Writing eBooks - 21 Steps to Success
By Conrad Hall
Knowing your content and having a desire to write it down are good first steps to
getting an e-book written. Showing you the path from desire to completion is what this
article is about.
Let's run through the steps, then I'll give you some advice about "doing it all"
yourself and outsourcing.
1. Choose your topic.
Make your topic specific and targeted to a niche market. For example, choose "How to
Build Balsa Wood Model Airplanes" rather than just "How to Build Model Airplanes."
2. Make sure you have a market using Keywords.
Look for keyword search results less than 40,000 per month - the ideal is from 4,000 to
12,000 searches per month.
3. Create an outline.
This is your road map. You're the author so you get to set the course, and you're free
to alter it as the e-book develops. Three common approaches are alphabetical, process
steps (like this article) and Q and A.
4. Research your topic.
Even experts do some research to get organized and ready to write. From reading through
your own material to visiting the library and surfing the net - research is a vital,
indispensable part of writing. It's also something you can hire someone to help with.
5. Write your e-book.
Write the e-book yourself or hire a freelancer to write it for you. Just take your
research notes and tell your story.
6. Create a few bonus reports to give away to your e-book buyers.
The difference to sales between having and not having premiums as part of the offer is
staggering. Customers attach great value to bonuses.
7. Edit your e-book.
Whether you find a volunteer or hire a freelance editor, the key is to have the writer
and editor be different people. Spotting your own errors is notoriously difficult.
8. Create the front cover design and interior page layout.
My preference is to make a couple of notes then hand this over to someone else. Design
is more than just specialized knowledge. It includes a visual flair that's at least as
much in-born as it is learned.
9. Proofread and lock the PDF file.
Do a final proofread to check for double words and other mistakes. Fortunately, an
e-book is easily updated if you find mistakes after the release.
Locking the PDF keeps honest people honest. There's no sure-fire way to keep someone
from "stealing" you e-book. Fortunately, most people simply prefer being honest.
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