publishing ebooks for traffic, profit & fun
DESCRIPTION
Learn how to create an ebook. This deck covers topics including an overview of the ebook industry, how to validate demand for a subject, ways to write your ebook, formatting and editing, cover design, publishing titles on Amazon, and how to monetize. Slides from Dan Marques' class taught at Intelligent.ly's Boston campus.TRANSCRIPT
presents
Publishing eBooks for Traffic, Profit, and Fun
DAN MARQUES@dmarques1
agendaGet to Know Each Other
eBook Opportunity & Why publish an eBook?
Group Ac<vity – Brainstorming IdeasHow to Validate Demand for a poten<al topicGroup Ac<vity – Target TitlesWri<ng, FormaJng, & Cover DesignGroup Ac<vity – Crea<on Plan & Mapping it OutHow do I Publish this thing?
I’m published! What Next?
about me
about me
Direct Publishing SaaS Tools Performance
Publishing
tell me about you!
Who are you? (Name)
Where are you from? (Company & Role)
Why are you here? What are you hoping to learn?
eBook OpportunityeBooks now 25-‐30% of all book sales in US and growing fast (~$8 billion market)Amazon 60-‐70% of U.S. eBook MarketB&N, Apple, Google Play, Smashwords
ProliferaQon of devices and plaTorms makes it easier for authors to self-‐publish and get exposure than ever
# of published ebooks growing exponenQally, Smashwords:2008 – 1402011 – 92,0002012 – ~260,000
eBook Opportunity
Amazon #1 Best Seller$2 Million/Week Royal<es$5 Million Movie DealSelf-‐Published
eBook Opportunity
First Self-‐Published Author to sell 1 million ebooks on Amazon (in 5 months)
Wrote a book on how he did it$0.99 Price PointSeries in popular categoryTwi`er / Social Media
eBook Opportunity
eBook Opportunity
eBook Opportunity
Why Publish an eBook?
Make Internet Monies ($$$)
Reputa<on Building
Customer Acquisi<on / Lead Gen
SEO
Group Ac<vity – Brainstorm Ideas
Break into groups
Help each other brainstorm a list of potenQal eBook topics
Need ideas?HobbiesInterestsProfessional ExperienceHot Topics
Fill out brainstorm ideas on worksheet
How to Validate Demand
Search Volume? (Measure intent)Google Keyword Tool
Amazon Demand (Compe11on is Good)Amazon Rank System
Keywords Quick Load, CompeQQon (#, relevancy)
Categories#1-‐20 (Below 100k)#90-‐100 (Above 100k)
CompeQtorsRank‘Also Bought’ – Relevancy, # of results
Let’s try one!
Rank Sales
250K+ Not Many100-‐250k Selling 1 every few days
50-‐100k ~1/day
10-‐49k Mul<ple/Day
Below 10K Exponen<al (3k =~30-‐60/day)
Group Ac<vity – Target Titles
Use Valida<ng Demand methods to narrow down 2-‐3 Poten<al Topics to Pursue
For those 2-‐3 Poten<al Topics Iden<fy:Target Keywords (2-‐5)Target Categories (2)Target Compe<tors (1-‐5)
Target Persona(s) – Who is reading this book, Why, What else do they read, How do you provide ‘value’ (Solve Pain, Entertain)
Wri<ng
Target Price$2.99-‐$9.99 (70% Royalty)$0.99 & Outside Above Range (30% Royalty)
Target Length / Format based on:CompeQtors
Price, for $2.99 or less:~30 pages for Non-‐FicQon~100 pages for FicQon250 words/page
AlternaQve Formats
Wri<ng
Write it YourselfTips: Plan Chunks, Outline, Dragon Naturally Speaking
OutsourceoDesk, TextBroker, WritersAccess, CraigslistTips: Separate research, Provide detailed instruc<ons/outline/resources, s<ck with U.S. Writers
Pricing: $0.04-‐0.06 /word ($10-‐15/page) for average quality if you search around30 Page Non-‐FicQon $300-‐$450$0.10-‐$0.15 – Very high quality
Wri<ng Alterna<ves
Re-‐Use ExisQng Content Own or Partner with othersNo ‘free’ content or risk “Amazon Slap”
Interviews / FAQ
Quiz Format
Curated CollecQon:Blog PostsArQclesShort Stories
FormaJng & Edi<ng
Keep it SimpleFormat for simplest device in mind (Basic Kindle)Word or HTML easiest (Basic formaJng)Kindle Publisher provides conversion tool (be sure to preview)No page #sAddi<onal Resources on worksheet (Smashwords Guide)
Can outsource Fiverr / oDesk / Smashwords List (Resources)– Edi<ng/Proofreading, eBook FormaJng$5-‐$35
Cover Design
Very ImportantFirst thing someone seesLook at compeQQonImages are your friend (search.creaQvecommons.org)Guidelines/Tips (See Resources)
OpQons:Self / FriendFiverr, oDesk, Smashwords List (Provided)$5-‐$100
Group Ac<vity – Crea<on Plan
For one of your target Qtles, work with your group to develop your creaQon plan:
TopicPrice Length / Format
Method/Budget/Timeline For:WriQng Formapng / EdiQngCover Image
Target PublicaQon Date
How do I publish this thing?
Kindle Publishing Walkthrough (and Op<miza<on Tricks)
Let’s Publish!
h`p://kdp.amazon.com
I’m Published! What Next?
Make Internet Monies ($$$)Get reviews / likes / tagsPublish More eBooks!
Expand into a seriesExpand Distribu<on (Apple, B&N, Smashwords)Print on Demand (CreateSpace)
KDP Select Program (Free Days)Op<miza<on (Cover, Price, KWs, Descrip<on, Title)Author PageMarke<ng / PR for eBook
I’m Published! What Next?
Reputa<on Building
Gin copies (via Amazon) to vendors, customers, leads, etc.Promote on personal social media channels
Get reviews from thought leaders Use excerpts for blogs, interviews, etc.
Print on Demand some copies (CreateSpace)
I’m Published! What Next?
Customer Acquisi<on
Use as email capture tool Free copy of my eBook – normally $9.99 on Amazon
Lead Gen within BookLike what you read, get exclusive content / free consul<ng at www.book<tle.comFor more great content – follow us on twi`er, read our blog, etc.
Order Incen<veEvery order receives a free copy of my eBook, a $10 value!Convert to PDF and send directly to save money, use Amazon for value pegging
I’m Published! What Next?
SEO
Link Building ToolBlogger ReviewsFree Excerpts (with Link)Smashwords, Scribd, Blogs, Author review sitesDownload (sample or full) on partner sites in exchange for link
SEO Real Estate ToolAmazon page occupy space on SERPsInclude target keywords in Qtle, descripQon, reviews, keywords, tagsBuild Links to page
Wrap Up
Addi<onal Resources on Worksheet
Happy to help along the way:
[email protected]@dmarques1
Q&A
