A brief guide on how to write an e-book as part of your profile building strategy

1. Part of the Series: Hate Selling? Build Profile Instead Could you write an e-book? I wrote an e-book and you can too A very brief guide By Susan Abbott

3. Basic format of an e-book Look to the master – Seth Godin: http://www.squidoo.com/howtomakeanEbook Write something worth reading Write it in Word or other word processor Use landscape layout Change page size to 8” wide x 6” high Use a legible font for the body Use a headline font with bravado Save it as a PDF Post it on your blog and give it away so it spreads your ideas Use a creative commons license: www.creativecommons.org

4. Copyright protection exists without registering Creative Commons License Purchase a license from a stock-art organization. Protect yourself further by referencing the source

5. Make your own template in Word with a nice header and footer Match the writing style to your personality To see the whole e-book, download it from www.customercrossroads.com or www.abbottresearch.com

6. My Learning Great feedback  feels nice Many clients downloaded  looks like it may have worked Click-through tracking on Constant Contact Courage  to try more But  no one called with a project (yet) Next time: Assume I will want to print and bind some copies for some people Therefore, create in format that is easy to print to (not 8”wide x 6” high) Next time, maybe I would go with a half-sheet instead. Still works on screen, but is a standard page size Don’t create the cover graphic in PowerPoint It works fine online, but doesn’t print well after converting into a JPEG I’m currently reworking it in Photoshop Elements

7. What ideas does this give you?

8. A free e-book about e-books http://www.niche2.com/free-ebook/giveaway-free-ebook.pdf, by Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian Says there are five models of e-book giveaways Problem + solution: focus on a problem faced by a large part of your target audience Recipe + ingredients: e.g. how to grow a rose garden, where to buy supplies Parallel paths, one free one paid: solution is fully outlined, but paid option directs reader to a specific service. E.g. search engine optimization is a lot of work, even if you know how. Teach and do: teach people how to do something, offer to do it for them. A reputation builder rather than revenue generator Case study: e.g. how you lost 30 pounds and changed your whole life by using a certain product

9. The Seven Hallmarks of Compelling Intellectual Capital Competing on Thought Leadership: The Seven Hallmarks of Compelling Intellectual Capital, by Bob Buday and Bernie Thiel Getting high-level executive attention that, ideally, results in business depends upon a firm’s ability to powerfully differentiate its expertise and substantiate its client results. Powerful points of view address the most pressing business issues in the most unique way and with the highest level of demonstrated success. In today’s accelerating, increasingly complex, and high-stakes business world, executives are more receptive than ever to new, effective ways for addressing critical problems. Focus – a single fundamental message Novelty – a unique diagnosis of problem or solution Relevance – meets critical and specific market need Validity – proving that the solution you offer is effective Practicality – demonstrating your solution can be implemented Rigor – having tight, consistent logic Clarity – making a clear argument with words and concepts that are easy to understand

10. How to sell or deliver your e-book from your website http://www.ehow.com/how_4584874_sell-deliver-ebook-automatically-website.html Basically explains how to use a service called e-junkie Alternatives Use a contact manager like Constant Contact iContact or AWeber to deliver the product via e-mail Give people the address to download the e-book from your website or blog