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Did you know that you already have an ebook inside you?
And you can earn thousands of dollars each month?
Even if you are a low-techie like me, you can write your ebook to solve your readers’ problems or give them information they really want. You can get information to go into your ebook from many sources. Think of other articles, blog posts, and reports already in your files. Think of excerpts from a longer book.
If you want to double and triple your present ebook 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 wordy styles.
Need help figuring out how long your ebook should be? Check this post out.
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 to 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 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. The more targeted your message, the better. People who want something quick and easy that will save them time and money. Most small businesses are also 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 write out a profile of their needs, complaints, or problems. Place 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.
At first you may resist learning how to do this. Fourteen years ago I knew nothing about the internet, and today I’ve published at least 15 ebooks that include my first, signature book, Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast.
Over the years, you need to update your book selling website, and create a large email database to market to. You can do this and more, little by little.
If you are just starting, use ClickBank and PayPal to process orders. e-Junkie also integrates well with these merchants. If you get to over $8000 sales a month, use a shopping cart like 1shoppingcart.com.
Delegate some of this work to your webmaster or virtual assistant. Get low cost assistants with Craigslist or from your 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 clichés are OK for book titles. Instead of “How to Market Online” offer a title like a website 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 for your ebook.
Mistake 6. You don’t leverage or re-purpose 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 re-purpose your ebook contents into a seminar or teleseminar.
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 offer, you make your it 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, I offered five valuable bonuses as an incentives to buy. “Ten Top Secrets of Successful Authors,” “Print on Demand Publishers-The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,””Titles Sell Books” “Write Like a Pro Checklist.” “How to Get Testimonials from the Rich and Famous” That’s $23 of valuable reports added to new price of $15.95 for the eBook-total value: $38.95 for $24.95.
Perceived value is important for bigger book sales, so add value to your ebook.
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 category and question from your audience that your ebook will answer.
Mistake 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 pre-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 “Hot-Selling Points” before you finish your ebook will have you ready to promote the second you finish your last chapter.
Mistake 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 book 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 keyword from it into each chapter title? For my latest ebook, LinkedIn Marketing: 8 Best Tactics to Build Book and Business Sales I used the keywords “LinkedIn Marketing” in the title. Should be good for the search engines too.
The ebook earning curve while short, is important for all writers to conquer. It’s easier when you learn from an expert such as a professional book coach, take a teleclass on the topic or read a book on how to write an ebook. Stop making eBook mistakes so you can earn the money you deserve.
Sharing is Caring!
What did you learn from this blog post? What questions do you still have? What experiences can you share to help others?
Judy Cullins
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