How to Write Publish and Promote Your Own E-book - Part One

Your eBook need not be long.  In fact eBooks are easier to handle if they are not too large.  Buyers will be downloading your eBook and not all computers have the capability to download large files with ease.  Rule of thumb for eBook size is often between 10 and 50 pages although you have the last say about the size of your own book.  The smallest eBook I have seen for sale was 5 pages and the largest was over 700 pages.

The first thing you should decide is whether or not you are going to write, publish, and promote your eBook on your own or use an online company.

Writing an eBook for Self Promotion
Writing your eBook for self promotion can be done on your own computer using Microsoft word
or another similar program.  Once your eBook is written, you will need to convert it into a downloadable format for publication.  PDF or Portable Document Format is the most widely used format for eBook publishing because:

• It is fast and easy to use.

• It is secure which makes it almost impossible to transmit a virus.

• Your book page only needs to be set up once and following pages will automatically be set as you work.

• The pages are automatically numbered for you.

• Pages can easily be edited right from your document.

You can convert your eBook to PDF free of charge.

Copyright
Even before your eBook is finished, it is your copyright and you own all rights. Every written word belongs to you.  For this reason it is important to add a copyright symbol to your book.  This can be done by using the number pad on your keyboard.  Choose where you want to add your © then with numlock on, hold down the Alt key and type 0169.  You can also insert the copyright symbol from the symbol menu in your word processor.  Then to make your eBook really your own, you may want to register for an official copyright.  You can do that here . 

Once your book is finished it's time to promote it.  If you choose to promote your eBook on your own you will need a strategy.

Promotion
One way to promote your eBook is through eBook directories.  The advantage of using eBook directories is your book will be seen by people who are interested in buying eBooks only.  Some eBook directories will let you add your book for free but depending on your goal you may wish to use a paid site.  A good free eBook directory is EBook Palace where visitors can add their eBook directly to the directory.  EBook Palace accepts a wide range of format such as PDF, .exe, html, palm, and more.

Payment
If you don't have an account with PayPal you will have to register.  Once you sign up, you can buy a PayPal button.  Simply copy and paste the HTML code for your button onto the pages where you will be advertising your eBook.

Once you have a PayPal button you can:

• Add your eBook to your blog.

• Exchange eBook advertising with other bloggers to get more exposure but keep in mind that whatever your eBook subject is, you will do better advertising on a blog related to your book material.

• Advertise from your own website.  If you don't have a website you might consider building one.  There are many free websites such as Bravenet, SynthaSite, or Wetpaint.

• If you have your own website or blog, consider a banner exchange with other webmasters

and bloggers.

• Add your eBook button to forums and groups you belong to.

• Ask webmasters with website material similar to your eBook theme to donate space for your ad.   Some may want payment for the service but you will find many owners who are looking for content and will be happy to display your eBook ad for free.

If you are promoting using a website you can submit your site to search engines
like the ones below:

• Google

• Yahoo

• MSN

• Wikia

You can also use free link submissions sites:

• Access Now

• E-Library

• Treble Heart Books

Publishing Your eBook using an Online Publisher
If you would rather work with an online publisher.  Lulu Publishing is the easiest program to use and it is totally free for eBook publication.  You will use Lulu's software at no charge and be taken step by step through the writing procedure from start to finish AND you will be given a free storefront to display and sell your eBooks.  You can set your own book price and for each eBook you sell, Lulu will charge a commission of 25 percent per book sold.

Lulu will do their best to promote your eBook but to attract as many prospective buyers as possible you will probably want to advertise on your own as well.  

The only drawback to publishing with an online company is that you receive your payments on their time.  In Lulu's case you are paid once every three months.