Writing an eBook isn’t always as simple as it seems, especially if you’re going to publish and sell it. Many people have tried to write an eBook but couldn’t finish it or sell any copies because they weren’t sure where to start or what they should do while writing it.
EBook writing seems like a great way to make money, but there are several pitfalls you need to avoid to make sure your eBook will succeed in today’s market. Over 80% of all eBooks fail to sell more than 25 copies!
Avoid these eight mistakes, and your eBook will be sure to reach the top of the charts and be profitable for years to come.
- Not Planning Out Your Book
The number one mistake people make when writing an eBook is not planning it out in advance. The first step of eBook writing is knowing what you want to say and how you will say it. Without a plan, your message can get lost or be difficult for others to understand. While ebook writing, write down what you want your readers to know and keep those points in mind.
- Not Editing Well
If you’re writing an eBook, it means you can write (already a huge plus), but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to edit. Edits are important because they help ensure your eBook makes sense and flows well. If your eBook has typos or grammar mistakes, people will think less of your work—after all, a typo or grammatical mistake suggests that you didn’t care enough about your work to put time into it.
A good tip? Read your draft at least thrice.
- Hiring a Bad Editor
As a business owner, you understand your company better than anyone else. But that doesn’t mean you can write a great eBook. It’s easy to fall in love with your eBook writing —but before publishing an eBook, hire an editor to take a critical look at your content.
This will help ensure you avoid mistakes like failing to ask questions as asking good questions and getting feedback from clients, and you ensure they get what they need when they need it most.
- Making it too Long
Many first-time authors think that producing a lengthy eBook will give them more credibility, but it will have the opposite effect. To be read and taken seriously by your readers, you need to be concise and to the point. Nobody wants to wade through 100 pages of text to find out what your eBook is all about!
- Assuming You Can Self-Publish
You’ve written your book—great! Now it’s time to get it out into the world. If you want to self-publish, that’s great. Many authors do. Just know that it won’t be easy (or cheap) to do independently.
Unless you have contacts at publishing houses, there’s a good chance no one will read or buy your book without a significant marketing budget behind it.
- Thinking Only Money Will Sell Books
While it’s true that you can make more money by trying to charge more, it’s important to remember that all authors have to start somewhere. Some people first think that charging too little means no one will buy your book.
That might be true, but it’s also okay if someone doesn’t want to spend $50 on a book when they know they can get something for free or for a lower price elsewhere.
- Pricing It Too Low
This is a big mistake for new writers. The price of your book should reflect both its quality and value. If you set it too low, you may be underselling yourself and leading people to believe that your work isn’t very good or doesn’t offer much value.
- Not Using Keywords in Titles and Subtitles
Keywords are used to describe or categorize something. A keyword is simply a short word or phrase that best describes what your eBook will contain. Keywords for an eBook on starting a business could be things like startup, entrepreneur, venture, and business.
People search for certain keywords to find exactly what they’re looking for. Including those same words in your title and subtitle ensures people searching for help with starting a business can find your eBook when they’re searching online.
In A Nutshell
EBook writing can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging and frustrating, especially if you’re not an experienced writer or don’t have the skill to know how to write an eBook that people will want to read.
But, whether you’re writing your first eBook or your 10th, there are some mistakes you should avoid at all costs if you want to create an eBook that sells well and gets noticed in today’s crowded book market.
Want your next eBook to be a best seller? Avoid these eight mistakes to amaze your readers!
