Month: February 2010

Posted on

Writing for eBooks or Blogs

Writing for eBooks or blogs can sometimes be challenging. You may have an idea and it just doesn’t flow from your fingertips to the keyboard. Or you might be at a loss for an article you want to write.


photo credit: Andy Welsher

If you are struggling with this problem where do you start to correct it? Here are a few steps that may help you.

First define your audience. What ever you topic may be you need to remember writing is communication. And if you plan to communicate with you audience you need to know who they are. Are they young or older? Men or women? Business people or stay-at-home-parents? What will draw them to your eBook or blog site? The more you know your readers, the more effective your writing will be.

Get inspired! You will have a day or time when you are “stuck”. This happens to everyone at one time or another. Break the mode by looking for inspiration. This could be a walk, reading or a hobby, or a talk with a friend. Inspiration can come from many places. I enjoy a walk with the dog or working with art or photography

Brainstorming is one of my favorite ways to find new ideas. This can be done by writing ideas down on paper or just finding a quiet space to think and let your mind wander freely. Think of why you are writing, whom you are writing to and why your topic is important. If you have a passion for a topic ideas will surface easier.

Now it’s time to write. When trying to break a writer’s block or just a day when you don’t feel like writing, simply begin writing. Don’t worry about the flow or the grammar right now just get the words recorded. Focus on your topic and the readers and why they would be interested in what you have to say.

Once you have ideas down its time to do any research. Some articles will require more data while others are more light and flexible. But your readers came to you for information so supply them with something they did not know or may not have understood. And often when you start to gather additional information you will find a new slant on the article or maybe a totally new article that you wish to write.

And finally its time to work with grammar and the articles structure. Using these ideas you should be able to create an interesting article rather quickly that you readers will enjoy.

Posted on

Ebook readers also called eReaders for eBooks

EBooks are becoming more popular everyday and this trend looks like it will grow by leaps and bounds.

My eReader, Stuffed with Free Media
photo credit: insomnike

For those of you that are not familiar with eBooks, eBooks are a form of book that you can read online. One of its biggest advantages is that you can purchase a book and have it delivered to you computer immediately and start reading in a matter of a minute.

If you need instant information or want that must have book, an eBook is a wonderful option.

You can read your eBooks online print them out or load them onto an eBook reader (commonly referred to as eReaders) and take them with you and read them anywhere. Many people will be familiar with the eReader called Kindle, but there are many different varieties available.

This you tube will really break down what different varieties of eReaders are available, their strengths and weaknesses and how much they cost.

I am new to reading eBooks online so this you tube gave me an idea of what to look for in an eReader.

And with technology changing as fast as it does its good to have an idea of all the different eBook readers available and what to look for when selecting one.

Posted on

Advertising in your E-book?

An eBook serves many purposes. And depending on its use you may have to address the question, do you include advertising in your eBook?

DSC_4843
photo credit: Sheldon Pax

Depending on the use of your eBook there are many forms of acceptable advertising that could be considered.  This could be advertising that you can take advantage of to create additional streams of income or to promote your own products.

Affiliate links, affected items, items related to the eBook niche and up sells are only a few forms of advertising.

One of the most common ways to add advertising to your eBook is to add an appendix of recommended resources and more. These resources are a valuable and viable advertising method.

These can be from your own products, from a matching niche or area of sale or from other select marketers. Just make sure whatever advertising or product you promote has value and is an asset to your eBook and the credibility you have built in your niche. And remember, never promote a product or program that you do not believe in

And also limit the amount of items you promote or your eBook and project will lose its perceived value.

Another strong advertising method is to add a promotion for a product right at the start.  This should be for one of your own projects. This will give a person a reason to sign up.

Mini eBooks are a good item to create as a promotion to your eBook. Many are free and give your audience a reason to want to purchase a product from you.

Everyone wants to receive a free item and most people want to give loyal customers or readers a deal but the reality of marketing is that the most important tools cost money.  So promoting a product in your eBook, whether its yours or someone else’s will help you with costs and make it possible for a few free items for your readers.

These mini eBooks are usually in support of your main ‘niche’ area, and make your product all the more valuable and attainable.

Whatever advertising or product you decide to promote should be one you’ve personally used and should match or add value to your overall theme of your niche.

Trust is an all-important goal you need in producing eBook that will attract readers and good advertising practices will add to your trust and value of your eBook if you choose wisely.

Posted on

Co-authoring a mini e-book

You have an idea for a eBook. You selected your niche and checked keywords for proper search success. But… you are new online or you just don’t have the list or pull to get the word out to the proper groups. Or you may have an idea but you just can’t get it into words.

DSC_4847
photo credit: Sheldon Pax

One idea that may speed up your plan is to find a co-author or co-create an eBook with an expert or ghostwriter.   Start by looking for sites in your niche – and then take the time to contact the webmaster or site owner and ask if he or she is interested in co-authoring a eBook with you.  This is often referred to as a joint venture. And with any joint venture you have to offer some benefit to your prospective co-author or co-creator.

Your co-author can provide anything from half (or more) of the content, to an introduction, articles, or additional information. Or you may choose to merge your information and theirs.  Regardless of what your co-author brings to project you can increase the products credibility, especially if you select an expert in your chosen niche.

Selecting and joining forces with a co-author will give you an instant promotion for your joint venture. You will need to discuss how to set up the OTO (one time offer) and upsell aspects of the venture to give you both a great deal from the JV project.  The co-authors contribution to the book could be within the eBook, through back end sales – or both.

Basically a joint venture is what will work the best for the partners to create a product and make a nice income for both parties. And one additional plus to a joint project is that it is a learning experience with both participants bringing fresh ideas and expertise in new areas.

Having a great idea and a unique spin may not be enough to bring a co-author onboard. So the bottom line in your approach you will have to make sure that any arrangement you come to is win-win for everyone involved.

Posted on

Promoting your mini e-book with a blog

Blogs are a wonderful, viral tool that you can use to your advantage. And you will find blogging is quite fun. It’s a place to voice your opinion and share knowledge on a subject.

photo credit: myuibe

Blogs are quite easy to set up. If you don’t’ have a blog you can get started in about five minutes at places like wordpress or blogger.com You may also want to check out Blaffeo Blogs at Blogging Beginners.

I have learned to build my own sites. This gives me more control over what the site is capable of and to create a blog site with its own unique look.

Blogs create traffic easily and are searched often by Google so this is why many people use them to promote their eBook. My suggestion to you is make sure your blog article is fresh and good quality content.

Care should be taken when generating traffic for your blog. You can write about the benefits of your e-book on your own blog, but to create a goof traffic flow from other blogs or websites, you need to find like niches.   Comments with value left on such sites will lead traffic to your site.

But make sure the comment is meaningful or it may be considered ‘spam’, and people are very sensitive to others coming in and simply advertising on their blogs via comments.  Commenting well on other blogs will lead to others coming back to YOUR blog to see if you’ve got any other information that they might be interested in. This will increase your status as an ‘expert’ on a certain niche.

Once you are considered an expert, your eBook has a better chance of selling.

And even if you don’t have a sales page on the blog for your eBook, articles or ads in sidebar widgets will get attention to your book.

One other way to promote your eBook on a blog is to offer a mini eCourse to go along with it or a free mini report.  Free information attracts people and if the information is good it will lead to more interest in your ebook.