How to turn your ebook into Profits
Part Seven: Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your book without incurring the costs of print production. All you need is a relevant and targeted subject and some inexpensive software, and you can transform your manuscript into a book.
The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profits from your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmed with ebooks, and many of them are not worth the time it takes to download them. Just because the ability exists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make it good writing.
Make sure your book does not simply rehash old material.
You will injure your credibility as an author by claiming to offer valuable new insights and you will disappoint your audience with material they've read a zillion times before. So spend enough time writing and revising your book to make sure it's of the highest quality and presents the most current information. A good book will eventually sell itself; false claims about your book will make it extremely difficult to sell any future books you may write.
Assuming you have determined that you do indeed have a quality product that answers some question or need of your target audience with NEW information, how do you know how much to charge for it?
Rule number 1: Set a price for your book equal to its value. An under-priced book will only give the impression that your book isn't worth very much.
To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time you put into creating it and how difficult it was to transform the necessary information into understandable and engaging writing. Figure out how much your time and effort is worth, and then price it accordingly. The goal is for you to be adequately compensated for your talent, your time, and your effort.
Once you've figured out a price that is high enough to convey the value of the book, but not so high as to be out of the reach of your target audience's mean budget, then it's time to offer it for sale on your website. To attract sales, you will need to develop a promotional campaign, particularly if you are an unknown author.
There are multitudes of books about self-promotion that will guide you in your efforts. Choose a plan that is both creative and professional. Learn how to write a catchy yet informative press release, and send copies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebook reviews.
Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or hire someone to write it for you. This is an essential. You absolutely need excellent sales copy to sell your book. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons your target audience needs your book, and the benefits they will derive from buying it.
Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautiful graphics have the power to instantly convey the quality and value of your ebook. Graphics can also convey the amount of valuable information the book contains, and your careful attention to detail. Professional graphics sell professional books. They reassure the customer that the product is what it claims to be.
Consider excerpting chapters for articles. You can offer these tidbits for free on your website as a sort of demo of your book. Include an order form for your ebook at the end of the excerpted articles.
Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sure to simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer a few bonuses that make your book even more enticing to purchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable and high quality. Too many bonuses that are basically a load of useless stuff will compromise the impression your audience has of your ebook. The goal is to convey to your audience that they are getting a quality product for a good deal. That means applying restraint, especially when it comes to adding bonus items. Too much free stuff offered diminishes your
credibility.
Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure it is relevant and current. Develop an effective marketing plan that includes excellent sales copy and excerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, and wait for your audience to discover you!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A Smile For You
A Smile For You
Now the weather is turning cold and I'm feeling a bit blue. I look at this rhyme and it remotivates me. It was given to me many years ago by a client and it is kept on the wall in my study, try it it really works "sorry do not know wrote it the first place
Smiling is infectious; you can catch it like the flu When someone smiled at me today,I started smiling too
I passed around a corner and someone saw my grin When he smiled I realised Iʼd passed it on to him
I thought about that smile then realised itʼs worth A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth
So when you feel a smile begin donʼt leave it undetected Letʼs start an epidemic quick and get the world infected!
www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com
Now the weather is turning cold and I'm feeling a bit blue. I look at this rhyme and it remotivates me. It was given to me many years ago by a client and it is kept on the wall in my study, try it it really works "sorry do not know wrote it the first place
Smiling is infectious; you can catch it like the flu When someone smiled at me today,I started smiling too
I passed around a corner and someone saw my grin When he smiled I realised Iʼd passed it on to him
I thought about that smile then realised itʼs worth A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth
So when you feel a smile begin donʼt leave it undetected Letʼs start an epidemic quick and get the world infected!
www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Overcoming Writer's Block
Overcoming Writer's Block
Part Six: I came across this article on my travels and believe it will help many of you I´m sure it as helped me.
What is writer's block?
Well, I just can't think of a single darn thing to say.
Does that sound familiar? I believe we've all experienced this phenomenon when we absolutely have to write something, particularly on deadline. I'm talking about. . . . .uh, I can't think of what the word is . . . oh, yes, it's on the tip of my tongue . . . it's
WRITER'S BLOCK!!!!
Whew! I feel better just getting that out of my head and onto the page!
Writer's block is the patron demon of the blank page. You may think you know EXACTLY what you're going to write, but as soon as that evil white screen appears before you, your mind suddenly goes completely blank. I'm not talking about Zen meditation stare-at-the-wall-until-enlightenment-hits kind of blank.
I'm talking about the sweat trickling down the back of your neck, anguish, panic attacks and suffering kind of blank. The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguish of writer's block gets.
Having said that, let me say it again. "The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguish of writer's block gets." Now, can you figure out what might possibly be causing this horrible plunge into speechlessness?
Obviously the answer is: FEAR! You are terrified of that blank page. You are terrified you have absolutely nothing of value to say. You are afraid of the fear of writer's block itself!
It doesn't necessarily matter if you've done a decade of research and all you have to do is string sentences you can repeat in your sleep together into coherent paragraphs. Writer's block can strike anyone at any time. Based in fear, it raises our doubts about our own self-worth, but it's sneaky. It's writer's block, after all, so it doesn't just come and let you know that. No, it makes you feel like an idiot who just had your frontal lobes removed through your sinuses. If you dared to put forth words into the greater world, they would surely come out as gibberish!
Let's try and be rational with this irrational demon.
Let's make a list of what might possibly be beneath this terrible and terrifying condition.
1. Perfectionism. You must absolutely produce a masterpiece of literature straight off in the first draft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete failure.
2. Editing instead of composing. There's your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling as soon as you type "I was born?," no, not that, that's wrong! That's stupid! Correct correct correct correct?
3. Self-consciousness. How can you think, let alone write, when all you can manage to do is pry the fingers of writer's block away from your throat enough so you can gasp in a few shallow breaths? You're not focusing on what you're trying to write, your focusing on those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.
4. Can't get started. It's always the first sentence that's the hardest. As writers, we all know how EXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must be brilliant! It must be unique! It must hook your reader's from the start! There's no way we can get into writing the piece until we get past this impossible first sentence.
5. Shattered concentration. You're cat is sick. You suspect your mate is cheating on you. Your electricity might be turned off any second. You have a crush on the local UPS deliveryman. You have a dinner party planned for your in-laws. You . . . Need I say more. How can you possibly concentrate with all this mental clutter?
6. Procrastination. It's your favourite hobby. It's your soul mate. It?s the reason you've knitted 60 argyle sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garage workshop. It's the reason you never run out of Brie.
FACE IT, IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK!
How YOU CAN Overcome Writer's Block
Okay. I can hear that herd of you running away from this article as fast as you can. Absurd! you huff. Never in a million years, you fume. Writer's block is absolutely, undeniably, scientifically proven to be impossible to overcome.
Oh, just get over it! Well, I guess it's not that easy. So try to sit down for just a few minutes and isten. All you have to do is listen ? you don't have to actually write a single word.
Ah, there you all are again. I am beginning to make you out now that the cloud of dust is settling.
I am here to tell you that WRITER'S BLOCK CAN BE OVERCOME.
Please, remain seated.
There are ways to trick this nasty demon. Pick one, pick several, and give them a try. Soon, before you even have a chance for your heartbeat to accelerate, guess what? You're writing.
Here are some tried and true methods of overcoming writer's block:
1. Be prepared. The only thing to fear is fear itself. (I know, that's a clich?but as soon as you start writing, feel free to improve on it.) If you spend some time mulling over your project before you actually sit down to write, you may be able to circumvent the worst of the crippling panic.
2. Forget perfectionism. No one ever writes a masterpiece in the first draft. Don't put any expectations on your writing at all! In fact, tell yourself you're going to write absolute garbage, and then give yourself permission to happily stink up your writing room.
3. Compose instead of editing. Never, never write your first draft with your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder making snide editorial comments. Composing is a magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind by galaxies. It's even incomprehensible to the conscious, editorial, monkey-mind.
So prepare an ambush. Sit down at your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath and blow out all your thoughts. Let your finger hover over your keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull a fake: appear to be about to begin to write, but instead, using your thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkey back into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jump in ? quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, let everything loose, as long as you do it with a pen or your computer keyboard.
4. Forget the first sentence. You can sweat over that all-important one-liner when you've finished your piece. Skip it! Go for the middle or even the end. Start wherever you can. Chances are, when you read it over, the first line will be blinking its little neon lights right at you from the depths of your composition.
5. Concentration. This is a hard one. Life throws us so many curve balls. How about thinking about your writing time as a little vacation from all those annoying worries. Banish them! Create a space, perhaps even a physical one, where nothing exists except the single present moment. If one of those irritating worries gets by you, stomp on it like you would an ugly bug!
6. Stop procrastinating. Write an outline. Keep your research notes within sight. Use someone else's writing to get going. Babble incoherently on paper or on the computer if you have to. Just do it! (I know, I stole that line from somewhere?). Tack up anything that could possibly help you to get going: notes, outlines, pictures of your grandmother. Put the cookie you will be allowed to eat when you finish your first draft within sight ? but out of reach. Then pick up the same type of writing that you need to write, and read it. Then read it again. Soon, trust me, the fear will slowly fade away. As soon as it does, grab your keyboard ? and get writing!
Part Six: I came across this article on my travels and believe it will help many of you I´m sure it as helped me.
What is writer's block?
Well, I just can't think of a single darn thing to say.
Does that sound familiar? I believe we've all experienced this phenomenon when we absolutely have to write something, particularly on deadline. I'm talking about. . . . .uh, I can't think of what the word is . . . oh, yes, it's on the tip of my tongue . . . it's
WRITER'S BLOCK!!!!
Whew! I feel better just getting that out of my head and onto the page!
Writer's block is the patron demon of the blank page. You may think you know EXACTLY what you're going to write, but as soon as that evil white screen appears before you, your mind suddenly goes completely blank. I'm not talking about Zen meditation stare-at-the-wall-until-enlightenment-hits kind of blank.
I'm talking about the sweat trickling down the back of your neck, anguish, panic attacks and suffering kind of blank. The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguish of writer's block gets.
Having said that, let me say it again. "The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguish of writer's block gets." Now, can you figure out what might possibly be causing this horrible plunge into speechlessness?
Obviously the answer is: FEAR! You are terrified of that blank page. You are terrified you have absolutely nothing of value to say. You are afraid of the fear of writer's block itself!
It doesn't necessarily matter if you've done a decade of research and all you have to do is string sentences you can repeat in your sleep together into coherent paragraphs. Writer's block can strike anyone at any time. Based in fear, it raises our doubts about our own self-worth, but it's sneaky. It's writer's block, after all, so it doesn't just come and let you know that. No, it makes you feel like an idiot who just had your frontal lobes removed through your sinuses. If you dared to put forth words into the greater world, they would surely come out as gibberish!
Let's try and be rational with this irrational demon.
Let's make a list of what might possibly be beneath this terrible and terrifying condition.
1. Perfectionism. You must absolutely produce a masterpiece of literature straight off in the first draft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete failure.
2. Editing instead of composing. There's your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling as soon as you type "I was born?," no, not that, that's wrong! That's stupid! Correct correct correct correct?
3. Self-consciousness. How can you think, let alone write, when all you can manage to do is pry the fingers of writer's block away from your throat enough so you can gasp in a few shallow breaths? You're not focusing on what you're trying to write, your focusing on those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.
4. Can't get started. It's always the first sentence that's the hardest. As writers, we all know how EXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must be brilliant! It must be unique! It must hook your reader's from the start! There's no way we can get into writing the piece until we get past this impossible first sentence.
5. Shattered concentration. You're cat is sick. You suspect your mate is cheating on you. Your electricity might be turned off any second. You have a crush on the local UPS deliveryman. You have a dinner party planned for your in-laws. You . . . Need I say more. How can you possibly concentrate with all this mental clutter?
6. Procrastination. It's your favourite hobby. It's your soul mate. It?s the reason you've knitted 60 argyle sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garage workshop. It's the reason you never run out of Brie.
FACE IT, IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK!
How YOU CAN Overcome Writer's Block
Okay. I can hear that herd of you running away from this article as fast as you can. Absurd! you huff. Never in a million years, you fume. Writer's block is absolutely, undeniably, scientifically proven to be impossible to overcome.
Oh, just get over it! Well, I guess it's not that easy. So try to sit down for just a few minutes and isten. All you have to do is listen ? you don't have to actually write a single word.
Ah, there you all are again. I am beginning to make you out now that the cloud of dust is settling.
I am here to tell you that WRITER'S BLOCK CAN BE OVERCOME.
Please, remain seated.
There are ways to trick this nasty demon. Pick one, pick several, and give them a try. Soon, before you even have a chance for your heartbeat to accelerate, guess what? You're writing.
Here are some tried and true methods of overcoming writer's block:
1. Be prepared. The only thing to fear is fear itself. (I know, that's a clich?but as soon as you start writing, feel free to improve on it.) If you spend some time mulling over your project before you actually sit down to write, you may be able to circumvent the worst of the crippling panic.
2. Forget perfectionism. No one ever writes a masterpiece in the first draft. Don't put any expectations on your writing at all! In fact, tell yourself you're going to write absolute garbage, and then give yourself permission to happily stink up your writing room.
3. Compose instead of editing. Never, never write your first draft with your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder making snide editorial comments. Composing is a magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind by galaxies. It's even incomprehensible to the conscious, editorial, monkey-mind.
So prepare an ambush. Sit down at your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath and blow out all your thoughts. Let your finger hover over your keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull a fake: appear to be about to begin to write, but instead, using your thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkey back into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jump in ? quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, let everything loose, as long as you do it with a pen or your computer keyboard.
4. Forget the first sentence. You can sweat over that all-important one-liner when you've finished your piece. Skip it! Go for the middle or even the end. Start wherever you can. Chances are, when you read it over, the first line will be blinking its little neon lights right at you from the depths of your composition.
5. Concentration. This is a hard one. Life throws us so many curve balls. How about thinking about your writing time as a little vacation from all those annoying worries. Banish them! Create a space, perhaps even a physical one, where nothing exists except the single present moment. If one of those irritating worries gets by you, stomp on it like you would an ugly bug!
6. Stop procrastinating. Write an outline. Keep your research notes within sight. Use someone else's writing to get going. Babble incoherently on paper or on the computer if you have to. Just do it! (I know, I stole that line from somewhere?). Tack up anything that could possibly help you to get going: notes, outlines, pictures of your grandmother. Put the cookie you will be allowed to eat when you finish your first draft within sight ? but out of reach. Then pick up the same type of writing that you need to write, and read it. Then read it again. Soon, trust me, the fear will slowly fade away. As soon as it does, grab your keyboard ? and get writing!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A Good Business Idea
A good business idea
A good business idea could be an invention, a new product or service, or an original idea or solution to an everyday problem. It might also be, a gap in the market that you can fill, a business related to the work you do already an interest or hobby that you can turn into a business.
Some of the best advice you can get comes in the form of “What NOT to do.”
It may sound a little cynical or negative, but it’s really the best way to learn from other people’s mistakes and avoid repeating them in your own day-to-day business activities.
A tried and tested business model: Some self-starters choose a well-trodden path - such as buying an existing business or rights to a franchise - which can carry fewer risks than going it alone.
Advantages: It is usually easier to get finance, as a market for the product or service will have already been demonstrated. A business plan and marketing method will be in place, and you should have valuable experience to draw on, many of the problems will already have been discovered and solved. A franchise comes with financial support too.
Disadvantages: Some businesses that are up for sale may be experiencing difficulties. Make sure you fully understand the reasons for selling, as you may need to invest quite a bit more on top of the purchase price to give it the best chance of success. The rights to a franchise or to sell particular products or services may be expensive. With a franchise, there may be a particular way to run the business that you have to stick with. Some franchises can never make money always consult a solicitor to look at the paper work before you sign anything as once you have parted with your money you are bound to continue with it. Therefore it can be an expensive mistake.
A specific business opportunity: Sometimes the possibility of owning your own business can come as a complete surprise. Perhaps you are offered the opportunity to buy out your employer, or take on a family business.
Opportunities like these are like any other business start-up. You still need lots of personal commitment, you may need to put your own money on the line, and you'll need to do some careful assessment to make sure that the business really is viable.
Advantages: Development, planning and market testing should already be in place. There may be established customers, a reliable income, a reputation to capitalize and build on, and a network of useful contacts. You probably already have expertise in the product or service and a good understanding of the business you're taking on.
Disadvantages: You may be taking on someone else's problems when you take on the business. Ask yourself if there are problems with the business, and if so, can you solve them? If you are buying out your employer, you may lose support services that you take for granted, now you won't just be responsible for your core role, but for everything else as well, such as accounting, staff management and payroll.
A change in circumstances, a major life change can often enable you, or push you - to set up your own business. Maybe a dramatic personal event kick-starts you into action or your job situation means that now is the time to take the plunge. Such changes might include unemployment, redundancy, a change of family circumstances, coming into money.
Advantages: A change in your circumstances might be an opportunity to start again or do something you've always wanted to do. Redundancy payments or receiving a lump sum of money can provide an opportunity to invest in the business. At its best, being your own boss can give you the flexibility to work around family commitments.
Disadvantages: Major life events can also be very stressful and are not always the best time to make big decisions. Starting your own business is unlikely to provide a speedy return on your investment and you should be prepared for a long haul. In the early stages especially, running your own business can mean putting in long hours and making sacrifices elsewhere in your personal life.
Many people have great ideas, but their businesses go under because there really isn't a market for their product or service. Thorough research will help support expectations about a business's success as well as uncover any holes in your idea.
Ask yourself these 6 questions:
1) What problem does my product or service solve?
2) Who will buy my product or service?
3) Why will they buy it?
4) Where will they buy it—specialty shops, large stores, mail order, online?
5) What do I need to charge to make a healthy profit and will people actually
pay that?
6) What products or services will mine be competing with?
Don’t let this put you off starting your business I have known many people who have started with very little money, they were so hungry for success that it focused their mind on how they would achieve the money they needed for their business once it was started.
www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com
A good business idea could be an invention, a new product or service, or an original idea or solution to an everyday problem. It might also be, a gap in the market that you can fill, a business related to the work you do already an interest or hobby that you can turn into a business.
Some of the best advice you can get comes in the form of “What NOT to do.”
It may sound a little cynical or negative, but it’s really the best way to learn from other people’s mistakes and avoid repeating them in your own day-to-day business activities.
A tried and tested business model: Some self-starters choose a well-trodden path - such as buying an existing business or rights to a franchise - which can carry fewer risks than going it alone.
Advantages: It is usually easier to get finance, as a market for the product or service will have already been demonstrated. A business plan and marketing method will be in place, and you should have valuable experience to draw on, many of the problems will already have been discovered and solved. A franchise comes with financial support too.
Disadvantages: Some businesses that are up for sale may be experiencing difficulties. Make sure you fully understand the reasons for selling, as you may need to invest quite a bit more on top of the purchase price to give it the best chance of success. The rights to a franchise or to sell particular products or services may be expensive. With a franchise, there may be a particular way to run the business that you have to stick with. Some franchises can never make money always consult a solicitor to look at the paper work before you sign anything as once you have parted with your money you are bound to continue with it. Therefore it can be an expensive mistake.
A specific business opportunity: Sometimes the possibility of owning your own business can come as a complete surprise. Perhaps you are offered the opportunity to buy out your employer, or take on a family business.
Opportunities like these are like any other business start-up. You still need lots of personal commitment, you may need to put your own money on the line, and you'll need to do some careful assessment to make sure that the business really is viable.
Advantages: Development, planning and market testing should already be in place. There may be established customers, a reliable income, a reputation to capitalize and build on, and a network of useful contacts. You probably already have expertise in the product or service and a good understanding of the business you're taking on.
Disadvantages: You may be taking on someone else's problems when you take on the business. Ask yourself if there are problems with the business, and if so, can you solve them? If you are buying out your employer, you may lose support services that you take for granted, now you won't just be responsible for your core role, but for everything else as well, such as accounting, staff management and payroll.
A change in circumstances, a major life change can often enable you, or push you - to set up your own business. Maybe a dramatic personal event kick-starts you into action or your job situation means that now is the time to take the plunge. Such changes might include unemployment, redundancy, a change of family circumstances, coming into money.
Advantages: A change in your circumstances might be an opportunity to start again or do something you've always wanted to do. Redundancy payments or receiving a lump sum of money can provide an opportunity to invest in the business. At its best, being your own boss can give you the flexibility to work around family commitments.
Disadvantages: Major life events can also be very stressful and are not always the best time to make big decisions. Starting your own business is unlikely to provide a speedy return on your investment and you should be prepared for a long haul. In the early stages especially, running your own business can mean putting in long hours and making sacrifices elsewhere in your personal life.
Many people have great ideas, but their businesses go under because there really isn't a market for their product or service. Thorough research will help support expectations about a business's success as well as uncover any holes in your idea.
Ask yourself these 6 questions:
1) What problem does my product or service solve?
2) Who will buy my product or service?
3) Why will they buy it?
4) Where will they buy it—specialty shops, large stores, mail order, online?
5) What do I need to charge to make a healthy profit and will people actually
pay that?
6) What products or services will mine be competing with?
Don’t let this put you off starting your business I have known many people who have started with very little money, they were so hungry for success that it focused their mind on how they would achieve the money they needed for their business once it was started.
www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Steps to Publishing Success
Steps to Publishing Success
Part Five: Even if your best friend owned a top publishing company, giving you an immediate "in," this does not guarantee publishing success.
First, you would have to write a quality book that has a clear target audience. Your book must also answer a common problem or need that your audience shares. Then you have to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it for at least two years. Your marketing plan is not set in stone, if you feel it is not working tweek it.
So let's begin with the process that should do before you write your first word. Begin by reading A LOT. Read both books you passionately love and books you can't seem to make it past page five. Then try to figure out what the author did in the book you loved, and what was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish.
Write down all these points so they are crystal clear to you. Read other people's books for inspiration and to discover what you should avoid as a writer.
Your next step is to plan out your book. Narrow down your subject, and then divide it into chapters. Each chapter should address a specific aspect of the problem your book is going to solve. In each chapter, break the specific aspect down into several parts. This will help your readers take in your information a bit at a time instead of overwhelming them with every bit of information clogging up the pages until they feel like they're about to go blind. It's not quite spoon-feeding the information to your readers, but it's close.
Your next two steps should be obvious. Write your book and then revise it. And then revise it again. And perhaps yet again. Of course, writing can be extremely hard, and writing a good book can seem like an impossible task. Use the Salami technique one step at a time, there are many books out there that give you guidelines to help you become familiar - and even love - the process of writing and revision.
Find a number of books about writing. Better yet, find a number of books about writing the specific type of book you aspire to write. These can serve as roadmaps on your writing journey.
Once you've written your ebook and revised it at least twice, show it to someone else whose opinion you respect. If you're lucky enough to know a good editor, see if you have something to barter for him or her to go through your manuscript. Or join a writing group and let the other members critique your work.
Then take all these ideas you have collected from other people, and revise your manuscript one last time. And then stop! Put down that pen! Get your hands off the keyboard! One of the most important steps to actually producing a book is to know when to stop writing and tinkering with it.
You've finally written your ebook! Pop open the bubbly! Give yourself a night out on the town!
Okay, now that this necessary celebration is out of your system, what do you do next?
How are you going to turn your ebook into Profits
Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your book without incurring the costs of print production. All you need is a relevant and targeted subject and some inexpensive software, and you can transform your manuscript into a book.
The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profits from your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmed with ebooks, and many of them are not worth the time it takes to download them. Just because the ability exists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make it good writing.
Take heart it is not all bad news, make sure your book does not simply rehash old material. You will injure your credibility as an author by claiming to offer valuable new insights and disappointing your audience with material they've read a million times before. Spend enough time writing and revising your book to make sure it's of the highest quality and presents the most current information. A good book will eventually sell itself; false claims about your book will make it extremely difficult to sell any future books you may write.
Now assuming you have determined that you do indeed have a quality product that answers some question or need of your target audience with NEW information, how do you know how much to charge for it?
Rule number 1: Set a price for your book equal to its value. An under-priced book will only give the impression that your book isn't worth very much.
To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time you put into creating it and how difficult it was to transform the necessary information into understandable and engaging writing. You must work out how much your time and effort is worth, and then price it accordingly, do not over price that will only discourage you if people do not buy. The goal is for you to be adequately compensated for your talent, your time, and your effort.
Now you've figured out a price that is high enough to convey the value of the book, but not so high as to be out of the reach of your target audience's budget, then it's time to offer it for sale on your website. To attract sales, you will need to develop a promotional campaign, particularly if you are an unknown author.
There are lot's of e-books about self-promotion that will help guide you in your efforts. Choose a plan that is both creative and professional. Learn how to write a catchy yet informative press release, and send copies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebook reviews.
Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or you could hire someone to write it for you. This is an essential. You absolutely need excellent sales copy to sell your book. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons your target audience needs your book, and the benefits they will derive from buying it.
Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautiful graphics have the power to instantly convey the quality and value of your ebook. Graphics can also convey the amount of valuable information the book contains, and your careful attention to detail.
Professional graphics sell professional books. They reassure the customer that the product is what it claims to be.
You could offer tidbits for free on your website as a sort of demo of your book. Include an order form for your ebook at the end of the articles.
Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sure to simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer a few bonuses that make your book even more enticing to purchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable and high quality. Too many bonuses that are basically a load of useless stuff will compromise the impression your audience has of your ebook.
The goal is to convey to your audience that they are getting a quality product for a good deal. That means applying restraint, especially when it comes to adding bonus items. Too much free stuff offered diminishes your credibility.
Just to remind you: Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure it is relevant and current. Develop an effective marketing plan that includes excellent sales copy and excerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, and don't wait for your audience to discover you be active, drive traffic to your website get marketing.
http://www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com/
Part Five: Even if your best friend owned a top publishing company, giving you an immediate "in," this does not guarantee publishing success.
First, you would have to write a quality book that has a clear target audience. Your book must also answer a common problem or need that your audience shares. Then you have to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it for at least two years. Your marketing plan is not set in stone, if you feel it is not working tweek it.
So let's begin with the process that should do before you write your first word. Begin by reading A LOT. Read both books you passionately love and books you can't seem to make it past page five. Then try to figure out what the author did in the book you loved, and what was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish.
Write down all these points so they are crystal clear to you. Read other people's books for inspiration and to discover what you should avoid as a writer.
Your next step is to plan out your book. Narrow down your subject, and then divide it into chapters. Each chapter should address a specific aspect of the problem your book is going to solve. In each chapter, break the specific aspect down into several parts. This will help your readers take in your information a bit at a time instead of overwhelming them with every bit of information clogging up the pages until they feel like they're about to go blind. It's not quite spoon-feeding the information to your readers, but it's close.
Your next two steps should be obvious. Write your book and then revise it. And then revise it again. And perhaps yet again. Of course, writing can be extremely hard, and writing a good book can seem like an impossible task. Use the Salami technique one step at a time, there are many books out there that give you guidelines to help you become familiar - and even love - the process of writing and revision.
Find a number of books about writing. Better yet, find a number of books about writing the specific type of book you aspire to write. These can serve as roadmaps on your writing journey.
Once you've written your ebook and revised it at least twice, show it to someone else whose opinion you respect. If you're lucky enough to know a good editor, see if you have something to barter for him or her to go through your manuscript. Or join a writing group and let the other members critique your work.
Then take all these ideas you have collected from other people, and revise your manuscript one last time. And then stop! Put down that pen! Get your hands off the keyboard! One of the most important steps to actually producing a book is to know when to stop writing and tinkering with it.
You've finally written your ebook! Pop open the bubbly! Give yourself a night out on the town!
Okay, now that this necessary celebration is out of your system, what do you do next?
How are you going to turn your ebook into Profits
Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your book without incurring the costs of print production. All you need is a relevant and targeted subject and some inexpensive software, and you can transform your manuscript into a book.
The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profits from your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmed with ebooks, and many of them are not worth the time it takes to download them. Just because the ability exists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make it good writing.
Take heart it is not all bad news, make sure your book does not simply rehash old material. You will injure your credibility as an author by claiming to offer valuable new insights and disappointing your audience with material they've read a million times before. Spend enough time writing and revising your book to make sure it's of the highest quality and presents the most current information. A good book will eventually sell itself; false claims about your book will make it extremely difficult to sell any future books you may write.
Now assuming you have determined that you do indeed have a quality product that answers some question or need of your target audience with NEW information, how do you know how much to charge for it?
Rule number 1: Set a price for your book equal to its value. An under-priced book will only give the impression that your book isn't worth very much.
To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time you put into creating it and how difficult it was to transform the necessary information into understandable and engaging writing. You must work out how much your time and effort is worth, and then price it accordingly, do not over price that will only discourage you if people do not buy. The goal is for you to be adequately compensated for your talent, your time, and your effort.
Now you've figured out a price that is high enough to convey the value of the book, but not so high as to be out of the reach of your target audience's budget, then it's time to offer it for sale on your website. To attract sales, you will need to develop a promotional campaign, particularly if you are an unknown author.
There are lot's of e-books about self-promotion that will help guide you in your efforts. Choose a plan that is both creative and professional. Learn how to write a catchy yet informative press release, and send copies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebook reviews.
Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or you could hire someone to write it for you. This is an essential. You absolutely need excellent sales copy to sell your book. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons your target audience needs your book, and the benefits they will derive from buying it.
Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautiful graphics have the power to instantly convey the quality and value of your ebook. Graphics can also convey the amount of valuable information the book contains, and your careful attention to detail.
Professional graphics sell professional books. They reassure the customer that the product is what it claims to be.
You could offer tidbits for free on your website as a sort of demo of your book. Include an order form for your ebook at the end of the articles.
Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sure to simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer a few bonuses that make your book even more enticing to purchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable and high quality. Too many bonuses that are basically a load of useless stuff will compromise the impression your audience has of your ebook.
The goal is to convey to your audience that they are getting a quality product for a good deal. That means applying restraint, especially when it comes to adding bonus items. Too much free stuff offered diminishes your credibility.
Just to remind you: Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure it is relevant and current. Develop an effective marketing plan that includes excellent sales copy and excerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, and don't wait for your audience to discover you be active, drive traffic to your website get marketing.
http://www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com/
Thursday, September 18, 2008
How to make your Ebook "user friendly"
How to make your Ebook "user friendly"
Part Four: You must now figure out how to keep your writing engaging. Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs, advice, and tips will keep the reader turning the pages. Sidebars are useful for quick, accessible information, they will break up the density of the page.
Write with a casual, conversational way rather than a formal tone such as textbook diction. Your reader's will respond to the feeling that you are having a conversation with them. Break up the length and structure of your sentences so you don't hypnotize your readers into sleep. Sentences that are all the same length and structure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!
Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots of practice. Make a schedule to write at least a page a day. Read books and magazines about the process of writing, and jot down tips that jump out at you. The art of writing is a lifetime process; the more you write (and read), the better your writing will become. The better your writing becomes, the bigger your sales figures.
In an ebook that is read on the screen, you have to be aware that you must give your reader's eye a break. You can do this by utilizing white space. In art classes, white space is usually referred to as "negative space."
Reader's eyes need to rest in the cool white oasises you create on your page. If your page is too dense.your reader will quit out of it as soon as their eyes begin to tear.
Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. This makes your information easy to absorb, and gives thereader a mental break from dissecting your paragraphs one after the other.
Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a font that's easy on the eyes, and stick to that font family. Using dozens of fonts will only tire your readers out before they've gotten past your introduction. Use at least one and a half line spacing, and text large enough to be read easily onthe screen, but small enough so that the whole page can be seen on a computer screen. You will need to experiment with this to find the right combination.
Then of course, don't forget to run a spell and grammar check. You will be judged by something as minor as correct punctuation, so don?t mess up a great book by tossing out semicolons randomly, or stringing sentences together with commas. (By the way, that's called a"comma splice.") Last of all, create an index and a bibliography. That's it! You've written a book! Now all you have to do is publish your ebook online, and wait for download request from your website visitors.
http://www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com/
Part Four: You must now figure out how to keep your writing engaging. Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs, advice, and tips will keep the reader turning the pages. Sidebars are useful for quick, accessible information, they will break up the density of the page.
Write with a casual, conversational way rather than a formal tone such as textbook diction. Your reader's will respond to the feeling that you are having a conversation with them. Break up the length and structure of your sentences so you don't hypnotize your readers into sleep. Sentences that are all the same length and structure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!
Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots of practice. Make a schedule to write at least a page a day. Read books and magazines about the process of writing, and jot down tips that jump out at you. The art of writing is a lifetime process; the more you write (and read), the better your writing will become. The better your writing becomes, the bigger your sales figures.
In an ebook that is read on the screen, you have to be aware that you must give your reader's eye a break. You can do this by utilizing white space. In art classes, white space is usually referred to as "negative space."
Reader's eyes need to rest in the cool white oasises you create on your page. If your page is too dense.your reader will quit out of it as soon as their eyes begin to tear.
Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. This makes your information easy to absorb, and gives thereader a mental break from dissecting your paragraphs one after the other.
Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a font that's easy on the eyes, and stick to that font family. Using dozens of fonts will only tire your readers out before they've gotten past your introduction. Use at least one and a half line spacing, and text large enough to be read easily onthe screen, but small enough so that the whole page can be seen on a computer screen. You will need to experiment with this to find the right combination.
Then of course, don't forget to run a spell and grammar check. You will be judged by something as minor as correct punctuation, so don?t mess up a great book by tossing out semicolons randomly, or stringing sentences together with commas. (By the way, that's called a"comma splice.") Last of all, create an index and a bibliography. That's it! You've written a book! Now all you have to do is publish your ebook online, and wait for download request from your website visitors.
http://www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com/
Friday, September 5, 2008
Writing an E-book
Writing an E-book
Part Three: I found that the hardest part of writing was the first sentence. When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. That's why you have to break it down into manageable tasks. Look at is as if you are going to climb mountain, you are standing at the foot of it and looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds. How can you possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?
Well there is only one way to climb a mountain, step by step.
Now think of writing your e-book in the same way. You must create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in the clouds.
The first thing you will have to do, as if you actually are a mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear, however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps you should take before you begin. Once you've gone through the following list, you will be ready to actually begin writing your e-book.
First Steps to Writing an E-book
First, figure out your e-book's working title. Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you'll find that one that will grow on you. Your title will help you to focus your writing on your topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your reader's queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles. Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness may help to sell books, as long as they are not too cute. For example, Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or: Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plans to whip you into shape.
Next, write out your thesis statement. A thesis is a sentence or two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from your thesis statement. Once you've got your thesis statement fine-tuned, you've built your foundation. From that foundation, your book will grow, chapter by chapter.
Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your e-book. Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If they don't, they don't belong in your book. For example, your thesis statement could read: We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives, but there are twenty proven techniques and methods to give you back a good night's sleep.
Once you have your thesis, and before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your book.
Ask yourself these questions:
* Does your book present useful information and is that information currently relevant?
* Will your book have a positive affect the lives of your readers?
* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader's attention?
* Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and significant?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident about the potential of your e-book.
It is important to figure out who your target audience will be. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style, tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in, and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will be to write your book for them.
Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your e-book. Do you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?
Now write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course, or use your e-book to attract affiliates around the world? The more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then divide it into four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.
http://www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com/
Part Three: I found that the hardest part of writing was the first sentence. When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. That's why you have to break it down into manageable tasks. Look at is as if you are going to climb mountain, you are standing at the foot of it and looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds. How can you possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?
Well there is only one way to climb a mountain, step by step.
Now think of writing your e-book in the same way. You must create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in the clouds.
The first thing you will have to do, as if you actually are a mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear, however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps you should take before you begin. Once you've gone through the following list, you will be ready to actually begin writing your e-book.
First Steps to Writing an E-book
First, figure out your e-book's working title. Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you'll find that one that will grow on you. Your title will help you to focus your writing on your topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your reader's queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles. Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness may help to sell books, as long as they are not too cute. For example, Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or: Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plans to whip you into shape.
Next, write out your thesis statement. A thesis is a sentence or two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from your thesis statement. Once you've got your thesis statement fine-tuned, you've built your foundation. From that foundation, your book will grow, chapter by chapter.
Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your e-book. Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If they don't, they don't belong in your book. For example, your thesis statement could read: We've all experienced insomnia at times in our lives, but there are twenty proven techniques and methods to give you back a good night's sleep.
Once you have your thesis, and before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your book.
Ask yourself these questions:
* Does your book present useful information and is that information currently relevant?
* Will your book have a positive affect the lives of your readers?
* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader's attention?
* Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and significant?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident about the potential of your e-book.
It is important to figure out who your target audience will be. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style, tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in, and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will be to write your book for them.
Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your e-book. Do you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?
Now write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course, or use your e-book to attract affiliates around the world? The more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.
Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then divide it into four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.
http://www.ourhelpyoursuccess.com/
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