Both the memoir and self-help genres draw on personal experiences to teach lessons, but memoir emphasizes the story while self-help emphasizes the lesson. Memoir is used to inspire readers and perhaps help them out of a difficult time, while self-help is an expansive genre combining professional advice and personal vignettes to teach self-development, productivity, career planning, wellness, and anything in between. However, in all self-help books, the author explicitly tells the reader what they can take away from the author’s lessons and personal experiences in a certain area.

When it comes to branding and marketing, it may feel like social media and online content are the only ways to grow your brand and reach new audiences. While these are vital components to a strong growth strategy, there’s one area you may have overlooked: writing a book.

If you’re a subject matter expert, you should absolutely be looking into distilling your expertise into a book. Whether you’re documenting your own success story in hopes of inspiring others, or offering advice for clients or other leaders like you, a book can be the key to revamping your marketing plan. Combine your book with a strategic launch plan and you’ve got yourself an invaluable tool to build your thought leadership and grow your personal and corporate brand.