Tips I Have Learned from Writing and Selling an E-Book

Volume III, Issue 5
ISSN: 1547-7754
October 2005
printable version

Chris King, Editor
By subscription only, this monthly e-newsletter is loaded with short, "down and dirty" tips to help you with solving the everchanging and growing puzzle of the Internet. This e-zine serves as a place to ask your questions and find the answers. So, send me your burning questions.

Even though I am a deadline driven person and also a person of my word, I didn’t finish my new e-book, How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE!, in seven days. It took much more than seven weeks!

I am happy to announce that it was finished soon after my last Internet Tips E-zine to you and I have been selling it ever since. In this issue, I will be sharing some of the tips I learned in the process - both from the failures and the successes.

TIP #1. Don’t underestimate the time involved, especially if you have other commitments.

The first two e-books I wrote was when I was just getting started on the Internet. I answered an ad from a company named Dream Jobs to Go and proposed two career titles. I was sent the structure for the books - both a great deal shorter than my new one - and once I sent them the content, the company took care of all of the layout and design work. I was one of the first authors to finish, because I wasn’t as busy as I am today.

TIP #2. Pick a subject that others are interested in, not just one that appeals to you.

I learned this the hard way. The two career books I wrote are, How to Get Started as a Fitness Instructor, and How to Get Started as a Professional Storyteller. Both include great interviews with people already practicing those careers, links to useful websites, step-by-step instructions and lots and lots of true-to-life tips. I have both of these professions myself and love them both. However, the Storytelling book has sold enough copies to bring me royalties, while the Fitness Instructor book has sold only a couple of copies to people in my classes who have asked me how they can do what I am doing.

TIP #3. Decide who your target market will be and write to them on their level.

I knew from my years in Toastmasters International that practically anyone who is career oriented - either working in the corporate world or for themselves as an independent professional, free agent and freelancer - realizes the importance of having powerful presentation skills.

TIP #4. Start testing the waters by writing articles about your chosen subject.

On my website, www.powerfulpresentations.net, I have written and posted more than 80 articles. These have been well received and visited often by many in my target audience, so I knew that I was on the right track with the right topic.

TIP #5. Once you feel that you have enough useful information to fill a book make an overall plan for the structure, layout, design elements and general flavor of the book.

I know that there are some authors who suggest writing everything first and then worry about the overall design and layout. I think it depends upon how we work most effectively. As I went along, I was spurred on by seeing the actual book evolving. And, even though I had editing to do, I feel there was less of a hassle, because everything was in its right place.

TIP #6. Create a strong title and an even stronger subtitle.

How tos are always compelling - readers want to know what steps to take to achieve the benefits from using our books. You know my title already. The subtitle is, Everything You Need to Know to Become an Outrageously Powerful Presenter.

TIP #7. Make sure that your e-book is user friendly.

I am not going to go into details here, but when planning my e-book, I chose several of my favorites (e-books I have purchased) and noted what I liked and didn’t like. It took extra time, but I made sure that every topic was on the page listed in the main menu and that if readers wanted to use the bookmarks feature of the Adobe Reader, they are set to take you to the topic of your choice.

TIP #8. Decide how you are going to market and sell your e-book.

Ask yourself the following questions and then test, test and test your answers.

• Am I going to set up a separate page - or mini-site - for selling my e-book? (good idea)
• Will I offer bonuses with the e-book and what bonuses? (another good idea)
• What about testimonials? (if you have them, yes, use them)
• What should I charge? And, how about an initial discounted offer? (for the month of September, I gave a special price, noting that on October 1st it would go up. Right at midnight I changed it, and it is still selling).

I know that I have only scratched the surface, but I do hope that you will be encouraged to create an e-book. You will learn as much, if not more, than your readers.

Have a terrific and productive month!

Do send your comments and questions to me at chris@creativekeys.biz. I love to receive feedback and will answer your questions in future e-zines.