Feature | How to Write an eBook

How to Write, Produce, Publish and Sell an eBook for Only $5 – Part 2

 

Last week, I shared part 1 of how to write an eBook, I discussed with you:

  • Why you need an eBook
  • Where to start
  • What to write your eBook about
  • Where to physically write it
  • How to produce your eBook

In this post, I’m going to focus on what to do once you’ve created it.

How and where to publish your eBook

Most of us will either publish our works on our blog/website or offer it to our subscribers via an email/newsletter.  Your eBook may be so fabulous that you want to self-publish as an iBook on Amazon, Kindle or iBooks.  I found this great blog post by Dragos Roua describing exactly how to do that.

How to publish your eBook

To publish it on your own blog or website, all you need to do is upload the PDF file to your server.  Once you’ve done that, make a note of the URL. This is the link you’ll need to direct your traffic to so that they can download your eBook.

If you have a Wordpress site and want to post your eBook in your sidebar, as I’ve done on this page, you can use the text widget to add an image of your eBook cover and then either an opt-in form which directs subscribers to the URL to download your eBook or to a sales page where they can purchase your eBook.    If you get stuck with this, ask your web developer to help you out or contact me and I’d be happy to talk you through it.

 

How much to charge for your eBook

This could be the topic of a blog post all on its own so I’m just going to cover some basic points here.

Many people offer an eBook as a freebie in exchange for contact details and permission to add the subscriber to your contact list.  This is sometimes called an “ethical bribe”.  There is nothing wrong with doing this and we are living in a world of freebies so many people have come to expect it.

However, more and more online businesses are realising that the quality of the contact gained in this way is not great.  We’ve wised up to these internet marketing techniques and are providing rubbish emails or unsubscribing as soon as we’ve received our freebie.  If people aren’t prepared to pay a small amount for your eBook, are they going to be prepared to pay even more for your other products?

Other people charge a small amount  and use the eBook to up-sell or promote other higher priced products.

“The demand you get at a price of zero is many times higher than the demand you get at a very low price.” Kartik Hosanagar, Assistant Professor, Wharton. (extract from Business Model Generation, Osterwalder & Pigneur).

Even charging $1 will significantly reduce the number of sign-ups you’ll get but the quality of your list may be better because the person is only going to part with their cash if they are truly interested in your topic.

Whether you offer your eBook as a freebie or charge for it will be driven by your objectives.  What do you want from your eBook – to build your list, to make money, to increase your profile, an affiliate product, to build relationships?

 

Let people know about your eBook

You’re finished with writing, producing and publishing.  Time to relax and let it all happen.  WRONG!  Now the work begins to let people know that your eBook exists.  It can be the greatest eBook in the world but if no one knows about it then it’s useless.

You can start letting people know about your eBook well before you even start writing it.  In fact, it might help you stick to a deadline, knowing that you’ve told the world to expect it 🙂

When you’re ready to launch your eBook, you will need to let your audience know by mentioning it in your newsletter, on social networking sites and of course promoting it on your blog or website.

Sticky eBooks have created a fun Launch Personality Quiz which is surprisingly accurate!  Find out which of the six personality types you are:

  • Explorer
  • Idealist
  • Connector
  • Strategists
  • Artist
  • Marketer
The quiz summarises your strengths and weaknesses based on your launch personality.
You may find yourself resisting the final launch because you fear rejection.  I wrote about that in my post Do The Work a few weeks back. You need to hit the button and let it free!

 

Leverage your eBook

You will have invested time and effort in creating your eBook and unless it becomes a best seller, you will want to use your eBook as leverage to grow your business in other areas.

Here’s some ideas:

  • Turn your eBook into an eCourse (which I’m in doing) by adding videos, audio, worksheets and other supplementary material.
  • Coach your clients in how to put your eBook content into action in their own business (which I’m also doing).
  • Create a presentation/talk that you could give and get yourself on the speaking circuit
  • Run a workshop using the eBook as the curriculum
  • Read your book out, record it and turn it into a podcast or run a webinar.

Make it work for you…and your clients.

Finally, learn from the process and make it even better next time around.  You might only get a few new subscribers to your list and only make a few dollars but you will learn loads.  For a start, you’ll know exactly how to produce and publish your next work.  You can ask for feedback from those who read it about how to make it even better.  You will learn that even if it’s a complete flop, it isn’t the end of the world, just an opportunity to grow.

 

Have you self-published your work as an iBook on Amazon, Kindle or iBooks?

What do you think about offering it as a freebie versus a paid product?

What other ideas do you have to leverage your eBook?

 

Do you have additional questions? Fell free to contact me by clicking the button below:

 

*Editor’s Note: This post has been updated on August 2020 for accuracy.

4 Comments
  • Sally Foley-Lewis
    Posted at 10:38h, 12 August Reply

    Great post: inspiring ideas to be ever present in and amongst current and potential clients/customers.

    I’ve not published a book (e or otherwise), and it’s not something I’d really thought to do… I don’t see myself as any sort of decent writer. I would however publish guides or other products… so you’ve given me food for thought, Suellen.

    Sally | Fast Tracking Manager Productivity

    • Suellen Hughes
      Posted at 17:26h, 12 August Reply

      Thanks Sally.

      You raise an interesting point about not considering yourself a decent writer (I disagree BTW). If writing really isn’t your thing, then you could get a professional editor or copyrighter to work with you or as you say produce an ‘e’ something else more suited to your strengths and comfort zone. I love repurposing and I do know that you are a FABULOUS speaker / presenter so perhaps you could do a series of audio recordings and then have them all transcribed into an ebook?

      Great input – thanks

  • Annabel Candy, Successful Blogging
    Posted at 11:42h, 12 August Reply

    Dragos Roua is a living legend. An incredible font of knowledge on all topics:)

    I forgot to say in my last comment that all the investment on my first ebook is a good one because now I have a hot ebook layout I can reuse it for all future ebooks including freebies:)

    Hope my husband is working on creating one right now!

    • Suellen Hughes
      Posted at 17:44h, 12 August Reply

      Yes, Dragos does have a LOT of knowledge.

      Good luck with hubby!

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