January 26, 2024
How to Create and Sell Your First eBook
With the Amazon launch of Learn Your Lines, self-publishing has been on my mind a lot lately.
And then yesterday in Ditcherville, one of the members asked:
“Do you have an SOP or guidance for creating a paid ebook? What are some lessons learned from writing yours that I might not be thinking about?”
Great question!
It’s probably obvious that creating and selling your first paid eBook can be a reliable way to grow your authority, generate leads, or earn income.
But where do you start?
Here’s what I think are the most important considerations for someone just starting out:
1) Focus on Value First
The hardest part of any of this is writing something that people will benefit from and want to read.
Before you start writing, think about your target audience and the core value your eBook will provide them.
Then, draft a “back cover” that summarizes the book you’re planning to write and share it with people who you think would be ideal readers.
If it resonates with them, you’re probably on to something.
(Here’s an example back cover for you.)
2) Keep it Concise
Aim for an eBook between 70-90 pages.
A quick yet meaty read is more likely to delight readers than a bloated book.
Resist fluffing up content just to hit a certain page count.
(Keeping it short also makes it easier to ensure that you don’t have any embarrassing typos or grammatical snafus.)
3) Consider Your Goals
Are you trying to spread an idea, generate leads, or make money?
This determines how you should price and distribute the eBook.
If it’s to spread an idea, make it free on Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, and every other marketplace you can.
If it’s for lead gen, make it free behind an email opt-in form on your website.
If it’s for profit, sell it exclusively on your own website.
4) Invest in Design
Sure, a basic PDF will work in a pinch, but...
Hiring a pro to design, format, and layout both the cover and the interior of your eBook is probably worth the money - especially for a paid version.
It’ll make the reading experience more enjoyable, you’ll feel more confident, and people will be more likely to recommend it.
If you don’t have a big budget for this, try Upwork and 99Designs.
If you have the money to invest in a real pro, contact Brian Sooy and the team at Aespire.
Hopefully, this is enough to get you started, but if you have more questions, just hit reply and ask.
Yours,
—J