What is an eBook compiler?
You've written and revised your ebook, hired an artistwho has produced outstanding graphics, and now you'reready to actually put together your ebook. What youneed to make an ebook is software called an ebookCompiler.
There are many different compilers to chose from, butfirst, you need to know exactly what an ebook Compilerdoes. Here is the simple explanation:
An ebook compiler is a software program that convertseither text pages or HTML text into a singleexecutable file or an ebook.
If you or someone you hired has created a file withgraphics in HTML, you will need an HTML ebookCompiler. This type of compiler requires a workingknowledge of the HTML tag language. You can also usesoftware to do this for you, such as MicrosoftFrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver.
How do you choose an eBook Compiler?
There are a large number of ebook Compilers availableon the market, all with glowing sales copy and tekkielanguage. It can get very confusing and overwhelmingvery fast without some simple guidelines to help youfigure out which compiler is right for you.
Choosing an ebook Compiler depends on a number offactors:
1. How did you create your pages? Did you use HTML orPDF format? There are many more compilers availablefor HTML, but you can find some very good compilersthat will covert your PDF files into an ebook.
2. Consider how easy the program is to use and thethoroughness of the software's instruction manual. Itis absolutely necessary that the compiler you buy havean instructional manual, documentation, or online"wizards." If it doesn't, your chances of figuring outhow to correctly use the program are compromised, andthe time required doing so is going to be significant.Many manufacturers of compilers offer a free trialversion so you can play around with it and see if itsuits your needs. Download the trial version andascertain that it actually does what it claims to do.
3. Security features. If you plan to sell your ebook,check out the security features of the compilersoftware carefully. Security features should include:prevention of the reader from modifying text, accessonly to the pages you assign or by entering apassword, different ways of generating passwords suchas secure passwords, user-friendly, and openpasswords.
4. Supported scripting. Find out what scripts thesoftware supports. Scripting allows you to createspecial effects, customize menus, and create andmodify other user interactivity. Choose a compilerthat permits you to include graphics, search windows,hyperlinks, forms, surveys, etc.
5. Pricing. This is a factor that is not always easyto gauge. The highest priced compilers are notautomatically your best choice. Choose your compilerbased on the necessary requirements for your Ebook.That means you need to know exactly how you plan touse your Ebook and what functions you require.
Let's look at some of these factors in more detail.First of all, make sure you have the correct browserto run the compiler. The majority of HTML compilersuse Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape. Check outthe version that the compiler supports. Compilers thatrequire a browser will not run on a computer that doesnot have the required browser installed. However,there are ebook HTML compilers that don't require youto have any browser installed on your computer. Thesecompilers run on any Windows system.
If you choose a compiler that requires a browser,check to ascertain that the browser is installedcorrectly and that it is properly configured to thespecifications of the compiler. Check to see ifcertain functions are turned off or on, and make anyadjustments according to the compiler instructions.
Security is an essential element of any compiler,regardless of whether you plan to sell or give awayyour ebook. One of the main reasons for using acompiler is to prevent the reader from modifying thecontents. A secure compiler allows access only to thepages you want the user to access unless they enter acorrect password.
To find out how secure an ebook HTML compiler is, openan ebook on it. While it is open, check the temporarydirectory of your computer. This can usually beaccessed by typing in C:\Windows\temp. If you see abunch of files when your ebook is open or running, itmeans that your computer is decompressing the securedata from your ebook before showing the ebook to theviewer. This method is not secure! It means thatanyone with the knowledge of how to access thesetemporary files can steal the secure data and thenthey can fiddle with your ebook to their evil heart'sdesire. Remember, one of the main purposes of buyingand using an HTML compiler is to protect yourproperty.
Next, let's discuss passwords. When trying to choosean ebook Compiler, check out the type of passwordsthat the compiler supports. Almost all compilers offersome kind of password protection that insures that theuser can only access the contents they have purchasedfrom you. However, the best compilers offer variedways to generate different types of passwords. Choosea compiler that gives you the options of secure,user-friendly, and open password generation.
Another important factor when it comes to passwords ishow the compiler generates them. A compiler that hasinternal password protection generation built into thesoftware is more secure than compilers that link tolive Internet password control systems.
Find out if the compiler generates passwords online.If it has this option, it allows you to choose anypayment processing system you want or to do thepayment processing yourself.
Next, look into the size of ebook the compilersupports. The best compilers can create ebooks up to 2GB in size without decompressing the HTML pages orimages to your hard disk. Usually, ebooks that are 2GB in size can easily support 6 GB of compressed data.The catch here is that only text files will generallybe compressible.
You do not want a compiler that decompresses thisamount of data when the user attempts to open yourebook. This would mean that anyone who purchases yourebook will have to wait for all the data to decompressbefore they can access your ebook right afterdownloading it. So look for compilers that onlydecompress temporarily files that are NOT HTML to thelocal hardisk. Non-HTML files include Flash, Word, andAcrobat files. This type of compiler is more secureand certainly faster.
Make sure the compiler you choose is compatible withyour system software. Check out what version ofWindows it requires, and make sure you have thatversion before buying your compiler.
Support issues are extremely important. Choose acompiler that includes an installation program. Thisprogram allows your user to choose a number ofdifferent places on their computer to install theebook, to place a shortcut on their desktop, and toadd the ebook, if they choose, to the Start Programsmenu.
You also want excellent and accessible vendor support.Make sure you can access quick technical support! Atthree o'clock in the morning, this factor will be VERYimportant. Also, check to see the terms of freetechnical support offered. Unlimited technical supportis obviously the best option.
Check to see if the company that puts out the compilersoftware offers a service level agreement. Thisagreement is to assure you of their quality responseto your questions or problems.
A good thing to consider is how long the compiler hasbeen on the market. Usually, the version number willgive you an idea. The longer the program is on themarket, the higher the version number, the more bugshave been worked out.
When choosing an ebook compiler, do not be swayed byincredible promises and dazzling sales copy. Do yourhomework first, and then consider all the above issuesand factors before choosing an ebook compiler.
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Sunday, January 11, 2009
Ebook are promotion powerhouses
Ebooks are part of the new frontier of cyberspace.They are an entirely new medium for sharing marketinginformation, ideas, techniques, and expert knowledge.Each day the number of people accessing the Internetgrows, causing the exposure of your ebook to increaseincrementally. It's obvious why electronicself-publishing has become so popular so quickly.
The publishing industry, I hope, does not intend toforever banish the printed word to the dustbin ofhistory. Books in print have their own specialqualities and merits, and the world would bediminished by their disappearance.
Having said that, let's look at what makes ebooks soimportant and so unique. Ebooks have certain abilitiesand qualities that other mediums do not possess.
For example, ebooks are fairly easy to produce, andtheir production cost is inexpensive. Just think aboutit: you don't need a publisher, an agent, a printingpress, offset film, ink, paper, or even a distributor.You just need a great concept, the ability to write itor to hire a writer, and the right software.
Additionally, ebooks are easily and rapidlydistributed online. They are also easily updated; theydo not require a second print run. All you need is togo into your original creation and modify the text orgraphics. Because of this flexibility, ebooks canchange and grow as fast as you can type.
Ebooks are also immediately obtainable. You don't haveto go to a bookstore or search through endless titlesat an online bookstore. All you have to do is downloadit from a website, and presto! It's on your computer,ready to be read.
Ebooks are interactive. This is one of the most uniqueand specific qualities that ebooks offer. You can addsurveys that need to be filled out, order forms forcustomers to purchase your products or goods, soundand video that draw your reader into the virtual worldof your ebook, even direct links to relevant sitesthat will expand your ebook outward. The potential isvirtually limitless.
Ebooks have a particular kind of permanence that othermediums do not possess. Television shows and radioshows air once, and then may rerun a few times. Ebooksremain on your computer for as long as your choose,and they can be read and reread whenever you chooseto. They can even be printed out and stored on theshelves of your traditional home library.
Another wonderful quality is that ebooks have nobarriers in terms of publishing. You don't need to gothrough the endless process of submitting yourmanuscript over and over again, and then once you landan agent, having the agent submit your manuscript overand over again. Nor do you have to shell out thousandsof dollars for printing a self-published book. Allebooks require is a writer and appropriate software.Figure out your market, write your book, post it onyour website, and with the right business savvy, youraudience will come to you.
Finally, you have creative control over your ebook.You don?t have to compromise with an editor or thepublishing trends of the time. You don't have tohaggle with a designer or wait for copyedited galleysto arrive by snail mail. You are in complete controlof the design and the text.
How to Use ebooks for Marketing and Promotion
There are innumerable ways to use ebooks to promoteyour business and drive quality traffic to yourwebsite. Once posted on your site, you can turn theminto a daily course, which brings your customer backto read the next chapter. You can use them as a freegift for making a purchase or for filling out asurvey. Put your ebook on a disc, and you will have aninnovative brochure. Blow your competition away byinserting the disc into your sales packages.
The most effective marketing products are those thatare unique. Copyright your ebook, and immediately, youhave a powerful tool that you, and you alone, canoffer to the public. People will have to visit yoursite to acquire your ebook, which increases the flowof quality traffic and the potential of sales andaffiliate contacts.
Make sure that you keep your ebook current. Update itfrequently as the market and trends change. Add newadvice and techniques to show your prospects how yourgoods or services can enrich their lives. Byconstantly keeping abreast of new trends andtechniques, you can continue to see profits from yourebook for years after your original creation.
Another phenomenal advantage of ebooks is that you cantest their marketing potential without putting outhardly any cash at all. You can even produce an ebookone copy at a time, each time you receive an order,eliminating the need for storage and inventory. Bythis method, you can gauge the saleablity of yourebook, and make adjustments as necessary until theorders start pouring in. Ebooks allow you to learnabout your market and customer habits and motivationover a period of time, without risking your preciousfinancial resources. They also provide you with aninvaluable way to gather marketing information, whichyou can use in many different facets of your business.
Use your ebook to discover what the specific goals andproblems are in your specific industry. Then figureout how to solve these problems, and publish an ebookwith this invaluable information. This will increasethe value of your business, upgrade your reputation,and get you known as an expert in your field.
You can extend the value of single ebook by breakingthe book down into chapters for a serial course, intospecial reports available on your website, or intoaudio or visual tapes. Ebooks can be broken down intoseveral different promotional materials by exceptingsome of the articles and using them to promote yourproduct. You can include a catalog in your ebook topromote all the products or services you sell. You caninclude a thank-you note for reading your book and aninvitation to download a trial version of yourproduct. Or you can include a form for your audienceto contact you for further information or withquestions, thereby building your businessrelationships and your mailing list.
Using ebooks in this manner helps to cut the cost ofindividually producing separate promotional materials.You can use a single ebook to entice new prospects andto sell new products to your current customers.
No other medium has this kind of flexibility andability for expansion. Think of your ebook like aspider spinning a beautiful and intricate web. Now goand create that web, and see how many customers andprospects you can catch!
The publishing industry, I hope, does not intend toforever banish the printed word to the dustbin ofhistory. Books in print have their own specialqualities and merits, and the world would bediminished by their disappearance.
Having said that, let's look at what makes ebooks soimportant and so unique. Ebooks have certain abilitiesand qualities that other mediums do not possess.
For example, ebooks are fairly easy to produce, andtheir production cost is inexpensive. Just think aboutit: you don't need a publisher, an agent, a printingpress, offset film, ink, paper, or even a distributor.You just need a great concept, the ability to write itor to hire a writer, and the right software.
Additionally, ebooks are easily and rapidlydistributed online. They are also easily updated; theydo not require a second print run. All you need is togo into your original creation and modify the text orgraphics. Because of this flexibility, ebooks canchange and grow as fast as you can type.
Ebooks are also immediately obtainable. You don't haveto go to a bookstore or search through endless titlesat an online bookstore. All you have to do is downloadit from a website, and presto! It's on your computer,ready to be read.
Ebooks are interactive. This is one of the most uniqueand specific qualities that ebooks offer. You can addsurveys that need to be filled out, order forms forcustomers to purchase your products or goods, soundand video that draw your reader into the virtual worldof your ebook, even direct links to relevant sitesthat will expand your ebook outward. The potential isvirtually limitless.
Ebooks have a particular kind of permanence that othermediums do not possess. Television shows and radioshows air once, and then may rerun a few times. Ebooksremain on your computer for as long as your choose,and they can be read and reread whenever you chooseto. They can even be printed out and stored on theshelves of your traditional home library.
Another wonderful quality is that ebooks have nobarriers in terms of publishing. You don't need to gothrough the endless process of submitting yourmanuscript over and over again, and then once you landan agent, having the agent submit your manuscript overand over again. Nor do you have to shell out thousandsof dollars for printing a self-published book. Allebooks require is a writer and appropriate software.Figure out your market, write your book, post it onyour website, and with the right business savvy, youraudience will come to you.
Finally, you have creative control over your ebook.You don?t have to compromise with an editor or thepublishing trends of the time. You don't have tohaggle with a designer or wait for copyedited galleysto arrive by snail mail. You are in complete controlof the design and the text.
How to Use ebooks for Marketing and Promotion
There are innumerable ways to use ebooks to promoteyour business and drive quality traffic to yourwebsite. Once posted on your site, you can turn theminto a daily course, which brings your customer backto read the next chapter. You can use them as a freegift for making a purchase or for filling out asurvey. Put your ebook on a disc, and you will have aninnovative brochure. Blow your competition away byinserting the disc into your sales packages.
The most effective marketing products are those thatare unique. Copyright your ebook, and immediately, youhave a powerful tool that you, and you alone, canoffer to the public. People will have to visit yoursite to acquire your ebook, which increases the flowof quality traffic and the potential of sales andaffiliate contacts.
Make sure that you keep your ebook current. Update itfrequently as the market and trends change. Add newadvice and techniques to show your prospects how yourgoods or services can enrich their lives. Byconstantly keeping abreast of new trends andtechniques, you can continue to see profits from yourebook for years after your original creation.
Another phenomenal advantage of ebooks is that you cantest their marketing potential without putting outhardly any cash at all. You can even produce an ebookone copy at a time, each time you receive an order,eliminating the need for storage and inventory. Bythis method, you can gauge the saleablity of yourebook, and make adjustments as necessary until theorders start pouring in. Ebooks allow you to learnabout your market and customer habits and motivationover a period of time, without risking your preciousfinancial resources. They also provide you with aninvaluable way to gather marketing information, whichyou can use in many different facets of your business.
Use your ebook to discover what the specific goals andproblems are in your specific industry. Then figureout how to solve these problems, and publish an ebookwith this invaluable information. This will increasethe value of your business, upgrade your reputation,and get you known as an expert in your field.
You can extend the value of single ebook by breakingthe book down into chapters for a serial course, intospecial reports available on your website, or intoaudio or visual tapes. Ebooks can be broken down intoseveral different promotional materials by exceptingsome of the articles and using them to promote yourproduct. You can include a catalog in your ebook topromote all the products or services you sell. You caninclude a thank-you note for reading your book and aninvitation to download a trial version of yourproduct. Or you can include a form for your audienceto contact you for further information or withquestions, thereby building your businessrelationships and your mailing list.
Using ebooks in this manner helps to cut the cost ofindividually producing separate promotional materials.You can use a single ebook to entice new prospects andto sell new products to your current customers.
No other medium has this kind of flexibility andability for expansion. Think of your ebook like aspider spinning a beautiful and intricate web. Now goand create that web, and see how many customers andprospects you can catch!
How to price your ebook
You've written and compiled an ebook. Now you have todecide how much to charge for it. Finding the rightprice is essential to the success of your product. Ifyou charge too little, people will think it's oflittle value, and they won't purchase it, or even itthey do buy your book, you will have to sell thousandsof copies to get to the point where you can begin tosee a profit. If you price it too high when comparedwith your competition, you will find yourself steadilylowering the price, which will cause you all kinds ofnew problems in the future. For example, if you sellyour ebook at first for $39.99, and later reduce it to$24.95, don't you think the people who bought it for$39.99 are going to be PISSED?
Choosing the right price for your ebook is one of themost critical parts of the marketing process. Thefirst rule of pricing ebooks is to never underprice.Determine the highest price your audience can afford,and then if you find your book isn?t selling, you canalways reduce the price. Before you take that step,make sure you are promoting your book like crazy onthe Internet and on websites. The price should beaimed at bringing in profits, but you should neverforget that price is one of the factors that peopleuse in judging the value of your ebook ? before theybuy it. So always start with the highest price, andthen launch a mega-marketing campaign.
Pricing an ebook is particularly difficult becauseebooks are a fairly new commodity. Since they aredigital, the value of an ebook is as confusing as theunderstanding of what digital actually is to theaverage layperson. This means that we must look atebooks in a different light in order to determinetheir actual worth in this brave, new cyber world.
Let's look at the difference between a book in printand an ebook. A printed book is an object you can holdin your hand, store on your bookshelf, even hand downto the next generation. It is priced on factors suchas paper stock, design and production costs, andmarketing.
But the fact that unites ebooks and print books isthat they are composed of ideas. It is the ideas inthese books that have the ability to change, orpossibly transform, people's lives.
What do you think an idea is worth when evaluatedagainst the cost of paper and ink?
It is the IDEAS that are valuable! That is how youdetermine the cost of your ebook.
What should I charge for my ideas?
There are all different formulas and methods fordetermining the correct price for your ebook. Let'sbegin with honing in on your ultimate goals.
Decide if your goal is to get wide distribution andmaximum exposure. This goal is aimed at drawingcustomers to your business or service, or toestablishing the credibility of your reputation. Ifthis is your main goal, you should aim to keep yourprice on the low side. Some authors have even pricedtheir ebooks at a profit loss to draw a high number ofnew customers. The key is to find a price thatmaximizes your profits and the number of books yousell.
This is an excellent pricing strategy if you arelooking to acquire long-term customers. Long-termcustomers are extremely likely to buy from you againand again ? as long as the first ebook they buy is ofexceptional quality and beneficial to the customer.
However, if your book contains valuable ? and moreimportantly NEW information, references, or techniques? then you should aim to price it on the high end.
After you figure out your goal, you must figure outwhat your audience's need is for your ebook. Forexample, does your book solve a particular problem? Ifit does, and solves it in a way that hasn't beenwritten about in one hundred other ebooks, you will beable to achieve high sales at a high price. If yourbook solves a problem or answers questions in a newand unique way, you should price your book as high asyou can go. You will achieve larger profits this way,but bring in fewer customers. Just make sure thequestion or problem that your book solves is one thatis important and relevant to the majority of yourmarket audience. If your ideas are not commonknowledge, or you are presenting a brand newtechnique, you will be able to sell books at a highprice. Just be prepared for your competition toundercut you on price as soon as they hear about yourbook.
Keep in mind that the above pricing strategy istemporary. Eventually, you will cease to sell books atthis high price. So figure out in advance how long youplan to offer your ebook at this high price, and whenthat time is up, change your pricing strategy.
If you want to see large profits over customer draw,aim for an audience that is looking for easy solutionsto their problems at a low price. If your book isaimed at solving one particular problem rather thangeneral advice, then you can charge more. Start at thehighest price the market will bear to bring in thelargest profits, and plan to discount the book anumber of times throughout the year.
Marketing Strategies
The key that unlocks the sales potential of your ebookis to find a single sentence that becomes your sellinghandle. This sentence states what question or problemyour book answers and the benefits your ebook canprovide. Then be sure to use that sentence in everypiece of sales and promotional material, and everytime anyone asks you about your ebook.
Besides promoting your books assiduously online, thereare several other strategies that can help you sellmore books.
One is to give something away for free with your book,such as a valuable bonus item. Or bundle severalebooks under one price, which lowers the price foreach ebook if they were sold separately.
An effective technique for figuring out a price is tosend out a survey to your current customers. If thesecustomers have already bought an ebook from you, askfor their opinion in terms of price. Do this bycreating a sales page for the new book, but don'tinclude a price on that page. Instead, add a number oflinks to survey questions that ask pointed questionsto aid you in assigning a price to your ebook.
Another strategy is to test out prices by creating anumber of duplicate sales pages with different priceson each page. Make sure your sales copy is exactly thesame on every page, and includes your selling-handlesentence. Then figure out for each page the conversionratio between visitors to your site and sales of yourbook. This will tell you what your optimum price is.
Ultimately, if you've written a book that solves aproblem or presents a new technique, your book willbring in both traffic and profits. So be sure to writethat selling-handle sentence that sums up what problemyour book solves and what the benefits of your bookwill be to the customers who purchase it. And thenwatch your market come to you!
Choosing the right price for your ebook is one of themost critical parts of the marketing process. Thefirst rule of pricing ebooks is to never underprice.Determine the highest price your audience can afford,and then if you find your book isn?t selling, you canalways reduce the price. Before you take that step,make sure you are promoting your book like crazy onthe Internet and on websites. The price should beaimed at bringing in profits, but you should neverforget that price is one of the factors that peopleuse in judging the value of your ebook ? before theybuy it. So always start with the highest price, andthen launch a mega-marketing campaign.
Pricing an ebook is particularly difficult becauseebooks are a fairly new commodity. Since they aredigital, the value of an ebook is as confusing as theunderstanding of what digital actually is to theaverage layperson. This means that we must look atebooks in a different light in order to determinetheir actual worth in this brave, new cyber world.
Let's look at the difference between a book in printand an ebook. A printed book is an object you can holdin your hand, store on your bookshelf, even hand downto the next generation. It is priced on factors suchas paper stock, design and production costs, andmarketing.
But the fact that unites ebooks and print books isthat they are composed of ideas. It is the ideas inthese books that have the ability to change, orpossibly transform, people's lives.
What do you think an idea is worth when evaluatedagainst the cost of paper and ink?
It is the IDEAS that are valuable! That is how youdetermine the cost of your ebook.
What should I charge for my ideas?
There are all different formulas and methods fordetermining the correct price for your ebook. Let'sbegin with honing in on your ultimate goals.
Decide if your goal is to get wide distribution andmaximum exposure. This goal is aimed at drawingcustomers to your business or service, or toestablishing the credibility of your reputation. Ifthis is your main goal, you should aim to keep yourprice on the low side. Some authors have even pricedtheir ebooks at a profit loss to draw a high number ofnew customers. The key is to find a price thatmaximizes your profits and the number of books yousell.
This is an excellent pricing strategy if you arelooking to acquire long-term customers. Long-termcustomers are extremely likely to buy from you againand again ? as long as the first ebook they buy is ofexceptional quality and beneficial to the customer.
However, if your book contains valuable ? and moreimportantly NEW information, references, or techniques? then you should aim to price it on the high end.
After you figure out your goal, you must figure outwhat your audience's need is for your ebook. Forexample, does your book solve a particular problem? Ifit does, and solves it in a way that hasn't beenwritten about in one hundred other ebooks, you will beable to achieve high sales at a high price. If yourbook solves a problem or answers questions in a newand unique way, you should price your book as high asyou can go. You will achieve larger profits this way,but bring in fewer customers. Just make sure thequestion or problem that your book solves is one thatis important and relevant to the majority of yourmarket audience. If your ideas are not commonknowledge, or you are presenting a brand newtechnique, you will be able to sell books at a highprice. Just be prepared for your competition toundercut you on price as soon as they hear about yourbook.
Keep in mind that the above pricing strategy istemporary. Eventually, you will cease to sell books atthis high price. So figure out in advance how long youplan to offer your ebook at this high price, and whenthat time is up, change your pricing strategy.
If you want to see large profits over customer draw,aim for an audience that is looking for easy solutionsto their problems at a low price. If your book isaimed at solving one particular problem rather thangeneral advice, then you can charge more. Start at thehighest price the market will bear to bring in thelargest profits, and plan to discount the book anumber of times throughout the year.
Marketing Strategies
The key that unlocks the sales potential of your ebookis to find a single sentence that becomes your sellinghandle. This sentence states what question or problemyour book answers and the benefits your ebook canprovide. Then be sure to use that sentence in everypiece of sales and promotional material, and everytime anyone asks you about your ebook.
Besides promoting your books assiduously online, thereare several other strategies that can help you sellmore books.
One is to give something away for free with your book,such as a valuable bonus item. Or bundle severalebooks under one price, which lowers the price foreach ebook if they were sold separately.
An effective technique for figuring out a price is tosend out a survey to your current customers. If thesecustomers have already bought an ebook from you, askfor their opinion in terms of price. Do this bycreating a sales page for the new book, but don'tinclude a price on that page. Instead, add a number oflinks to survey questions that ask pointed questionsto aid you in assigning a price to your ebook.
Another strategy is to test out prices by creating anumber of duplicate sales pages with different priceson each page. Make sure your sales copy is exactly thesame on every page, and includes your selling-handlesentence. Then figure out for each page the conversionratio between visitors to your site and sales of yourbook. This will tell you what your optimum price is.
Ultimately, if you've written a book that solves aproblem or presents a new technique, your book willbring in both traffic and profits. So be sure to writethat selling-handle sentence that sums up what problemyour book solves and what the benefits of your bookwill be to the customers who purchase it. And thenwatch your market come to you!
How to write an ebook for CASH
The hardest part of writing is the first sentence.When you look at the whole project, it seems like animpossible task. That's why you have to break it downinto manageable tasks. Think of climbing a mountain.You are standing at the foot of it and looking up atits summit vanishing into the clouds. How can youpossibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?
There is only one way to climb a mountain ? step bystep.
Now think of writing your ebook in the same light. Youmust create it step by step, and one day, you willtake that last step and find yourself standing on thesummit with your head in the clouds.
The first thing you have to do, as if you actuallywere a mountain climber, is to get organized. Insteadof climbing gear, however, you must organize yourthoughts. There are some steps you should take beforeyou begin. Once you've gone through the followinglist, you will be ready to actually begin writing yourebook.
Beginning Steps to Writing an ebook
First, figure out your ebook's working title. Jot downa few different titles, and eventually, you'll findthat one that will grow on you. Titles help you tofocus your writing on your topic; they guide you inanticipating and answering your reader's queries. Manynon-fiction books also have subtitles. Aim for clarityin your titles, but cleverness always helps to sellbooks ? as long as it's not too cute. For example,Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to countsheep. Or: Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plansto whip you into shape.
Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is asentence or two stating exactly what problem you areaddressing and how your book will solve that problem.All chapters spring forth from your thesis statement.Once you've got your thesis statement fine-tuned,you've built your foundation. From that foundation,your book will grow, chapter by chapter.
Your thesis will keep you focused while you write yourebook. Remember: all chapters must support your thesisstatement. If they don't, they don't belong in yourbook. For example, your thesis statement could read:We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives,but there are twenty proven techniques and methods togive you back a good night's sleep.
Once you have your thesis, before you start to write,make sure there is a good reason to write your book.Ask yourself some questions:
* Does your book present useful information and isthat information currently relevant?
* Will you book positively affect the lives of yourreaders?
* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader'sattention?
* Does you book answer questions that are meaningfuland significant?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feelconfident about the potential of your ebook.
Another important step is to figure out who yourtarget audience is. It is this group of people youwill be writing to, and this group will dictate manyelements of your book, such as style, tone, diction,and even length. Figure out the age range of yourreaders, their general gender, what they are mostinterested in, and even the socio-economic group theyprimarily come from. Are they people who read fashionmagazines or book reviews? Do they write letters inlonghand or spend hours every day online. The more youcan pin down your target audience, the easier it willbe to write your book for them.
Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing yourebook. Do you want to promote your business? Do youwant to bring quality traffic to your website? Do youwant to enhance your reputation?
Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Doyou want to sell it as a product on your website, ordo you want to offer it as a free gift for filling outa survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to usethe chapters to create an e-course, or use your ebookto attract affiliates around the world? The more youknow upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction,keep the format from chapter to chapter fairlyconsistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction toyour chapter topic, and then divide it into foursubhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into fiveparts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.
How to make your ebook "user friendly"
You must figure out how to keep your writing engaging.Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos,graphs, advice, and tips will keep the reader turningthe pages. Sidebars are useful for quick, accessibleinformation, and they break up the density of thepage.
Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than aformal tone such as textbook diction. Reader's respondto the feeling that you are having a conversation withthem. Break up the length and structure of yoursentences so you don?t hypnotize your readers intosleep. Sentences that are all the same length andstructure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!
Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots ofpractice. Make a schedule to write at least a page aday. Read books and magazines about the process ofwriting, and jot down tips that jump out at you. Theart of writing is a lifetime process; the more youwrite (and read), the better your writing will become.The better your writing becomes, the bigger your salesfigures.
In an ebook that is read on the screen, be aware thatyou must give your reader's eye a break. You can dothis by utilizing white space. In art classes, whitespace is usually referred to as "negative space."Reader's eyes need to rest in the cool white oasisesyou create on your page. If your page is too dense,your reader will quit out of it as soon as their eyesbegin to tear.
Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. Thismakes your information easy to absorb, and gives thereader a mental break from dissecting your paragraphsone after the other.
Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a fontthat's easy on the eyes, and stick to that fontfamily. Using dozens of fonts will only tire yourreaders out before they've gotten past yourintroduction. Use at least one and a half linespacing, and text large enough to be read easily onthe screen, but small enough so that the whole pagecan be seen on a computer screen. You will have toexperiment with this to find the right combination.
Of course, don't forget to run a spell and grammarcheck. You are judged by something as minor as correctpunctuation, so don?t mess up a great book by tossingout semicolons randomly, or stringing sentencestogether with commas. (By the way, that's called a"comma splice.")
Last of all, create an index and a bibliography.That's it! You've written a book! Now all you have todo is publish your ebook online, and wait for downloadrequest from your website visitors.
There is only one way to climb a mountain ? step bystep.
Now think of writing your ebook in the same light. Youmust create it step by step, and one day, you willtake that last step and find yourself standing on thesummit with your head in the clouds.
The first thing you have to do, as if you actuallywere a mountain climber, is to get organized. Insteadof climbing gear, however, you must organize yourthoughts. There are some steps you should take beforeyou begin. Once you've gone through the followinglist, you will be ready to actually begin writing yourebook.
Beginning Steps to Writing an ebook
First, figure out your ebook's working title. Jot downa few different titles, and eventually, you'll findthat one that will grow on you. Titles help you tofocus your writing on your topic; they guide you inanticipating and answering your reader's queries. Manynon-fiction books also have subtitles. Aim for clarityin your titles, but cleverness always helps to sellbooks ? as long as it's not too cute. For example,Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to countsheep. Or: Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plansto whip you into shape.
Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is asentence or two stating exactly what problem you areaddressing and how your book will solve that problem.All chapters spring forth from your thesis statement.Once you've got your thesis statement fine-tuned,you've built your foundation. From that foundation,your book will grow, chapter by chapter.
Your thesis will keep you focused while you write yourebook. Remember: all chapters must support your thesisstatement. If they don't, they don't belong in yourbook. For example, your thesis statement could read:We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives,but there are twenty proven techniques and methods togive you back a good night's sleep.
Once you have your thesis, before you start to write,make sure there is a good reason to write your book.Ask yourself some questions:
* Does your book present useful information and isthat information currently relevant?
* Will you book positively affect the lives of yourreaders?
* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader'sattention?
* Does you book answer questions that are meaningfuland significant?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feelconfident about the potential of your ebook.
Another important step is to figure out who yourtarget audience is. It is this group of people youwill be writing to, and this group will dictate manyelements of your book, such as style, tone, diction,and even length. Figure out the age range of yourreaders, their general gender, what they are mostinterested in, and even the socio-economic group theyprimarily come from. Are they people who read fashionmagazines or book reviews? Do they write letters inlonghand or spend hours every day online. The more youcan pin down your target audience, the easier it willbe to write your book for them.
Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing yourebook. Do you want to promote your business? Do youwant to bring quality traffic to your website? Do youwant to enhance your reputation?
Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Doyou want to sell it as a product on your website, ordo you want to offer it as a free gift for filling outa survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to usethe chapters to create an e-course, or use your ebookto attract affiliates around the world? The more youknow upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction,keep the format from chapter to chapter fairlyconsistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction toyour chapter topic, and then divide it into foursubhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into fiveparts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.
How to make your ebook "user friendly"
You must figure out how to keep your writing engaging.Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos,graphs, advice, and tips will keep the reader turningthe pages. Sidebars are useful for quick, accessibleinformation, and they break up the density of thepage.
Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than aformal tone such as textbook diction. Reader's respondto the feeling that you are having a conversation withthem. Break up the length and structure of yoursentences so you don?t hypnotize your readers intosleep. Sentences that are all the same length andstructure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!
Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots ofpractice. Make a schedule to write at least a page aday. Read books and magazines about the process ofwriting, and jot down tips that jump out at you. Theart of writing is a lifetime process; the more youwrite (and read), the better your writing will become.The better your writing becomes, the bigger your salesfigures.
In an ebook that is read on the screen, be aware thatyou must give your reader's eye a break. You can dothis by utilizing white space. In art classes, whitespace is usually referred to as "negative space."Reader's eyes need to rest in the cool white oasisesyou create on your page. If your page is too dense,your reader will quit out of it as soon as their eyesbegin to tear.
Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. Thismakes your information easy to absorb, and gives thereader a mental break from dissecting your paragraphsone after the other.
Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a fontthat's easy on the eyes, and stick to that fontfamily. Using dozens of fonts will only tire yourreaders out before they've gotten past yourintroduction. Use at least one and a half linespacing, and text large enough to be read easily onthe screen, but small enough so that the whole pagecan be seen on a computer screen. You will have toexperiment with this to find the right combination.
Of course, don't forget to run a spell and grammarcheck. You are judged by something as minor as correctpunctuation, so don?t mess up a great book by tossingout semicolons randomly, or stringing sentencestogether with commas. (By the way, that's called a"comma splice.")
Last of all, create an index and a bibliography.That's it! You've written a book! Now all you have todo is publish your ebook online, and wait for downloadrequest from your website visitors.
Overcoming writer's block
What is writer's block?
Well, I just can't think of a single darn thing tosay. Oh well, I'm outta here!
Sound familiar? No! Oh, get real! We've allexperienced this phenomenon when we absolutely have towrite something, particularly on deadline. I'm talkingabout. . . . .uh, I can't think of what the word is .. . oh, yes, it's on the tip of my tongue . . . it's:
WRITER'S BLOCK!!!!
Whew! I feel better just getting that out of my headand onto the page!
Writer's block is the patron demon of the blank page.You may think you know EXACTLY what you're going towrite, but as soon as that evil white screen appearsbefore you, your mind suddenly goes completely blank.I'm not talking about Zen meditationstare-at-the-wall-until-enlightenment-hits kind ofblank.
I'm talking about sweat trickling down the back ofyour neck, anguish and panic and suffering kind ofblank. The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguishof writer's block gets.
Having said that, let me say it again. "The tighterthe deadline, the worse the anguish of writer's blockgets." Now, can you figure out what might possibly becausing this horrible plunge into speechlessness?
The answer is obvious: FEAR! You are terrified of thatblank page. You are terrified you have absolutelynothing of value to say. You are afraid of the fear ofwriter's block itself!
It doesn?t necessarily matter if you've done a decadeof research and all you have to do is string sentencesyou can repeat in your sleep together into coherentparagraphs. Writer's block can strike anyone at anytime. Based in fear, it raises our doubts about ourown self-worth, but it's sneaky. It's writer's block,after all, so it doesn't just come and let you knowthat. No, it makes you feel like an idiot who just hadyour frontal lobes removed through your sinuses. Ifyou dared to put forth words into the greater world,they would surely come out as gibberish!
Let's try and be rational with this irrational demon.Let's make a list of what might possibly be beneaththis terrible and terrifying condition.
1. Perfectionism. You must absolutely produce amasterpiece of literature straight off in the firstdraft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete failure.
2. Editing instead of composing. There's yourmonkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling as soonas you type "I was born?," no, not that, that's wrong!That's stupid! Correct correct correct correct?
3. Self-consciousness. How can you think, let alonewrite, when all you can manage to do is pry thefingers of writer's block away from your throat enoughso you can gasp in a few shallow breaths? You're notfocusing on what you're trying to write, your focusingon those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.
4. Can't get started. It's always the first sentencethat's the hardest. As writers, we all know howEXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must bebrilliant! It must be unique! It must hook yourreader's from the start! There's no way we can getinto writing the piece until we get past thisimpossible first sentence.
5. Shattered concentration. You're cat is sick. Yoususpect your mate is cheating on you. Your electricitymight be turned off any second. You have a crush onthe local UPS deliveryman. You have a dinner partyplanned for your in-laws. You . . . Need I say more.How can you possibly concentrate with all this mentalclutter?
6. Procrastination. It's your favorite hobby. It'syour soul mate. It?s the reason you've knitted 60argyle sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garageworkshop. It's the reason you never run out of Brie.
FACE IT ? IT?S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER'SBLOCK!
How to Overcome Writer's Block
Okay. I can hear that herd of you running away fromthis article as fast as you can. Absurd! you huff.Never in a million years, you fume. Writer's block isabsolutely, undeniably, scientifically proven to beimpossible to overcome.
Oh, just get over it! Well, I guess it's not thateasy. So try to sit down for just a few minutes andlisten. All you have to do is listen ? you don't haveto actually write a single word.
Ah, there you all are again. I am beginning to makeyou out now that the cloud of dust is settling.
I am here to tell you that WRITER'S BLOCK CAN BEOVERCOME.
Please, remain seated.
There are ways to trick this nasty demon. Pick one,pick several, and give them a try. Soon, before youeven have a chance for your heartbeat to accelerate,guess what? You're writing.
Here are some tried and true methods of overcomingwriter's block:
1. Be prepared. The only thing to fear is fear itself.(I know, that's a clich?but as soon as you startwriting, feel free to improve on it.) If you spendsome time mulling over your project before youactually sit down to write, you may be able tocircumvent the worst of the crippling panic.
2. Forget perfectionism. No one ever writes amasterpiece in the first draft. Don't put anyexpectations on your writing at all! In fact, tellyourself you're going to write absolute garbage, andthen give yourself permission to happily stink up yourwriting room.
3. Compose instead of editing. Never, never write yourfirst draft with your monkey-mind sitting on yourshoulder making snide editorial comments. Composing isa magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind bygalaxies. It's even incomprehensible to the conscious,editorial, monkey-mind. So prepare an ambush. Sit downat your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath andblow out all your thoughts. Let your finger hover overyour keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull afake: appear to be about to begin to write, butinstead, using your thumb and index finger of yourdominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkeyback into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jumpin ? quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, leteverything loose, as long as you do it with a pen oryour computer keyboard.
4. Forget the first sentence. You can sweat over thatall-important one-liner when you've finished yourpiece. Skip it! Go for the middle or even the end.Start wherever you can. Chances are, when you read itover, the first line will be blinking its little neonlights right at you from the depths of yourcomposition.
5. Concentration. This is a hard one. Life throws usso many curve balls. How about thinking about yourwriting time as a little vacation from all thoseannoying worries. Banish them! Create a space, perhapseven a physical one, where nothing exists except thesingle present moment. If one of those irritatingworries gets by you, stomp on it like you would anugly bug!
6. Stop procrastinating. Write an outline. Keep yourresearch notes within sight. Use someone else'swriting to get going. Babble incoherently on paper oron the computer if you have to.
Just do it! (I know, I stole that line fromsomewhere?). Tack up anything that could possibly helpyou to get going: notes, outlines, pictures of yourgrandmother. Put the cookie you will be allowed to eatwhen you finish your first draft within sight ? butout of reach. Then pick up the same type of writingthat you need to write, and read it. Then read itagain. Soon, trust me, the fear will slowly fade away.As soon as it does, grab your keyboard ? and getwriting!
Well, I just can't think of a single darn thing tosay. Oh well, I'm outta here!
Sound familiar? No! Oh, get real! We've allexperienced this phenomenon when we absolutely have towrite something, particularly on deadline. I'm talkingabout. . . . .uh, I can't think of what the word is .. . oh, yes, it's on the tip of my tongue . . . it's:
WRITER'S BLOCK!!!!
Whew! I feel better just getting that out of my headand onto the page!
Writer's block is the patron demon of the blank page.You may think you know EXACTLY what you're going towrite, but as soon as that evil white screen appearsbefore you, your mind suddenly goes completely blank.I'm not talking about Zen meditationstare-at-the-wall-until-enlightenment-hits kind ofblank.
I'm talking about sweat trickling down the back ofyour neck, anguish and panic and suffering kind ofblank. The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguishof writer's block gets.
Having said that, let me say it again. "The tighterthe deadline, the worse the anguish of writer's blockgets." Now, can you figure out what might possibly becausing this horrible plunge into speechlessness?
The answer is obvious: FEAR! You are terrified of thatblank page. You are terrified you have absolutelynothing of value to say. You are afraid of the fear ofwriter's block itself!
It doesn?t necessarily matter if you've done a decadeof research and all you have to do is string sentencesyou can repeat in your sleep together into coherentparagraphs. Writer's block can strike anyone at anytime. Based in fear, it raises our doubts about ourown self-worth, but it's sneaky. It's writer's block,after all, so it doesn't just come and let you knowthat. No, it makes you feel like an idiot who just hadyour frontal lobes removed through your sinuses. Ifyou dared to put forth words into the greater world,they would surely come out as gibberish!
Let's try and be rational with this irrational demon.Let's make a list of what might possibly be beneaththis terrible and terrifying condition.
1. Perfectionism. You must absolutely produce amasterpiece of literature straight off in the firstdraft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete failure.
2. Editing instead of composing. There's yourmonkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling as soonas you type "I was born?," no, not that, that's wrong!That's stupid! Correct correct correct correct?
3. Self-consciousness. How can you think, let alonewrite, when all you can manage to do is pry thefingers of writer's block away from your throat enoughso you can gasp in a few shallow breaths? You're notfocusing on what you're trying to write, your focusingon those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.
4. Can't get started. It's always the first sentencethat's the hardest. As writers, we all know howEXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must bebrilliant! It must be unique! It must hook yourreader's from the start! There's no way we can getinto writing the piece until we get past thisimpossible first sentence.
5. Shattered concentration. You're cat is sick. Yoususpect your mate is cheating on you. Your electricitymight be turned off any second. You have a crush onthe local UPS deliveryman. You have a dinner partyplanned for your in-laws. You . . . Need I say more.How can you possibly concentrate with all this mentalclutter?
6. Procrastination. It's your favorite hobby. It'syour soul mate. It?s the reason you've knitted 60argyle sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garageworkshop. It's the reason you never run out of Brie.
FACE IT ? IT?S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER'SBLOCK!
How to Overcome Writer's Block
Okay. I can hear that herd of you running away fromthis article as fast as you can. Absurd! you huff.Never in a million years, you fume. Writer's block isabsolutely, undeniably, scientifically proven to beimpossible to overcome.
Oh, just get over it! Well, I guess it's not thateasy. So try to sit down for just a few minutes andlisten. All you have to do is listen ? you don't haveto actually write a single word.
Ah, there you all are again. I am beginning to makeyou out now that the cloud of dust is settling.
I am here to tell you that WRITER'S BLOCK CAN BEOVERCOME.
Please, remain seated.
There are ways to trick this nasty demon. Pick one,pick several, and give them a try. Soon, before youeven have a chance for your heartbeat to accelerate,guess what? You're writing.
Here are some tried and true methods of overcomingwriter's block:
1. Be prepared. The only thing to fear is fear itself.(I know, that's a clich?but as soon as you startwriting, feel free to improve on it.) If you spendsome time mulling over your project before youactually sit down to write, you may be able tocircumvent the worst of the crippling panic.
2. Forget perfectionism. No one ever writes amasterpiece in the first draft. Don't put anyexpectations on your writing at all! In fact, tellyourself you're going to write absolute garbage, andthen give yourself permission to happily stink up yourwriting room.
3. Compose instead of editing. Never, never write yourfirst draft with your monkey-mind sitting on yourshoulder making snide editorial comments. Composing isa magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind bygalaxies. It's even incomprehensible to the conscious,editorial, monkey-mind. So prepare an ambush. Sit downat your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath andblow out all your thoughts. Let your finger hover overyour keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull afake: appear to be about to begin to write, butinstead, using your thumb and index finger of yourdominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkeyback into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jumpin ? quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, leteverything loose, as long as you do it with a pen oryour computer keyboard.
4. Forget the first sentence. You can sweat over thatall-important one-liner when you've finished yourpiece. Skip it! Go for the middle or even the end.Start wherever you can. Chances are, when you read itover, the first line will be blinking its little neonlights right at you from the depths of yourcomposition.
5. Concentration. This is a hard one. Life throws usso many curve balls. How about thinking about yourwriting time as a little vacation from all thoseannoying worries. Banish them! Create a space, perhapseven a physical one, where nothing exists except thesingle present moment. If one of those irritatingworries gets by you, stomp on it like you would anugly bug!
6. Stop procrastinating. Write an outline. Keep yourresearch notes within sight. Use someone else'swriting to get going. Babble incoherently on paper oron the computer if you have to.
Just do it! (I know, I stole that line fromsomewhere?). Tack up anything that could possibly helpyou to get going: notes, outlines, pictures of yourgrandmother. Put the cookie you will be allowed to eatwhen you finish your first draft within sight ? butout of reach. Then pick up the same type of writingthat you need to write, and read it. Then read itagain. Soon, trust me, the fear will slowly fade away.As soon as it does, grab your keyboard ? and getwriting!
Rating ebook compilers
Now that you've finished writing your eBook and have abasic understanding of what an eBook compiler does,you may be feeling overwhelmed by the number ofcompilers on the market. To help you make yourdecision, I have tested and reviewed the best-ratedeBook compilers currently available.
* E-ditor
This software has a demo version that you can downloadto try out before purchasing. You can't actually usethe demo to create an eBook, but you can run thesoftware and test it out thoroughly to see if it doeswhat you need it to do for your particular eBook.
This eBook compiler is one of the easiest to use. Thesoftware has a very user-friendly help menu thatprovides instructions for and explanations of everyfield on every screen. The program also includes videotutorials demonstrating every step of this compilerwith clear explanations of all fields that need to befilled out. There are 7 screens that you use to chooseyour eBook options.
This compiler requires your files to be in HTMLformat. You follow simple directions, and the compilerloads your files. If you decide to edit your eBookafter it has been compiled, make any changes in youroriginal files and click on "Compile you eBook" andyour changes will appear in your compiled eBook.
E-editor allows for some customization of your eBook.You can create a special page that appears when theeBook is opened; create customized icons that appearon the desktop after downloading; use your own logo onthe task bar of your eBook; customize the task bar'sbuttons, where the task bar appears in your eBook, andchoose the task bar's colors. Additionally, you canchoose to have the eBook open to the last page read,which many of your buyers will appreciate.
An excellent and unique feature of E-ditor is thecapability to choose a standard Microsoft window or tocreate your own design for a window to personalizeyour eBook. The program provides some sample windowdesigns, but you can use any .bmp (bit map skin)graphic you have stored on your hard drive.
E-ditor is a good choice if you are new at producingeBooks because it is easy to use and allows you tocustomize the appearance of your eBook.
* Desktop Author
This compiler does not require a browser, nor do youhave to download software or plug-ins. The programconverts exe. files into pages that look like astandard book. You can create and produce eBook pagesscaled to fit on your computer screen without anyscrolling. Additional features include WYSIWGY (whatyou see is what you get) page editing and creation,the ability to manipulate internal images, cut andpaste functions, hotlinks to pages, email, website, orother files. It is an excellent compiler to use for amarketing tools, such as creating brochures andmanuals in addition to eBooks.
* EBook Edit Pro
This compiler provides a demo version, which allowsyou to test out its features. The software uses aWizard that leads you step-by-step through the set-upand creation of your eBook. Customization includestext editing that appears on the pop-up startingmessage window; the ability to allow or preventresizing of your book and the mouse-click pop-up menu;enabling or disabling the navigation bar and choosingthe buttons you want to appear; and customizing theeBook's desktop icon and the logo that appears on thenavigation bar.
Ebook Edit Pro is loaded with excellent features thatallow you to create multi-media Ebooks, and includes aWizard that is customized for beginners and foradvanced users. The software uses HTML files,downloading them from the directory where they aresaved. Edit and resave your files in the originalsoftware used to create those files, and then with asingle click you can re-compile your Ebook.
Features include customization of icons, toolbars, andthe "about box." This compiler has a particularlyuseful feature called the Rebrander feature. Thispermits you to enter customized code into your Ebookpages and distribute the Rebrander software to youraffiliates or distributors. They can then customizethe links included in the Ebook, but they can notalter any link or information that you have notentered a customized code for.
The software includes "eBrand-It" software that allowscustom fields for your customer's name, affiliate IDor URL. This feature is a powerful marketing toolbecause affiliates are much happier giving away yourEbook from their own site when they can customize it.
* Ebook Compiler
This compiler offers a demo version that allows you tocompile 10 files. If you don't include graphics, youcan create a 10 page Ebook that allows printing andcopying of the Ebook. The catch is that you can't sellany Ebook you create in the demo version.
The purchased software is user-friendly witheasy-to-follow help files that not only guide youthrough the steps of compiling your Ebook, but alsoexplains what an Ebook compiler does. The softwareprovides detailed instructions on how to create sourcefiles from Microsoft Word 2000 and 1997, PowerPoint2000 and 1997, and HTML documents. It contains lessdetailed instructions for creating source files fromother programs.
This compiler allows for password protection of yourentire Ebook or for selected pages. Additionally, youcan set a time limit on your Ebook. When the runs out,the customer no longer has access unless they pay forit. In other words, it allows you to create a demoversion of your Ebook for marketing purposes.
You can set a single password or multiple passwords.Using multiple passwords assigns each user their ownspecific password. Online help files guide you throughsetting up your passwords. You can also create a Salesand Thank-you page for selling a password protectedEbook. This is a good choice for the novice,particularly since it includes basic features forpassword protection and distribution.
* Activ Ebook Compiler
This is an easy to use compiler that providesexcellent features. This software can support HTML,JPEG, GIF, and all active plug-ins. Features includespassword protection, branding, internet linking, iconcustomization, assigning unique serial numbers, splashscreen, file compression, and start-up messages. Italso provides free lifetime upgrades. Additionally, itincludes a preprocessor, re-brander, active script,and detailed instructions for using HTML, Power Point,and Microsoft Word files.
There are several other excellent Ebook compilers onthe market that are worth looking into.
Ebook Generator features splash screens, passwordprotection, branding, icon customization, andcompression control. Additionally, it includes virusprevention that alerts the user to any modificationsmade to your Ebook and offers usage statistics so youcan track your Ebook's use. With all these advancedfeatures, this is an excellent compiler for thebeginner because it is exceptionally easy to run.
Ebook Creator is another excellent compiler,supporting HTML, JPEG, GIF, and PNG graphics, andJavascript, VB script, and Java applets. It alsosupports all Internet Explorer plug-ins. Standardfeatures include unique serial numbers, direct linkingto a form or a page on your website, disabled rightclicking, and search functions. The software allowsfor expiration after a set number of days or usages,which allows you to create demo versions. You cancreate up to 1000 different passwords; every time theEbook is downloaded, a unique password is required toaccess protected pages. The software providesuser-friendly menus and buttons that allow thebeginner to the advanced user to easily create theirEbook.
Obviously, there are some excellent compilers outthere. So figure out EVERYTHING you need in terms offeatures, and then compare prices and options. Do takeadvantage of demo versions if they are offered beforepurchasing. And then, have fun creating your Ebook!
* E-ditor
This software has a demo version that you can downloadto try out before purchasing. You can't actually usethe demo to create an eBook, but you can run thesoftware and test it out thoroughly to see if it doeswhat you need it to do for your particular eBook.
This eBook compiler is one of the easiest to use. Thesoftware has a very user-friendly help menu thatprovides instructions for and explanations of everyfield on every screen. The program also includes videotutorials demonstrating every step of this compilerwith clear explanations of all fields that need to befilled out. There are 7 screens that you use to chooseyour eBook options.
This compiler requires your files to be in HTMLformat. You follow simple directions, and the compilerloads your files. If you decide to edit your eBookafter it has been compiled, make any changes in youroriginal files and click on "Compile you eBook" andyour changes will appear in your compiled eBook.
E-editor allows for some customization of your eBook.You can create a special page that appears when theeBook is opened; create customized icons that appearon the desktop after downloading; use your own logo onthe task bar of your eBook; customize the task bar'sbuttons, where the task bar appears in your eBook, andchoose the task bar's colors. Additionally, you canchoose to have the eBook open to the last page read,which many of your buyers will appreciate.
An excellent and unique feature of E-ditor is thecapability to choose a standard Microsoft window or tocreate your own design for a window to personalizeyour eBook. The program provides some sample windowdesigns, but you can use any .bmp (bit map skin)graphic you have stored on your hard drive.
E-ditor is a good choice if you are new at producingeBooks because it is easy to use and allows you tocustomize the appearance of your eBook.
* Desktop Author
This compiler does not require a browser, nor do youhave to download software or plug-ins. The programconverts exe. files into pages that look like astandard book. You can create and produce eBook pagesscaled to fit on your computer screen without anyscrolling. Additional features include WYSIWGY (whatyou see is what you get) page editing and creation,the ability to manipulate internal images, cut andpaste functions, hotlinks to pages, email, website, orother files. It is an excellent compiler to use for amarketing tools, such as creating brochures andmanuals in addition to eBooks.
* EBook Edit Pro
This compiler provides a demo version, which allowsyou to test out its features. The software uses aWizard that leads you step-by-step through the set-upand creation of your eBook. Customization includestext editing that appears on the pop-up startingmessage window; the ability to allow or preventresizing of your book and the mouse-click pop-up menu;enabling or disabling the navigation bar and choosingthe buttons you want to appear; and customizing theeBook's desktop icon and the logo that appears on thenavigation bar.
Ebook Edit Pro is loaded with excellent features thatallow you to create multi-media Ebooks, and includes aWizard that is customized for beginners and foradvanced users. The software uses HTML files,downloading them from the directory where they aresaved. Edit and resave your files in the originalsoftware used to create those files, and then with asingle click you can re-compile your Ebook.
Features include customization of icons, toolbars, andthe "about box." This compiler has a particularlyuseful feature called the Rebrander feature. Thispermits you to enter customized code into your Ebookpages and distribute the Rebrander software to youraffiliates or distributors. They can then customizethe links included in the Ebook, but they can notalter any link or information that you have notentered a customized code for.
The software includes "eBrand-It" software that allowscustom fields for your customer's name, affiliate IDor URL. This feature is a powerful marketing toolbecause affiliates are much happier giving away yourEbook from their own site when they can customize it.
* Ebook Compiler
This compiler offers a demo version that allows you tocompile 10 files. If you don't include graphics, youcan create a 10 page Ebook that allows printing andcopying of the Ebook. The catch is that you can't sellany Ebook you create in the demo version.
The purchased software is user-friendly witheasy-to-follow help files that not only guide youthrough the steps of compiling your Ebook, but alsoexplains what an Ebook compiler does. The softwareprovides detailed instructions on how to create sourcefiles from Microsoft Word 2000 and 1997, PowerPoint2000 and 1997, and HTML documents. It contains lessdetailed instructions for creating source files fromother programs.
This compiler allows for password protection of yourentire Ebook or for selected pages. Additionally, youcan set a time limit on your Ebook. When the runs out,the customer no longer has access unless they pay forit. In other words, it allows you to create a demoversion of your Ebook for marketing purposes.
You can set a single password or multiple passwords.Using multiple passwords assigns each user their ownspecific password. Online help files guide you throughsetting up your passwords. You can also create a Salesand Thank-you page for selling a password protectedEbook. This is a good choice for the novice,particularly since it includes basic features forpassword protection and distribution.
* Activ Ebook Compiler
This is an easy to use compiler that providesexcellent features. This software can support HTML,JPEG, GIF, and all active plug-ins. Features includespassword protection, branding, internet linking, iconcustomization, assigning unique serial numbers, splashscreen, file compression, and start-up messages. Italso provides free lifetime upgrades. Additionally, itincludes a preprocessor, re-brander, active script,and detailed instructions for using HTML, Power Point,and Microsoft Word files.
There are several other excellent Ebook compilers onthe market that are worth looking into.
Ebook Generator features splash screens, passwordprotection, branding, icon customization, andcompression control. Additionally, it includes virusprevention that alerts the user to any modificationsmade to your Ebook and offers usage statistics so youcan track your Ebook's use. With all these advancedfeatures, this is an excellent compiler for thebeginner because it is exceptionally easy to run.
Ebook Creator is another excellent compiler,supporting HTML, JPEG, GIF, and PNG graphics, andJavascript, VB script, and Java applets. It alsosupports all Internet Explorer plug-ins. Standardfeatures include unique serial numbers, direct linkingto a form or a page on your website, disabled rightclicking, and search functions. The software allowsfor expiration after a set number of days or usages,which allows you to create demo versions. You cancreate up to 1000 different passwords; every time theEbook is downloaded, a unique password is required toaccess protected pages. The software providesuser-friendly menus and buttons that allow thebeginner to the advanced user to easily create theirEbook.
Obviously, there are some excellent compilers outthere. So figure out EVERYTHING you need in terms offeatures, and then compare prices and options. Do takeadvantage of demo versions if they are offered beforepurchasing. And then, have fun creating your Ebook!
Steps to publishing success
ven if your best friend owns a top publishingcompany, giving you an immediate "in," this does notguarantee publishing success.
First, you have to write a quality book that has aclear target audience. And your book must answer acommon problem or need that audience shares. Then youhave to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it forat least two years.
Let's begin with the process that should commencebefore you write your first word. Begin by reading ALOT. Read both books you passionately love and booksyou can't seem to make it past page five. Then figureout what the author did in the book you loved, andwhat was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish.Write down these points so they are crystal clear toyou. Read other people's books for inspiration and todiscover what you should avoid as a writer.
The next step is to plan out your book. Narrow downyour subject, and then divide it into chapters. Eachchapter should address a specific aspect of theproblem your book is going to solve. In each chapter,break the specific aspect down into several parts.This will help your readers take in your information abit at a time instead of overwhelming them with everybit of information clogging up the pages until theyfeel like they're about to go blind. It's not quitespoon-feeding the information to your readers, butit's close.
The next two steps are obvious. Write your book andthen revise it. And then revise it again. And perhapsagain. Of course, writing is extremely hard, andwriting a book can seem like an impossible task. Thereare many books out there that give you guidelines tohelp you become familiar - and even love - the processof writing and revision. Find a number of books aboutwriting. Better yet, find a number of books aboutwriting the specific type of book you aspire to write.These can serve as roadmaps on your writing journey.
Once you've written your ebook and revised it at leasttwice, show it to someone else whose opinion yourespect. If you're lucky enough to know a good editor,see if you have something to barter for him or her togo through your manuscript. Or join a writing groupand let the other members critique your work.
Then take all these ideas from other people, andrevise your manuscript one last time. And then stop!Put down that pen! Get your hands off the keyboard!
One of the most important steps to actually producinga book is to know when to stop writing and tinkeringwith it.
You've finally written your ebook! Pop open thebubbly! Give yourself a night out on the town!
Okay, now that this necessary celebration is out ofyour system, what do you do next?
How to turn your ebook into Profits
Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your bookwithout incurring the costs of print production. Allyou need is a relevant and targeted subject and someinexpensive software, and you can transform yourmanuscript into a book.
The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profitsfrom your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmedwith ebooks, and many of them are not worth the timeit takes to download them. Just because the abilityexists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make itgood writing.
Make sure your book does not simply rehash oldmaterial. You will injure your credibility as anauthor by claiming to offer valuable new insights anddisappointing your audience with material they've reada zillion times before. So spend enough time writingand revising your book to make sure it's of thehighest quality and presents the most currentinformation. A good book will eventually sell itself;false claims about your book will make it extremelydifficult to sell any future books you may write.
Assuming you have determined that you do indeed have aquality product that answers some question or need ofyour target audience with NEW information, how do youknow how much to charge for it? Rule number 1: Set aprice for your book equal to its value. Anunder-priced book will only give the impression thatyour book isn't worth very much.
To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time youput into creating it and how difficult it was totransform the necessary information intounderstandable and engaging writing. Figure out howmuch your time and effort is worth, and then price itaccordingly. The goal is for you to be adequatelycompensated for your talent, your time, and youreffort.
Once you've figured out a price that is high enough toconvey the value of the book, but not so high as to beout of the reach of your target audience's meanbudget, then it's time to offer it for sale on yourwebsite. To attract sales, you will need to develop apromotional campaign, particularly if you are anunknown author.
There are multitudes of books about self-promotionthat will guide you in your efforts. Choose a planthat is both creative and professional. Learn how towrite a catchy yet informative press release, and sendcopies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebookreviews.
Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or hiresomeone to write it for you. This is an essential. Youabsolutely need excellent sales copy to sell yourbook. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons yourtarget audience needs your book, and the benefits theywill derive from buying it.
Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautifulgraphics have the power to instantly convey thequality and value of your ebook. Graphics can alsoconvey the amount of valuable information the bookcontains, and your careful attention to detail.Professional graphics sell professional books. Theyreassure the customer that the product is what itclaims to be.
Consider excerpting chapters for articles. You canoffer these tidbits for free on your website as a sortof demo of your book. Include an order form for yourebook at the end of the excerpted articles.
Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sureto simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer afew bonuses that make your book even more enticing topurchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable andhigh quality. Too many bonuses that are basically aload of useless stuff will compromise the impressionyour audience has of your ebook. The goal is to conveyto your audience that they are getting a qualityproduct for a good deal. That means applyingrestraint, especially when it comes to adding bonusitems. Too much free stuff offered diminishes yourcredibility.
Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure itis relevant and current. Develop an effectivemarketing plan that includes excellent sales copy andexcerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, andwait for your audience to discover you!
First, you have to write a quality book that has aclear target audience. And your book must answer acommon problem or need that audience shares. Then youhave to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it forat least two years.
Let's begin with the process that should commencebefore you write your first word. Begin by reading ALOT. Read both books you passionately love and booksyou can't seem to make it past page five. Then figureout what the author did in the book you loved, andwhat was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish.Write down these points so they are crystal clear toyou. Read other people's books for inspiration and todiscover what you should avoid as a writer.
The next step is to plan out your book. Narrow downyour subject, and then divide it into chapters. Eachchapter should address a specific aspect of theproblem your book is going to solve. In each chapter,break the specific aspect down into several parts.This will help your readers take in your information abit at a time instead of overwhelming them with everybit of information clogging up the pages until theyfeel like they're about to go blind. It's not quitespoon-feeding the information to your readers, butit's close.
The next two steps are obvious. Write your book andthen revise it. And then revise it again. And perhapsagain. Of course, writing is extremely hard, andwriting a book can seem like an impossible task. Thereare many books out there that give you guidelines tohelp you become familiar - and even love - the processof writing and revision. Find a number of books aboutwriting. Better yet, find a number of books aboutwriting the specific type of book you aspire to write.These can serve as roadmaps on your writing journey.
Once you've written your ebook and revised it at leasttwice, show it to someone else whose opinion yourespect. If you're lucky enough to know a good editor,see if you have something to barter for him or her togo through your manuscript. Or join a writing groupand let the other members critique your work.
Then take all these ideas from other people, andrevise your manuscript one last time. And then stop!Put down that pen! Get your hands off the keyboard!
One of the most important steps to actually producinga book is to know when to stop writing and tinkeringwith it.
You've finally written your ebook! Pop open thebubbly! Give yourself a night out on the town!
Okay, now that this necessary celebration is out ofyour system, what do you do next?
How to turn your ebook into Profits
Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your bookwithout incurring the costs of print production. Allyou need is a relevant and targeted subject and someinexpensive software, and you can transform yourmanuscript into a book.
The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profitsfrom your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmedwith ebooks, and many of them are not worth the timeit takes to download them. Just because the abilityexists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make itgood writing.
Make sure your book does not simply rehash oldmaterial. You will injure your credibility as anauthor by claiming to offer valuable new insights anddisappointing your audience with material they've reada zillion times before. So spend enough time writingand revising your book to make sure it's of thehighest quality and presents the most currentinformation. A good book will eventually sell itself;false claims about your book will make it extremelydifficult to sell any future books you may write.
Assuming you have determined that you do indeed have aquality product that answers some question or need ofyour target audience with NEW information, how do youknow how much to charge for it? Rule number 1: Set aprice for your book equal to its value. Anunder-priced book will only give the impression thatyour book isn't worth very much.
To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time youput into creating it and how difficult it was totransform the necessary information intounderstandable and engaging writing. Figure out howmuch your time and effort is worth, and then price itaccordingly. The goal is for you to be adequatelycompensated for your talent, your time, and youreffort.
Once you've figured out a price that is high enough toconvey the value of the book, but not so high as to beout of the reach of your target audience's meanbudget, then it's time to offer it for sale on yourwebsite. To attract sales, you will need to develop apromotional campaign, particularly if you are anunknown author.
There are multitudes of books about self-promotionthat will guide you in your efforts. Choose a planthat is both creative and professional. Learn how towrite a catchy yet informative press release, and sendcopies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebookreviews.
Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or hiresomeone to write it for you. This is an essential. Youabsolutely need excellent sales copy to sell yourbook. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons yourtarget audience needs your book, and the benefits theywill derive from buying it.
Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautifulgraphics have the power to instantly convey thequality and value of your ebook. Graphics can alsoconvey the amount of valuable information the bookcontains, and your careful attention to detail.Professional graphics sell professional books. Theyreassure the customer that the product is what itclaims to be.
Consider excerpting chapters for articles. You canoffer these tidbits for free on your website as a sortof demo of your book. Include an order form for yourebook at the end of the excerpted articles.
Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sureto simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer afew bonuses that make your book even more enticing topurchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable andhigh quality. Too many bonuses that are basically aload of useless stuff will compromise the impressionyour audience has of your ebook. The goal is to conveyto your audience that they are getting a qualityproduct for a good deal. That means applyingrestraint, especially when it comes to adding bonusitems. Too much free stuff offered diminishes yourcredibility.
Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure itis relevant and current. Develop an effectivemarketing plan that includes excellent sales copy andexcerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, andwait for your audience to discover you!
Why write an ebook?
It's not true that everything that has been said hasalready been written. Since that unfortunate axiomcame into use, the whole universe has changed.Technology has changed, ideas have changed, and themindsets of entire nations have changed.
The fact is that this is the perfect time to write anebook. What the publishing industry needs are peoplewho can tap into the world as it is today - innovativethinkers who can make the leap into the new millenniumand figure out how to solve old problems in a new way.Ebooks are a new and powerful tool for originalthinkers with fresh ideas to disseminate informationto the millions of people who are struggling to figureout how to do a plethora of different things.
Let's say you already have a brilliant idea, and theknowledge to back it up that will enable you to writean exceptional ebook. You may be sitting at yourcomputer staring at a blank screen wondering, "Why?Why should I go through all the trouble of writing myebook when it's so impossible to get anythingpublished these days?
Well, let me assure you that publishing an ebook isentirely different than publishing a book in print.Let's look at the specifics of how the print and cyberpublishing industry differ, and the many reasons whyyou should take the plunge and get your fingerstapping across those keyboards!
Submitting a print book to conventional publishinghouses or to agents is similar to wearing a hair shirt24/7. No matter how good your book actually is, or howmany critique services and mentor writers have toldyou that "you've got what it takes," your submittedmanuscript keeps coming back to you as if it is aboomerang instead of a valuable mine of information.
Perhaps, in desperation, you've checked outself-publishing and found out just how expensive aventure it can be. Most "vanity presses" requireminimal print runs of at least 500 copies, and eventhat amount will cost you thousands of dollars. Somepresses' minimal run starts at 1,000 to 2,000 copies.And that's just for the printing and binding. Add indistribution, shipping, and promotional costs and -well, you do the math. Even if you wanted to go thisroute, you may not have that kind of money to risk.
Let's say you already have an Internet business with aquality website and a quality product. An ebook is oneof the most powerful ways to promote your businesswhile educating people with the knowledge you alreadypossess as a business owner of a specific product orservice.
For example, let's say that you've spent the lasttwenty-five years growing and training bonsai trees,and now you're ready to share your knowledge andexperience. An ebook is the perfect way to reach thelargest audience of bonsai enthusiasts.
Ebooks will not only promote your business - they willhelp you make a name for yourself and your company,and establish you as an expert in your field. You mayeven find that you have enough to say to warrant aseries of ebooks. Specific businesses are complicatedand often require the different aspects to be dividedin order for the reader to get the full story.
Perhaps your goals are more finely tuned in terms ofthe ebook scene. You may want to build a wholebusiness around writing and publishing ebooks.Essentially, you want to start an e-business. You arethinking of setting up a website to promote and marketyour ebooks. Maybe you're even thinking of producingan ezine.
One of the most prevalent reasons people read ebooksis to find information about how to turn theirInternet businesses into a profit-making machine. Andthese people are looking to the writers of ebooks toprovide them with new ideas and strategies becausewriters of ebooks are usually people who understandthe new cyberspace world we now live in. Ebook writersare experts in Internet marketing campaigns and thestrategies of promoting and distributing ebooks. Thecyberspace community needs its ebooks to be successfulso that more and more ebooks will be written.
You may want to create affiliate programs that willalso market your ebook. Affiliates can be people orbusinesses worldwide that will all be working to sellyour ebooks. Think about this? Do you see a formulafor success here?
Figure out what your subject matter is, and thennarrow it down. Your goal is to aim for specificity.Research what's out there already, and try to find avoid that your ebook might fill.
What about an ebook about a wedding cake business? Oran ebook about caring for elderly pets? How about thefine points of collecting ancient pottery?
You don't have to have three masters degrees to writeabout your subject. People need advice that is easy toread and easily understood. Parents need advice fordealing with their teenagers. College students need tolearn good study skills - quickly. The possibilitiesare endless.
After you've writtten your ebook
Getting your ebook out is going to be your focus onceyou've finished writing it, just as it is with printbooks. People will hesitate to buy any book from anauthor they've never heard of. Wouldn't you?
The answer is simple: give it away! You will seeprofits in the form of promoting your own business andgetting your name out. You will find affiliates whowill ask you to place their links within your ebook,and these affiliates will in turn go out and make yourname known. Almost every single famous ebook authorhas started out this way.
Another powerful tool to attract people to your ebookis to make it interactive. Invent something for themto do within the book rather than just producing pagesthat contain static text. Let your readers fill outquestionnaires, forms, even crossword puzzles gearedto testing their knowledge on a particular subject.Have your readers hit a link that will allow them torecommend your book to their friends and associates.Or include an actual order form so at the end of theirreading journey, they can eagerly buy your product.
When people interact with books, they become a part ofthe world of that book. The fact is just as true forbooks in print as it is for ebooks.
That's why ebooks are so essential. Not only do theyprovide a forum for people to learn and make sense oftheir own thoughts, but they can also serve to promoteyour business at the same time.
The fact is that this is the perfect time to write anebook. What the publishing industry needs are peoplewho can tap into the world as it is today - innovativethinkers who can make the leap into the new millenniumand figure out how to solve old problems in a new way.Ebooks are a new and powerful tool for originalthinkers with fresh ideas to disseminate informationto the millions of people who are struggling to figureout how to do a plethora of different things.
Let's say you already have a brilliant idea, and theknowledge to back it up that will enable you to writean exceptional ebook. You may be sitting at yourcomputer staring at a blank screen wondering, "Why?Why should I go through all the trouble of writing myebook when it's so impossible to get anythingpublished these days?
Well, let me assure you that publishing an ebook isentirely different than publishing a book in print.Let's look at the specifics of how the print and cyberpublishing industry differ, and the many reasons whyyou should take the plunge and get your fingerstapping across those keyboards!
Submitting a print book to conventional publishinghouses or to agents is similar to wearing a hair shirt24/7. No matter how good your book actually is, or howmany critique services and mentor writers have toldyou that "you've got what it takes," your submittedmanuscript keeps coming back to you as if it is aboomerang instead of a valuable mine of information.
Perhaps, in desperation, you've checked outself-publishing and found out just how expensive aventure it can be. Most "vanity presses" requireminimal print runs of at least 500 copies, and eventhat amount will cost you thousands of dollars. Somepresses' minimal run starts at 1,000 to 2,000 copies.And that's just for the printing and binding. Add indistribution, shipping, and promotional costs and -well, you do the math. Even if you wanted to go thisroute, you may not have that kind of money to risk.
Let's say you already have an Internet business with aquality website and a quality product. An ebook is oneof the most powerful ways to promote your businesswhile educating people with the knowledge you alreadypossess as a business owner of a specific product orservice.
For example, let's say that you've spent the lasttwenty-five years growing and training bonsai trees,and now you're ready to share your knowledge andexperience. An ebook is the perfect way to reach thelargest audience of bonsai enthusiasts.
Ebooks will not only promote your business - they willhelp you make a name for yourself and your company,and establish you as an expert in your field. You mayeven find that you have enough to say to warrant aseries of ebooks. Specific businesses are complicatedand often require the different aspects to be dividedin order for the reader to get the full story.
Perhaps your goals are more finely tuned in terms ofthe ebook scene. You may want to build a wholebusiness around writing and publishing ebooks.Essentially, you want to start an e-business. You arethinking of setting up a website to promote and marketyour ebooks. Maybe you're even thinking of producingan ezine.
One of the most prevalent reasons people read ebooksis to find information about how to turn theirInternet businesses into a profit-making machine. Andthese people are looking to the writers of ebooks toprovide them with new ideas and strategies becausewriters of ebooks are usually people who understandthe new cyberspace world we now live in. Ebook writersare experts in Internet marketing campaigns and thestrategies of promoting and distributing ebooks. Thecyberspace community needs its ebooks to be successfulso that more and more ebooks will be written.
You may want to create affiliate programs that willalso market your ebook. Affiliates can be people orbusinesses worldwide that will all be working to sellyour ebooks. Think about this? Do you see a formulafor success here?
Figure out what your subject matter is, and thennarrow it down. Your goal is to aim for specificity.Research what's out there already, and try to find avoid that your ebook might fill.
What about an ebook about a wedding cake business? Oran ebook about caring for elderly pets? How about thefine points of collecting ancient pottery?
You don't have to have three masters degrees to writeabout your subject. People need advice that is easy toread and easily understood. Parents need advice fordealing with their teenagers. College students need tolearn good study skills - quickly. The possibilitiesare endless.
After you've writtten your ebook
Getting your ebook out is going to be your focus onceyou've finished writing it, just as it is with printbooks. People will hesitate to buy any book from anauthor they've never heard of. Wouldn't you?
The answer is simple: give it away! You will seeprofits in the form of promoting your own business andgetting your name out. You will find affiliates whowill ask you to place their links within your ebook,and these affiliates will in turn go out and make yourname known. Almost every single famous ebook authorhas started out this way.
Another powerful tool to attract people to your ebookis to make it interactive. Invent something for themto do within the book rather than just producing pagesthat contain static text. Let your readers fill outquestionnaires, forms, even crossword puzzles gearedto testing their knowledge on a particular subject.Have your readers hit a link that will allow them torecommend your book to their friends and associates.Or include an actual order form so at the end of theirreading journey, they can eagerly buy your product.
When people interact with books, they become a part ofthe world of that book. The fact is just as true forbooks in print as it is for ebooks.
That's why ebooks are so essential. Not only do theyprovide a forum for people to learn and make sense oftheir own thoughts, but they can also serve to promoteyour business at the same time.
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