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The Top Seven Mistakes eBook Authors Make
-By Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel
© Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel
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eBooks are the hottest thing going on the Web right now!
Authors with the entrepreneurial instinct are making
anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars
per month - that's right, per month - by selling ebooks
online.
Why are some authors doing so much better than others?
We've discovered seven key mistakes that most ebook authors
make (and in doing so, hold themselves back from major
success):
1. They don't write to a specific, target audience.
The biggest mistake most ebook authors make is they don't
clearly define, identify and visualize who they are selling
their ebook to. On the Web, to be successful, you must
write to a specific group of people who have specific
interests.
Make sure that you know exactly who is going to buy your
ebook, and where you can find them online.
2. They don't automate as many of their business activities
as possible.
Selling ebooks, though it is highly profitable, is not a
business where you make hundreds of dollars per sale.
Automate everything you can - credit card processing, ebook
delivery, as much technical support as possible. If you
can't automate a function, delegate it to someone else.
3. They don't have a compelling title for their ebook.
Use words that convey the benefit of what's in the ebook, as
well as words your audience is familiar with.
A bad title for an ebook: "Online Marketing for Newbies."
A good title for the same ebook: "97 Ways to Promote Your
Website - No Experience Required."
4. They try to cover too much ground.
Many ebook authors convey a lot of information but don't
cover anything in-depth. As a result, they never fully
explain anything in enough detail to provide any useful
value to their readers.
This is a very bad mistake to make, especially when it
comes to how-to ebooks, which happen to be the best type to
write.
5. They are not proactive in their marketing.
It would be nice if marketing for your ebook simply happened
on its own - but it doesn't. You have to do it yourself.
After you've promoted your ebook to the people on your own
mailing list (if you have one), then you have to contact
other Website owners and persuade them to be your
affiliates. You should do this continually.
6. They don't differentiate their ebook from its
competitors.
When you choose your topic, even if there are a hundred
other ebooks out there on same general subject, choose an
angle for yours that will make it easy for yours to be
distinguished from the others.
For example, right now job-hunting ebooks are very popular.
There are dozens that are big sellers. "Secrets of Breaking
Into Pharmaceutical Sales" has a very specific title that
sets it apart from the competition, and is aimed at a
clearly identified target audience. Incidentally, it's
selling very well itself.
7. They write ebooks that nobody will pay for.
Many ebook authors write about information that either
people can get for free, or that people are not actually
interested in enough to pay for the information.
Before you invest weeks or months into the writing of your
ebook, invest a little time investigating whether other
ebooks in the same subject area are selling on the Web.
So, there you have it - the seven big mistakes to avoid.
Remember, the opportunities are plentiful - and huge - right
now for anyone who wants to become a best-selling ebook
author. Simply use common sense, follow our advice, and let
your literary career flourish!
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Jim Edwards and David Garfinkel are co-authors of "eBook
Secrets Exposed: How to Make Massive Amounts of Money in
Record Time With Your Own eBook (whether you wrote it or
not!)," the authoritative guide to publishing and marketing
ebooks on the Web.
Guerrilla Marketing author Jay Conrad Levinson says, "If
there ever was a 'must-read' for this century, it's this
book." For more information