How to Build and Sell Your eBook at the Same Time
BY JUDY CULLINS
Why write an eBook?
You want ongoing, lifelong multiple
streams of income. You want to raise your credibility and trust ratings
with clients or customers. You want to get your message out so the world
can be a better place.
Yet, you want to spend only a little
time on it. (Would you be willing to spend 4 hours a week?) You want to
get it out fast (Would 4-6 weeks be OK?) You want to market Online at a
low-cost investment. And, for some of you, you are ready to be
innovative and even take a small risk to get your eBook read by
millions, rather than hundreds!
In order to finish your eBook fast you
need to first, look at where you are now; second, where you want to be;
and then you'll know how to get to your finish line.
Where are you now?
You have the idea for your eBook; you
have a lot of ideas! Take a moment and decide which one you are most
passionate about now and will be for the next year. Focus on one great
idea, then add others you know will work.
You have your eBook well on its way,
but aren't finished. You need advice on how to get it done, what's
needed to publish (not much!), and how to distribute it.
Who should write an eBook?
- If you are ready to invest a little
to reap a great deal
- If you are a business person who
wants to serve a wider community
- If you have a unique message you
want to share with the world
- If are willing to write, publish
yourself, and sell 2 years ahead of traditional publishing
- If you want to create active,
lifelong streams of income
- If you want to promote yourself,
service or products
How to get there.
Every part of your book can be a sales
tool. When you include the essential "Seven Hot-Selling Points" before
you write chapter one, you'll sell more books than you ever dreamed of!
1. Write for your one preferred
audience. Not everyone wants your book. Find out what audience
wants/needs your book? What problems does your book solve for them?
Create an audience profile and keep your audience's picture in front of
you as you write. Ask yourself, is my topic narrow enough? The
Chicken Soup for the Teenager, for the Prisoner, and other
specific groups sold far more copies than the original Chicken Soup.
2. Write a sizzling book title
including benefits. You have 8 seconds to hook your potential buyer.
While an eBook cover doesn't need fancy graphics you will want to create
one that can be printed both in color and black and white. It must be
easy to see and read. Your title and cover should compel your audience
to buy.
3. Write a 36-second "tell and
sell." You only have a few seconds to impress your potential buyer.
Include your title, a few benefits, and the audience. This billboard
needs a sound bite to grab attention. "Write, Finish, and Publish your
eBook Fast to Pull Online Sales" shows professionals how to shortcut
each step of writing, publishing, and promoting a salable short eBook.
Add a sound bite to the above "tell and
sell" something like this: Compare your book to someone who is famous.
One client's title "Passion at Any Age" used the sound bite "this book
is the 'Artist's Way' for seniors.
4. Write your sales letter before
you write your book. Think about your potential buyer. What are his
resistances? His problems or challenges? Be sure you address these. Your
sales letter used to promote your book either by email or on your Web
site needs to give the benefits your potential buyers want and need.
Include compelling ad copy, features, testimonials, and a small blurb
about you, the author. If your potential buyer likes it, they will buy
on the spot.
5. Write your eBook's introduction.
Include the problem your audience has, why you wrote the book, and its
purpose. In a few paragraphs include more specific benefits, and how you
will present it (format). Keep it under a page. Your introduction will
help you write your sales letter.
6. Create a table of contents.
Each chapter should have a title, preferably a catchy one. If your
reader can't understand the chapter title, then annotate it. Add some
benefits or a sub title. In my first chapter called "Why Write an eBook?"
I added this partial list of benefits: Ongoing lifelong multiple streams
of income, credibility as the expert, products sell easily online,
buyers are more targeted and hence you create more profit.
7. Reach out to opinion molders.
After an initial contact of asking for feedback, resend them the same
chapter and the table of contents of your book. Ask for a testimonial
then. These influential contacts' testimonials will help promote your
eBook online.
Design every part of your eBook to be a
sales tool and a beacon that brings out your best: writing - compelling,
easy to read, organized, and enjoyable. Your book can sell to thousands,
even hundreds of thousands when you design it correctly.
Judy Cullins is a 20-year book and
Internet marketing coach who works with small business people who want
to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and
clients, and make a consistent life-long income. She is the author of 10
ebooks including Write Your eBook Fast and How to Market Your
Business on the Internet; she offers free help through
her website's 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says... and Business Tip of the Month.
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