| "E-Book" is short for Electronic Book---an | | | | |
| organized set of content delivered in an | | | | * How will I promote and distribute the |
| electronic format. There are many different | | | | product?- For-Pay E-BooksAs for the for-pay |
| types of e-books including packaged | | | | version of the e-book, you can use PayPal ( |
| executables, PDF, and formats for the | | | | or ProPay ( to accept payment because they |
| handheld computer.As with so many of the | | | | are much easier to setup on a simple site. |
| original e-books, your e-book doesn't have to | | | | The only problem is that they are not very |
| be about Making Money or Internet | | | | flexible when dealing with automating order |
| Marketing---people are interested in many | | | | processing. If you have the time and the |
| other things. What makes an e-book valuable | | | | funds later, you can always upgrade to a |
| to a wide audience is that it provides | | | | merchant account, order-processing |
| information that people cannot easily find | | | | environment.You also have to develop a set of |
| elsewhere.Over the years, I've had the | | | | procedures for handling purchases. These |
| pleasure of writing numerous printed books | | | | procedures identify the steps for collecting |
| and working on several electronic | | | | funds, handling returns, and sending the |
| publications. From what I've seen, the e-book | | | | password or key to unlock the e-book. An |
| medium supports the greatest creative | | | | example of these procedures is as follows:* |
| flexibility. Images can come alive, you can | | | | User submits a purchase request. |
| provide interactive forms and content, the | | | | |
| user can access remote databases, and you can | | | | * You accept the request and receive |
| support dynamic updates whenever the content | | | | payment. |
| changes. There are, however, several steps | | | | |
| involved in the process to properly develop | | | | * You send the password, key, a URL to the |
| and promote an e-book to your audience.The | | | | complete product, or the complete product |
| ProcessWhen developing an e-book, you have to | | | | itself via e-mail. |
| perform several important steps to create | | | | |
| quality content. Each step allows you to | | | | * If the user wants to return the product, |
| fine-tune your idea and the end-product so | | | | determine their reasoning and refund the |
| that readers will learn from and enjoy the | | | | money.Selecting the Right PriceSelecting a |
| content you provide.- Brainstorm an Idea | | | | price for the e-book is always a tough |
| | | | decision, but a very important one. Remember |
| Ideas are cheap, but good ideas take time to | | | | that the main advantage to e-books is in the |
| develop. To develop a good idea, you have to | | | | inexpensive methods of production. You can |
| jot down as many ideas as possible, then go | | | | usually write an entire e-book and have it |
| through the list to make sure that:* you're | | | | published in a very short time. On top of |
| interested in the idea; | | | | that, when you generate the finished package, |
| | | | you can simply distribute that same copy |
| * you're knowledgeable on the topic; | | | | instead of having to continually re-run the |
| | | | process to generate a new product---as in the |
| * you're hitting the greatest, potential | | | | print market.To price your e-book correctly, |
| market; | | | | research your competition's prices and |
| | | | determine if you have any added value above |
| * people will purchase the information; and | | | | and beyond your competition. If so, either |
| | | | price it at their price or add 10%. With a |
| * you can market to those interested.Once | | | | good write-up and press release, you will |
| you reduce the list to a few solid choices, | | | | draw readers because you are newer, have a |
| go back through and examine the remaining | | | | larger footprint (i.e., more pages), and have |
| topics to determine which topics you can | | | | more information.Once it has been out there |
| write, by:* determining what you know about | | | | for a while, speak with your past customers |
| the topic; | | | | or drop the price a little until sales begin |
| | | | to pick up. There are many tactics for |
| * performing market research to ensure that | | | | setting the right price, but with proper |
| you have a market and an angle for that | | | | market research, you should be able to come |
| market; and | | | | up with a solid price the first time |
| | | | around.PromotionPromotion is the key to |
| * performing competitive research to find | | | | getting your e-book noticed. You must be |
| your competition's products, successes, | | | | professional and diligent when handling the |
| failures, and target markets.While | | | | promotion of your work as one misplaced |
| fine-tuning your product, remember that | | | | e-mail or posting could destroy credibility |
| people will buy the product if it:* solves a | | | | for you and your work.- Web SiteIf you don't |
| problem; | | | | already have one, you should consider |
| | | | assembling a Web site to present and sell |
| * improves an existing product; | | | | your e-books. You'll need to obtain your own |
| | | | domain name and quality hosting to gain |
| * hits on a hot trend; | | | | credibility with your customers and your |
| | | | competitors. You only need to assemble one |
| * creates a new niche; or | | | | page per e-book and provide a short blurb |
| | | | outlining what the e-book presents. Also, |
| * fills a current need.- Develop an | | | | provide a way for the user to download, or |
| OutlineOnce you come up with the idea, you'll | | | | purchase, the e-book as well as a way to |
| have to create an outline or table of | | | | contact you.You've seen the small graphics |
| contents to develop the idea. The best way | | | | scattered around the Web that depicts a book |
| I've found to do this is to break the idea | | | | or box with the title of the e-book---this is |
| down into blocks of contiguous | | | | called a "virtual book cover" or a "3D |
| information---similar to assembling a | | | | virtual box." Whether you're good with |
| pyramid. At the top is the IDEA with each | | | | graphics or not, this is a great and simple |
| successive level providing a more detailed | | | | way to advertise your work. You can view |
| sequence of points that ultimately explain | | | | samples at eBook Cover-Art ( and Free E-Book |
| the top-level IDEA.The outline itself should | | | | Covers ( Free E-Book SitesAs we discussed |
| be at least four levels deep so that you can | | | | earlier, it's always a good idea to have a |
| understand what you'll say for each section | | | | free version of your e-book to help promote |
| or chapter. Research each section and collect | | | | the for-pay version. One of the best reasons |
| pertinent information so that you can develop | | | | is that many e-book sites that allow free |
| a coherent outline and understand the depths | | | | promotion will only promote free e-books. |
| of what it is you are writing.- Develop the | | | | This way, you can promote the free version of |
| First DraftThe first draft is merely a "brain | | | | your e-book on more sites and have it drive |
| dump." Follow your outline and write as much | | | | potential customers to your Web site. Some of |
| as possible about each section. Don't worry | | | | the more popular free e-book promotion sites |
| about format, spelling, or grammar at this | | | | are as follows:* E-Books Rock ( |
| point, as you'll focus on resolving those | | | | |
| issues later.- Substantive EditA substantive | | | | * Free E-Books ( |
| edit is a review of the manuscript where you | | | | |
| fine-tune the content. You have to make sure | | | | * E-Book Directory ( |
| that the content is complete, contains | | | | |
| pertinent information for the topic, and | | | | * E-Book 2000 ( |
| provides enough relevant information to | | | | |
| explain the topic. At this point, you can | | | | * Abika ( |
| perform additional research to verify the | | | | |
| content or enhance the information for the | | | | * E-Book News ( |
| reader.- Content/Technical ReviewFind some | | | | |
| experts in your manuscript's topic area and | | | | * E-Book Talk ( Review SitesYou can get the |
| have them review it for accuracy and | | | | greatest amount of publicity by submitting |
| readability. This type of review ensures that | | | | your complete e-book to a review site. The |
| the information is correct and that the | | | | reviewers will read your e-book and generate |
| target audience will be able to understand | | | | a public review for posting to their site. In |
| the content. Many times, experts will take | | | | this way, others can read the review and |
| credit in the acknowledgements as opposed to | | | | visit your site for a download of your |
| a fee, but this is something you'll have to | | | | e-book. Some of the more popular review sites |
| work out with them.- Second DraftThe second | | | | are:* EBooks 'n Bytes ( |
| draft takes into account the information from | | | | |
| your reviewers as well as changes you need to | | | | * Midnight Scribe ( |
| make based on your own review of the content. | | | | |
| Once this draft is complete, take a day or | | | | * Reviewers' Int'l Org ( Press ReleasesA |
| two off to give your brain a break. This way, | | | | press release is another great way to bring |
| when you return to the manuscript, you'll be | | | | notice to your new e-book. One of the more |
| fresh and able to catch any mistakes that you | | | | prominent e-book press release distribution |
| would've otherwise missed.- Copy EditThe copy | | | | systems is eBroadcaster ( The site features |
| edit allows you to check the grammar, | | | | press releases related to new ebooks, |
| spelling, and readability of the content. | | | | epublisher announcements, and handheld news. |
| Make sure that everything is formatted | | | | Another site is called PressBlast ( If you're |
| appropriately and that your manuscript | | | | not up on writing a press release, it's time |
| provides a professional presentation.- | | | | to get a handle on it because you'll need |
| ProofIn a publishing house, proofreaders will | | | | it!- Free ContentMany writers abhor free |
| go through the product and check for any | | | | content as they feel they are "writing for |
| final production issues, wording, and | | | | free." Actually, if you target your writing |
| problems with content. Do a pre-package of | | | | to define and present your knowledge as well |
| the product and send it out to a few people | | | | as bring in clients, the small amount of time |
| to have them read through the product. Ask | | | | you spend putting together the free content |
| them to check for any mistakes or errors that | | | | is not wasted. Realize that people want |
| might have been missed.- PackagingOnce you've | | | | information, and if you give them good |
| completed the manuscript, you can package it | | | | information, they'll come back for more. |
| in several different formats. The format | | | | Realize also that you already have a great |
| choice depends on your target audience as | | | | source of free content right under your |
| well as your desired presentation. Of course, | | | | nose---your e-book. All you have to do is |
| you can always have an e-publisher generate | | | | take excerpts from the various chapters and |
| the package, but they too will use one of the | | | | send them to a few posting sites listed |
| formats discussed in this section.Developed | | | | below:* Article Depot ( |
| by Adobe ( PDF is a document packaging format | | | | |
| that is compatible across several platforms | | | | * Article Announce ( |
| (i.e., Microsoft Windows, UNIX, Macintosh, | | | | |
| etc.) A PDF document is viewed on the free | | | | * Free Content ( |
| Adobe Acrobat viewer, which is itself | | | | |
| platform-dependant. When developing PDF | | | | * Publish In Yours ( |
| documents, stay with standard writing | | | | |
| practices involved in creating manuscripts. | | | | * Idea Marketers ( |
| Adobe Distiller, which usually comes with | | | | |
| FrameMaker, works with just about any | | | | * Author Connection ( you've packaged the |
| word-processing environment (e.g., Microsoft | | | | product and you feel that it's ready to go |
| Word, TeX, etc.) and generates a PDF of your | | | | out to the world, there are several things |
| manuscript directly from the | | | | you can do to expedite distribution. First, |
| application.E-Book compilers take HTML files | | | | you can always approach a royalty publisher |
| and package them into a single executable | | | | and let them handle the packaging and |
| application. This format is, however, limited | | | | distribution for you. This is usually a good |
| in its distribution as it will only run on | | | | path to take, but it can be time consuming as |
| its target platforms. For instance, one of | | | | they are back-logged with other e-books.The |
| the better compilers, Activ E-Book ( is | | | | other path is to distribute it yourself. |
| targeted to run on Microsoft Windows | | | | There are hundreds of sites available on |
| platforms. You will need a compiler that | | | | which you can post your packaged e-book. |
| supports all of the major facets of HTML as | | | | Users will come to the site and download your |
| well as password protection, configurability, | | | | e-book then either purchase it or visit your |
| and branding. Branding allows you to create | | | | site to see what other products you have |
| e-books branded with your affiliates' or | | | | available.- For-Pay E-Book DistributionOne |
| distributors' names. Note that the vendors | | | | method for distributing an e-book you intend |
| for some of the more expensive compilers will | | | | to sell is through one or more of the |
| not only charge for the compiler, but also | | | | following Web sites. Some of these sites |
| charge royalties for distribution | | | | require that you sign an exclusivity contract |
| rights.Handheld e-book reader formats are | | | | which prevents you from selling your e-book |
| very wide because of the multitude of e-book | | | | elsewhere, so pay attention to what you sign. |
| readers available on the market today. In | | | | The vendors will usually provide a merchant |
| most cases, all you have to do is generate a | | | | mechanism so that they can collect a fee for |
| solid manuscript and submit it to one of the | | | | you and, out of that fee, they take their |
| e-publishers in Microsoft Word format. They | | | | cut. Also, note that many of these |
| will usually package the manuscript into one | | | | distributors will either take your manuscript |
| or more of the different formats acceptable | | | | as a Word file and convert it themselves or |
| for the more popular e-book | | | | they accept only PDF.* E-Books 'n Bytes ( |
| readers.Copyrighting Your WorkOnce you've | | | | |
| created your e-book, the last thing you want | | | | * 1st Books ( |
| is for someone to illegally copy your work, | | | | |
| or worse yet, claim it as their own. It's | | | | * BookLocker ( |
| true that there are technical means (i.e., | | | | |
| password protection) that can make this kind | | | | * MightyWords ( |
| of theft more difficult, but none offer total | | | | |
| security. No matter what you do, there's a | | | | * iBookTime ( |
| chance that you could be a victim of this | | | | |
| kind of theft---it could even go on for a | | | | * EBooks on the Net ( |
| while before you discover that it | | | | |
| happened.Even worse than discovering that | | | | * MyPublish ( |
| you're a victim, is discovering that you're a | | | | |
| victim with either no, or very limited, | | | | * Amazon ( |
| recourse. But there's a way to make sure that | | | | |
| it doesn't happen to you---take steps to | | | | * Borders ( - Free E-Book DistributionThe |
| protect your work ahead of time. Visit the | | | | free distribution sites for free e-books |
| following sites for information on protecting | | | | provide the mechanism for distributing your |
| your work as well as registering your work | | | | free version of your e-book. They take just |
| online:* MediaRegister ( | | | | about any format that can be read on a |
| | | | computer.* Free EBooks ( |
| * Click and Copyright ( | | | | |
| | | | * E-Books 'n Bytes ( |
| * International Standard Book Number | | | | |
| (ISBN)If you're serious about publishing an | | | | * ZDNet ( |
| e-book, you'll need to have your own ISBN | | | | |
| number. The ISBN is a number that identifies | | | | * Download ( |
| book products published internationally. To | | | | |
| distribute your work in books stores, online | | | | * Upload ( |
| and otherwise, you have to obtain an ISBN | | | | |
| number.An ISBN consists of 10 digits preceded | | | | * Softseek ( |
| by the "ISBN" prefix. The number is divided | | | | |
| into four parts, with each part separated by | | | | * EBook News ( |
| a hyphen. The number establishes and | | | | |
| identifies one title or edition from a | | | | * EBook Talk ( |
| specific publisher and is unique to that | | | | |
| edition. This supports a more efficient | | | | * EBooks Rock ( |
| marketing scheme for products by booksellers, | | | | |
| libraries, universities, wholesalers, and | | | | * EBook 2000 ( What's next?When you write |
| distributors.Currently, you must order a | | | | and package an e-book, you must have some |
| minimum of 10 numbers for a charge of $225. | | | | sort of plan. Don't just write an e-book and |
| You can order online and it only takes a few | | | | "throw" it out there. What is your objective |
| days for delivery. For more information and | | | | with the e-book? A good plan involves a |
| to apply, visit:* RR Bowker ( | | | | targeted marketing approach to creating and |
| | | | distributing the e-book.Make sure that the |
| * ISBN Home Page ( or FreeAs you package | | | | product attracts people and that the |
| your e-book, decide if it will be distributed | | | | information is useful. Some publishers tend |
| free of charge or for a fee. Usually, free | | | | to sell information that is already free on |
| e-books contain bits and pieces of | | | | the Web. Make sure that if you use |
| information that induce the sale of other | | | | information from the Web that you're not |
| products and services and increase traffic to | | | | duplicating---always add value to maintain a |
| the host Web site.- Free E-BooksA free e-book | | | | professional presentation and a respectable |
| should be a leader to something better that | | | | reputation.Once you finish your masterpiece |
| must be purchased. If you create an e-book | | | | and implement your marketing plan, you'll be |
| that you want to sell, it's always a good | | | | well on your way to being known as an "e-book |
| idea to either block certain pages with a | | | | author."Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D., is a |
| password or distribute a subset of the main | | | | published author, life-strategy coach, |
| e-book free. When determining how to provide | | | | counselor, Reiki Master, and technical writer |
| a free version of your e-book, think about | | | | living in Las Vegas, NV. Edward works with |
| the following questions:* Which chapters will | | | | people to help them strive for a richer life. |
| everyone be able to read? | | | | He also authors books, articles, and |
| | | | screenplays on topics ranging from career |
| * Do I create a free version and a for-pay | | | | success through life organization and |
| version? | | | | fulfillment. Check out some of his recent |
| | | | print and electronic books as well as his |
| * How will I get people to pay for the | | | | articles covering various life-changing |
| e-book once they review the free one? | | | | topics! |