Ebook Writing Tips: The Ultimate Guide

Table of Contents

• Ebook vs. Traditional Books
• Benefits of an Ebook
• But Are Ebooks Profitable?
• Structure of an Ebook
• Topics to Add in an Ebook
• How to Write an Ebook
• How to Edit an Ebook
• Ebook Formats to Use
• Key Takeaways
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Are you still sitting on the fence about starting your own ebook? Think less and do more. Because in this blog, we have pledged to provide you with excellent ebook writing tips. Writing an ebook is the wise thing to do to stay ahead of your competitors and be relevant to your customers. 

Ebooks are an important tool in content marketing. They reflect your expertise in the respective sector and your ability to face any challenges that come with it. They also give you a chance to touch upon other pressure points that you can cover in the following ebook. The interesting part is that your customers actively look for the above two qualities to trust the business. 

Finally, ebooks are a great way to know how many loyal customers you have scored because reading is like investing your precious time in something. And, of course, if someone is interested in your business, they are only willing to buy your ebook—also, the chances of getting more such invested readers increases through word of mouth. So, even if you start small, it will grow big eventually. Now, let’s get down to breakpoints. 

Also, read this guide to ebook writing tips until the end because, like a Marvel movie, there are important takeaways at the end. 

Ebooks vs. Traditional Books

The main aim of ebooks is to multiply the inbound sales by knowing your target audience. Ebooks offer information right at your fingertips, slashing all the language barriers. Being on a device as a soft copy, it can supply the readers with information backed by proof at any given time. As a matter of fact, ebook sales have increased 38% for HarperCollins in just one quarter in 2021, as per the reports published by Hubspot. 

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Ebooks offer flexibility to the readers by virtue of being shareable in one click and across platforms. It results in a rational decision as you have all the metrics and comparable data of a business before you. In short, it makes the task easy for someone looking to give you their business. Add the multilingual factor, and you are selling gold.

Secondly, the cost of publishing a book is more than making a pdf. Running a successful business requires a balance between your expenditures and returns. Therefore, choosing an ebook can substantially cut our expenditure while the returns continue to grow. Finally, books would do great when you promote an individual, while ebooks are more inclined toward businesses. 

Benefits of an Ebook

Ebooks are not the first step in the marketing process. However, it is definitely the next step when you have begun gaining some traction. Here is how you and your readers can benefit from ebooks.

Strike the right chord

People don’t want to be bored by a series of dull information. But the information is not meant to be amusing as it is somewhat educational. However, ebooks can minimize this by employing colorful visuals, entertaining Gifs, quick headlines, and soundbites, creating a win-win situation for everyone. 

Become an industry thought leader

Become an industry expert by paving the way for precise and valued information. Once you have set the wheel in motion, you will earn the respect of the B2B buyers. 

Build trust and accountability

When a business goes the extra mile to build trustworthy relationships with its customers, it takes accountability. By showcasing yourself as an expert, you are already halfway there. And this reflects very vividly in your work. Ebooks can do a great job by providing data-rich information and visual proof of the surveys that helped you gather the relevant information.  

Revamp your brand’s identity with reinforcements

Ebooks can enhance your brand. They offer you the opportunity to be creative and optimistic with the design and format, enticing the customer to build a connection with your brand easily. 

Generate leads through inbound marketing

Ebooks facilitate direct communication between the buyer and the seller. According to the Curata blog, 63% of B2B buyers readily provide their contact details to access an ebook. It should be backed by rigorous promotion on social media pages with a backlink connecting the business’s landing page to accelerate lead generation further. 

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Therefore, if you are planning to explore this popular territory, the advantages of ebooks must be evident by now. Ebook writing tips are another way of manifesting that you shouldn’t have a sequential approach; instead, look for ways to generate revenue with the same amount of effort. 

But Are Ebooks Profitable?

Ebooks require genuine effort, and then it manifests the result depending on that. The profit from selling an ebook is not automatic, to be honest. Considering the increasing number of online readers, not exploring this territory would be a crime. There are many upsides to writing and selling an ebook. Remember that ebooks do not have shipping and printing costs which means you are saving a lot and simultaneously earning a lot. The profit is entirely yours. 

Finally, you can understand the process of ebooks like startups. The initial profit may not be huge but whatever you are doing is opening a path for significant future prospects. So, the choice is yours depending on whether you can see long-term or not. 

Structure of an Ebook

There is no definite structure to an ebook. It purely depends on how well you can understand your potential readers’ minds and then strategize accordingly. You automatically know which section needs to be placed where by mastering that. 

Some aspects of ebooks are the same as in a blog or article – CTAs, enticing headlines and subheadings, factual data, visuals, and relevant takeaways. 

Since in this blog, we promised detailed ebook writing tips, we have made a list of essentials that your ebook should definitely adhere to: 

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Build a title that will steal the limelight

A title is very important from all points of view. It is how you introduce your subject. Therefore, it should be intriguing enough to make your potential customers stop and remark, ‘hmm..this might help.’ In the beginning, it is a game of click-bait and how well you’ve mastered the game. Gradually, it will open up new cards with new leads. 

Back your points with proof

An ebook passes the test when the material inside manages to prove itself relevant to the readers. And it is done by proof. Proof means facts, data, statistics, and a real-time survey. Moreover, proof makes the thesis genuine and makes the content scalable. The target audience finds their answer in the ebook and thus will not hesitate to share it with their influential colleagues. 

Solve the crisis

Your content clicked with the readers because you offered to solve a crisis. Make sure you stick to the problem, first building it by touching the struggle points and then waving them off one by one like a pro. This will make you an expert and a thought leader in your field. And this ebook will likely act as an anchor for your own brand. 

Don’t leave them hanging

Ebooks are usually long-form content that starts from a question and ends on another. But, your ebook can stand apart when you pledge to solve the second question, too. The ultimate ebook is actually a series of ebooks. When you end your ebook, let the readers know their next step of action, or at least the relevant next step. And then, begin your next ebook by addressing the potential doubts the next question brings. Thus, you keep the readers in the loop, attracting massive traffic while setting yourself for the next topic as well.

Valuable feedback

Success thrives on valuable feedback from your valued readers. You can add a form at the end of the ebook as an opt-in where the readers can drop their feedback. The key to long-term business is accepting the criticism and then building on it. 

Table of contents

Transparency is required in building customer relationships. Make your readers feel that they are in control of whatever will happen next. Thus, providing a table of contents can manifest that control. All you have to do is know what answers they want and put them in the table of contents. 

Use appropriate colors and graphics

Make a careful selection of visuals, text fonts, color combinations, and graphic designing. The purpose of this is to send the right message and not just shoot arrows in the dark. All the elements of the book’s content should form a coherent structure. 

Topics to Add in an Ebook

There is no dearth of topics when you understand your potential customers’ areas. But, understanding it all may not be easy. But worry not; for starters, you only need one topic. So, rephrasing the first sentence, there is no dearth of platforms where you can research and find the most relevant topic suited to your taste. 

Skim through the Internet and make a note of what people are asking. This is an important step and the most time-consuming, but that’s not an issue. The harder you research, the clearer you can see the road ahead. Some useful platforms for research include Quora, Twitter, “people also ask” questions on Google, reviews on other ebooks, and of course, your survey. 

Conducting a survey by asking your followers questions on Instagram, YouTube, Whatsapp, and other social media can be an engaging process. Further, you can also use these surveys in your ebook to showcase your efforts and dedication towards writing it. Therefore, this step is the most fun and rejuvenating in our ebook writing tips blog. Do give it a try! 

How To Write An Ebook?

1. Choose the topic that will click with your audience

The first step is to know what your customers want. The next step is to do precisely what they want. You need to focus on measures that will direct a potential client towards the sales team. By now, we have understood that writing an ebook is not easy. Therefore, if you take the pains to write one, it should be appropriately structured. 

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Choose a topic and then frame a suitable headline. Research your keywords as it plays a vital role in SEO. This will help you reach a wide range of audiences struggling with the same questions. Nowadays, we have many tools to help us zero in on the most suitable topic as per the data. By using those tools, we can definitely speed up the process. 

2. Research rigorously before beginning to put the pieces together

Nothing great comes from idle work because the key is the ideal work. Research is a significant piece of any puzzle. Without it, we cannot hope to get our creative juices flowing. Most people fear being unoriginal because nothing hasn’t been told or discussed yet. However, our primary focus should be on pushing our limits to find a new way to tell the narrative. 

A new way can be possible when we have enough data to direct us into strategizing our content. 

3. Find the pain points and put them in your subheadings/chapter name

How will you know when you’ve created a concrete outline for your ebook? By exhausting the pain points. The research will help you find those pressure points, and with the help of the subheadings, you can pull the audience’s attention towards your ebook. 

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It is enough to manifest the idea in the minds of your potential readers that they are finally coming to the end of their long quest. Treat each chapter as a series of blogs connected to one another. Moreover, don’t make it lengthy; keep it short and confined to the most relevant information. By doing this, we can ensure that your copy is effective and does not wander aimlessly. 

4. Support your study with facts and figures

When you begin breaking the chapters into a detailed thesis, provide supportive metrics to add weight to your report. It is bound to strike a chord with your readers because the information is genuine. Also, ebooks offer you the room to break the monotony by adding entertaining visuals and effective audio with interactive graphics. Therefore, make it as enjoyable as you can because, in the end, it is your approach towards the topic that is the distinguishing factor for your ebook. 

5. Highlight intriguing stats and quotes

Underline certain quotes and highlight specific statistics to reason more effectively. It shows your commitment and sincerity towards the topic. When the highlighted points are read and reasoned with, many supporting ideas come forward, and the ebook becomes more interesting for the readers. In short, you manage to inspire your readers through engagement with the content. Therefore, the highlighted stats and ideas not only make your ebook reachable to your audience but also help us gain the traction it deserves. 

6. Design your ebook

Presentation matters a lot. It sets the flow and acts as a catalyst in establishing the connection with the intricate details of the ebook. Moreover, the colors, temperament, and graphics stay longer in mind, which will serve in creating your brand identity. We have to be very careful while selecting the fonts, size of the text, texture of the graphics, and the layout of different elements. 

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It will make a huge difference when the ebook design creates a successful first impression because half of the work will be accomplished already. 

7. Don’t leave them hanging. Place suitable CTA buttons at the end

Now that the content is designed, written, and placed, optimize the ebook. This involves putting a call-to-action (CTA) button at the end of your ebook. After going through the thought-provoking and engaging content, a reader might want to engage further with your content. Depending on the next step, you have to place suitable CTA buttons.  

It’s time to reconvert your reader and further convince them down your marketing funnel. 

8. Create a dedicated landing page for your ebook

Landing pages are promotional pages that allow you to build your brand through strong resonating words. It’s not just words, but as proof, you showcase a timeline of your achievements which reinforces your capabilities. This speaks volumes about your area of interest. Whatever you are selling is accessible through your landing page so that anyone who comes to your page returns with full knowledge of your expertise and might also buy your services. 

Therefore, for marketing and promotion, you should have a dedicated landing page ready before you start selling your ebook. 

9. Choose a format for your ebook

Select a format suitable for your target audience and save your ebook. Don’t just attach the ebook created in PowerPoint or Word but convert it into a shareable format. The simple reason behind this is that your ebook will be protected. No one will be able to edit it or tamper with any details. 

10. Self-promotion through social media

Social media is an important link in your marketing process. You should leverage it for generating leads and engagement. By constantly promoting your brand, people will begin noticing your work, which goes a long way in scoring convertible clients. Attach the social media links wherever possible, further redirecting the people to your landing page. 

How To Edit An Ebook

Editing an ebook can be a tedious job. Since it is written in long-form content, making mistakes is very common. Therefore, either save your content in an editable format before finalizing it or write without errors. 

To ensure that your ebook stands out and no grammar nazi gets hold of it, take the help of an editor who will go over the text with a fine tooth-comb. But many creators will ask,  “Why do we need to edit it? There are copy editing tools like Grammarly, EditMinion, etc., with the help of which we can speed up the process.” To be honest, these tools are still robots that will only correct the syntax and conjunctions, but the feeling and motive behind a sentence will still go unnoticed. 

Remember, it’s a long text, so you might lose track of the meaning. Therefore, do not forget to proofread and edit once your first draft is ready. And, of course, you need to have an editor dedicated solely to this ebook. The editor will pinpoint your mistakes and tell you which section requires rework, tone enhancement, fact-check, and other nitty-gritty. , Ensuring the quality of your work is very significant in ebook writing steps. You must pay heed to the weak areas and take action before submitting the final draft for approval. 

Ebook Formats To Use

The next is to choose the proper format for saving your ebook. Many would prefer to save in PDF format, but there are certain limitations. Let’s see what options we can explore: 

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PDF

It is the go-to format for many readers. And if you didn’t happen to stumble on our ebook writing tips, then you would have chosen this format as well. PDFs are not easy to edit unless you save them after editing. Also, when you open the file on the computer, then it’s the best option you can get. However, the second major disadvantage of a PDF format is that not all browsers support it, especially on small screens. So, we might need a reflowable format to make accessing the ebook easy and smooth. 

EPUB (electronic publication)

EPUB is an excellent option if you are selling your ebook on an Apple device. Unlike a PDF, it is reflowable, and your readers won’t face any issues opening the ebook in different layouts. Secondly, this format comes with DRM protection, which means you can control how your ebooks are presented to the readers. And the third reason for choosing this format is that it supports text-heavy ebooks seamlessly. However, the only disadvantage with EPUB is that Kindle doesn’t support it. 

AZW

This is an Amazon-backed format that was designed for the Kindle. Moreover, it supports all devices except Nook. It is a facelift version of MOBI, which was discontinued in 2016. The additional DRM protection makes the file out of reach for hackers and illegal use. Also, AZWs latest version, AZW3, supports HTML and CSS, which means you can get creative with the ebook. 

The above three file formats usually get picked up, but there are other not-so-popular options that may fit your needs: 

ODF (open document format)

Open Document Format (ODF) is an open-source file format for saving and exchanging text, spreadsheets, charts, and presentations. 

IBA (iBooks author app)

The ebook must be written in iBooks, proprietary to Apple for this format. Also, it is only text-driven as it does not support videos, audio, and any interactive elements. 

Key Takeaways

• The main idea of the ebook is to solve your customers’ crisis. You should address the key issues in your ebook without deviating from the main topic. 
• The ebook structure should follow a path leading to the ultimate solution. The chapter’s title should look like a backbone providing strong support to the whole ebook. 
• There is no problem in taking the help of others’ ebooks to have a clear picture. Try to go through your competitor’s ebooks and take note of their style, flow, and delivery of the ebook. 
• Do not take the design of the ebook lightly. It is significant in making the right first impression. Choose all the elements after discussing them with an expert. 
• Your work isn’t over after you’ve completed writing the ebook; it should be followed by rigorous promotion. Take the help of social media, email marketing, and a kickass landing page to lead your potential customers toward your ebook. 
• Hire an editor because you may make many mistakes in the ebook, and sometimes, not even make sense. But do not get anxious because it is a very common error while writing an ebook. However, with the help of a professional editor, you can fine-tune your ebook easily. 

Conclusion

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Writing an ebook is an important step in the life of a writer. It is a journey that helps you become more receptive to your customer’s needs. As a matter of fact, it brings you close to your audience, and it’s like you both are working together to write this ebook. Therefore, following the above ebook writing tips will help you get started. 

FAQs