[Show Transcript]
I’m Randy Charach from RandyReport.com and THIS is the show that takes you from internet zero to business hero!
In this week’s report you’ll learn how to write and promote your very own Ebook, which you can sell online, or use to attract targeted customers and effectively sell any of your other products or services. Stick around, and we’ll talk about why your Ebook will be a fantastic lead generation tool, how to write to get noticed, and some innovative ways you can promote your Ebook to make money.
I’m Randy Charach from RandyReport.com and THIS is the show that takes you from internet zero to business hero!
You know why people like EBooks so much? First, they’re delivered almost instantly – you can buy one and be turning the virtual pages within minutes. EBooks are super portable – as long as you have a laptop, IPod, Ebook reader, or anything that can display a digital product, then you can have a whole library right at your fingertips…and you won’t even have to whisper in your own library.
EBooks are also ideal for you, the publisher, as they bring you almost 100 percent profit. They cost hardly anything to produce because they’re digital, and once you create your Ebook and get it out there, you make money every time somebody buys and downloads it. This can happen 24-7…even while you sleep. You can promote your Ebook in so many places…on your own website, through other sites, or through an affiliate program.
When selecting the topic of your Ebook be creative when it comes to picking your niche. You need to choose a topic that people will relate to and be interested in for more than a few pages. In other words, don’t write a whole Ebook about potato chips that look like Richard Nixon’s face. Even though your topic should be popular, stand out from the crowd and raise the bar by giving your Ebook a fresh twist.
Really boil down your niche, and establish your main goal. Are you trying to bring customers to your weight loss website so they will buy fitness products? Do you want to gather email addresses so you can send them future promotions? Do you simply want to share your knowledge to help others?
Then do your homework…hmmm…that sounded like my parents speaking…by heading over to your favorite search engine and searching for EBooks. Type in some popular topics and take a peek at sales pages that sell different types of EBooks. See how they try and capture their audience. You want your book to fly off the digital bookshelves, and studying other successful Ebook publishers is a sure fire way to gain some excellent insight.
Always aim to provide a solution to someone’s question or problem. If I want to learn about dog training, I’m going to head on over to a search engine and look for training tips, advice and books or videos. If I saw an Ebook on how to turn a bad dog into the perfect pup, it would definitely catch my eye, and most likely I’d whip out my credit card and download it. Your job as an Ebook author is to be a problem solver for your readers.
Writing an entire Ebook might seem totally intimidating. Take a deep breath, relax, and remember…take it one bite at a time. Break your Ebook into let’s say 10 topics, then…perhaps down into five sub topics. That’s really only a few pages to write in each section. Remember each of your topics and subtopics need to reflect the main idea, the overall message in your Ebook.
Whatever you decide to write about, keep it concise and simple. Pick an exciting title for your Ebook to spark your readers’ interest. What sounds better: How to Lose Weight…boring…or Blast Your Body Fat: How to Get Lean and Mean in 30 Days!
Once your Ebook is written, get someone to proof-read it for you. It could be your best friend, or you could hire an editor. When I wrote my first book, my Uncle Marvin did it for me. This will ensure it flows smoothly, is engaging and free from major grammatical errors.
It’s true that the Ebook landscape has changed a lot over the years. It used to be easier for people to make a ton of money with a single Ebook…but just like Crocs and celebrities with Chihuahuas, the idea caught on and now everyone and their brother has an Ebook. with from EBooks, but the gravy train has definitely left the station. Think of your Ebook as a tool to help you market yourself or your product, rather than the be-all-end-all golden ticket to wealth.
Once you’ve sat down and created a digital masterpiece…or at least an Ebook that you think has potential…now what? Decide whether you’re going to charge for your Ebook or give it away for free. Okay…and why would you give away your hard work for free!!!
The reason…It can go viral. Going viral means your Ebook spreads like a virus…only it won’t give people a runny nose or sore throat…think of it like a snowball, picking up more and more snow…”readers” as it rolls down the hill. People will share your Ebook with their friends, and They’ll share it with their friends. If you don’t want to give away your entire Ebook for free, you could just give away a chapter, or a passage that entices the reader to buy the rest of it. Give them a taste, sort of like a delicious appetizer…Now I’m getting hungry.
A free Ebook can be an excellent lead generator. When someone comes to your website and sees your free Ebook in all its digital glory, they feel like they’re getting something of value when they download it. In return, you ask them to enter their email address so you can send them targeted marketing materials that advertise your product. This is called opt-in marketing.
If you’re going to charge for your Ebook, how much you should sell it for depends on several factors. Is your Ebook unique, with valuable and helpful information? More specific content is worth way more to readers than pages of general content telling them things they probably already know. How long is it? If it’s only 10 pages and you try to charge 200 bucks, unless you have the key to unlocking life’s great mysteries, few people will buy it. Discuss the pricing process with someone in the business or check out what other EBooks’ similar to yours cost. It’s also always a great idea to test various elements of your offer, especially your price point.
Whether you offer customers a free Ebook in exchange for their email address, or you sell it to them, the type of page where you close the deal is called a squeeze page or landing page. Some tips for a really good landing page — success stories work really well or personal experiences. Don’t put too much content on this page though. You want to convert your prospects into customers, not overwhelm them with thousands of words of mumbo jumbo and overused sales jargon. If you confuse visitors and throw too much info at them, they’ll be out of there in a flash, and, unlike Arnold…they won’t be back.
A great way for you to cart more cash to your bank account is to promote other products within your Ebook. This means, for example, you sign up with affiliate programs, and suggest products to your readers that are related to the topic. If someone clicks on an ad link in your Ebook, they are taken to the affiliate site, and if they complete an action…say filling out an online form, or buying a product, you get a commission. Keep all affiliate links relevant to your topic. It’s unlikely that someone is going to buy men’s jeans from a link in your Ebook on baby care…unless you have a really big baby. Also, if you stray too off-topic, your Ebook is seen by your readers as just a cash grab. You won’t build trust with them and they’ll likely ask for a refund.
One of the simplest ways to get your Ebook out there, and the way I got started selling Ebooks, is through a company called Clickbank, at Clickbank.com. In fact, I still use Clickbank and feel comfortable recommending them to you for the sales of your Ebook. Clickbank is essentially a portal that brings together merchants, affiliates, and customers. The great thing about it is once your set up with they’re system you’re done. You don’t have to worry about processing your orders, delivering your Ebook, or taking payment. You can sit back and let Clickbank do that work for you. They get a cut, of course, but it makes things a whole lot simpler than trying to do it all yourself.
Ok, our question this week comes from Carla P. from Fairfield, California, who wrote:
I’ve got an Ebook on blogging I want to get out there, but I’ve heard stories about people stealing other people’s material. Which format is best to prevent this, and should I lock it?
If only there was a way to catch Ebook thieves in the act…some sort of virtual jail you could throw them in…It’s just a fact of life that there will always be people who will steal your hard work.
Don’t worry about securing your Ebook. This will only create a world of trouble for you, with lots of customer support issues.
In terms of formatting, I highly suggest you deliver your Ebook as a PDF. It’s the easiest to work with. If people steal your Ebook, so be it. It’s one of the costs of doing business. Also, those affiliate links peppered throughout your book mean commissions are going to come to you even from stolen copies, so you’re not really losing out. Look…of course I hope people don’t steal your work, but my simple advice is to not worry about it. Focus your energy on the positive aspects of your business and you’ll be just fine.
Well, that wraps up this episode of Randy Report. Since company’s websites, prices and quality of service on the Internet change rapidly, for my up-to-date recommendations on resources and for free tools and training, visit me today at RandyReport.com.
Today you learned
How to write a standout Ebook that sets you apart from the crowd, how to promote your Ebook and how to monetize it by charging a fee or using affiliate programs. Keep your writing creative, clear and concise, and provide people with something of value. You also discovered how you can use your Ebook as a lead generation tool, which can help you build your customer base, and if you do a great job, to also create an army of adoring fans.
Thanks so much for watching. Remember, if you’d like more free reports, resources and training then visit RandyReport.com and join me again next week where you’ll discover
How to start up and run a membership site, get lots of content, and become an authority in your niche. You’ll learn how selling a membership ONCE on your membership site can create an ongoing flow of residual income for you.
I’m Randy Charach, and this is the show that takes you from internet zero to business hero!
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