Ally Machate is a publishing strategist, savvy business owner, and former Simon & Schuster editor with over 25+ years of industry experience, and she joins host Scott Ritzheimer on The Start, Scale, and Succeed podcast to discuss how founders and “solopreneurs” can leverage writing a book as a powerful business tool. In this episode, Ally shares ways to clarify your book’s purpose, target the ideal reader, avoid common pitfalls, and maximize your book’s impact far beyond book sales. Ally and Scott explore, with great detail, several key concepts behind writing the “right” book for your business:
1. The Importance of Starting with the Right Goal
Writing a book without a clear goal is a common and costly mistake: Many authors begin focused on passion and what they want to say, but success requires shifting to what the book must do for the business and who it must attract.
2. Defining the Ideal Reader and Business Alignment
The intended reader often mirrors the ideal client for your business, but not always! Deciding if your book is aimed at current clients, a new niche, or a different audience entirely depends on your business objectives.
3. Setting Smart Goals for Your Book
While any goal can be valid, some align better with a book’s strengths as a marketing tool.
4. Backward Engineering the Book from Your Goal
To ensure your book meets your business needs, start with the outcome and work backward.
5. Common Mistakes Beyond Goal-Setting
Even after goals are clear, many writers focus solely on creating a “good book” without considering marketability and alignment.
Ally also shares the biggest secret about business books, including a fundamental insight that most business owners miss: “Your job is not to sell books.”
If you’re an aspiring author interested in writing a book to grow your business, this episode is a wealth of information, insight, practical resources, and next steps! Want to hear more? We highly recommend giving this podcast a listen!
“Most Founders Write The Wrong Book with Ally Machate – Ep. 423”
The Start, Scale, and Succeed Podcast
Hosted by Scott Ritzheimer, founder of Scale Architects
August 25, 2026
Check it out! Listen on your favorite platform:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Scale Architects
Ready to move forward and boost your business with your book? Visit The Writer’s Ally for free tools, webinars, and the option to book a free book strategy call to clarify actionable goals and direction.
Ally Machate is on a mission to help authors make great books and reach more readers. A bestselling author and expert publishing consultant, Ally has served small and “Big Five” publishers, including Simon & Schuster, where she acquired and edited books on staff. Her clients include authors with such companies as Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Rodale Inc., Chronicle Books, Kaplan Publishing, Sourcebooks, and Hay House, as well as independently published bestsellers. As founder & CEO of The Writer’s Ally, Ally and her team lead serious authors to write, publish, and sell more high-quality books.
