Writing an Ebook can satisfy the hidden author in all of us but it is important to understand the steps involved before you get started. In our guide below you will find out how to write an ebook as well as promote and sell it online.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What Is an eBook?
eBook stands for electronic book; it is a digital manuscript that includes text, images, or both. eBooks are mobile friendly and can be read on devices such as iPhones or Android phones, reading tablets such as Nook and Kindle, and iPad, or Surface.
You can give away your eBook as an incentive to attract new customers to your product or service, or you can sell and market your eBook on various platforms to generate a side income.
How to Write an eBook
Are you ready to write your eBook but aren’t sure where to begin? Keep reading to find 7 steps to take you from initial idea to finished eBook.
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Planning
Your first step is to decide what you will write about. In this stage, you should be asking yourself what type of eBook do you want to write. Will your book be focused on business, or will it be a how-to book? Will you write about a hobby or niche that you’re passionate about? Will you write a cookbook, a memoir, or a guide on fly fishing?
Decide how long your eBook will be; a typical eBook is between 3-100 pages. How will it be presented? Will it have illustrations or text with images?
What will readers of your eBook get out of it? You must have a clear idea of what problem you will solve, or what benefit your readers will get from downloading your book. Once you are clear on this objective you can move on to the next step.
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Research
You have decided what you will be writing about, so it’s time to do some market research. You may feel your eBook will be a slam dunk in the digital publishing world however it is best to take some time to find out if others will feel the same.
Send out informal surveys to your targeted email list, followers on social media, or friends and family, asking if they would find your topic interesting and worthy of their time and expense. Getting feedback from your targeted audience can be invaluable in the early stages of your eBook creation.
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Development
In this stage, you will begin developing your format and content by choosing an eBook template and cover design.
There are several formats for eBooks including PDF, EPUB, and MOBI. You should research and use whatever format matches your targeted audience.
The PDF format is a good choice as most electronic software can open a PDF. If you want to print your eBook, the PDF format is the way to go as it is the ink tank printers format. If your eBook has a lot of graphics, the PDF format will keep them exactly as you intended without resizing.
There are also apps available that allow you to search multiple files to pull out details or specific paragraphs you’re looking for without having to read the entire document.
You can find various free eBook templates online through Canva, Visme, or InDesign however Canva allows you to download in PDF format for free. There is a huge selection of templates and graphics you can work with if you decide to design your own eBook. As an alternative, you can also hire freelancers at Fiiver.com or Canva.com to create your eBook design for you.
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Outlines
You have made the decision to write an eBook but you may find yourself struggling to get started. The best way to organize your thoughts is to use outlines. Create your title and break down your chapters or ideas into outlines so you know what you will be writing about.
Tips for Creating Your eBook
- Your eBook should have an introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
- If possible, use small paragraphs and bullet points to keep the reader’s attention.
- Make sure the eBook is not too long, try to keep it under 100 pages.
- Don’t add fluff, go for quality over quantity.
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Proofread
After you have chosen your template and designed your cover, you will need to thoroughly proofread your content for spelling errors or grammar issues. Your eBook is a professional manuscript and it represents you. Make sure you have double-checked using tools such as Grammarly or Hemmingway before you convert into PDF ebook format.
It is also a good idea to have a few other people read your eBook before you publish to make sure your writing style is appealing and understandable. It is better to make changes now than get negative feedback after you put it out there.
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Distribution
Once you have your eBook written, formatted, proofread, and ready to go, you will need a way to distribute the book by providing it to online retailers for sale via download. There are several ways to publish an eBook.
Options Available Include
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing-Currently Amazon controls about 80% of the eBook market.
- Aggregators- Provides a large number of stores at once access to your eBook; they share the royalties.
- WordPress-make your ebook available through your WordPress account with the Woo Commerce plug-in.
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Promotion
So you think you have written a digital bestseller and you can already see the dollar bills clogging up your PayPal account however without a good promotional strategy you may be disappointed.
As a proud first-time author, you will need to wear many hats to gain sales of your eBook. Be prepared to be a spokesperson, sales manager, PR expert, and social media marketer extraordinaire.
Launch your book with email campaigns to your target audience, send out press releases, be a guest speaker at events related to your subject matter, go live on social media, use video teasers, and spread the word via social media. Publishing an eBook is not a passive venture so become a skilled promoter.
An eBook Is Born
It is hard work to write an eBook but very satisfying when completed. Writing an eBook requires focus and determination, however, it is also fun, exciting, and challenging in a good way to write your own unique eBook and to share your words with the world.
Did this article help you out today? Please browse around the rest of this section for some more tips.
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