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Ten eBook Mistakes and How to Correct Them
by: Judy Cullins
Did you know that you already have an eBook inside
you?
And, like your coach, you can earn thousands of dollars
each month?
Even if you are a non-techie like me, you can write
your ebook at the same time you write your print book.
Or, solve your readers' problems using other articles
and reports already in your files. Expand a two-page
article with a story or add other how-to's.
If you want to double and triple your present book
income, check out these mistakes and correct them
now.
Mistake 1. You don't write a short eBook first to
test the waters.
Short is in the eyes of the beholder, but let's say
from 15-90 pages. Your future customers will be glad
to download these pages and print only the ones they
need to.
Your eBook needs to be more concise, easy-to-read,
and compelling than your print book. That means you
can shorten your analogies and stories. You can use
a "success format" that poses a question
(a heading) your reader wants answered, then answer
it. This formula gets to the point quickly, and always
remember, your Online audience is busy and doesn't
want a wordy style.
Mistake 2. You don't check in with a professional
editor or book coach before you sell your eBook.
Yes, it's good to get feedback from peers, but you
need to get a professional look at the final edition--someone
who can set you straight about words and grammar that
makes your writing vital and original. For instance,
you need to drop your passive constructions such as
"there is" or any form of "is, has,
begin or start". Limit the -ly adverbs that merely
tell rather than show. Your readers want a picture
and want to respond with their emotions. Limit your
-ing forms of the verbs. Keep your copy in present
or past tense.
Mistake 3. You don't know your audience before you
write your eBook.
Emerging authors make this biggest mistake. They have
information, so why not write an eBook? Instead think
about the audience you will serve. More targeted works
well. People who want something quick and easy that
will save them time and money--another audience. The
best one so far in the untapped Internet or Online
audience. Mostly small business people, they are eager
to buy what they need to make their life or business
more enjoyable, profitable, and easy.
Right now, think of your one or two preferred audiences,
and keep their profile of their needs, complaints,
or problems as well as their picture by your workstation.
Then you will write the book your pre-sold audience
already wants!
Mistake 4. You don't automate your business .
As a newbie or non-techie, at first you may resist
learning how to do this. Three years ago I knew nothing
about the net, and today I've published five eBooks
on Internet marketing and eBook writing and publishing.
You can too, little by little.
Since each book will not bring you landslides of profit,
think about limiting your small priced books. Or,
bundle them so that each sale is around $20 and up.
Offer your eBook for sale through an 800 number. One
with excellent service is MRC business Support at
800-366-5596. Set up a link for people to download
your book. Two companies to investigate are Clickbank.com
and Paypal.com.
Delegate some of this work to your computer assistant.
Contact your local high schools and technical schools
where Online geniuses live. And, the cost is nominal
in comparison to the results.
Mistake 5. You don't have a title that sells well.
A good title is short, clear, and clever. The best
title includes your book's number one benefit. Use
words your audience can relate to. Even cliches are
OK for book titles. Instead of "How to Market
Online" offer a title like a Web site headline:
"Quadruple your Monthly Book Income--Market Online."
Brainstorm a list of your possible titles with associates
through a small marketing survey. Ask them to vote
from 1-10 and offer their own title ideas that would
make them reach into their wallets and pay $15-20
or more.
6. You don't leverage your eBook for higher price
sales.
When you look at the valuable information inside your
eBook and you realize you only make $20 a sale, you
may want to investigate putting it into an eCourse.
These courses sell for $79 and up. With just a little
revising and tweaking, you can set your book up to
be a hands-on how to course.
You can bundle several lower cost eBooks and list
their singular prices. Then offer a fabulous discount
to buy all three or four.
Mistake 7. You don't add bonus value to your eBook.
Whenever you put 2-4 bonus special reports at the
end of your eBook document in Portable Document Format,
you make your offer so appealing, that many will buy
for the bonuses alone. For an eBook on How to Write
your EBook or Other Book--Fast! an eBook that sells
for $24.95, the author offered these three valuable
bonuses as an incentive to buy. "Titles Sell
Books" - value $4.95, 2. "Write Like a Pro
Checklist." - value $3.95, and 3. "How to
Get Testimonials from the Rich and Famous" -
value $595 . That's $15 of valuable reports added
to $24.95--Total value: $40.00 value for only $24.95.
She put a new link on her Web site "Discounts
of the Month." With a limited time offer, from
her ePromotion bi-monthly offers, she got many new
buyers. Everyone wants useful, original information.
Everyone also wants a bargain.
Mistake 8. You put too many topics in your book.
Remember, best sellers focus on one main topic. Each
chapter must support that subject. When you try to
give too much, your information isn't organized, short,
and compelling. Instead of the end all, be all book,
concentrate on one "how-to" and give plenty
of details to make it useful to your reader.
9. You don't market while you write.
Most writers wish someone else would do it for them.
Not in this lifetime! It's so much easier to put marketing
into each chapter title, each chapter's questions
you will answer, rough draft of your eBook's back
cover (sales letter), the One-Minute "Tell and
Sell," and knowing your targeted audience, thesis
and table of contents before you write a single chapter.
Knowing these essential "Seven Hot-Selling Points"
before you finish your eBook will have you ready to
promote the second you write your last word. .
10. You don't brand yourself, your business, and your
book.
Some people join an affiliate program or set up an
affiliate program for others to sell their products
and sell many products. As a marketing coach, what
I want for you is to think of the overview "umbrella"
you can house your products under. Think about your
biggest benefit you offer through your service. Think
about your book title. Can you put a key word from
it into each chapter title? For the book, "Passion
at Any Age," the author put the word passion
in each chapter title such as "Passionate Self-Care".
In one client's book, "Watch Out! Your Relationships
Can Be Hazardous To Your Health." the author
included the key words "watch out!" in each
chapter title.
The eBook earning curve while short, is important
for all writers to conquer. It's easier when you contact
a professional coach or take a teleclass to inform
yourself. Stop making eBook mistakes so you can earn
the money you deserve.
About The Author
Judy Cullins: 20-year author, speaker, book coach
Helps entrepreneurs manifest their book and web dreams
eBk: "Ten Non-techie Ways to Market Your Book
Online"
http://www.bookcoaching.com
To receive FREE "The Book Coach Says..."
go to http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml
judy@bookcoaching.com
Ph:619/466/0622