The fact is, now is the perfect time to write an ebook. What the publishing industry needs are people who can break through in today's world—innovative thinkers who can leap into the new millennium and figure out how to solve old problems in new ways. E-books are a new and powerful tool for original thinkers with fresh ideas to spread information to millions of people who are trying to find
how to do lots of different things.
Let's say you already have a brilliant idea and the knowledge to back it up, allowing you to write an exceptional ebook. Maybe you're sitting at your computer staring at a blank screen and wondering, "Why?" Why should I go through all the trouble of writing my e-book when it's so impossible to publish anything these days?
Let me assure you that publishing an e-book is completely different than publishing a book in print. Let's look at the specifics of how the print and cyber publishing industries differ, and the many reasons why you should venture out and get your fingers tapping those keyboards!
Submitting a print book to conventional publishers or agents is akin to wearing a hair shirt 24/7. No matter how good your book actually is, or how many reviewers and mentors have told you that "you've got what it takes," your submitted manuscript keeps coming back to you like a boomerang instead of a valuable mine. information.
Maybe you've tried self-publishing out of desperation and discovered how expensive a venture it can be. Most "vanity presses" require a minimum print run of at least 500 copies, and even that amount will cost you thousands of dollars. The minimum run of some presses starts at 1,000 to 2,000 copies. And that's just for printing and binding. Add in the costs of distribution, shipping and promotion and – well, do the math. Even if you wanted to go that route, you might not have the kind of money to risk.
Let's say you already have an online store with a quality website and a quality product. An eBook is one of the most effective ways to promote your business while educating people with the knowledge you already have as a business owner about a particular product or service.
For example, let's say you've spent the last twenty-five years growing and training bonsai and now you're ready to share your knowledge and experience. An e-book is the perfect way to reach the largest audience of bonsai enthusiasts.
Ebooks won't just promote your business – they'll help you make a name for yourself and your company and establish you as an expert in your field. You might even find you have enough to say to warrant an e-book series. Specific businesses are complicated and often require breaking down different aspects to give the reader the whole story.
Maybe your goals are better aligned when it comes to the ebook scene. You may want to build an entire business around writing and publishing ebooks. Basically you want to start an e-business. You are thinking of setting up a website to promote and sell your e-books. Maybe you're even thinking about producing an ezine.
One of the most common reasons people read e-books is to find information on how to turn their internet business into a profit machine. And these people look to ebook authors to give them new ideas and strategies because ebook authors are usually people who understand the new cyberspace world we live in now. Ebook authors are experts in internet marketing campaigns and e-book promotion and distribution strategies. The cyberspace community needs their e-books to be successful so more and more e-books can be written.
You may want to create affiliate programs to sell your e-book as well. Affiliates can be people or businesses around the world who will all work to sell your eBooks. Think about it? Do you see a pattern of success here?
Figure out what your subject is and then narrow it down. Your goal is to focus on specificity. Research what already exists and try to find a void that your e-book could fill.
What about an ebook on the wedding cake business? Or an ebook about caring for old pets? How about the finer points of collecting ancient pottery?
You don't have to have three master's degrees to write about your subject. People need advice that is easy to read and easy to understand. Parents need advice on how to deal with their teenagers. College students need to learn good study skills—fast. The possibilities are endless.
After writing the e-book
Once you've finished writing an e-book, you'll focus on it, just like you do with printed books. People will hesitate to buy any book by an author they have never heard of. No?
The answer is simple: put it away! You will see profits in the form of promoting your own business and getting your name out there. You will find affiliates who will ask you to put their links in your ebook and those affiliates will in turn go out and get your name out there. Almost every famous ebook author started this way.
Another powerful tool to attract people to your eBook is to make it interactive. Come up with something for them to do in the book other than just create pages that contain static text. Have your readers complete quizzes, forms, even crossword puzzles designed to test their knowledge on a specific topic. Get your readers to click on a link that allows them to recommend your book to their friends and colleagues.
Or include an actual order form so they can eagerly buy your product at the end of their reader journey.
When people interact with books, they become part of the book's world. This fact is as true for printed books as it is for e-books.
This is why e-books are so important. Not only do they provide a forum where people can learn and understand their own ideas, but they can also serve to promote your business.
You must be logged in to post a comment.