If you’re a writer looking to turn your words into cash, this blog is for you!
In today’s digital age, self-publishing has become an increasingly popular and profitable way for writers to share their knowledge and creativity with readers around the world. The barriers to entry for publishing your own ebook are lower than ever before.
But with so many writers vying for attention, how can you make your ebook stand out from the crowd? In this blog, we share a few professional-grade tips to write ebooks that helped us generate leads and optimize our content strategy.
From choosing a topic and creating a killer outline to designing a compelling cover and marketing your ebook, we’ll cover everything you need to know to turn your writing into a business.
Ever since the first version of the Kindle is out in the markets the popularity and purchase of ebooks has been on the rise. Many authors have capitalized on these factors and published ebooks on several topics that interest the readers.
Actionable tips to write ebooks that sell
1. Pick a relevant topic
The first and most crucial step when you start writing is choosing a relevant topic. Choosing a relevant topic means taking up something that you have thorough knowledge about.
Through knowledge is also not enough, the topic you pick must also interest others so that it attracts readership. It would be best if you know your target audience to identify their needs, what they wish to read about, and write according to their interests.
For example, We write 1 ebook every month, but it takes us only 2 days to write it once we finalize a topic. Here’s our secret:
- Pick an ebook topic based on current trends. If National Handloom Day is around the corner, talk about setting up a textile industry, finances involved around it etc.
- Narrow the ebook topic down. If you are writing an ebook on automating your business, would you choose the topic ‘How to automate your business or something more niche like ‘Best automation tools for businesses?’
Here’s an example of an ebook we wrote on a niche topic:
2. What is the length of your ebook?
Sometimes, a 5-page ebook hits home while a 100-page ebook will not go past the 4th page for a reader. So, choose wisely how many pages you really need. Once you have the topic sorted out, you need to decide on how long or short your ebook needs to be.
Remember, the size of the ebook does not determine its price.
One of the most important tips to write ebooks: If your ebook is short yet creative, well written, packed with powerful ideas and insights chances are it will churn more profit than its lengthy competitor. So weigh your options well, know what information you wish to impart and choose the right length accordingly.
Related read: How to sell ebooks online: The complete guide
3. Remember to credit all sources
Unless you write an ebook using only information you know, it is important to credit all your resources and research websites in your ebook, even if it is Wikipedia.
If you are in the habit of reading books regularly, you know that every novel, blog, thesis and white paper credit the original source of content. Sure, this does not sound like a ‘selling’ tip, but it will help get you references, backlinks and help avoid any accusation of plagiarism. If you want to sell your ebook, you need to make sure it does not run into any legal trouble.
Here’s a friendly guide that will help you understand how to cite sources in your ebook.
4. Be creative with the content
Just a catchy name for your ebook won’t be enough to make it profitable. Unique and creative content is the key to make your ebook talked about and successful.
Your knowledge of the subject teamed with your passion to write about it would pave your path to creating a successful ebook. Also, make sure you format your content in a PDF and not in MS Word because in the transition from MS Word to PDF you might end up losing links.
5. Edit and proofread
Imagine your reader calls you out on social media for a spelling mistake! It is embarrassing. Read your draft aloud and send it over to a few peers before you publish it. Make sure the names of people, places and legal institutions etc are correct.
Once you have finished writing your book make sure you thoroughly check if it is grammatically correct and error-free. You can download tools like Grammarly to check your language, tone and scan for typos too.
6. Write in a conversational tone
Writing in a conversational tone will help you connect with your readers and make your content more engaging. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might alienate your audience.
Identify what tone your audience speaks in and write the ebook accordingly. Make sure you add examples and context that relates to them to make your ebook more actionable and valuable.
7. Work on a good design
A lot of people do judge a book by its cover, literally! Once your book is complete choose an attractive and appropriate cover for it.
Hire a professional designer if needed. If your book cover is not attractive enough, the fantastic content that your book holds might remain unread and your ebook unsold. You can design good ebook covers on Canva too.
Here’s an ebook cover design that catches people’s eyes:
How Grammar Ganga sells ebooks
Rajeswari has been an English teacher for decades. After her retirement, she continued working on her passion by offering ebooks to people who want to learn spoken English. Check out her online store on Instamojo:
What to do after you write your ebook?
You’ll need a place to display your ebook and attract customers. The best way to do this is to create an online store or landing page with a tool like Instamojo.
Instamojo offers a user-friendly platform that allows you to create a professional-looking online store or landing page in minutes. You can customize the design, add product descriptions and images, set a price, and even accept payments directly from your customers. Plus, Instamojo also provides a range of marketing tools that can help you promote your ebook and attract more customers.
Sell your ebooks on an online store
