Ebooks - Promotional Powerhouses

E-Books and Marketing 

Why E-Books?

• Ebooks are fairly easy to produce, and their production cost is inexpensive. Just think about it: you don't need a publisher, an agent, a printing press, offset film, ink, paper, or even a distributor. You just need a great concept, the ability to write it or to hire a writer, and the right software.
• Additionally, ebooks are easily and rapidly distributed online. They are also easily updated; they do not require a second print run. All you need is to go into your original creation and modify the text or graphics. Because of this flexibility, ebooks can change and grow as fast as you can type.
• Ebooks are also immediately obtainable. You don't have to go to a bookstore or search through endless titles at an online bookstore. All you have to do is download it from a website, and presto! It's on your computer, ready to be read.
• Ebooks are interactive. This is one of the most unique and specific qualities that ebooks offer. You can add surveys that need to be filled out, order forms for customers to purchase your products or goods, sound and video that draw your reader into the virtual world of your ebook, even direct links to relevant sites that will expand your ebook outward. The potential is virtually limitless.
• Ebooks have a particular kind of permanence that other mediums do not possess. Television shows and radio shows air once, and then may rerun a few times. Ebooks remain on your computer for as long as you choose, and they can be read and reread whenever you choose to. They can even be printed out and stored on the shelves of your traditional home library.
• Another wonderful quality is that ebooks have no barriers in terms of publishing. You don't need to go through the endless process of submitting your manuscript over and over again, and then once you land an agent, having the agent submit your manuscript over and over again. Nor do you have to shell out thousands of dollars for printing a self-published book. All ebooks require is a writer and appropriate software. Figure out your market, write your book, post it on your website, and with the right business savvy, your audience will come to you.
• Finally, you have creative control over your ebook. You don't have to compromise with an editor or the publishing trends of the time. You don't have to haggle with a designer or wait for copyedited galleys to arrive by snail mail. You are in complete control of the design and the text.

Why E-Books Are The Most Overlooked Path To Online Prosperity 

1. Myth #1 - It takes a lot of money to promote an ebook. Fact: It doesn't. Despite what anyone says to the contrary, online information publishing is still the fastest, cheapest and easiest way for the "little" guy to earn a nice living online with virtually no risk and very little money (less than $100).
2. Myth #2: You have to be a writer to make money with ebooks. Fact: You don't have to be a "writer" in order to create a best selling ebook - and it often helps if you're not!

5 Sizzling Tips to Create a Winning E-book 

• 1. The Easy Way
  
  No matter what advice I might offer, there are some of you out there that just don't want to write. The best thing to do is to find people that have already written a quality e-book and will offer you a resale license or agreement. Sometimes it is free if you buy the book which is what I do. And others charge a small fee for the complete resale rights. All in all, for most e-books out there, you can buy them for under $100 with resale rights. A business is born. Try and look for newer e-books and those that would be interesting to you. E-books that make the most amount of money teach you how to avoid pain or how to gain pleasure.
• 2. Another Great Idea
  
  Go to the top article directories and search for articles in your subject of interest. For example, if you wanted to write a book that helps people save money on their taxes, go to several article directories and look up what articles have been written on that subject matter. If you see twenty great tips that can save people up to $1000 a year or more, you could compile a report that says something like "20 Tax Saving Strategies You Can't Afford to Miss." Of course, you can't use these articles word for word because that is illegal but you can write down your own thoughts and ideas about each of the tips and re-write them in your own words. Now you can market this on the internet and sell it for $39.95. Do you think some reasonable portion of the 265 million people that live in the USA are interested in tax savings? You bet!
• 3. The Born Writer
  
  Some years ago, Reader's Digest reported that some 70% of people acknowledge they had a book inside of them they wanted to write one day. Most of us have something we want to share but many times just don't know where to get started or feel overwhelmed by writing a whole book. This is where e-books can be fun. Most e-books are about 50 pages long with 12pt type and paragraphs double spaced. They really aren't that long. If you break your e-book down into tips or ideas, it is easier to write. For instance, if you generated 50 tips, you would have one page per tip. That's not so daunting! And, for heaven's sake, write when you feel like writing. I have found that I can write twice as much when I feel inspired. And the quality is oh so much better!
• 4. What's Hot?
  
  If you are at a loss of what to write about, go to Amazon.com and find out what the best sellers are. They are a wonderful resource for anyone. Let's say your interest is in the top weight loss programs. Order the 3 best selling books, read them and then write your own e-book. If it is a subject matter you are interested in, you'll breeze through the books and have lots of ideas and comments. Even if your interests don't seem like you would have much of an audience, you might be surprised to find out otherwise. Going to Overture and typing in your keyword is always helpful. For most subjects there are thousands if not millions of people that want to know more. If you can provide them with quality information, they will buy from you.
• 5. Teach What you Know
  
  Most of us have some kind of a specialty but don't recognize our talents. "No talent lies latent." It could be anything from raising a difficult child to coaching basketball. Or it could be related to a job you have held whether it is a mechanic for sports cars or a software developer. Your e-book could simply be teaching someone how to do it better. Or maybe it is how to save time, or money or enjoy life more or to live healthier. People want better lives and if you show them some solutions, you'll sell your e-book. Remember, your e-book doesn't and shouldn't be a novel. Break things down into steps or ideas and the writing will go smoother.
  
  I hope these 5 simple tips have ignited the fire in your brain and inspired you to write that e-book. A business opportunity will be born.
  
  Jan Peterson founder of Over 400 free reports on business opportunities. e-book with resale rights available.

WRITING is a POWERFUL TOOL. It is the DOING part of THINKING. 

1. The first step in the process is to have an IDEA for a book. There are few of us who haven't said to ourselves at one time or another, "Some day I'd like to write a book about ?" or "I wish someone would have provided me with information about ____ when I was first starting out." or "Now that I've reached this point in my career (hobby, role, interest,?) I'd like to share my experiences with others." Whatever you choose as a topic for your first eBook in particular, choose something about which you already are a self-proclaimed 'expert'! And something about which you are passionate.
2. The second step in the process is to spend some time in REFLECTION . This is a step that goes hand in hand with the first step. You've already thought about such things as why you would want to write an eBook; what benefits writing an eBook would give to you, the author, and your readers; who would benefit most from the sharing of your experience and expertise; when would be a good time to begin the process; where you might find an audience for your eBook; how you would get your eBook to those people who would most benefit from it. At this step, share your idea of authoring an eBook and the chosen topic with as many people as possible to get their feedback. Be a risk-taker! In essence, at this stage you are working towards the third step.
3. The COMMITMENT step is the first really important one, the step that separates the dreamers from the doers; the step that embraces change for personal and professional gain; the step that says you are willing to acquire the attitudes; skills, and knowledge to become not only a published author but a successful one as well; the step that moves you into an adventure that will assure you that you will never be the same person again. This is the most exciting step along the way!
4. The fourth step is called the BIG PICTURE step since it is here that you call upon both your realistic and your fanciful self to envision the final product. Imagine your eBook cover published on a web site, your eBook being read by others, your professional and personal pride in your accomplishment, your exhilaration at earning money as an author (if you choose to sell your eBook), your "dream come true"! At this step you must also make decisions involving such big picture ideas as: the scope of your eBook, the number of eBooks in the series if more than one eBook is required, the topic or topics to be covered, the background information you already possess or need to acquire, the people who can act as mentors?
5. After the big picture ideas have been dealt with, the fifth step is the choice of how the eBook information is to be CHUNKED. By chunking we mean breaking the general topic into manageable and palatable parts for the learner who acquires your eBook. This depends entirely upon the content of your eBook and the method(s) you see as best to present the material based on your knowledge of the topic. This can range from the simplest format of chapters to question and answer format to case studies to worksheets to theory and practice applications to problems and solutions to how to books to journals of discovery to?
6. Step six is the step we all associate with authoring an eBook - the WRITING! In reality, this step is merely one of the 10! It is often the most enjoyable because you are writing about a topic about which you have a passion as well as skills, attitudes, and knowledge you wish to share with others. Your personal and professional experiences will make this step a most enjoyable one. Write in an informal manner with impassioned emotion. Write like you mean it! This type of writing is as far from a thesis as you can get - a beauty of eBooks! Use a friendly letter style and talk to your reader much like you would do in a conversation. Although this step may be the most enjoyable, it does require a myriad of decisions by you, the author. You must consider such things as font size and style, spacing on the pages, header and footer considerations, word processing software to use, the length of the eBook, research that needs to be done, links to the web you are going to use, material you must gather together, compiling method for publishing,? plus many others. This is a lengthy list, but manageablewhen you are prepared for it.
7. The EDITING step, the seventh, is by far the most time consuming as any of you who have written before will attest. When your work is to be published you want it to be as perfect as possible in so many ways not just spelling and grammar. Such things as visual appeal and use of white space on the page, style of titles, table of contents, use of black line masters, resources and sources of information, ease of use? are also considerations. Make sure you have plenty of friends to help you with this step, likely the most time consuming step in the entire process.
8. PUBLISHING or COMPILING your eBook is step eight which is the step required to turn your book into an eBook! The quality of your eBook when it is presented to your audience in its final form depends on the quality of your editing in step seven. You may choose to have your eBook compiled in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language - .exe) or PDF (Portable Document Format - .pdf) or any of the other ways you can have it done to accommodate different reading devices. Your eBook must be made ready to be downloaded from the Internet on to a computer. You will have the choice of doing a little, none or as much work as you wish at this stage. Your decision will depend on the amount of personal time you wish to invest and the amount of money you wish to pay for the services needed. This cost is minimal regardless of the choice you make. Cost is not a deterrent to getting your eBook compiled.
9. Like in the previous step, MARKETING your eBook can be done with as much personal effort as you wish. It is important in step nine that you get your eBook to market! You can become your own marketer by creating a web site. Other web sites and professional agents or marketers are also available to do this job. The costs vary depending on the choice you make and there are many choices available to you. Again, cost is not a deterring factor here. For your own sake and the sake of your eBook, you should get involved in the marketing of your eBook as much as possible. After all, you have the most important investment of all in your eBook - your emotional involvement and you know the 'niche' market best for whom you wrote the eBook in the first place. In addition, you stand to gain personally and financially by increasing exposure of the eBook.
10. The absolute best step in the process which coincidentally is the "10" step, is CELEBRATING! You deserve a celebration for the final step in this literary and eCommerce adventure. You need to thank those dozens of others who contributed in ways big and small to your success. You should rejoice in the euphoria of accomplishing a dream! You should celebrate the fact that many people go through their entire lives without ever accomplishing what you had dreamed of accomplishing - becoming a published author!

3 Powerful Types of eBooks That You Can Sell Online 

• 1. Innovator. You have identified a tip, technique or strategy that will go one-step further (incremental innovation) or take a giant LEAP forward (radical innovation) than is currently available.
  
  To understand how to write and sell ebooks as the "innovator", you have a very good grasp of both what the prospector is really looking for and what currently exists in your marketplace.
• 2. Collector. The value in this type of information product is to collect sources of information from a wide variety of sources and distill it down to the "best of" or a compilation of strategies aimed at satisfying a given market demand.
• 3. Investigator. Yet another method of how to write and sell ebooks, the investigator seeks to discover and prove the value of a given approach.
  
  Discovery allows you to bring value by bringing to light little-known or "underground" secrets to solving specific problems.
  
  Proving the value of a given approach is also of high value in this age of skepticism and doubt. If you can provide case studies to support a given approach, you'll be bringing extra value to the market.
• Now, each of these approaches has its advantages and disadvantages.
  
  When most people think of how to write and sell ebooks, they think of being collectors, however adding an aspect of innovation is how you can really differentiate yourself in your market.
  
  Innovation allows you to claim ownership to solving an urgent and pressing problem for your market. Out of owership will come branding, and out of branding can come tremendous financial advantages.
  
  In your market, you can likely come up with a combination of innovative solutions, compilations of tips and ideas, and journalistic ideas such as key interview subjects or candidates.

Your e-Book - 7 Best Reasons to Create Your First e-Book 

Article by: Jeff Herring

• 1) Speed to market - One of the biggest problems with regular books in the book store is that you have to get the book in the bookstore (a publisher or distribution house) and then you have to get the book out of the bookstore (people buying your book).
  
  This process from conception of idea to sale of your book can take years. With an e-Book the process from conception to sale can be done in days.
• 2) Ratio of cost to profit - You can spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars getting your book published. Then you may get
  
  $1 - $2 profit a book. Once you have the necessary software, the only thing that creating an e-book will cost you is time and effort. Because you are selling information in the form of electrons over the internet, you get all the profit.
• 3) An e-book increases your "expert-ability" - The written word creates credibilty and expert status. Once you have written just one small e-book, you can include "Author of...................." for the rest of your career and life.
• 4) An e-book is a "gem" of a prospect generator - At BuildingYourIdealPractice.com they teach, in the Get Clients - Full Practice Training tele-classes, the importance of having a gem to offer prospects. A free e-book can become your signature call to action
  
  (your main gem) that encourages prospects will give you their contact information in order to receive your information.
• 5) It's simple when you know how - and easy to learn. Once you know the simple steps, you can do it as many times as you want. You may have heard me say before that "if you can write a 7 - 10 item grocery list, you can write an article." It's true.
  
  Here is what an e-book is, boiled down to the basics - write 7 tips in your area of expertise - take a tip and add some meat to it with explanation, example, story and application - do this for all 7 tips and you have a 7 chapter e-book, just add an introduction and conclusion.
• 6) An e-book never sleeps - Because an e-book is sold and delivered on the internet, you have a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
  
  worldwide product. And as if that is not enough, when you include other ways to contact you, engage you, and spend money
  
  with you, you then have a 24/7 international salesperson that never sleeps.
• 7) Massive leverage - Here are just a few of the products you can turn an e-book into - a CD package, an audio on your website, small articles on your website and newsletter, and other peoples websites and newsletters, an e-program, a workbook in a home study course, etc. And that's just the beginning.
  
  *Practice building mentor coach Jeff Herring, MS, LMFT is the President of BuildingYourIdealPractice.com, empowering private practice professionals to build, market and live the practice of their dreams. You are invited to subscribe to the free Getting Clients Newsletter and our free monthly Practice Building Tele-Seminar.

The Advantages Of Being An E-Book Writer Or Publisher 

Article by: Younes Boutriq

• * The complete work control is established. You are your own boss and there is no one to report to. You decide what to write and when to write it.
• * You profit 100% from every sale you made. You do not have an intermediate publisher as in the traditional world to share your profits with.
• * There is no limit on the number of e-Books you can create. Once you know how nothing can stop you.
• * An e-book sells all the time - 24 x 7, even when you're sleeping or on a vacation. People can visit your web site to buy and download your e-Book almost instantly.
• * You've no hassles like inventory, packaging and shipping.
• * There are absolutely no start-up risks. Unlike any other products, an eBook can be produced inexpensively. It doesn't require expensive materials or equipment.
• * People will buy from you because they can have the information they are searching for within a minutes.
• * You can earn a living from your hobbies and interests.
• *You can start immediately, even in your spare time.
• * Your credibility online increases. Once you put your ideas and advices in an eBook for people to buy and read you're selling yourself as an expert they can trust and respect. When people trust you and respect you they are more likely to buy from you.
• * High profit potential. Customers perceive your ebook as being highly valuable so you can charge more for it than you might expect.
• * flexibility. You can use ebook for multiple purposes. For example you can offer it as free gift to entice customers to purchase from you.
• * Create long term profits. Fill your ebook with affiliates links, this encourages users of them to revisit and purchase others products that you sell. ebooks are great long term profit generators.
  
  *Younes Boutriq - the author of "The Insider Secrets Of eBook self Publishing": Discover how you can create hot selling ebook from scratch about any topic, without writing a word, in a record time, and watch your bank account explode - 100% GUARANTEED -eBook self Publishing

10 Excuses for NOT Authoring an E-Book! 

• Excuse # 1
  
  I crave anonymity. I like being the "unknown wannabe author". Who needs fame anyway! I'd rather be nameless and faceless in the crowd. I've never made a name for myself so why start now!
  
  Okay, whoever you are! This excuse speaks to several attitudes prevalent among those not seeing the true value of becoming a published author. Bringing positive attention to oneself doing something that others will appreciate is a powerful incentive to discard that cloak of anonymity and step in to a world of "niche recognition". Do it for others. Do it for you. Seek fame among the "minority" (and maybe fortune too).
• Excuse # 2
  
  Money isn't everything you know. I've got enough money so the opportunity to make residual income with relatively little work on my part holds no particular allure.
  
  Okay, Donald Trump, we get the message! Even Donald, with all his money, recognizes that making money is a worthwhile endeavor. Finding ways that can meet your needs at a personal/professional level and combining them with making money is the true "entrepreneurial spirit" upon which civilizations have prospered. But I get carried away! There is nothing wrong with
  making a profit being one of your motivations for writing an eBook!
• Excuse # 3
  
  Nobody helped me get to where I am today. I didn't learn anything from mentors who helped me. I didn't read anything written by experts in the field who acted like mentors to me. I did it all by myself so others can do the same thing.
  
  Are you serious? What about all those text books and self-help books you read? What about owners' manuals, special interest classes, supervisor's assistance, courses and training sessions, colleagues?? "No man is an island." You didn't get to where you are today without the help of others. eBooks are an opportunity to give back to that pool of attitudes, skills and knowledge that you learned from others and add to it your unique insights, experiences, and reflections. Leave a legacy of your accumulated wisdom for others. What you give comes back a hundred fold!
• Excuse # 4
  
  I just don't have that entrepreneurial spirit. Being self-employed with all its tax breaks and income after retirement is just not "real" for me.
  
  Everybody has an entrepreneurial spirit. Remember those childhood days when you sold "Kool-Aid" at the curbside to the guys who were putting in the sewers. You loved collecting all that money. And spending it. eBook authoring is much the same. Only the profits will be after expenses not without expenses like in the "Kool-Aid" experience where Mom and Dad supplied the
  capital. Not like the "Kool-Aid" days. The world of small business (eCommerce) is a fascinating place to be. It teaches you an appreciation for so much that goes on behind the scenes of our commerce system. It makes you an active player. It's exciting.
• Excuse # 5
  
  I'm not passionate about anything. I have trouble carrying on a conversation about things I feel passionate about so I know I can't write an eBook. After all, if I can't talk I can't write!
  
  Think back to the last time you got an opportunity to talk about something you really care about. Was it your hobby or interest, your project at work, a 'cause' that is beneficial to others, an event currently in the news, a life-long pursuit, a 'calling'?? There
  are few among us who don't have at least one thing about which we are passionate. About which we could talk forever. If you can talk about it, you can write about it. eBooks are informal in nature and conversational in form. All you need is a niche
  market of people like yourself who share your passion. Passion makes good eBook authors.
• Excuse # 6
  
  There is already too much information out there! Information is the same today as it was yesterday. Nothing really changes.
  
  It's the same old, same old, all the time.
  
  Where have you been? The Internet is viewed as the source of information in the information age. Combine the information age with the technological advances and you create tremendous problems. People are busier and more productive today than they have ever been. So what's the problem that eBooks can solve? With your experience, you can sort through the over-abundance
  of information and help direct that information to solving your niche market's problems saving them time, effort and money.
  
  And they are more than willing to pay you for this! Use the Internet and eBook technology to reach those who appreciate it most - on the Internet. With eBook technology, updating information is easy and affordable making your eBook a living, growing document.
• Excuse # 7
  
  I have nothing new to add to the subject of my interest - no new material, attitudes, experiences, problem-solving approaches, information, philosophies, theories, perspectives, knowledge, skills, attitudes? nothing!
  
  Do you really believe that? Are you not a unique individual? Do your unique experiences not bring something new to the subject? Think back to when you first became interested in the topic for your eBook. Think about your journey to where you are presently. Think about others and their journeys which may be just beginning or are being bogged down and need some
  rejuvenation. What can you offer to these people? How have your successes been forged? Shouldn't others know how you did it? Your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is what makes you different from others. It's not that information isn't available - it's just that your uniqueness in sharing your information is what others want and need.
• Excuse # 8
  
  I'm not up to the challenges. Boredom is ok with me. Change is bad!
  
  Climb out of your rut. You've been stuck there too long. What ever happened to the thrill of experiencing new adventures? What happened to your childhood reckless abandon? What happened to your life? Take up a new challenge that will change you forever. Embark on an eBook authoring journey that will provide you with an opportunity to take a good hard look at yourself.
  
  Change is inevitable. Embrace it. Take advantage of the opportunity to share your passion with a world-wide audience. Change their lives while you yourself undergo a change. eBook authors get more out of writing the book than the readers do in reading it! Create your own 'reality' show. Get on with it!
• Excuse #9
  
  I only care about myself. Why would I want to make a difference world-wide 24/7 when all I care about is me right this minute.
  
  I live for the minute. My minute.
  
  My world is small. My influence is confined. My fame is restricted. My ambitions are limited. My aspirations are within easy reach. My life is? Imagine the thrill of seeing your published eBook cover on a web site. Imagine the excitement of someone purchasing your eBook. Imagine your amazement when customers from hundreds of different countries download your eBook.
  
  Imagine the feeling of receiving emails seeking your advice, of encouraging you to write another eBook, of expressions of appreciation for what you have done to help solve someone's problem. Imagine an income in retirement or a new career built around your eBook. Expand your horizons. Look "outside" and "inside" yourself. Write your eBook!
• Excuse #10
  
  I have trouble committing to getting up in the morning. I'd have to commit to a life-altering experience if I wrote an eBook and right now getting up in the morning is plenty hard enough.
  
  While we can empathize with you we can't sympathize. We all have trouble getting up some mornings. But you can't make that your excuse forever. One of the biggest steps in the eBook authoring process is the Commitment step. It is at this point in your journey that you publicly must announce your intention to write an eBook. You must be prepared for the feedback that will
  inevitably come your way. Making a commitment to something is a learned behaviour. Once you share your ideas with others, a marvelous thing happens. People want to help you. They want you to succeed. You suddenly have a team where not long before there was only you and your dream. The journey begins with a single step. Public commitment is often the most
  important step.
  
  You may have a few other excuses you might like to use. Go ahead. But remember, there are convincing arguments against every one of them. Don't believe me? Ask someone who is successful.
  
  No more excuses. Get on with it. Write your eBook.
  
  © 2005 Paul Jackson
  
  Paul Jackson, a published eBook author and retired educator, clearly appreciates what it takes to author an eBook. His experience as both a writer and an instructor helping people realize their dream of authoring a book qualifies him to ask these very important questions. His business, eBook Authoring Services, at http://www.ebookwritingandpublishing.com is a great starting point for aspiring eBook authors.

THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING EBOOK SOFTWARE. 

The first things to consider when purchasing and using eBook software are:

• Know your eBook software investment
• Know how easy it is to create your electronic book
• Know your per-eBook delivery costs
• Can it track eBook usage and distribution?
• Can it control plagiarism and maintain security of your intellectual property?
• Does it provide and can you use available no-cost marketing tools?
• Other specific eBook software features you should look for:
  Modern eBook software that uses advanced technology
• Ability to allow and/or deny file saving, copying and/or printing of your intellectual property
• Ability to control and limit the unauthorized use and distribution of your product
• Ability to sample e-Book software without obligation to see which is best for you
• A money back guarantee if you are not satisfied
• PC or Mac based applications to meet your computer platform and product delivery requirements
• Desktop and/or on-line based software to suit your needs
• Customizable "branding" features to further your own market identity
• Ability to deliver your electronic book in PDF, HTML, and/or EXE format
• "Viral" features to help get the word out about your product
• Fully functional interface with payment gateways and email autoresponders for completely automated "hands-off" commerce
• Cost control: Is there a one-time eBook software cost? A per eBook cost? Recurring monthly fees? Hosting costs?
  ...and many others