Some people in the digital marketing industry have sounded the death knell for ebooks recently. But respectfully, they are wrong. Ebooks, or electronic books, are a valuable tool in your marketing tool chest. They just need that extra special thing that all content needs, and if you lean in real close, I’ll let you in on the secret. If you want to know how to write an ebook that sells, the secret is…it has to be good!

Boom. Mystery solved. Now that you know the secret sauce for creating a useful ebook, let’s take a closer look at how to do it. Remember, the team at ALYKY will teach you how to write an Ebook but we can also just write it for you, too.

How to Write an Ebook That Makes You Money

When it comes to creating content for your business, you have a lot of options:

• Web Pages
• Blog Posts
• Social Media Posts
• White Pages
• Ebooks
• Videos

Each of these serves a purpose, and each one can be valuable as part of your overall marketing strategy. Ebooks, in particular, are a great way to draw potential clients in for a closer look. Here are the steps to take as you craft your ebook.

First, pick a topic.

This one seems like a no brainer. Unfortunately, many people start writing, with full enthusiasm, but without a precise topic. They just begin dumping words on the page. That’s not how to write an EBook so we suggest picking a topic and sticking to it.

To choose a good topic, you need to find one that offers excellent value to the reader. It has to be enticing and worthwhile. After all, you likely will be asking someone to join your email list to get the ebook. So it has to be worth it for the interested party to give up their contact information.

There are many things to consider when it comes to picking a topic, but it’s critical to make it useful to your potential customers. Here are some key components to keep in mind as you figure out how to write an ebook:

Specificity

Keep your writing focused on something specific for your audience. An ebook is not the place to provide general information that they can get anywhere. This is the time to focus and offer unique information that demonstrates your authority on a subject. Your authoritativeness should help set you apart from your competition.

Don’t Give Everything Away

When selecting a topic for your ebook, make sure you don’t tell the reader all the things you know. Remember. This offering is a teaser to draw potential clients to you. If you give them too much information, then they have no reason to continue working with you. Provide just enough to make them know that they need you.

Your Audience’s Needs

What pain is the reader experiencing? What nugget of wisdom can you offer to help them solve some of that pain? Remember…not all of it! Make sure your ebook content helps the reader feel empowered to move forward in their journey.

Next, add some content.

This step is the simple one for those who are excited to share their ideas. Fill your ebook with excellent writing and carefully-curated content. Ideally, you want to have about 3000-5000 words. Ebooks are fantastic for times when you write a blog post and realize it’s going to be too much for just an article. Expand on it, and you have an ebook ready to go.

As with any marketing materials, make sure what you offer here is edited, original content. It should have a layout that is easy for the reader to follow, so they stay engaged. And make sure you have high-quality legal-to-use photos included as well.

Finally, choose a format for your ebook.

When ebooks first arrived on the scene, the PDF format was your only option. With the advent of cloud computing, however, you have many more choices when it comes to how people view your ebook. Today you can choose among:

• PDF
• Kindle
• Mobi
• Epub
• Flash
• HTML

For marketing purposes, a PDF that people can download is still the simplest way to offer your ebook. Most of the time, businesses send it in a welcome email once someone has joined their list.

5 Ways to Use an Ebook

Now that you understand how to write an ebook, you might wonder what you should do with it. Where do you post it? What purpose will it serve? How will it help you grow your business? So glad you asked.

Your new ebook is a valuable tool when used in these five ways.

1. Raise Your Brand Recognition

Ebooks are fantastic for getting your product information out there. A well-crafted ebook will get your name and brand in front of more people. Position yourself as the authority in your field so that consumers know where to go when they need what you do.

2. Build Your Email List for Lead Generation

The primary purpose of most ebooks is to have potential clients join your email list. Even in the age of Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, email marketing is crucial. In fact, email campaigns are up to 40 times more successful than social media when it comes to acquiring new customers.

Adding to your list is one of the most valuable things you can do to grow your business. An ebook offering in exchange for joining your email group is worth its weight in gold and should be high on your list of marketing priorities.

3. Clarify Your Expertise and Authority

If you compete in a marketplace with complex products or hefty price tags, it is crucial to have some ebook content available. You need to provide clarity about what you offer and why a customer should choose you as the expert.

When questions arise during the sales process, it’s wonderful to offer a deep dive in the form of your ebook. The more your prospects understand you, your service, and your expertise, the more likely they are to sign a contract.

4. Bring In Money

Your ebook is a valuable commodity, so go ahead and monetize it. Not everyone will want to join your email list, but they can still buy the ebook. Don’t let it sit there doing nothing. If you’re going to learn how to write an Ebook, you might as well use it too. Since there are no printing costs with electronic books, you end up with pure profit outside of processing fees.

5. Round Out Your Marketing Strategy

Let’s face it. Content marketing for your business can feel overwhelming at times. There are so many pieces that entrepreneurs are supposed to pay attention to, and sometimes you might not know where to start.

An ebook is a simple way to add a valuable weapon to your marketing arsenal. You create it once and can use it in multiple areas. It’s a highly efficient tool to use since you can offer it to clients, people you meet at networking events, or those who stop by your booth at a trade show. And once you see how simple and effective an ebook is, you might decide to make a new one each year or even more often.

Ready to Create Your Ebook?

If you are eager to get your ebook underway but would rather not do it yourself, then you are in the right place. Reach out to the content strategists at ALYKY today for a consultation to get your project started. You will love the results you get from taking this simple step.