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I've decided to write an eBook. Now what?

by Yourname
19 replies
Here's the thing, I've never been good with putting my head to something. But today, I was going through a webinar replay organized by Mark Ling and done by Jason Friedlin. When Jason was going through his funny sounding laugh and saying "right?" after every line... it hit me that all Jason is trying to say is create a product (could be a pdf) that brings value to someone and possibly even save them money.

So I figured out a product that will enable people to do this themselves instead of paying someone else to do it. Basically, the plan is to to write an e-"book" which might not have more than 20 pages, but will be incredibly helpful to the buyer.

I need help in creating a proper website, a store, membership, etc with it. And most importantly, I'm hoping to price it for at least $50, so the PDF needs to look awesome.

Does anyone have any tips for me on how to get started and also how I will drive traffic to the website? (I don't have money for adwords!)

Thanks!!
#decided #ebook #write
  • Profile picture of the author GuruGuna
    Hello fellow Torontonian! I am one myself.

    First of all, do you know who you would sell this to and how you are going to do that?

    Please spend time evaluating your market and how you are going to get there before you create a product.

    Also ask yourself how is your product different than the others on the market (if there are any).

    Ask me if you have any other questions.
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    • Profile picture of the author Yourname
      Originally Posted by GuruGuna View Post

      Hello fellow Torontonian! I am one myself.

      First of all, do you know who you would sell this to and how you are going to do that?

      Please spend time evaluating your market and how you are going to get there before you create a product.

      Also ask yourself how is your product different than the others on the market (if there are any).

      Ask me if you have any other questions.
      Hello!
      Thanks for your response. Fortunately for both of us, I'm past the product research and I'm ready to create it. Just need to pull together everything that will make this a success to me.
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  • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
    If you have already researched your market then you need to write it before you worry about the "other stuff".

    Garrie
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    • Profile picture of the author Yourname
      Originally Posted by GarrieWilson View Post

      If you have already researched your market then you need to write it before you worry about the "other stuff".

      Garrie
      Let's say I'm done with it.
      I'm the guy who doesn't want to rush something out half-done. I need it to look good, execute it well, and sell it well (which I know it will) if the appearance is good.

      Everyone is saying easy but offers no tips on where to look, what software to research, how to get a proper site up, how to get traffic to it on virtually no budget, etc.
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      • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
        Originally Posted by Yourname View Post

        Let's say I'm done with it.
        I'm the guy who doesn't want to rush something out half-done. I need it to look good, execute it well, and sell it well (which I know it will) if the appearance is good.

        Everyone is saying easy but offers no tips on where to look, what software to research, how to get a proper site up, how to get traffic to it on virtually no budget, etc.
        But you aren't done. So, why should we tell you details for something you aren't ready for?

        Oh wait. I get it.

        You want us to tell you the details so you can write an ebook on how to create and launch a product.

        Really. The only detail you need to know is that you need to write it now. Once that's done worry about the sales letter and site.

        Garrie
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    I agree with Garrie. Crawl before you walk. Get your product sorted first. The rest is easy and can be setup in a matter of hours or days.
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    Are you saying that you are writing a 20-page report that tells people how to write an ebook when you haven't even done this entire process yourself yet?

    Not sure that's the path I would go down.

    Pick another topic for your first ebook, make it a success and then use the proof from that success to write a "how-to" write an ebook - unless I am misunderstanding your topic?
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  • Profile picture of the author Taniwha
    One thing I can suggest is to head to niche related forums and start replying to a couple threads a day.

    By the time you've finished your eBook and have your site up and running, you'll hopefully be able to mention your product on the forums (it's best to contact the forum owner first).
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    • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
      It is not difficult to do at all. Write the eBook, set up the website and social media sites for your project, collect email addresses for future books etc.
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      • Profile picture of the author Yourname
        Originally Posted by LilBlackDress View Post

        It is not difficult to do at all. Write the eBook, set up the website and social media sites for your project, collect email addresses for future books etc.
        Thanks. That's exactly the details I was looking for.. but I know that part. I'm talking about the nittygritty.
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        • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
          Originally Posted by Yourname View Post

          Thanks. That's exactly the details I was looking for.. but I know that part. I'm talking about the nittygritty.
          Don't get caught up in the "nitty gritty" yet. I've seen many people plan to write and sell an ebook. They put together a great website, sales funnel, the whole nine yards. They ask for advice, spend time researching everything about self-publishing and marketing.

          And guess what? They still haven't written a word yet. All that other stuff is just background noise until you at least have a first draft.

          The time you're spending on this thread is time you can spend writing. Sit down and start getting words on paper.

          I hope my post doesn't come off as discouraging, because that's not my intent. Concentrate on getting a quality ebook written and everything else will fall into place.
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    First off, I doubt I'd pay $50 for a 20 page eBook, but that's to be determined by your content, audience, value I suppose.

    However, if you "Google" - FREE eCover Designs, you can play around with the design, packaging, etc

    Next, I would consider writing a FREE Report (*teaser) and offer it to subscribers through a squeeze page or pop-up offer, and build you a list of targeted buyers. Again, if you can't design a squeeze page, look around for a freebie, there's people here giving some away last I remember... *Naturally include a link inside your FREE Report to the actual eBook sales page offer.

    Lastly, consider a 'cheaper' price or a more thorough book, that can deliver a value to your end user. The only good thing is "IF" you can fetch say; $47 per sale, you can offer affiliates a 50% -75% commission to promote it for you.

    In absolution, if you don't know how to set up a sales funnel, or an affiliate program, pushing a 20 page eBook for $50 from an "unknown' source may be a difficult sell, especially when I can buy a WSO for $7 by a seasoned marketer who has already 'proven' their methods work.

    Just food for thought, as I am still working on my 1st products. If you can build 'credibility through your blog, or website first, and try to 'presell' your audience by building a list.

    Good luck.

    All the Best,

    Art
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    A brand new/first time 20-page ebook for $50? I hope you know what you're doing. What will the ebook be about? There are a ton of website creation software out there, and they all seem to accomplish the same thing. I would toy around with one and then become comfortable enough with it to create your site. Outsource everything else, and make your ebook superior in high quality.
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    • Profile picture of the author Yourname
      Originally Posted by art72 View Post

      First off, I doubt I'd pay $50 for a 20 page eBook, but that's to be determined by your content, audience, value I suppose.

      However, if you "Google" - FREE eCover Designs, you can play around with the design, packaging, etc

      Next, I would consider writing a FREE Report (*teaser) and offer it to subscribers through a squeeze page or pop-up offer, and build you a list of targeted buyers. Again, if you can't design a squeeze page, look around for a freebie, there's people here giving some away last I remember... *Naturally include a link inside your FREE Report to the actual eBook sales page offer.

      Lastly, consider a 'cheaper' price or a more thorough book, that can deliver a value to your end user. The only good thing is "IF" you can fetch say; $47 per sale, you can offer affiliates a 50% -75% commission to promote it for you.

      In absolution, if you don't know how to set up a sales funnel, or an affiliate program, pushing a 20 page eBook for $50 from an "unknown' source may be a difficult sell, especially when I can buy a WSO for $7 by a seasoned marketer who has already 'proven' their methods work.

      Just food for thought, as I am still working on my 1st products. If you can build 'credibility through your blog, or website first, and try to 'presell' your audience by building a list.

      Good luck.

      All the Best,

      Art
      Art, thank you so very much for those tips. They are invaluable and great. To answer your question, I'm not looking at creating a product for other marketers. Making a product to sell on WF primarily is limiting my game. My "ebook" is for the everyday person who will end up searching for something that I will provide on a low cost. $50 I think is still low for what I'll be writing. The teaser seems to be something I know of, but didn't think of this time - so thanks a ton for reminding me!

      Just gotta figure out how to do a teaser without giving away too much, haha.

      Originally Posted by BradVert2013 View Post

      Don't get caught up in the "nitty gritty" yet. I've seen many people plan to write and sell an ebook. They put together a great website, sales funnel, the whole nine yards. They ask for advice, spend time researching everything about self-publishing and marketing.

      And guess what? They still haven't written a word yet. All that other stuff is just background noise until you at least have a first draft.

      The time you're spending on this thread is time you can spend writing. Sit down and start getting words on paper.

      I hope my post doesn't come off as discouraging, because that's not my intent. Concentrate on getting a quality ebook written and everything else will fall into place.
      Brad, criticism is criticism and advice is advice, so don't think you're discouraging. I thank you for the input. I've actually started the writing process. I'm thinking 20 pages, but to be honest, I'm not quite sure -- I might be able to go over with pictures and diagrams. Let's hope I can!

      Originally Posted by GarrieWilson View Post

      But you aren't done. So, why should we tell you details for something you aren't ready for?

      Oh wait. I get it.

      You want us to tell you the details so you can write an ebook on how to create and launch a product.

      Really. The only detail you need to know is that you need to write it now. Once that's done worry about the sales letter and site.

      Garrie
      LOL Garrie, yeah right.. how to write an eBook ebook sounds like a good idea. Lucky for me, I don't want $7 because my product is capable of going upto $1000 if I do it right.

      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      A brand new/first time 20-page ebook for $50? I hope you know what you're doing. What will the ebook be about?
      My audience is untouched thankfully so it wont matter to them if I'm a newbie or not because the information I will provide will really help them.. it's no

      My other big issue is to optimize my website, I have soo many keywords
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    Not an affiliate link. But in my opinion a very good product:

    The Nitty Gritty - Get Your Product Online in 24 Hours

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
    Originally Posted by Yourname View Post

    Does anyone have any tips for me on how to get started and also how I will drive traffic to the website? (I don't have money for adwords!)
    Hi,

    keep in mind some key points.

    1. Niche and market research.

    Research the market to find out if your subject is wanted. Identify a profitable market first, then try to nail down into a submarket/niche. But you'll need to dig and dig deeper.

    For istance, fitness/bodybuilding ---> workout for busy dads

    Look for very difficult problems that have made life miserable.

    These sites will help you with your research(look at the trends);

    http://www.trendhunter.com/
    http://www.magazines.com/on/demandwa.../Default-Start
    http://trendwatching.com/
    http://www.43things.com/

    2. Spy your competition and study from them, look at their titles, hooks, what they are selling and REPLICATE offering different solutions. Sell what's already selling!

    3. Familiarize with the "Word Tracker" tool to find out how many times a month people search and look for such a product or information

    4. After you have made the research, start writing your ebook and use tools like Word or Open Office that it is free. After you wrote it convert in PDF

    5. Create an ebook ecover for it. You can use many free software online to create an ecover, but if you want an eye catchy design hire TOP designers to do that

    6. Then the marketing/traffic part which is ESSENTIAL. You'll need to master this aspect, study the "psychology of buying", persuasion techniques...what make people purchase and how to persuade people to buy from you. You'll need to master some aspects, copywriting is one of them.

    Provide something that's easy, like step by step method/plan or solution to a problem.

    Best
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  • Profile picture of the author Hannah Gardner
    A good product in the wrong box does not look good.
    You know your book is good, but do the others know it?
    Test the market first. See what kind of people would buy it and convince them they should.
    I don't know about the price though. On the other hand, I don't know about the content so I cannot say more about it. But I suppose a good e-book could sell if it writes the right stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author Yourname
    Thanks guys!
    If this works, there's definitely an affiliate game here. Might even partner with a top dude who can help me raise the price and cut a good commission for marketing it.
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