Did/do you outsource writing your e-book? How?

by ikuret75

Posted: 14 years ago 13 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi,
Let's say you found your niche which you think would sell well, and you know about basic marketing (or can learn more by yourself). And the only thing lacking is the knowledge of the material, and you can't write anything about the topic yourself.

In those cases, do you usually outsource your e-book?
Find an author or a ghost writer?

I thought about doing that but also I thought it would be difficult to explain what you want in the book to the potential author. Most people (writers) don't know about info-products.
And you won't really know the quality of the product until you get the finished work.

What do you, did you, or would you do?

I realize this is a newbee question.I know basic knowledge about marketing and sales letter etc but don't know how to make/get a product.
I have been working on my own niche, created my own products etc, and now I want to do something new with a new niche.

PS: I think editting PLR could be one option but I want something original

#did or do #ebook #outsource #writing

JeffMitchell 14 years ago

I am in the middle of my creating my own product which is a rather extensive product. It will end up close to 200 pages long and include about 30 video tutorials.

I could not imagine outsourcing my words. I could easily pay someone to write a book for me. But it would not be my style and would leave my branding to another person.

My opinion. Make your product your own product. Don't outsource that stuff.

Long term success is ultimately dependant on what YOU bring to the marketplace...

Jeff Mitchell
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yommys01 14 years ago

No one can speak out your voice. You can outsource everything but I will advise you not to outsource the writing of the ebook.

I would rather not write an ebook in a niche I know very well than outsource it to another person who probably don't know anything about the niche or who may not have as much understanding about the niche like I do.
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Silas Hart 14 years ago

No. Nobody knows more about the subject of the products I am creating than I do. If someone out there does, it isn't someone who is going to be on the other end of my outsourcing.

If anything, I would outsource editing, graphics, headings and footers, spelling and grammar checking, but not the actual creation.
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- JeffMitchell 14 years ago
  
  Personally, I think that creating your own product is the most empowering thing that you can ever do. I can not wait until mine is finished.
  
  When I make that first sale online that is not an affiliate sale or a new distributor for my business is will probably be my proudest day online....
  
  Anyone can sell affiliate products or sponsor new reps, but creating a new product and actually having buyers is a whole new game.
  
  Jeff Mitchell
  
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  HELP NEEDED! My Mother And Her Brother have been taking care of the mother with the help of Hospice. He just had a Massive Heart Attack while taking a short vacation. My mother had to go to Florida from Indiana to be with her brother and is not financially stable from being off work to be with grandma. Any Help Would Be Appreciated. http://www.gofundme.com/vg5kt4c
  
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ikuret75 14 years ago

Hi guys, thanks for your replies.

So are you guys working on the niche which you know well?
When people say "find a niche it would sell", is that usually for affiliates?

I know my niche which I have been on 5 years now, but it came to the point when I can't make more stuff on my niche (I wrote a couple, created audio and video already), and want to do something new but have no knowledge for any other stuff which would sell. Any advice?

(PS) I am actually on a new project which is selling a software program - I am outsourcing this, but I want to sell more info products too.
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DotComBum

14 years ago

By all means outsource it if you have some extra bucks, so you can concentrate on the promotion part, but then even it's good to outsource the promotion part too.

By outsourcing, it doesn't means you give up all the controls, you still can tell the ghostwriter what to write, so the book come out with all your ideas but in the ghostwriter's writing.

Thanks
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ikuret75

14 years ago

Originally Posted by DotComBum

Thanks, and "concentrate on the promotion part" is something what I really want to do.

I've seen some products' sales letters on which someone else (not the author) is promoting the product. They go something like "I finally found the guy who knows everything, and got him to weite a book about it". (whether or not it's true)

I want this style.If possible I want to find a person "who knows the subject well" and pay him/her to write on the subject, and I want to promote it.

Thanks

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justin.helloall

Banned 14 years ago

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ikuret75

14 years ago

Originally Posted by justin.helloall

As other users have said, and me personally I would be disgusted if a ebook was promoted by a reputable person and I find out it was written for .05cent a word.

Write your own product so you can be confident to put your name in it.
Outsource the promotion and advertising.

The thing is, I don't have to put my name on it.
As I said on my last post, I can promote somebody else's product, who is not intrested in marketing or selling. Just like a (physical book) publishing company does advertizing and marketing and the author does not do anything other than writing.

Thanks

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justin.helloall

Banned 14 years ago

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ikuret75

14 years ago

Originally Posted by justin.helloall

Its still the publishers/your name on the product. Bet you anything that those types of ebooks where they claim some reclusive genius wrote it is more then likely an overworked outsourcing person writing it for 5cents a word.

Are you against the idea of outsourcing itself? Or are you against the idea of outsourcing making an product?

"Outsourcing" does not necessarily mean you pay some over-worked person to make an product for a cheap price. I actually paid a lot for outsourcing making a software program.

And I have bought several e-books and audio which are made by some people who are actually some authorities in the niche.
(but promoted by someone else)

And in this free society, even if the author is a freelancer who was paid 5c/word, if that person AGREED with the contract, nothing should be wrong.

If you get disgusted by it, I feel bad for you, but nothing is wrong.

Thanks
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Jarrett Banned 14 years ago

You've got options.

#1. There's no reason why you can't write a product yourself.. even if you're clueless about the topic. Who cares?

I can become an expert on a niche in 3 days.. and so can you.
Buy the top books, thumb through them, talk to an expert or two, and rummage through the forums.

Now put it in your own words.. add your spin on it.. And bada-bing you've got yourself an e-book.

Don't make it harder than it needs to be.

#2. Interview an expert. There are TONS of experts in every field who would love to spill the beans on their passion.. and they CRAVE a platform and audience.

So give it to them Interview them, turn the recorder on.. You've got yourself a product.

#3. Outsource it. If you want to focus on marketing and don't feel your stroingpoint is in creating the product... then just focus on what you do best. Find an expert. Get them to create the e-book.. Work out a deal with them.. 50/50 or something that's win-win.

Call it a day.

There are SO MANY experts out there who are starving for attention.. so there is NO reason why you should have to get someone crappy to write your e-book.

NEVER put your name on something you don't believe in.. If it sucks, burn it. You've only got 1 name.. 1 reputation.. so cherish it..

I could spill the beans and tell ya how many clickbank best-sellers and products that had even some of the most reputable guru's name on it.. that you SWORE was written by them.. actually wasn't..

but I don't want to ruin the surprise ;P

but it's nothing new. Beloved authors have been doing it FOREVER... many of the business, motivational, real estate, and marketing books you have on your shelf were ghost written all along... boo!
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PerfectedWeb 14 years ago

Ideally, I think it's best to not outsource content of your ebooks (at least for the first one.) If you're a good writer and enjoy writing and are knowledgeable in your niche then it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a quality product fast.

But we don't live in a ideal world and if you're anything like me time is limited. If you want to make ebook creation a business you'll come to a point where you just can't keep up with all the work to research/learn/write about every topic in which you spotted a great opportunity. There are plenty of good workers out there who can help you with that.

I think the best practices when it comes to outsourcing your ebook are to delegate both the research and the writing but to two different persons. You make a short outline of every chapter you want to cover in your ebook which you pass on to your employee who sums up each chapter in a bullet point format (Amazon has a pretty neat feature which enables you to see inside a book. It's a great starting point to take into consideration.) Then your writer inspires herself from the research and writes value-added high-quality content based on it.

There are phillipinos who will make a quality 150 pages long research for less than $150. Say $200 for the writing, you have a ready-to-market ebook for less than $350.
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ikuret75 14 years ago

Thanks guys for your replies.
I got some good ideas thanks to some replies.
Maybe I can combine all the methods mentioned here and make one product.
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badboy_Nick 14 years ago

Hi

I outsourced a lot of my content but always found that the cheaper ghostwriters werent really capable of doing it precisely as I wanted. If you want good skills you have to pay for them, so I figured I'd just write it myself and save me a lot of money and hassle along the way.

Any questions just let me know

Nick
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Did/do you outsource writing your e-book? How?

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