Get More Bang from Your Articles Buck! How to Use Your
Articles to Create Ebooks
by Maria Marsala
Published on this site: February 24th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
Who would have thunk it? You've completed several written
articles on the same topic - a good idea if you want to become
known as an expert. Now you want to turn those articles into
a money making ebook. But how to do it? What's next? What
do you need?
You could simply take your articles, jam them into a PDF
file, and call it an ebook. However, if you want your ebook
to reflect your professional, credible self, and get you "this"
much closer to creating a "book", then follow the
steps below:
- Start with a word processing program, such as MS Word.
- Place all of your articles in an order that will make
sense to a reader.
- Make sure that concepts flow. How? One key step is to
remove redundancies that occur because each article was
originally free standing.
- Find ways to connect the first article to the 2nd article.
A copywriter or editor can easily do this.
- Leave lots of white space on each page. At least one-inch
right and left margins because it makes the page easier
to read.
- The font size for the text on the page should be at least
11 or 12 points. This is especially true if your ideal clients
are over 40 years old. Many people use Arial or Verdana
for ebooks since it's easier on the eyes than Times Roman.
- You want pictures or illustrations scattered throughout
the document. However, you don't want to use the clip art
that came with your computer. First that art is for personal,
not commercial use. Secondly, you want to look professional
and not thought of as cheap. There are low cost graphics
for sale on the Internet for you to use.
- Titles and sub-titles should be a much larger font than
the text. Don't underline titles because people will think
that they're supposed to click on them; instead, use bold,
color or italicize them. You can even use special fonts,
like Tahoma for titles.
- By formatting your ebook like a professional, it will
be easier for you to turn it into a book! How? Read the
next few tips.
- Create an eye pleasing cover page for the ebook, and
a cover that looks like a book cover, for use on your web
site. Add pictures within your ezine but remember, you don't
own clip art, and you can't use it for monetary gain. Have
your designer add graphics that you own.
- The first few pages after the cover should be numbered
with roman numerals.
- Page ii is for testimonials from clients and those
who have read and used the ebook.
- Page iii is your publisher information page with copyright
information. Open a book and you'll see this important
page!
- Page iv can be used for acknowledgments of others
that you'd like to mention.
- Page v tells others how to use the ebook.
- Page vi is an Introduction to the book, written by
you or someone else.
- Now comes your ebook, and it is numbered, 1, 2, 3 etc.
Make sure you include:
- Then comes the table of contents which can link to
the pages the topics are placed.
- Within the ebook be sure and invite readers to visit
your web site.
- In an appropriate place of your ebook, maybe in the
middle, offer a special on a product that the reader
of the ebook may enjoy.
- Again, to get people to your web site, place additional
resources on a page on your site and link from the book
to that page.
- Create a "Call to Action" on your next to
the last page! Again, the goal is to get your readers
to your web site.
- Don't forget to create an all about you and your company
page ... with your picture!
- Next convert your ebook to PDF format, making sure that
all the links in the ebook are clickable.
- Research shipping cart software or programs to use to
sell your product online.
- Consider creating an affiliate program for your product
and let others help you market your product in return for
a commission.
Remember that even 8 x 5 1/2 books only need 64 pages to
be bound! If your ebook is more than 30 pages in a Word Document,
chances are you've also created a book!
Congratulations. You've completed your ebook!
Now, you're ready to price and promote your ebook.
Maria Marsala. Helping women business owners accelerate
profits and improve productivity -- quicker, by providing
one-on-one kick-butt, No BS, practical business and marketing
coaching, consulting and training. Check out our services
and products and save time and maximize your success. Join
"No BS Business Advice Ezine" to receive your audio
and 2 reports now. www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com
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