5-Star Ebook Diary

Alrighty…last post I had asked if you had started writing your own ebook yet. Today, I am going to get into a daunting topic; Actually starting to write it.

When it comes down to creating your own product (ebook), do you ask yourself the same question I used to ask:

What Can I Do? I Can’t Write An eBook!

Yes, you can! It doesn’t take a great writer to create an ebook. But it does take a great idea for the subject and an even greater passion for whatever the ebook is about.

When you are looking for a subject to write about, consider your hobbies, interests, past jobs and activities. Think about the things you know how to fix or make.  Then do your research on Google and several keyword search tools to find out how popular your site is and how much competition you have.

Let’s get back to the writing part of creating your ebook…”the hard part.”

If you just cannot write well or do not have a passable command of the rules of grammar, you can hire a ghostwriter to do it for you. Do a Google search for “ghostwriter” and “freelance writer” and you will find more options than you need. You might want to seriously consider this option if you are not comfortable writing 30-40 pages for your ebook.

By the way, those 30-40 pages do not have to be written all at the same sitting. If you are considering writing your ebook yourself, break the entire topic down into manageable sections. Those sections can become your chapter headings.

You could search out some writing mentors or coaches to help and guide you to a successful ebook that you write yourself. Let a good search engine be your best friend.

One thing to keep in mind is that ghostwriters, mentors and coaches all cost money. If you can write your own ebook, you’ve saved a lot of up front money and get to keep all the profits.

When you’re searching for ideas or information, do the normal searches that come to mind, but think outside the box for a time. Use some creative  search terms that might turn up a goldmine you didn’t know about.

The most important thing you have to get clear and keep pasted in your mind is your belief or passion for your subject. If you know what you are talking about, you can write an ebook that will sell. Let your passion
show through. Your customers want to know that YOU BELIEVE what you are asking them to buy and also believe.

Most customers searching for expert knowledge on a subject consider ebooks to be the perfect solution to finding answers or information they need. When you provide those answers with good, honest and accurate information, you will become the “go to” person when they want to know something else.

The first phase of ebook creating is researching for information on your subject and using that research to develop an idea for your ebook. This stage requires research and planning. Doing a good job here, in this phase, will develop your credibility and help your clients trust what you say.

That trust and credibility will develop and sustain ongoing multiple streams of income.

That’s what you want, isn’t it?

If you need more information on how to go about writing your ebook, my friend Paula Brett has 66 jam packed pages waiting for you.

Check it out here

Til next time,

Here’s to YOUR Successes Online,

Ron

Have you explored the possibility of creating your own ebook to sell or giveaway online?

I know this may sound like a daunting task for a lot of people, but I would like to give you some basic ideas on how you can get out of the starting gate and start taking action on it.

The first thing you must do is to research. What is going to be the topic of your ebook? In this post, I will touch briefly on research, but am going to be working on the assumption that you have done that and have found the topic you would like to write about. I will cover researching your topic more in depth in another post.

So, it’s time to start organizing and creating your ebook. In other words, you are going to be:

Starting Your First eBook

This process can be frustrating and seem like you are swimming upstream in a flood of new processes. Don’t worry, that’s completely normal and almost every new ebook author has faced this feeling when they started out.

One way to get a good start on your ebook is to make an outline. It doesn’t have to be formal, like you were taught in school, but it should have a simple format.

Major topics or ideas written down, with contributing thoughts listed under each one is simple enough and will give you a focus that you will need as you begin to write.

Next, do some research on each topic or major point in your outline. Any good search engine will help you find more than enough material
for your purposes.

Understand that this research process is ongoing and is not just a one-time shot. As you have new thoughts and ideas created by the research material you are using, add them to your outline or revise it.

Download and read other ebooks on the same subject you are writing on. Do not plagiarize these ebooks, but use them to see how someone else did it and learn from that.

Perhaps you can think of a way to improve on what they included in their ebook, or how to say it or format it better.

If you noticed some material that was left out and, in your opinion, should have been included, you just found some good new content for your ebook. If reading those other ebooks leaves you with questions that they didn’t answer, you have the focus for your own project.

While you’re at it, visit several article sites and search for articles on your subject. Read them for ideas.

Remember that ideas cannot be copyrighted. If reading someone else’s ebook or article gives you an idea for your own ebook, go for it. You can also get ideas in the library or the magazine rack at the supermarket.

Try browsing the web pages for major bookstore chains, like Borders or Barnes & Noble. The titles they are heavily pushing are popular subjects and could give you an idea for a hot ebook. Be a frequent visitor to Amazon.com and check out their front page titles.

You can be sure that they will be the current popular subjects–what people are buying right now. Search for books on your selected subject to see what is already out there. Think of other related search terms (keywords) to search on.

Ebay is another goldmine of information on what people currently want. Search on your subject and then generically on “ebooks.”

Usually the ebooks can be found in the “Everything Else” category. Read the sales pages for each one you found interesting. With ebay, if you are going to purchase one of these, be aware that you will be getting the ebook as a ‘physical product’, on a CD. eBay changed their rules last year and sellers can no longer offer direct downloads of ebooks.

Get your information and ideas anywhere your eyes land. Now, if you want some great material on a very hot topic, my friend and one of my mentors, Doug Champigny, has just released a PLR package in the aromatherapy niche. This niche is hot and his package also includes audio files that you can add your name to and it includes all of the graphics you will need for the sales page. The price? Well, Doug typically prices his products well within the reach of ALL people who want to get his products and 99% of the time, he under prices. Check his aromatherapy package out here.

I would recommend getting over there rather quickly though, he is only making 100 copies of the aromatherapy plr package available, so you have the opportunity to be one of the first to get this ebook and audio files on the market.

Til next time,

Here’s to YOUR Successes,

Ron