How do you write good quality ebooks?

[GimpSpack]

On the piracy side of things - I can tell you most people can and will try to get it for free. I have a fairly small niche (sold 5k max copies to date. Blame my poor marketing skills) I have people visiting my site with the keywords "my ebook name + torrent". Makes me wanna put a fake torrent out there that freaks them out telling them their IP has been logged for trying to use a fake copy w/o a license and then urge them to go buy a legal one. Unless you got yours locked down hard (mine is pretty locked down) this will be a problem. My customers are fairly non-saavy (think - it downloaded and I don't know where it is) and yet they still try to get around paying. Not a huge issue, but once you've spent a few thousand on an IP lawyer you will start to get a touch paranoid.

The solution to this is to convert your eBook into an online course, complete with accompanying video material, worksheets, etc (provided your ebook is sort of a "how to" kind of deal).

Offer a stripped down version of your course as a PDF/Kindle/Mobi ebook for customers who want to learn on the go.

If people pirate the ebook version, they'll be disappointed that they don't get access to some key material, and might end up buying your course.

The only solution I can really think of that circumvents piracy. As a shameless pirate myself, I can tell you this method works (nothing worse then feeling like you're not getting the TOTAL value of something helpful because you're a cheap fuck).

 

[ShaneH]

:2gunsfiring_v1:
Before you can answer the question you probably need to give a little more detail But with that said I’ll assume you a ‘How to’ writer. The great thing about picking up an ebook for the end user is that they don’t want to muck around so there’s no point in embellishing the book with pretty pictures or historic quotes unless it’s a child’s picture book or an autobiography or history book. But I digress. So whats needed:
a. Good content – it’s got to solve or answer the issue your trying to explain – research or go on what you know?, farm out to a ghost writer, or do what the Japanese did to Swiss watches and the auto industry – reformat/improve/repackage
b. Short paragraphs – the old saying is ‘less is more’ is true.
c. Use bullet points – intersperse into the content
d. Keep the font size up – you can afford to do this if you if you keep the word count down (less is more) – nothing worse than seeing 400 pages of font size 6
e. Use diagrams, graphics or screen shots to explain your points or steps – they have to be good quality – and label them clearly – the easier you make it for the end user the higher the probability that it’s going to succeed
f. Cover page – whether you like it or not the cover page is always going to be the initial clincher. It’s the eye catcher that makes your book stand out if you’re selling online – and it gives it credibility if it’s a book that your downloading off your site. What does all amount to – well….its probably a job for a good cover designer!! unless you’ve got skills with Photoshop etc.
g. I know its seems really basic but get it proof read… there nothing like having an awesome product only to be let down by spelling mistakes or poor grammar (good reason for less rather than more) – if your book is full of errors it makes you look incompetent and less trustworthy – important if you’re looking for anything on the backend or further promotions on future products.
h. Know your competition – Don’t just regurgitate what others have done – repackage it – improve it – increase your competitive advantage over the competition.
Probably a good time to stop…apologies for any spelling mistakes in advance – no time for proof reading.
Shane :cool-smiley-008:

 

[xha44a]

The solution to this is to convert your eBook into an online course, complete with accompanying video material, worksheets, etc (provided your ebook is sort of a "how to" kind of deal).

Offer a stripped down version of your course as a PDF/Kindle/Mobi ebook for customers who want to learn on the go.

If people pirate the ebook version, they'll be disappointed that they don't get access to some key material, and might end up buying your course.

The only solution I can really think of that circumvents piracy. As a shameless pirate myself, I can tell you this method works (nothing worse then feeling like you're not getting the TOTAL value of something helpful because you're a cheap fuck).

What this guy says is true. If you really want to go the authority route make yourself the expert. Video material, worksheets, INTERACTIVE programs (think how you could pirate ahrefs service - you can't) - these will make your sell piracy proof.

We've all done it. We just hate when it happens to us. Think ahead because it will happen.

 

[ard555]

Video courses are definitely the way to go. In fact, you should triangulate - or quadrangulate each title:

Kindle
Print
Audio
Video course

Sell them all with a high value podcast. YouTube if you're good at it.

As for pirating, this can go either way. If every book you quadrangulate has a backend, sells your other products and is essentially a "stick" letter that helps people to actually use your method, then all piracy becomes free advertising for your brand. I think that the conventional wisdom that a freebie seeker was never going to buy it in the first place is very valuable. What's not discussed much is that freebie seekers can become buyers and all books and info products should be geared towards this purpose.

Plus, you should be constantly creating more and more expensive products geared towards people who buy expensive things and haven't got time for piracy. Ascend my friend.

At least, this is the way I'm working and thinking about my work. Ain't easy, but so far so good.

 

[certainly6969]

Tell good stories and answer important questions. People are fucking overloaded with information and engaging content. If you're not going to tell a great story that is going to captivate, spend your time writing free copy and put it out there for free and make money on ads. Give the first 3 chapters for free, then ask for an email address opt in to get the rest of the story.

Writing the book is the easy part. Getting it into print/kindle/self publish model is blazingly easy. Marketing the book is the harder part. Selling it, getting it ranked on Amazon and into as many outlets as possible. I know quite a few authors, none of whom are very wealthy from their books (even the guy who drives a bentley). The books are marketing for something else... it is step one in a funnel of sales to get someone to buy coaching programs, audio programs, DVDs, etc etc. That's where I see money being made.