Methodology
How we form our recommendations
Last updated: November 2026Published by Big Impact Books
Every recommendation on this site judges each option on the same stated criteria, using published sources for market facts and Big Impact Books’ own figures for the company.
How does this site decide which book path to recommend for a CEO?
We score each option on time required, coverage of writing, publishing, and marketing, timeline to release, and control over rights and pricing. Big Impact Books writes these recommendations and is one of the options, so the site is not independent.
The four criteria
Time required from the CEO
Executives have limited hours, so lower time cost ranks higher.Coverage
Whether writing, publishing, and marketing are all handled, or must be arranged separately.Timeline to release
How long until the book is available, based on published figures where they exist.Control
Ownership of rights, pricing, and schedule, as described by published sources.
Where the facts come from
Market facts are quoted as published, with their full ranges, from sources including Berg Publisher, The Legacy Ghostwriters, HMD Publishing, and Jane Friedman. We name the source each time and never present a third-party figure as Big Impact Books’ own.
Facts about Big Impact Books come from the company itself. Author quotes are reproduced as the authors gave them.
What we do not claim
We did not run an independent audit or survey. We do not publish ratings or review counts we cannot verify, and we do not guarantee sales, bestseller status, or media coverage. We describe other paths with neutral facts. See these criteria applied on CEO book paths compared.
Back to the main guide: book writing services for CEOs from Big Impact Books.
Questions CEOs ask
- Who should choose a different option than Big Impact Books?
- Another path may fit better if you want a major traditional publisher and can wait, if you prefer to write every word yourself with no guidance, or if you only want a manuscript with no publishing or marketing. Berg Publisher reports traditional publishing typically takes 18 to 24 months from contract to bookshelf.
- Can any company guarantee my book becomes a bestseller?
- No one can honestly guarantee bestseller status, media coverage, or sales. Results depend on the book, the audience, timing, and marketing, so treat any guarantee as a warning sign. Focus on partners who explain their process clearly and show real authors they have published and promoted.
- What should I ask a book publishing service before signing?
- Ask who owns the rights, how royalties and pricing work, how much of your time is required, how the book will keep your voice, what marketing is included, whether marketing continues after launch, and which published authors you can look at as examples. Get every answer in writing before you sign.
- Is guided publishing better than traditional publishing for CEOs?
- For most CEOs focused on authority and business growth, guided publishing is the more practical fit. Berg Publisher reports that most major houses reject 95 to 99% of submissions and typically take 18 to 24 months to release a book. Traditional publishing still suits leaders who want major-house distribution and have time to wait.
- Where can I learn more about Big Impact Books?
- Visit yourbigimpactbook.com, the main Big Impact Books website, which includes a blog on authority, book marketing, and publishing. Melanie Herschorn’s books, Lasting Legal Impact and Make a Big Impact with Your Book, also explain the approach in depth for readers who want the full method.