10 Easy steps to making your own eBook

What Is an Ebook?

Ebook is short for “electronic book,” and uses either a computer, mobile device, or ebook reader to display long-form texts in book form. It is a digital version of a novel or textbook and can be about anything. You can read an ebook online or download an ebook onto many different devices such as iPhone, Android, a Macbook, PC, and e-readers such as the Nook and Kindle. Nook and Kindle owners can store thousands of books (literally) on a single Nook or Kindle.

The benefits of writing an ebook are that you can gain loyal subscribers, expand your exposure and create new income streams. EBooks are also kinder to the environment than traditional books as they don’t require trees to be cut down to make paper.

How to write an ebook how can I write an ebook How do you write an ebook

Step 1 Choose a topic that matches your audience’s needs.

Identify and focus on the goal of the ebook and use it as an opportunity for your audience to learn. Do research, case studies, interview people, blogs. Identify popular content with google analytics to check top landing pages. Without doing this you are shooting blind.

Step 2 Outline each chapter of your ebook.

Be creative or use templates available on software such as PowerPoint. Make your Ebook scannable, have two types of headers (main and sub), plus lots of lists and paragraphs. The reason for this is because people hate digesting large chunks of content. Use clear and safe fonts. Get your ebook proofread by someone who isn’t scared to give you honest feedback.

Step 3 Break down each chapter as you write.

Start writing, breakdown each chapter into smaller sections or bullet points to create a consistent structure for a natural transition from one chapter to the next. Use keywords in the titles. Add an ‘About the Author’ page at the end. When your ebook gets passed around, you can use this page to introduce yourself and point new readers to your website and mailing list.

Step 4 Design your ebook.

Be creative or use templates available on software such as PowerPoint. Make your Ebook scannable, have two types of headers (main and sub), plus lots of lists and paragraphs. The reason for this is because people hate digesting large chunks of content. Use clear and safe fonts. Get your ebook proofread by someone who isn’t scared to give you honest feedback.

Step 5 Use the simple and the right colours.

Match your brand colours or personalise your work. It really should be pleasing to the eye.

Step 6 Incorporate visuals.

Make pictures compliment your writing. Remember, when using photos, get permission and avoid stock photos that have been used before. “Shutterstock” can be a solution to cover this.

Step 7 Highlight quotes or stats.

This genuinely adds value to the content and helps with readability.

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Step 8 Use calls-to-action.

Once content is written and designed, it’s time to optimise it for lead generation, reconversion, and promotion. Use a statement designed to get an immediate response from the person reading it, make it obvious to let people know the next step in doing business with you. In order to promote it, I suggest giving it away in return for subscriptions.

Step 9 Convert it into the right file type.

Ebooks can be in a few different formats. While you might know how to create an Ebook in Word, you will then need to convert it. For this you could use a free PDF ebook creator for a PDF, the next is a flexible Electronic Publication format where texts are adaptable to devices and finally the AZW format for Amazons kindle and finally the ODF (Open end Document Format) which is similar to Microsoft Office.

Step 10 Create a dedicated landing page for your ebook.

Promote your ebook and track its success with a landing page. Ebooks should be available for download through a landing page, which is a web page that promotes/describes your offer and provides a form that visitors need to fill out with their contact information in order to access your ebook. Focus on ranking well in search results by optimising the right key words.

How to make an ebook & how to create an ebook

Once you have completed how to create an ebook in word, you need to make sure that your book is formatted, converted, and ready for distribution. A standard eBook layout employs real-time flowable text so you can read it on any eReader and adjust the font size and style to fit your reading preferences. There is no set pagination with a standard eBook because the number of words displayed per page can change based on user settings and the screen size of the device. This format is for text-based books with small images.

A “template” eBook with a fixed layout is for books that rely heavily on design elements or large illustrations/photos. You can embed fonts and visual elements and are in control of the experience. Other key areas include making sure paragraphs are indented properly, designation of page breaks, use of small and uniform margins, letting your readers choose the font and size, images and word selection, avoiding spaces in the file name and finally an ebook templates fee may apply.

How to publish an ebook

Big publishing houses are losing steam, and self-publishing where authors are learning how to create an ebook to sell or marketing promotions is rising to the top. While you can sell your eBooks on a marketplace like Amazon, there are advantages in selling your work directly from your own site as it gives the greatest control, independence, and percentage of sales. It also helps to build your authority and engagement with your audience by giving them value. Build a long term relationship and control the customers buying experience.

How do you make an ebook for free

Canva is an example of free design software with a library of layouts that have been created by designers, making it simple to create a professional design. If you use your own images in your design, the entire process will be free. You can also choose from Canva’s library of over 1 million images, graphics and illustrations. Many of these images are also free, while many others are affordable priced at around AU$1.

Jenny Mason is a writer with a wide set of interests, from art to current affairs, the outdoors, literature, technology and philosophy. Jenny is fascinated by this beautiful Earth - nature, people, culture, innovation and design. She has worked in publishing, education, and digital journalism for over 20 years. You can follow her on Twitter @jennymasonrocks.

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