Converting Articles to
Ebooks an Easy Process
Publishing
an eBook is called
compiling or ePublishing. There are many software programs that can
convert your word processing documents into an eBook.
How many articles, reports and
discussion papers have you written in your life? If you are like most
people, these articles have probably been used very little maybe only
once. Why not use the work you've already done and create a new product
that can improve both your productivity and your profits.
The eBook is the electronic version of a book. eBooks are easy to
produce, require little in terms of investment and generate profit
margins of 50-95%. The combination of writing skills and eBook
technology allow anyone to become a published author with relative
ease. This is even more so since you already have a content source ?
your articles. Even if you have to write some new articles the amount
of work involved will be manageable and rewarding.
eBooks are electronically downloaded via a web site or as an attachment
to emails. Costs for distribution are minimal. The recipients have the
option of reading your eBook on their computer monitors or printing
them in hard copy. Either way, the reader can have the eBook almost
instantly allowing them to satisfy their need for "immediate" solutions
to their problems.
Consider your area of expertise and passion. Gather together all the
materials you have created regarding the chosen topic. This is the
theme of your material that you are going to incorporate into your
eBook.
Consider your target market. These are the people to whom you are going
to market your newly created eBook. You will offer them a collection of
articles around a common theme designed to help them solve a problem.
You will further organize your articles to address various aspects of
the topic you have chosen.
Consider the individual members of your target market. What are their
problems that you can help them with? Are these people beginners,
experienced or masters of the chosen topic? Where do these people "hang
out"? What organizations do they belong to? Are they the same
organizations you belong to? What magazines, newsletters, newspapers,
and periodicals do they read? What conferences do they attend? What
professional organizations do they belong to? Get inside their heads.
Consider how useful your articles will be to these individuals.
Consider the fact that some articles will be more useful than others.
You can "tweak" your existing articles to suit the target market
audience. To do this effectively you must write a profile of the
individuals within your target market. Begin by re-reading your
articles from the perspective of the reader. Make changes to reflect
the needs of your target market and your Unique Selling Proposition
(USP) that you will bring to the reader. This USP is what will intrigue
your potential customer enough to want to purchase your eBook. What
makes your collection of articles so unique compared to other sources
of information that will interest the reader?
While considering what articles to put in your eBook, think about what
it is you want to convey to your target market. There are three basic
things you can share with your audience and only three things. What are
they? Just A.S.K. They are Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge. If all
three areas are addressed within each article or distributed among the
various articles you will have all the teaching basics covered. All
teaching and learning should involve these three areas. The one most
forgotten is the attitude. Skills and knowledge come much easier both
to learners and teachers. Spend some time on attitudes. In fact, an
entire article on this one topic may be an easy way to address the
reflective side of the topic.
Your eBook need not be sold but rather given away. Many professionals
use their eBooks as a free bonus along with the purchase of other goods
and services. Authors also gain additional business by providing
complimentary eBooks that demonstrate their expertise to potential
customers laying the foundation for a long-term working relationship.
The eBook serves as a promotional product much like advertising. The
low cost of production and distribution makes it an attractive
alternative to other forms of advertising.
The Table of Contents (TOC) is the most important part of your eBook.
It may very well be a list of the articles as eBook content. It is what
will guide you in the writing of the eBook. It will show you where you
need additional material as well as indicate topics that are covered
well. The TOC can also give you an indication that a second eBook could
easily be written to address other topics or a slightly different
target market. TOC's act as a checklist of what has been completed and
what has yet to be done. Potential customers will want to see this TOC
as part of your sales pitch and ad copy.
What can eBooks do for you as the author? Have you ever noticed your
reaction to someone introduced to you as the author of a book? Do you
have a heightened interest in that person? Do you begin questioning
her? Are you envious of what this person has accomplished? Do you
automatically assume they must be an expert?
Defining a person as an "expert" can be attributed to a variety of
things. Ownership of something commands respect. Awards and recognition
for achievements is another. Being associated with 'famous' people also
works. But expertise for the average person readily comes from
authoring a book. And converting your collection of articles to a
published eBook will give you that same respect for your knowledge ?
your expertise. Remember, if nothing else, you are definitely the
expert on your eBook and all of the content within it.
Publishing an eBook is called compiling or ePublishing. There are many
software programs that can convert your word processing documents into
an eBook. Each of these different software conversion programs requires
a unique "Reader" so that the person who purchases your eBook can read
it on their monitor. Fortunately, eBook Readers are distributed at no
cost to anyone who wishes to download the Reader. This is another great
advantage of eBooks for the consumer as well as for the author wishing
to distribute their eBook.
Adobe Acrobat software converts word processing documents into eBooks
using Portable Document Format (PDF). In addition, Adobe provides
Acrobat Reader as a free download. Although there are many formats for
eBook production, Adobe Acrobat ? PDF has many advantages. The primary
advantage is that PDF documents can be used by virtually any computer ?
MAC, PC or any other platform. Adobe is also recognized as a world
leader in document production. There is hardly anyone who hasn't used
an Adobe form or document. Most computer users already have Adobe
Acrobat Reader on their computers for other reasons besides eBooks.
Paul Jackson and Glenn Dietzel have developed what they refer to as
"The 10 Steps to eBook Authoring".
The 10 Steps to eBook Authoring
1. IDEA YOU start with an Idea!
2. REFLECTION YOU reflect
on your idea.
3. COMMITMENT YOU make a
commitment.
4. BIG PICTURE YOU have
to visualize the Big Picture.
5. CHUNKING YOU need to
organize your information.
6. WRITING YOU are ready to
write.
7. EDITING YOU must
perfect your eBook.
8. PUBLISHING YOU are
ready to compile your eBook.
9. MARKETING YOU must
take your eBook to market.
10. CELEBRATING YOU have earned
the"write"to celebrate.
You can see for yourself how these steps could be applied to your
collection of articles converted into an eBook. The great part is that
the writing portion of the Steps is either completely or partially
finished already.
Whether you are considering your eBook as an additional source of
income, a description of products and services you offer, an
introduction and branding of yourself as an "expert" or as a bonus
offer to go along with goods and services you already provide, using a
collection of articles you have already written is a cost-effective and
profitable way to maximize work you've already done.
© Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson is a retired elementary school administrator and an eBook
author. By helping people with a plan and a process for writing an
eBook and providing them with ePublishing services, Paul offers
products and services for any eBook author at his web site http://www.ebookwritingandpublishing.com
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