Why Write an E-book?
December 18, 2007 – 4:48 pm
We’ve chatted a bit here recently about e-book publishing. If you’re toying with the idea of writing an e-book, but you’re not quite sure if it’s for you, read my recent post over at All Book Marketing on The Benefits of Publishing E-books.
Find out why e-book writing could be a smart move for a lot of writers, when compared with other publishing models.
Posts
22 Responses to “Why Write an E-book?”
I get this question often when people hear that I wrote one — they wonder why —- and really 1. to further extend my name as a professional and 2. (once I learn how to) use it to make some significant income
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 18, 2007
I think income is always in the back of our minds when we write something, but I truly wrote my first e-book because I thought it would be good for my name and career. My branding, if you will. I didn’t have a lot out there besides a few articles, so the e-book was an important step to help establish my reputation as a serious writer.
By Diana on Dec 18, 2007
I really didn’t write my book for income — I wrote it as a basis of about 12 articles I wrote on the topic for a client that purchased only first-time rights, so I incorporated it together, rewrote parts of it — and printed it because I saw a need — now I see a need for new things –and I never promoted really - so I’m editing/adding to it and reprinting and promoting this new version. Hopefully within a month.
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007
I don’t think I would write something unless it somehow resulted in earnings, advertising or some other kind of benefit for my career (I’m talking non-fiction here; I’m working on a novel that may or may not ever see the light of day, so I’m not thinking of money in that project). I think it’s rather important that we value our time and skills as writers and invest in whatever can help further our career. I don’t think that makes us selfish or anything like that.
By Diana on Dec 19, 2007
I see “earnings” as a means to establish myself further as a freelancer — but I do believe the projects I’m embarking on are valuable and will be profitable.
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007
I agree. Earnings doesn’t necessarily mean money, but anything that proves valuable for your career: be it advertising, growing as a professional, or investing in your future.
By Diana on Dec 19, 2007
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007
That was an awesome article. Here is my airhead question of the day: what does it mean to “go viral”? It doesn’t sound like a good thing.
By Kathleen on Dec 19, 2007
I think a web presence is essential at this point in time. 10 years ago, I could have argued the point, but now is so cheap and easy to set up a website that it just doesn’t make any sense to NOT have one.
By Diana on Dec 19, 2007
Website establish a different level of professionalism.
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007
I meant — websites**
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007
Definitively. I know I’ve landed quite a few jobs because the editors were impressed with my website, my work posted there, my links. Not saying my website is the best thing in the world, but it certainly does make a difference and makes you look as a professional.
By Diana on Dec 19, 2007
A lot of times when I didn’t have one, people would ask for one, I think you just come across more in control of your business and ultimately more dependable as a business
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007
I never had anybody directly ask for a website, but I make sure I include it in all my emails and I believe it’s made a difference. At least it shows you are serious enough about your profession that you have invested time and money and get a PROFESSIONAL website up.
By Diana on Dec 20, 2007
I did it myself *wink* — sings— MISS INDEPENDENT….
HAHA
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 23, 2007
Well, nothing wrong with making your own website if you can make it look professional
At the time, I just didn’t have the patience to learn HTML (I will at some point, but I wanted the peace of mind that somebody who actually understood was working on it)
By Diana on Dec 23, 2007
Let me tell you — I swore so much in a small period of time, I repented for weeks - hahahaha I almost threw the laptop out the window. HTML is annoying.
By Jess on Dec 26, 2007
LOL - Not sure I want the aggravation, then
There are some things I really don’t feel the need to learn right now. HTML is one of them. I know I should eventually jump in and start doing it myself, but for now I have so many things going on that the last thing I need is another source of stress.
By Diana on Dec 27, 2007
@Kathleen - Going “viral” is essentially when other people spread your work around for you. Think of YouTube videos. If you post one, and then other people start embedding in in their sites, and their viewers then post it to their sites sharing it with more people, etc., that’s going viral. A lot of people write free e-books just to have them go viral - they allow others to give it away for them, with their links embedded (whether affiliate links to make money or links to their business site). The idea is to make it spread naturally - called “viral” because it’s like you spreading a virus to one person who then goes out and shares the bug with a dozen others - the lovely neverending cycle.
By Jennifer Mattern on Dec 27, 2007
This is pretty much the same reason people post articles to article directories (to drive traffic to their websites, where they may be selling something). Although is not exactly the same thing, it seems to work. I’ve never posted in free directories, but I know people who swear by it. I’d probably be more inclined to try going viral with a free e-book.
By Diana on Dec 27, 2007
So true — but I use that more of a means to get people to my sites….. interesting
By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 30, 2007
I guess that works too if you sell something through your site. The idea is to drive traffic to the places where your work is up for sale, so you increase the chances of selling something.
By Diana on Dec 31, 2007