Two business books are published on the same day. Six months later, one was collecting dust on bookstore shelves while the other had spawned a movement that transformed three industries. So what's the difference?
You can bet that the most convincing section of your book is not your writing, your bio, or even your great idea. But something much less sexy but much more potent: your research process.
Solid research is the foundation of any legitimate non-fiction book that professional book writing companies produce. Individuals are drawn to material that is supported by facts, expert opinions, and real-life examples. Books with unproven statements lose the trust of readers quickly, whereas research-driven books establish your author platform building and position you as a thought leader who individuals want to follow.
Why Research Matters More Than You Think
Research turns your book into valued expertise from personal opinions. Considered research provides depth that casual readers appreciate and professionals in the field respect.
When business leaders and executives read your book, they immediately distinguish between surface-level content and content that has come from in-depth research. The quality of your research directly impacts your industry expertise and the level of seriousness with which people consider your ideas, establishing you as a business authority.
Through careful examination of market trends, authors like Jim Collins spent five years researching companies for Good to Great, resulting in a book that has sold over four million copies and continues to influence business strategy worldwide.
Start With Primary Sources
Nothing builds credibility faster than firsthand information. Primary sources give unfiltered views uninterpreted by several meanings. It is an original document, record, or firsthand account created at the time of an event or by someone with direct experience, such as diaries, letters, photographs, interviews, or official records. Original documents, survey data you've collected, and your own work experiences are also primary sources that provide a stronger foundation for your book.
So, seek out interviews with subject matter experts who bring specialized knowledge to your topic. Their direct quotes and insights carry significant weight. Personal stories from people with relevant experiences add authenticity that resonates with readers.
For example, in studying leadership principles, interviewing CEOs who have steered their companies through market meltdowns offers insights that cannot be rivaled by generic business theory.
Now, primary sources provide firsthand perspective, and an additional layer of research adds scholarly weight.
Balance Secondary Research Strategically
Below that is another level of research sophistication. Peer-reviewed research in academic journals brings your content above the level of opinion. Books by established experts offer helpful background and context. Industry reports identify contemporary trends and forecasts that help make your information up-to-date.
The trick lies not in accumulating massive amounts of secondary research but in selecting high-quality sources that directly support your key arguments. Five impeccable sources outweigh fifty questionable references.
Malcolm Gladwell's approach in Outliers demonstrates this principle perfectly. He refers to fewer studies than most scholarly books but chooses work that exactly supports his arguments on factors of success, making his arguments more credible instead of inundating readers with irrelevant information. Impressive references are useless without this fundamental verification process, nonetheless.
However, impressive references mean nothing without this essential verification process.
Verify Everything Twice
Ever put down a nonfiction book because of a glaring mistake? You’re not alone—a 2023 Pew Research study found that 62% of readers do the same. Pulitzer Prize winner Taylor Branch made accuracy a priority, with his team investing over 2,000 hours in fact-checking America in the King Years—and in the end, only three minor corrections were made in the entire trilogy.
That is why fact-checking distinguishes amateur writers from professionals. Every statistic, quotation, date, and assertion must be checked with more than one source.
This verification process sometimes uncovers surprising contradictions that lead to deeper insights. What initially seemed straightforward might reveal complexities worth exploring further.
Thus, create a specialized fact-checking mechanism that tracks every piece of information and its sources. This framework proves highly valuable in editing and protects your reputation from potential controversies.
After you've made sure your work is checked, it's essential to consider that intellectual honesty requires addressing ideas that are contrary to your thesis. Confirmation bias undermines credibility more quickly than facts of error ever would.
Address Opposing Viewpoints
A smart author knows that genuine depth comes from dealing with both the evidence and the opposing side. Why? Publications that acknowledge and meaningfully react to differing viewpoints gain credibility overnight. It demonstrates intellectual honesty that readers appreciate.
Rather than ignoring opposing views, confront them directly. Explain why opposing views are held, what merit they have, and why your position is still better despite these valid counterarguments.
This balanced method, often recommended by the best book editors and professional book editing services, sets your writing apart from biased presentations that leave readers to guess what facts might have been conveniently omitted.
Think about how Adam Grant in Think Again writes whole chapters examining viewpoints that are opposed to his own views—this openness to opposing viewpoints makes his larger arguments on intellectual humility more, not less, compelling.
Having covered all angles, keep in mind that subject expert knowledge picks up technical mistakes general editors overlook.
Get Expert Reviews
Presenting your work for professional book editing and expert review provides an additional layer of credibility for self-publishing a book successfully. Invite subject matter experts to review portions of your manuscript before publication. Their feedback uncovers blind spots in your research and enables you to tighten up weak areas.
Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens underwent review by 14 subject matter experts prior to publication. This intense review process detected 37 potential factual flaws and made 23 major arguments stronger. The book later sold more than 16 million copies and was translated into 60 languages.
This is the reason why you must always incorporate short testimonials from these reviewers wherever relevant.Do so by inserting a short acknowledgment in the foreword, placing expert quotations on the back cover or interior matter, or using their recommendations within your marketing material to lend credibility to your book.
All this in mind, there remains one further activity to consider in building your book's credibility. As a matter of fact, finished manuscripts have one eternal enemy: quickly changing information.
Stay Current Until Publication
Despite thorough initial work, time creates new challenges for writers. Research does not conclude with your first draft. The publication timeline typically takes months, and during that period, new developments might take place.
Be ready to update your research on a regular basis during the writing and editing process. Continuous dedication guarantees your book has the most current information available by the time it gets to readers.
For textbooks on fast-changing subjects such as technology or medicine, think about including a cut-off date for significant updates and announcing this in your introduction so that readers are aware of the period of your research.
Applied throughout, these techniques turn information-only books into authoritative resources
Conclusion
What separates a forgotten book from an industry-shaking bestseller usually boils down to a single factor: the quality of research. This one factor influences everything from the trust of readers to television and radio appearances to speaking in public.
Careful research separates books with a temporary shelf life from books that are definitive references in their niche. Quality research investment returns dividends in the form of increased credibility, loyalty of readers, and peer respect.
Remember that research serves your readers by providing them with substantial information they can utilize confidently. If you approach research with this service-oriented mindset, your book isn't just credible but of genuine worth.
Are you prepared to make your book go from good to authoritative? Begin by measuring your existing research strategy against these principles, then integrate the practices that will best suit your particular project.
Need assistance with making your expertise a bestseller? Authors On Mission offers professional book writing services and book marketing services, specializing in converting thought leaders' expertise into compelling published books that strengthen your author credibility and deliver tangible business outcomes. Contact us today to discover how our team can assist you in developing a book that positions you as a thought leader in your industry.
