|
Ebooks By: Wendy Wallace Books are written to share our knowledge and our experiences. And readers are hungry for information us writers have to give them. If you have an idea for a book, no longer do you have to endure the grueling task of finding a publisher. You can publish your work yourself in the form of an ebook. By putting your copywriting skills to work and knowing a bit about ebook design, you could have an ebook ready to market and sell to the world within a very short period of time. "Few projects are more self-satisfying for me than creating my own ‘product’," says freelance writer Bonnie Lowe. "I enjoy doing the research almost as much as the writing itself." I always learn something new. Plus, it’s both challenging and rewarding to be completely responsible for the success (or failure) of the end result." Shortly after enrolling in the AWAI copywriting course, Bonnie attended a seminar at which she learned about ebooks for the first time. After doing some research, she discovered many people were writing and selling ebooks--and making a successful living at it. Shortly after, she began writing and selling her own ebooks. "As a writer, I knew this was something I would enjoy doing, and figured it tied in nicely with my copywriting pursuits. I could use my new copywriting skills to sell my own book, and could market my services to other ebook/information product authors," she said. Writer April Morelock, also an AWAI copywriting student, thought she'd try her hand at writing and publishing ebooks while using her own sales copy to sell them. She discovered, "It's was really easy to do and a lot of fun." "You can determine what needs written, how you want it to look," April said. "Try out your own unique creative juices. And you don't have to worry if ‘they'll like it’. If you like it and it gets the information to the reader that's what is important." Finding a subject for your ebook Once you've decided exploring this new medium is something you'd like to do, the next step is to determine what you would like your ebook to be about. Should you write about something you are interested in? Or is it better do some research and find out what information consumers have, and are, willing to pay for? "The best solution would be to find a subject that fits both, of course," advises Bonnie Lowe. "But I think it depends on the writer and his/her specific goals for writing the ebook. Are they interested in expressing their opinions, teaching others how to do something, earning money from the sales, or all of those? If you’re primary goal is to earn money, find a ‘starving crowd’ (readers who are currently searching for information about a specific subject). But you can start out with your own personal interest." Ebook author John Cole suggests sticking to what you know. "Write about what you know; everybody is an expert on something. It’s just a matter of discovering what you’re good at, a subject that only you can write about. My two ebooks, one on SAT Prep and one on speedreading, came from a love of reading and a teaching background." Says Cole, "If you enjoy doing something very much and are able to ‘carry on a conversation’ with your reader, that’s what good ebook writing is really all about." When creating her ebooks, Bonnie Lowe took a methodical approach. First, she made a list of all the things she was interested in and had knowledge of. Then, she did research to determine if any of the ideas on her list met the following criteria: -People were actively looking for information on that subject. -People who were looking would likely be willing and able to pay for that information. -The demand for this information is not already met (or exceeded) by the supply of competitor’s ebooks already on the market. "If topics you are personally interested in do not meet all three, pick other topics that do. It may not be as much fun to write about something you’re not passionate about, but you’ll get over it when the money starts coming in," Bonnie said. There is one universal rule when it comes to choosing a subject for an ebook: be specific. John Cole emphasizes the importance of honing in on a subject. "Specific focus is the key. People today don’t want to waste time with extraneous information. They want to find out what’s going to help them with their particular problem or answer their question as quickly as possible." Bonnie Lowe agrees. "The more specific the topic, the easier it is to write about your readers’ specific needs, and then find and market effectively to them." She goes on to say, "This is especially true of ebooks because of the way they are marketed on the Internet. The way the target audience finds them is mainly through searching for specific keywords and phrases. For example, writers interested in becoming copywriters would be much more likely to search for information on “how to become a copywriter” (very specific) versus “how to write” (too broad). Also, there’s often less competition for very specific topics." Creating a quality ebook For many writers, the opportunity to create their own product--to make their vision come to life--without any restrictions from an editor or publisher truly is a dream come true. And while ebooks do allow a writer to have unlimited freedom, creating a high-quality product is an essential consideration. "Make (readers) feel like their money is well spent and that you really gave them information that is special, unique or life-altering," says April Morelock. Here is a list of suggestions both April and Bonnie offer to create a high-quality ebook: -Useful content. While your ebook doesn't have to be filled with unique information, do take the time to thoroughly research your topic and create, not just a book, but a valuable resource for the reader. -Put in the extra effort into making sure your ebook is well-written—checking spelling, grammar and sentence structure. -Ensure the information is not outdated. -Avoid rehashing information that has previously been written in excess and will be of no real use to the reader. -Write it in the style that best fits your target audience. Write as if you’re chatting to someone in person, versus writing to impress with your language skills. -Think and create beyond the traditional paper book model. Besides filling the ebooks with text, make it more useful by providing active links to additional resources, surveys, related products, etc. -Keep your ebook current and update it often. -Consider including audio and video components to make the ebook exciting and interesting. -Pay attention to design. Study other ebooks to get ideas on how to divide up blocks of text, how and what kind of graphics to include and, generally, how to make the book look pleasing to the eye. -If you want to build a business and not just make a fast buck, emphasize quality in all aspects of what you do. Marketing your ebook While there are many ways a writer can market their ebook, one of the best, and most effective, is the use of a sales letter. Use the traditional copywriting techniques you have learned to sell your own product. Bonnie Lowe explains why. "Because someone can’t thumb through your book and read portions here and there to see if it’s what they need, a long sales letter is needed to convince them." She also emphasizes the importance of testimonials and says offering a money-back guarantee is essential. Offer your well-written sales letter on a Web site with a simple design. Include pay-per-click advertising such as Google Adwords. Find affiliates to help sell your book. Also, join mailing lists, message boards and discussion groups. As with any Internet marketing campaign, know your target audience and find out where, on the Web, they go to seek out information on the subject you have written about. Conclusion "I think ebooks will be around for a long time and their future is bright, but they may morph into multimedia products that include audio and video as well as text and graphics. Authors who can master those additional aspects will be ahead of the game," said Bonnie Lowe. While ebooks probably won't replace traditional books, they do offer endless possibilities for any writer. Being simple and cheap to produce, ebooks can potentially take your writing, and your writing career, to a new level of personal fulfillment and financial success. Resources: Lluminia Press: http://www.llumina.com/ebooks.htm Joe Vitale: http://www.mrfire.com/7dayebook.html April Morelock: Bonnie Lowe: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com/
|