From Zero to eBook Superstar in 5 Easy Steps
I’d like to start by saying that generally, I don’t write a lot of ebooks.
Why?
Well, first, I think they are highly inefficient, and 2nd, I don’t think they’re as valuable as they once were.
That being said, if you haven’t written and published an ebook yet, then I think you’d be doing yourself an injustice by not getting one out there.
eBooks are the perfect entry level product for sales funnels, and they are relatively easy to produce.
They’re inexpensive (compared to multimedia products), are easy to reference, and give your new customer a chance to preview what you have to offer. More often than not, if they like your entry level product, then they’ll eventually move up to the next level.
You don’t need to write brand new content
In fact, if your blog is as old as this one, you’ve probably got enough content buried in the archives that you could make quite a few of them.
You could hire an editor to piece together some of your old posts and you’d have an ebook before you know it.
You can outsource most of the other work too, which we’ll talk about in just a second.
I like to compare writing an ebook to taking the training wheels off for the first time. It’s a bit scary, but once you do it, your confidence is higher than ever and you feel like you can achieve anything.
So here’s my method, in 5 easy steps.
1. Research
Once I’ve decided on a topic, I’ll scour the web and look for anything that might be relevant to my mission. My preferred tool is Evernote, but Google Notebook works too.
I take screenshots, jot down notes, and start doing my initial planning there. The nice thing about using an online notebook is that you can access it from anywhere – phone, PC, Mac, netbook, etc.
It’s easy to track notes, and even better, you’ll already have images to send to your designer.
2. Creation
This is the hardest part right? You’ve got to dedicate yourself to sitting down at the computer and grinding away a few thousand words.
But here’s the thing…you don’t have to do it all in one day. Break it up so that you either write a few pages each day, or several pages on a single day.
When Mike and I wrote Beyond Blogging, I would write one chapter at a time, and use the rest of the week as a “cooling off” period.
I think this is crucial, because giving yourself some time off helps you to think things through a little better. Have you ever spent hours trying to solve a problem, only to get the answer after you’ve given up? It’s kind of like that with writing. Don’t burn out, or your product will suffer.
As for format, I like to write in Pages or Word because I can keep page and word counts easily. I insert images and links as I go, also leaving notes for my designer as needed.
3. Production
This is my favorite part!
I send the doc file to be proofread by someone I trust (like you Fiona) and then get in touch with my designer to let her know I’m dropping a project on her lap.
Ideally, you would have already sent them a notice so that they could start preparing concepts and/or their timeline, but it’s not absolutely necessary to do so.
It’s important to have the document proofread by as many people as possible. This will save you from having to pay your designer for changes down the road (always happens anyway).
Once your document has been proofed, send it over to your designer with your design ideas. It’s important that you be as detailed as possible.
Here are some things to think about:
- Headings/Subheadings
- Table of Contents
- Header/Footer
- Copyright Info
- Introduction
- Closing Notes
- Links
- Images
As you can see, it’s not as simple as just sending a Word doc via email and magically getting a perfect PDF in return. You’ll do yourself and your designer a huge favor by leaving no stone left unturned.
Depending on your designer, you should be able to knock out cover art and banners in one fell swoop, but if not, we’ll tackle that in step 4.
4. Site Prep
- When it comes time to sell an ebook, the little things matter.
- Do you have banners to give to your affiliates or put on your blog?
- Do you have an ecover?
- Do you have decent looking “Buy Now” buttons?
- Have you integrated with your shopping cart?
- Do you have a minisite? (click here for a good example of one). If not, and you plan on selling via your blog (WordPress theme), then I recommend removing the sidebar or using a full-width template. Any link that isn’t a buy now button is probably one too many, so try to remove as many of them as you can.
5. Show Time
This is the easy part, and even though it’s stressful, the learning you go through at this point is priceless.
This is where you see the types of odds and ends that pop up to throw you off your game.
This is where you experience working with customers and affiliates.
This is where you get to experience launch fatigue.
Here are few tips to help you get this part right:
- Don’t just throw it out there. Make a big production out of it. Talk about it for a month before your launch. Drop hints, and have fun.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for the sale. Blog about it and send an email…multiple times if possible.
- Automate your lists. Create rules in aWeber that remove people from your launch email list (you do have one of these right?) when they join your customer list. If you don’t have one, make one, and if possible, automate that too.
- Follow Up by creating a 1-3 email AR series that thanks your customers, tells them where to get help, and reminds them that you aren’t running a hit and run operation. They’ll appreciate this.
Your Turn
I wrote my first ebook in Afghanistan, so I don’t want to hear any excuses about why you can’t get it done. If you already sell one, fantastic, tell me about what you learned in the comments below.
If you don’t have one, when are you going to start?
In the Beyond Blogging Project, Mike and I have walked several people through this, and as each will tell you, the process has been invaluable, both for their confidence, and in the knowledge they’ve gained as a result.
It’s go time!
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