?
• What would make the most significant difference in their life right now?

By identifying the core problem your ideal reader is facing, you can ensure that your coaching book provides the targeted, actionable advice they need to overcome their challenges and transform their lives.

Remember, the key to writing a successful coaching book is to have a deep, empathetic understanding of your ideal reader. By taking the time to identify their demographics, create a detailed profile, and discover the problem they’re facing, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a book that makes a lasting impact and establishes you as a trusted authority in your field.

Selecting a Problem-Focused Topic

Now that you have a clear understanding of your ideal reader, it’s time to select a topic for your coaching book that directly addresses the problem they’re facing. The most successful coaching books are those that provide targeted, actionable solutions to specific challenges.

Why Your Coaching Book Should Address a Specific Problem

When your coaching book focuses on solving a particular problem, it immediately becomes more appealing to your ideal reader. They’re not looking for general advice or philosophical musings. They want concrete strategies and techniques that they can implement to overcome their challenges.

By addressing a specific problem, your book will:

• Demonstrate your expertise and credibility in your field
• Provide a clear value proposition for your ideal reader
• Differentiate itself from generic, one-size-fits-all coaching books
• Create a sense of urgency and motivation for your reader to take action

Examples of Problems People are Willing to Spend Money to Solve

To select a problem-focused topic for your coaching book, consider the issues that people are most likely to invest time and money in solving. Some examples include:

• Career transitions and advancement
• Starting and growing a business
• Overcoming limiting beliefs and self-doubt
• Improving relationships and communication skills
• Managing stress, anxiety, and burnout
• Developing leadership and management abilities
• Achieving financial freedom and security

These are just a few examples of the many problems that people are willing to spend money to solve. The key is to identify the specific challenge that your ideal reader is facing. Then, tailor your coaching book’s content to address that problem directly.

Avoiding Generic Topics and Focusing on Actionable Solutions

When selecting a topic for your coaching book, it’s essential to avoid generic, overly broad themes. For example, “finding happiness” or “achieving success.” While these topics may sound appealing, they lack the specificity and actionable advice that your ideal reader is looking for.

Instead, focus on breaking down your chosen problem into manageable, actionable steps that your reader can implement in their own life. Provide practical exercises, case studies, and real-world examples that illustrate how your strategies can be applied to overcome the specific challenge at hand.

By avoiding generic topics and focusing on actionable solutions, your coaching book will become an indispensable resource for your ideal reader. It will help them navigate their challenges and achieve their desired outcomes.

Remember, the most effective coaching books are those that address a specific problem head-on and provide targeted, actionable advice. By selecting a problem-focused topic and delivering practical solutions, you’ll create a book that resonates with your ideal reader. It will position you as a trusted authority in your field.

Crafting Your Book’s Title and Subtitle

With a problem-focused topic in hand, it’s time to turn your attention to crafting a compelling title. Your book’s title and subtitle are the first things potential readers will see. They play a crucial role in attracting attention and communicating the value of your book.

The Importance of a Clear and Compelling Title

Your coaching book’s title is the hook that draws readers in and entices them to learn more. A clear and compelling title should:

• Immediately communicate the main problem your book addresses
• Spark curiosity and interest in your target audience
• Be memorable and easy to understand
• Differentiate your book from others in your field

A strong title is essential for catching the eye of potential readers. It also helps encourage them to pick up your book amidst a sea of competitors.

Incorporating Your Ideal Reader’s Problem into the Title

To create a title that resonates with your ideal reader, consider incorporating the specific problem your book addresses. This helps potential readers quickly identify that your book is relevant to their needs and challenges.

For example, if your coaching book focuses on helping entrepreneurs overcome procrastination, your title might be:
“The Procrastination Cure: The Entrepreneur’s 21-Day Plan to Boosted Productivity, Increased Profits, and Goal Achievement”

By clearly stating the problem (procrastination) and the desired outcome (beating the habit to grow your business), this title immediately communicates the value of your book to your ideal reader.

Using the Subtitle to Provide Additional Context and Benefits

While your title should be punchy and attention-grabbing, your subtitle provides an opportunity to offer additional context. It should highlight the benefits of reading your coaching book. A well-crafted subtitle should:

• Expand on the main problem and solution addressed in your title
• Highlight the key benefits and transformations your reader will experience
• Provide a glimpse into your unique approach or methodology
• Further differentiate your book from others in your niche

For example, let’s revisit the procrastination book title from earlier: “The Procrastination Cure: The Entrepreneur’s 21-Day Plan to Boosted Productivity, Increased Profits, and Goal Achievement”

This subtitle expands on the title by specifying the target audience (entrepreneurs), the key benefits (boosted productivity, increased profits, and goal achievement), and the unique approach (a 21-day plan).

By crafting a clear, compelling title and subtitle that incorporate your ideal reader’s problem and highlight the benefits of your book, you’ll create a powerful first impression that attracts your target audience and sets your coaching book up for success.

Remember, your title and subtitle are the gateway to your book, and they play a vital role in communicating the value and relevance of your content to potential readers. Take the time to brainstorm, refine, and test your title and subtitle until you have a winning combination that effectively showcases your problem-focused coaching book.

READ MORE: 6 Tips for Crafting Compelling Nonfiction Book Titles

Ensuring Your Book Meets Key Criteria

Before diving into the writing process, it’s crucial to ensure that your coaching book meets several key criteria. These criteria are essential for creating a book that not only resonates with your ideal reader but also has the potential for commercial success.

Verifying That You Can Solve the Problem You’re Addressing

One of the most important factors in creating a successful coaching book is ensuring that you have the expertise and experience to solve the problem you’re addressing. Your ideal reader is looking for a guide who can lead them through their challenges and help them achieve their desired outcomes.

To verify that you’re equipped to solve the problem, consider:

• Your personal experience overcoming the challenge
• Your professional background and qualifications
• Case studies or success stories of clients you’ve helped
• Research and insights you’ve gathered on the topic

By demonstrating your credibility and ability to provide effective solutions, you’ll build trust with your ideal reader and position your book as a valuable resource.

Confirming That Your Ideal Reader is a Reachable Market

Another key criterion for your coaching book is ensuring that your ideal reader represents a reachable market. This means that there are enough potential readers who are actively seeking solutions to the problem your book addresses.

To confirm that your ideal reader is a reachable market, consider:

• The size of your target audience
• The demand for resources and solutions related to your book’s topic
• The competition in your niche and how your book differentiates itself
• Your ability to reach and engage with your ideal reader through marketing and promotion

By verifying that there is a viable market for your coaching book, you’ll increase your chances of success and ensure that your message reaches the people who need it most.

Ensuring That Your Ideal Reader Would Invest in Your Solution

Finally, it’s essential to ensure that your ideal reader would be willing to invest in the solution your coaching book provides. This means that the problem your book addresses is significant enough that your target audience is motivated to seek out and pay for resources that can help them overcome it.

To determine whether your ideal reader would invest in your solution, consider:

• The severity and urgency of the problem your book addresses
• The potential benefits and transformations your book offers
• The perceived value of your unique approach or methodology
• The price point and format of your book (e.g., paperback, e-book, audiobook)

By ensuring that your coaching book provides a solution that your ideal reader would invest in, you’ll create a product that not only makes a positive impact but also has the potential for financial success.

Remember, meeting these key criteria is essential for creating a coaching book that resonates with your ideal reader and stands out in your niche. By verifying your expertise, confirming your market’s reachability, and ensuring your solution’s value, you’ll lay the foundation for a successful and impactful book that transforms lives and establishes you as a trusted authority in your field.

Defining the Dream Outcome

When writing a coaching book, it’s essential to have a clear vision of the transformation you want your readers to experience. Defining the dream outcome for your ideal reader is a crucial step in creating a book that inspires action and delivers tangible results.

Identifying Your Ideal Reader’s Desired Outcome

To define the dream outcome, start by identifying what your ideal reader ultimately wants to achieve by reading your book. This desired outcome should be directly related to the problem your book addresses and the solution you provide.

Consider questions like:

• What does success look like for your ideal reader?
• What specific changes or improvements do they hope to see in their lives?
• What would be the most meaningful transformation they could experience?
• How will their life be different after implementing your book’s strategies?

By clearly articulating your ideal reader’s desired outcome, you’ll create a compelling vision that motivates them to engage with your content and take action.

Keeping the Dream Outcome Specific and Manageable

When defining the dream outcome for your coaching book, it’s important to keep it specific and manageable. While it’s tempting to promise a grand, all-encompassing transformation, it’s more effective to focus on a specific, achievable result that your ideal reader can work towards.

Some tips for crafting a specific and manageable dream outcome:

• Break down the larger transformation into smaller, actionable milestones
• Focus on a single, primary benefit rather than trying to address multiple issues
• Make the outcome measurable and time-bound, so readers can track their progress
• Ensure that the outcome is realistic and achievable within the scope of your book

By defining a specific and manageable dream outcome, you’ll provide your readers with a clear target to aim for and a roadmap for success.

Aligning Your Book’s Content with the Dream Outcome

Once you’ve defined the dream outcome for your ideal reader, it’s crucial to ensure that your coaching book’s content aligns with this vision. Every chapter, section, and exercise should be purposefully designed to guide your reader towards their desired result.

To align your content with the dream outcome, consider:

• Structuring your book in a logical, progressive sequence that builds towards the outcome
• Providing practical, actionable strategies that directly address the problem and support the desired transformation
• Including case studies, examples, and exercises that reinforce key concepts and encourage implementation
• Regularly reminding readers of the dream outcome and how each section contributes to its achievement

By consistently aligning your book’s content with the dream outcome, you’ll create a cohesive and compelling resource that keeps your readers engaged and motivated from start to finish.

Remember, defining and aligning with the dream outcome is essential for creating a coaching book that delivers real value and makes a lasting impact. By identifying your ideal reader’s desired transformation, keeping it specific and manageable, and ensuring your content supports this vision, you’ll craft a book that not only informs but also inspires and empowers your readers to achieve their goals.

How Will You Make Money from Your Coaching Book?

Writing a coaching book that solves real problems is a powerful way to impact lives and establish yourself as an authority in your field. By understanding your ideal reader, selecting a problem-focused topic, crafting a compelling title and subtitle, developing a comprehensive reader profile, ensuring your book meets key criteria, and defining the dream outcome, you’ll create a book that resonates with your audience and delivers tangible results. We encourage you to implement these strategies as you embark on your own coaching book journey. Start by crafting your book’s outline, and if you need further guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at [Company Name].