Donovan A. McLean - Selling Ebooks: The Basics of What You Need to Know from Start to Finish

Selling Ebooks: The Basics of What You Need to Know from Start to Finish
2022 Donovan A. McLean

All rights reserved. This book or any portion there of may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66785-297-3

Introduction:

In the past, it was difficult to write and publish a book. There was a lot of time involved, you would have to query publishers, or you would have to take an expensive self-publishing route. It wasnt for everyone, and it could be very difficult to find success with your titles.

Easier to Publish Today

Fortunately, times have changed. Thanks to advancements in technology, it is faster and easier to put out eBooks, as well as audiobooks, and even print copies if you choose. It is also more affordable than it was in the past. You dont have to work with a vanity press (which is always a bad idea), and you dont have to worry about fly-by-night publishing companies trying to scam you.

Even if you did get a publisher or publish books yourself, it was expensive. It was also more difficult to market the books once they were done. Choosing print books only often meant people were stuck with a house filled with books that didnt sell.

The entire process was a hassle and for most people, it was a waste of money. Fortunately, those days are gone.

You Can Do It Yourself Today

Instead, you can do it all on your own.

Of course, it is still going to take some work on your part. The goal of this book, though, is to ensure you know the steps you have to take and to help you streamline the process to take your book from concept to completion.

In the pages that follow, well be covering a wide range of different topics to ensure you are on the right path.

Well start by looking at the best reasons to start using eBooks regardless of the type of book you are writing, choosing your topic or genre, finding a writer if you arent going to write the book, setting up an audiobook, cover art, and more.

Chapter 1:
Why Sell eBooks?

Why do you want to sell eBooks?

The answer is going to differ from one person to the next, of course. Were all different and have our own goals and types of eBooks we might want to sell for any number of reasons.

Below are some of the best reasons to sell eBooks today.

The rest of the book will be dedicated to helping you understand how to get your book out of the concept phase and complete it. Youll even learn how to get an audio version set up. Its easier than you might think.

Be Seen as an Authority

In some cases, someone might want to sell an in-depth book on their specialty niche as a way to help establish their authority on the subject. Creating an eBook that covers certain skills, concepts, etc. will provide readers with valuable knowledge. They will be more than willing to pay for that knowledge.

You just need to be sure the book is worth your readers time. It needs to be high-quality and have information that they want or need. If you are writing fiction, it needs to entertain.

Build Your Brand

eBooks also help to boost brand awareness of you and your company. Your book becomes one of the best calling cards for your business (and for other books you might be selling). The more books you have, the stronger your brand becomes.

Think of some of the most well-known writers, such as King, Koontz, Patterson, Roberts, and Grisham. Even though you might not be able to name the titles of all of their books, you know their names.

They have branded themselves as writers, but it was their books that made that possible in the first place.

Ebooks Work as Lead Magnets

Of course, we also know that books can work wonderfully as lead magnets. This can be true for many different types of books, too. If you are writing fiction, the eBook you write will serve as a lead-in to other books you write and other content you create. If you are writing nonfiction, it can get people to visit your website and learn more about what you or your company offer.

Having an eBook will help to increase traffic to your site. People who buy the book, or even those who are just considering buying from Amazon, for example, may take it upon themselves to visit your website.

Works Well as a Passive Income

Whether you are using the book as something of a calling card for your business, or you want to make eBooks the focus of your income, its possible. One of the best things about these books is that they can serve as a good form of relatively passive income.

Yes, you will need to advertise your book, but once it starts to sell, it can keep selling for years to come. With a popular enough book, you can continue making money from itand your subsequent booksfor the rest of your life.

eBooks are relatively simple and low-cost digital products. Even when you are hiring a writer, cover artist, and narrator, it is more affordable than you may think. Later in the book, we will talk about the various elements that go into creating the book. You can determine which elements you can do on your own and ones where you might want to hire some help.

In the next chapter, well start getting into the nitty-gritty of putting your book together. Well be starting with figuring out your title, topic, and/or genre.

Chapter 2:
Choosing Your Topic, Genre, and Title

Before you start trying to write a book or hire a writer to pen it for you, make sure you understand what type of book you want to write. The ideas at this time can still be somewhat nebulous, as the point is to start crafting, molding, and shaping as we move forward.

The more you think about the book, the more those ideas start to solidify. Then, it becomes easier to come up with a title that does a good job of representing the book and that will help it to sell.

So, to get started, you are going to need to think about what sort of book you want to write in the first place, as well as what you want your book to do .

The Basic Premise: There Are Millions of IdeasChoose the Right One and Start

You are reading this book because you probably already have at least a vague idea of the sort of book you want to publish. The premise of your book can be just about anything. Its possible to find a niche audience that is interested in all manner of fiction and nonfiction across countless topics.

Below is just a smattering of some of the potential types of topics that could be used.

• An instructional guide that includes tips and tricks for using Adobe products.
• A memoir about your youth traveling the country with your parents.
• A novel about monsters living in the cave systems in national parks.
• A book about your favorite dog breed and how to care for them.
• A mystery novel set in a fictionalized version of your hometown.

There are countless ideas, which is why so many books are published each year. A lot of those concepts and ideas are good.

However , its the execution of the writing, as well as the presentation and marketing, which determine whether a book will succeed or not.

Why Should You Create the Book?

What is it that makes this book a good choice for you to create and publish? Do you have expertise in the field you are writing about? Are you a doctor who wants to write about ways at-home parents can stay healthier?

Are you a true crime buff fascinated by a certain cold case youve heavily researched? Do you have a different angle from which to tackle the case? Do you have a novel idea youve always wanted to write and characters in your mind that you know readers will love?