The 5 Essential Sections In a Short Business Book
A Short Business Book's 5 Essential Sections
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If youâve read any of my short business books, like The 100-Page Book or The Magic of Short Books, or listened to my podcast, you know I've developed a unique brand of short business books for business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders.
They are called shooks, which stands for short helpful books.
Shooks are my personal "recipe," crafted over years of experience, combining proven direct response marketing principles with how to organize a business book and they are  the perfect lead magnet for business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders.
While there are many unique characteristics of a shook, one of the most important is its content structure.
Creating a reader-friendly structure in your business book is not just a nice-to-haveâit's essential for engaging your audience and driving results.
A well-organized business book guides the reader smoothly through your content, making it easy for them to absorb and understand your key messages.
By strategically designing the sections of a business book to build on the previous one, you ensure that readers stay hooked from cover to cover.
This thoughtful structure not only enhances their reading experience but also naturally leads them to the conclusion that working with you is a smart choice.
When readers feel informed, valued, and clear on the next steps, they are more likely to act and seek out your expertise.
A reader-friendly structure transforms your business book into a powerful tool that educates, builds trust, and converts readers into loyal clients.
How to Organize a Short Business Book
Here is a brief, but helpful description of each of the 5 essential sections of a business book. To further illustrate these various sections, I am including screenshots from my client, Dr. Ashley Lucasâ shook, 5 Steps to Reset the Scale.
Short Business Book Cover Content
This is the content on the front, back, and spine of your short business book and consists of things like an attention-grabbing pre-title, title, and sub-title, plus a back cover description. Read this article for more details and examples.
Short Business Book Front Matter Content
This content includes all the content and chapters that precede your main subject matter of your short business book. I recommend all my clients include a Reader Bonus offer, a âWho Should Read This Book?â chapter, a âMy Promise to Youâ chapter, and finally an Introduction. Optionally, you may want to consider having a Foreword. You can get more details by reading this article.
Short Business Book Main Matter Content
This is your short business bookâs primary content and focuses on all the important topics you want to cover in your book. In a shook, I typically recommend 5-7 chapters that are about 1,000-1,500 words each. You can get more details by reading this article.
Short Business Book Bridge Content
This is unique to my âshook recipeâ and itâs the transition section of a short business book from âhelpful informationâ to âpositioning you and your business. There are three chapters I recommend, including a âWho Relies on Me/Usâ chapter, a âSpecial Sauceâ chapter, and âThe Next Stepâ chapter. You can read more here.
Short Business Book Back Matter Content
This section is at the end of your short business book and may include your biography, frequently asked question chapter, glossary of important terms, and a Reader Bonus reminder offer.
Use These 5 Essential Sections for Your Short Business Book
By following this proven short business book structure, youâll create a lead magnet book that not only informs but also drives action.
A well-organized and well-written business book is a powerful tool to establish authority, generate leads, and grow your business.
Remember, your goal is to provide value, build trust, and guide readers toward the next step with you. Whether you're writing your first short business book or looking to enhance your current one, these five essential sections will ensure your business book is a high-impact marketing asset.
If you want more details and examples, check out my books The 100-Page Book and The Magic of Short Books. These resources will give you a deeper understanding of how to craft and leverage your business book effectively.