Writing: 5 Tips for Publishing an Ebook
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I love writing an ebook about a topic I’m passionate about. What is amazing to me is how, when you speak with your true voice, people listen. There are lots of good reasons for writing an ebook; however, the best reason is because you must write. Because the message is important to you.
Five Tips on How To Write and Publish an Ebook
So, here are tips for reaching further with your passion to broaden your audience.
1. Select a Topic You are “Known” For
It made sense for me to write 30 Days to Make and Market a Fabulous Ebook because I was already writing and speaking on the topic, and people knew I had written successful ebooks in the past. It would not make sense for me to publish an ebook about home organization, given the state of my office desk.
When you are known for a particular subject, it’s usually because that is something you bring up often in conversation or in your blog. People will not be surprised to see you offering an ebook on the topic.
2. Focus the Topic to a Good, Specific Point-of-View
When you are passionate about a subject, the tendency can be to try to cram everything you know about the topic into a single ebook. Instead of trying to publish the ebook equivalent of “The Joy of Cooking” you are more likely to have success with an ebook series about food-related topics. So specific titles might include “Thirty Dinners You can Make for $10 or Less” and “How to Prepare Dinners for Your Freezer” instead.
3. Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Putting an Ebook Out There
Sometimes, when we think about writing an ebook, we stop ourselves with a myriad of excuses. I would encourage you to take the plunge and just do it! Not every ebook will be a best-seller, of course, but each book that you write will teach you something new and add to your overall platform. This is so important when it’s a topic you talk about a lot.
4. Put Together a High-Quality Work
When you’re writing because you care, you want to put the highest quality work out there. Consider things like a high-quality ebook cover, having your work edited, and paying attention to formatting niceties like readable fonts, appropriate images or screenshots, white space or bullet points when necessary to draw the reader in, and other touches that will make for a more polished and presentable book.
5. Enlist the Help of Others who Share Your Passion
Set up an affiliate program for your ebook so that others who are interested in the topic will be able to promote the book on your behalf. Once you’ve excited people with what you’ve shared, you want to have a way to empower them to spread the message, and an affiliate program is a fabulous way to do so.
Have you ever published an Ebook? If so, what was it about? If not, have you ever thought about writing an Ebook? What do you enjoy most about Ebooks?
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
Angela England is a problogger, freelance writer and author of 30 Days to Make and Sell a Fabulous Ebook. Find her on Twitter and at her blog, angengland.com.
Thank you! This is great and needed. I published an ebook, Broken Moms back before ebooks exploded. I am currently working on 2 books and this post really helps put it in perspective. Thank you!
Thanks Liana! I’m glad you found it helpful. Ebooks are becoming more and more popular – when I wrote my big one in 2009 it was like, “Oh…an ebook?” But through 2010 that ebook added significantly to my family’s income and it is much more accepted now. If you have any questions just let me know!
I love that your first tip is to write on a topic you’re known for. I think way too many people think they can ust write an ebook on anything, and they’ll do all sorts of research on the topic, and it may end up being a very good book… BUT, if they’re not already established as an expert in that area, they’re not going to sell it very well. Writing for your current audience gives you a built-in set of buyers.
I am writing an ebook right now, and Angela’s book has been a huge help!
As per your usual, Angela excellent writing and great usable tips. Thanks for showing us how to use what we know!
[...] Tips for Publishing an e-Book – Though I have never given an e-book much consideration, I found this blog to be helpful as well as inspiring. Considering how much the world has changed and how techno-centric we are now, e-books could be a great way to share your passion with others and collect a few dollars while working on the bigger masterpiece. [...]