If you are a small business owner and trying to pave a path to your door for your customers to follow in getting to know you better and do business with you, then the one thing you should prioritize above everything else is writing a book.

That’s right. Writing and publishing a book will give you instant credibility. Here’s why.

When people hold something tangible in their hands, they know it’s real. When you have your name on the cover of a book, you become an instant authority. Remember, the first half of “authority” is “author.”

So become an author.

It’s not easy. In fact, it’s easier said than done. But it can be done. By writing a book on your topic and offering it for sale on your blog or website, you tell your prospects and your customers that you are a person who knows your business. You are an expert.

So what’s it take to be a published author? It’s easier than you think. You first have to write a book. Then you can spend a couple of hundred dollars to have your first 50 or 100 books published through one of many Publish On Demand publishers on the Internet (be sure to do your homework and find a reputable publisher). Then you start marketing.

If you want instant credibility, write a book. Put the authority in author.