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