I’ve outlined the 4 top ways an ebook grows your business in this article.
Now, you may have heard that ebooks don’t work anymore.
They don’t have the market appeal that they once did.
Well, we could have an interesting discussion about that, I’m sure.
But one thing I can assure you of.
You can definitely build your business with good ebook marketing strategies.
And ebooks are still (and probably always will be) a great way to connect with your prospects, audience and readers.
So let’s dig into this just a bit.
These are what I’ve found to be the 4 top ways an ebook grows your business.
No. 1 way an ebook grows your business:
Authority Boosting
You could be a dentist, a roofer, a lifestyle blogger, an SEO expert, or anything else.
Bloggers establish their authority in many ways.
But building authority is not important to bloggers alone.
Whether you have
- a blog,
- a website,
- a business to promote,
- or products and services to sell…
you must establish your authority or expertise in your niche.
Why?
Because people won’t buy from you, or hire you if they don’t trust you.
And they won’t trust you unless they perceive you to be an authority on your topic, in your profession or in any service you offer.
How to build your authority
So, how do you build that authority?
How do you get people to trust you?
Sounds tough, right?
But, the answer is simple.
Use an ebook to boost your authority.
Have you ever gone through the process of trying to find a new dentist, somebody to manage your social media sites, or a blogging coach?
Anytime you look to get information from someone, or hire them to perform a service, you first ask yourself… are they any good?
What you are really asking yourself is whether or not you can trust them.
And you know you can trust them if they are authorities or experts in their field, or on their topic.
But who is an authority and who is not?
What makes someone an authority?
A great way to show people that you are an authority, is to write an ebook.
For example, I was recently looking for a good naturopath.
There were tons to choose from, then I found one who had a blog.
That was cool.
Because I started building a bit of trust from the articles she was writing.
But then I found out she had written an ebook on exactly the topic I was researching.
Perfect!
She really knew her stuff.
Authority status
And yes, she was an authority on this topic.
How did I know?
Well, I didn’t, really.
But having read her ebook… I trusted that she was.
And it was not so much from the substance of the ebook itself.
In fact, I didn’t even read it carefully.
I just browsed through it quickly
But simply because she had written an ebook, I trusted her.
I made an appointment to see her, and was actually very happy I did.
No. 2 way an ebook grows your business:
Promote your brand
The most important thing you have as a blogger or other business person, is your brand.
What is your brand?
Do you brand yourself as a freelance writer who delivers great content?
A realtor who can promise clients a fast sale?
Are you a fashion blogger who features top design reviews and offers?
Think about what your brand is.
Brand promotion
Then, promote your brand.
Promoting it online requires that you share your brand with a defined, targeted audience.
Those are the people who would be most interested in your business.
Are you creating good content for your targeted audience?
How are you getting people to see it?
In other words, what is your brand’s content marketing strategy?
One of the top ways an ebook grows your business is to package your brand as an integral part of your content.
If you’re a chiropractor, you could write an ebook about recovering from auto accident injuries.
The information you put into your ebook on that topic would show people that you are, indeed, an authority on the topic.
Your ebook has shown them that you are highly capable of solving their type of problem.
If someone were to be struggling with post-accident injuries, they may contact you for help because your ebook has built a bond of trust.
Your ebook should show that you are unique
How are you unique?
And what about your business, your services, your products?
How are they unique?
You see, it’s great to have an ebook showing that you are qualified, but why should people choose you over everyone else?
If you’re a divorce lawyer… aren’t there a million of those?
Or SEO expert… another million, probably.
How about a freelance writer?
I’ll be you’re not the only one.
You need to have a unique voice
If you don’t have one yet, this is the time to develop your unique voice.
So your ebook needs to tell your prospects not only why they should feel comfortable choosing you, but why they should choose you instead of anyone else.
If you can accomplish that, one little ebook will grow your business immeasurably.
And for years to come.
No. 3 way an ebook grows your business:
Gather instant brand ambassadors
Getting brand ambassadors is a top way that an ebook grows your business.
But I see very few people doing this.
After you write your ebook, you need to promote it, right?
You need to get it into the hands of your prospects, of your target audience.
And rightfully so, this concerns you.
How do you put your ebook in front of the right crowd?
Here’s how
Well, here’s how.
You let other people do it for you.
Let other people be your brand ambassadors.
And let them spread the news about your ebook with their social media crowds, in their email announcements, on their blogs and in their YouTube videos.
Sounds great, right?
Here’s how you get them to do that.
Include them in your ebook.
In fact, you can actually feature them in your ebook.
It’s very similar to writing a “roundup” blog post.
Only you’re writing it as an ebook instead.
Case Study
I’ll give you an example.
Marquita Herald of Emotionally Resilient Living asked me to be a contributor to an ebook she compiled a while ago.
It was called “Women Breaking Barriers.”
She asked me, and a handful of other women to write a short piece (maybe a few hundred words?) about how I had to overcome barriers as a business woman.
I don’t remember exactly, but something like that.
Your ebook can be written by your contributors
Now, her ebook was actually written by a small group of “contributors” like me.
She edited it and added her overview and summary and clearly established herself as the expert in this study, as she is.
What this accomplished from a marketing standpoint is this.
Because maybe 10 people, including me, contributed to this ebook, we were all more than happy to promote it.
And we did!
We were ambassadors for her brand.
Brand Ambassador promotion
So, instead of just writing the ebook herself, which she could have done… she had people help her write it.
And that way she got 10 times the amount of promotional juice she could have generated just by herself.
Plus, she got to claim her rightful status as the authority on the topic, because she was the force behind it.
Think of how you could put together a similar project.
Then watch how easily your ebook grows your business, with the help of your very willing brand ambassadors.
TIP: Make sure your brand ambassadors are pretty well known, and have nice followings in your same niche.
That’s how you get your ebook promoted to your target audience.
No. 4 way an ebook grows your business:
Repurpose your content
Finally, your ebook grows your business by giving you a digital asset that you can repurpose.
That means, you can take your ebook content and repeat and reproduce it in different ways, and on various platforms.
For instance, you could write an ebook about how to write guest posts, if that’s a service you want to promote and be branded for.
Then you could do a series of Facebook Live videos in which you simply tell people part of what your ebook tells them.
During your presentation at some point or points, you tell people that if they want to get the full story about guest posting, they can grab your ebook.
Always promote your ebook
Give them a link to it.
You can sell it, or give it for free.
Repeat this process for YouTube, a guest post, a slide show, an infographic… anything you like.
Simply repurpose your ebook content in some way or many ways.
You could even turn it into a training course on Udemy, for instance, or a digital course on an affiliate site like Clickbank.
How about turning it into a podcast?
Maybe a webinar.
Put your thinking cap on 🙂
The sky’s the limit.
This is certainly one of the top ways an ebook grows your business.
BONUS way an ebook grows your business:
Now, Make it Happen!
If you’re ready to put your ebook together, but don’t know quite how to do it… sign up for my private coaching.
It’s a small monthly fee, but you can cancel it anytime.
I have people work with me on and off in this way.
They sign up for a few months, complete a project and then cancel the service.
A few months go by and lo and behold… they have another project they want me to help them with.
So they sign up again until that project is done.
Check it out and let me help you get the results you want in your business.
I’d love to read your questions and comments below.
Which is your favorite among these top 4 ways an ebook grows your business?
-Donna
PS: Make sure to share this article on your favorite social sites.
I really appreciate it 🙂
Twitter: DreamBuilderAM
July 27, 2022 at 4:38 am #
HI Donna, a very enlightening article.
Love the section where you highlight the vast array of ways to repurpose content. This is a major hack for people who believe they can’t come up with new content. – There is definitely truth to the saying “the medium is the message.” People struggle to get their heads round repurposing but it’s simply different ways of communicating the same thing – once this sinks in, content creation is infinitely possible.
When you spoke of the contributor/ambassador element, I immediately thought of “Chicken Soup For The Soul” and saw this to be a very effective marketing strategy – definitely food for thought.
Thank you for this wonderful article!
Twitter: ravishingravism
October 7, 2019 at 6:23 am #
Hi Donna,
For a newbie blogger or a person who has not entered into the world of ebook writing the task can be really challenging. When your focus is on growing the business by publishing ebooks, at that point of time these 4 tips will save you from burnout.
Gaurav Kumar recently posted..4 Ways to Fund a Start-Up Freelance Career
Hi Donna,
Thanks for sharing this amazing guide I was actually looking for this guide and I got your article.
Hi Hamza
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for commenting.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..13 Best ways to get your ebook noticed
Hey Donna,
A lot of people dreaming to being a successful author but as a business owner or entrepreneur, writing a book is not only about fulfilling a dream it’s about building and growing your business.
For a successful eBook you must need to choose title wisely so that it can help lots of people and gradually it will help you to connect large community.
You have explained very genuinely with story, brand promotion is key factor to get success.
Eventually, thanks for exploring your informative ideas with us.
Thanking you.
With best regards,
Amar Kumar
Hi Amar
Ebooks are certainly all about building and growing your blogging business.
As you gain credibility with people, your business will flourish.
An ebook can instantly win your that credibility like few other things can.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Get a huge blog following with this proven method
HI Donna,
Thanks For Sharing an inspirational article about eBook. It’s really help full tips for me. eBook grow up our business.Really Great work, i am writing my eBook. your post motivate me to complete my Book. Appreciate your efforts
Hi David
Glad to hear you’re working on your ebook.
Make it happen!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Here are 5 proven ways to Increase Search Traffic without building backlinks
Hi Donna!
If I remember correctly, an eBook was the first product that I actually developed and released by myself. eBooks are probably the perfect example of an ideal first product for the reasons you mentioned here. They also have the benefit of being fairly straightforward to develop – as bloggers, if we are able to write articles regularly, we’re also able to develop a full-fledged eBook. We already have the skill set to do well!
– James McAllister
James McAllister recently posted..Starting An Online Business – What To Buy, Broken Down By Budget
Hi James
Triue. Bloggers already have the skills.
They may already have the content, too, if they’ve been writing blog posts for a while.
Writing their first ebook could be as simple as repurposing their published blog posts.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Do you believe you will become a blogging success
Twitter: MosClement
September 23, 2019 at 9:19 am #
Hi Donna,
One cannot deny the fact that ebooks are fantastic marketing tools which marketers can use to grow their business fast. The tips you outlines are ideal, and since ebooks can present you as an expert in one’s industry, it makes sense to create ebooks. Moreover, it helps to nurture site visitors t leads and paying customers. However, although I haven’t produce one of my own, it is on my radar.
Moss Clement recently posted.. How to Use Pinterest to Gain More Traffic and Subscribers
Hi Moss
Absolutely true… ebooks are a powerful way to attract a loyal audience.
Also, as you point out, ebooks are great to “nurture site visitors” and convert them into paying clients and customers.
Thanks for adding that 🙂
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..The only bloggers Achiever Guide
Twitter: bloggerspassion
September 21, 2019 at 5:59 am #
Hey Donna,
An ebook is indeed a great way to grow a business.
As you have pointed out, we can also find instant brand ambassadors for our books by featuring people and including them in our ebook.
And we can promote them on social media as well.
Thanks,
Jeangam Kahmei
Hi Jeangam
Good suggestion to promote your ebook on social media.
That’s a particularly potent strategy when you promote it through influencers, and get them on board as top tier brand ambassadors.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Dreaming of Blogging Success
To attract the readers, you may want to think about giving away an excerpt from your book. You can even run a competition where you giveaway a number of copies of your eBook for free in exchange for something i.e. email address.
Hi Dr. Sarswat
Thanks for making the “giveaway” suggestion.
It’s a very powerful way to build your prospect list, for sure.
Especially effective are to give your ebooks our during special giveaway events.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Learn to be a wildcat blogging entrepreneur to build a profitable blog
Twitter: marquitaherald
September 20, 2019 at 1:50 am #
What a lovely surprise, thanks for mentioning “our” eBook Donna! That was a great project and the stories that were shared are so inspiring. I’m a huge believer in the power of eBooks and while it is true that traditional books have been making a comeback there are still thousands of eBooks being downloaded every day.
As always, your advice is spot on. Consistency is the key. And as you said, keep it visible and I would add up to date. One of the benefits of digital publishing is how easy it is to change and update the content, so as we learn new things or evolve our business model it’s important to make changes in our eBook(s) that reflect the best information and guidance you have to offer. Thanks for the inspiration!
Marquita Herald recently posted.. Stop Resisting and Learn to Dance with Self-Doubt
Hi Marquita
I remembered your ebook, and what a perfect example it was to use in this post.
That was a fun project!
Good idea to update the content of your ebooks.
Information changes, and if you are giving people information in your ebooks, then updating it keeps your ebook current and relative.
If I wrote and ebook in 2015, for instance, I may have told people to use freelancers by going to the “Elance” website.
But now they’ve changed their name to “Upwork.”
If somebody is reading that ebook today and see me suggest using Elance, they’ll rightfully conclude that this is old and out of date information, and they’ll probably not trust the rest of the book even if it’s spot on.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to start a blog for financial security
Twitter: Lisapatb
September 19, 2019 at 4:52 pm #
Hi Donna, i may need your services for this one! I did one a few years back and love making passive income while I sleep but have’nt the time to update or do more of them. You are right about giving you “authority” I taught a social media class today and spoke about the eBook I did on Twitter years ago.
I never had the time to promote it right with the other areas of business getting busier. But now I’m thinking of hiring influencers, maybe a service that specializes in them?
We will have to CHAT SOON Donna!
Thanks for this post and info as I was researching about influencers just yesterday! I found this from your FB Live video today! Hope you are enjoying the cooler weather, we are thinking of taking a ride up but maybe I could come for a day for us to chat?
Lisa Sicard recently posted..Modern Methods for Saving Money in Your Business Today
Hi Lisa
It’s a shame that people make ebooks such a big project.
But they can really be done very easily and quickly… and routinely.
When I show people how easy they are to do, they kick themselves for not having done more of them.
Ebooks are such great ways to build your business, earn peoples trust, and stand out as an authority in your field or niche.
PS: Let me know when you’re heading up my way 🙂
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..What daily blogging schedule can make me money
Twitter: ryanbiddulph
September 18, 2019 at 10:39 pm #
Right up my alley Donna in a major league way. Bloggers sleep on eBooks. I have no clue why. We already have the content-idea-insight-knowledge in mind from being a blogger. Why not repackage the knowledge into eBook form, to share your know-how and to tap in to these sugary sweet benefits? I got on the eBook wagon in 2014 and never looked back. 100 eBooks later, I am just beginning to really promote each properly now but so glad I wrote that many helpful reads.
Ryan Biddulph recently posted.. Do Your Blogging Actions Attract or Repel Money?
Hey Ryan,
Now how did I know this would be up your alley? Well simple because you have written a hundred ebooks already.
It is so true that bloggers can sleep on ebooks because they just need that little push. The one whereby they understand they
have been writing blogs for a long time. If they can do that…an ebook could be sort of a second nature.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Here are 5 proven ways to Increase Search Traffic without building backlinks
Twitter: JitendraBlogger
September 18, 2019 at 7:16 am #
Hi Donna,
Such a great guide on ebooks. Actually, I don’t have any ebooks but I have written a book on my journey to becoming a digital marketer. But now I’m also looking forward to writing some ebooks on Digital Marketing. And yes it really helps us in generating revenue. Thanks for sharing such a great guide on growing an ebook business.
Keep sharing such great posts.
Jitendra Vaswani recently posted.. How to Optimize YouTube Videos to Get More Traffic | 12 Simple Tricks
Hi Jitendra,
I’m sure with all your knowledge about digital marketing, your ebook would be great.
It will surely complement all that you do.
-Donna
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