Do you fancy yourself an author or have you always had a gift for the written word? Even if you haven’t the slightest author-related bone in your body, the fact of the matter is that you might still be able to take advantage of what e-books have to offer. This is particularly the case if you have been looking to develop a secondary source of income. Whether this is your first time venturing into such a field or you have been looking for an additional source of inspiration, the details and suggestions found below will definitely come in handy. Let’s take a look at some top tips to keep in mind when creating a popular e-book.
All About Discipline and Time
There are millions of e-books currently on the market and the fact of the matter is that this number is growing on a daily basis. However, more does not necessarily mean better. Out of this massive selection to choose from, why will only a handful eventually turn a profit? You might be surprised to learn that the answer to this question has less to do with the material. It instead involves the amount of time and patience that was put into the original creation process.
Nothing good is created overnight. Some of the most impressive e-books are the results of months or even years of effort. Simply churning out information that could very well be gleaned from another source is no way to secure a lucrative side hustle. In other words, always be patient and expect to be frustrated or stymied on occasion. Writer’s block is perfectly natural and you need to accept it as a larger part of the overall creative process. Still, this is only a small portion of the equation if you hope to create a successful ebook. What else will you need to take into account?
A Question of Topics and Graphics
One of the issues that you are likely to face will involve the subject at hand. Unless you are writing an e-book for nothing more than pleasure, you always need to take into account the bottom line. This is another way of stating that you should keep the return on investment in the back of your mind. This is also why the most prolific e-book writers will often take on the role of a part-time marketing specialist. They understand what their audience wants as well as which topics sell. So, what are some of the most popular subjects to take into account? A handful of interesting ideas could include:
– How-to books.
– Advice on sales and online marketing.
– Quick ways to make money within the digital domain.
– How to increase traffic to your website.
– Embracing a healthier you in the new year.
What do all of these categories have in common? They are all centred around improving some portion of the reader’s life. Do-it-yourself books are great ideas if you have never ventured into this arena previously. They also tend to appeal to a very wide audience base; helping to increase the chances that a sale will be made.
You might be wondering where graphics fall into the equation. Most of us do not wish to read long blocks of text; especially if the subject at hand is complicated or it can be broken down into a number of discrete categories. This is why it is always a good idea to insert graphics into your e-book. Make sure that they are relevant to your topic and it should always go without saying that you should NEVER use any third-party images that may be copyrighted without explicit permission. Having said this, never forget that you can also insert hyperlinks within the text. These can direct the reader to third-party sources (such as if you happen to be quoting statistics) or your own website (a great way to cross-channel market your products and services). Infographics are also excellent ideas if you wish to break down a subject into discrete parts (instructions on how to change an engine would be an example in this sense).
Above all, be sure to find the right e-commerce outlet if you hope to sell your e-book without experiencing any issues. It always pays to work with the largest providers, as they tend to reach massive global audience. Still, check to calculate what commissions (if any) may be charged and how these could eat into your profit margins.
E-books are excellent ways to leverage your inherent talents while attracting a loyal audience over time. It should nonetheless be mentioned that patience is important and that understand the steps that need to be taken well in advance is the best way to experience success. Never forget that there is a wealth of online information available at your disposal, so feel free to look around.
