This post was most recently updated on August 6th, 2016
You can Build Your Business with eBook Marketing cheaper, faster and more effectively than most methods.
I know.
You’ve been told that eBooks are old school.
They are.
But you know what else is old school?
Word of mouth is old school.
Handshakes are old school.
Story telling is old school.
So is building a trusted reputation, giving more than receiving and always putting your customers first.
I don’t care about old school, new school, after school, dropping out of school.
It’s only words.
The only thing that means anything is what works for your business and what doesn’t.
Building your business with eBooks is something that works because they are easily and cheaply produced, so you can actually make it happen.
They get digitally delivered, so your reader can get it in their inbox or on a download page instantly.
This is a great incentive for folks who are reading your blog, for instance.
Special: Learn To Blog My Way. FREE Guide Shows You How I Built My Blog Using Only Free Traffic
When they are interested in what you’re writing about, they are prime prospects for your business.
They can immediately get an expanded version of your content by getting your eBook.
This is what eBook marketers call a “content upgrade.”
Gain Trust When You Build Your Business with eBook Marketing
Few things will make you a more trusted source of information than an eBook.
Use it to quickly establish yourself as an authority on your topic and a leader in your field when you write a high quality eBook and market it wisely to your target audience.
Create Your Own Unique Brand When You Build Your Business with eBook Marketing
One of the key advantages of blogging is to build your personal brand.
Blogging is a great way to brand yourself as someone that your particular audience will want to follow.
The next step up, and it’s truly a big step… is to offer your own eBooks on your blog.
You can offer them as content upgrades or as stand alone offers.
Just think how much more valuable a blog post your write becomes when you can tell your readers… “if you’d like to see how this works in much greater detail, subscribe here and I’ll send you the book I wrote on the topic.”
Special: FREE Guide… 4 Things I Did To Build My Blog Using Only Free Traffic
Types of eBooks To Offer
If you don’t know what to write, consider these common types of eBooks:
“How To” eBooks
Do you know something you can teach your readers?
Think of teaching them in the pages of your eBook.
Take your topic, break it down into actionable steps, and write them down in an outline.
Expand on each step.
Use screen capture images to illustrate exactly how something can be done.
Embed videos to explain the steps, face to face, or with a whiteboard.
People like to find actionable solutions to their problems in the form of “how to” eBooks.
“Follow My System” eBooks
This is a particularly popular style for marketers who are promoting a particular method of doing something.
Use this type of eBook to teach your reader something they know little or nothing about.
You might want to teach people a method of playing poker that you’ve developed, or a strategy for promoting professional services with telemarketing.
Walking your readers through each step of the process will familiarize them with your system.
They can then follow your system, step by step, to produce similar results.
Special: Learn To Blog My Way. FREE Guide Shows You How I Built My Blog Using Only Free Traffic
“My Story” eBooks
This is not quite as popular an eBook type because a great many marketers don’t really have their own story.
If you do, though, and can document it in an interesting and instructive manner, it’s very powerful.
People love to consume information in story form.
It’s a great format for building trust and encouraging a deep level of engagement.
I am currently using this method, myself.
I’ve written a “my story” eBook called “Build My Blog.”
It details the story of how I developed my blog into a popular, high ranking site.
I use screen captures and videos to demonstrate points I’m making.
I link back to my own blog for branding, engagement and social proof.
I introduce my “Fast Start Blogging Program” for folks just starting a new blog, and link to the sales pages for a couple of my digital info products about blogging.
This way, I build profits from my free eBook and I can reinvest this into more aggressively marketing it.
This method helps me build my email list, and at the same time, creates a steady profit base.
If you’d like to get your own FREE copy of my eBook, grab it right here…
FREE Guide… 4 Things I Did To Build My Blog Using Only Free Traffic
Build Your Business with eBook Marketing
Few things will allow you to give your readers more value than eBooks.
Build up the trust factor that will have them turning to your to help them solve their problems.
Writing an eBook and offering in your marketplace is the least expensive way to build your business.
You can offer them at any price point you want.
It’s very common for eBooks to be used as lead magnets.
You can offer them for free to build your email list.
You can sell them cheaply to build a list of buyers.
You can increase the price as you appeal to progressively higher levels of clientele.
Whatever level of eBook Marketing you choose to use to build your business, the most important thing is to get started.
Write your first eBook… or second, third or forth.
I’d love to have your comments below, and would certainly appreciate you sharing this article on your social sites.
I look forward to any questions you may have as to how you can Build Your Business With eBook Marketing.
-Donna
Thank you for your Business with eBook Marketing tips!
No trees die! This is my favorite reason to read eBooks. They are not made out of dead trees. This is good for the environment in several ways:
– eBooks don’t end up as landfill waste.
– Trees are the lungs of the earth, so saving them is a good thing.
– It takes more energy to manufacture and ship a paper book than to download an eBook.
Twitter: SMITdebtb
September 9, 2016 at 12:25 am #
Donna, whenever I need to know more on any blogging or marketing topic, I just pop on over here to your blog. I KNOW you’ve got it covered!
I am finally ready to create my eBook. I totally agree, who cares if a technique is “old school” as long as it is still effective, right? Just like music… it’s either good or it’s not. I listen to some music that’s decades old. It still makes me happy so it’s effective.
I just love love love all of your tips and will be referring to this post often as I put my eBook together. I’ll let you know how it’s going!
Thank you for such valuable information, Donna.
Deborah
Deborah A. Ten Brink recently posted..CDNs On Self-Hosted WordPress Sites. Could Your Site Benefit?
Twitter: rhonda_chapman
August 21, 2016 at 3:37 am #
Thanks, Donna.
I’m tidying up a short-ish step-by-step guide. I’m thinking of making it available for free and then release some follow-up checklists exclusively for those who download it.
Although, how did you decide on the price for yours?
Thanks!
Rhonda Chapman recently posted..This copywriting tip will help you nail your services page
Twitter: ikechiawazie
July 18, 2016 at 3:32 am #
Hi Donna
I have been busy but cannot dare to miss your blog posts as there is always an insight to gain. This is sure so awesome and I can say that I am working towards my first ebook. Thanks and have a great week.
Take Care
Hi Ikechi,
I know how busy it can be…no worries my friend.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Twitter: villagemarketer
July 16, 2016 at 8:39 am #
Hi Donna,
Better late than never as they say!
What a timely post for me. I actualy have just started turning my blog posts into pdf files and on a couple of occaions into ebooks.
My plan was to use themcas lead magnets to further build my list but as yet I have no worked out the best way to go about this. I never inteneded to sell them.
My only other experinece into the “ebook world” was a report I created based on the expereicces I had whilst getting started online. I still use that as a lead magnet and surprise, surprise i still get some great feedback.
Your points about using ebooks to build trust and our own unique branding are truly critical tips that we should all embrace and thsat alone has given me the incetive to start on my next ebook project.
As always thanks for sharing your awesome expertise Donna – much appreciated.
Best wishes from the remote Thai village marketer
Peter
Peter Beckenham recently posted..Know, Like, Trust – Simple Success Secrets
Hi Peter,
No one is ever late on my blog lol.
Using an eBook as a lead magnet is the best idea yet. How much money can one make with one eBook? Really now…… But as a lead magnet, with a good sales funnel and emails behind it can be a great “success machine”
When in the marketplace, where no one has heard of you because your not one of the huge Gurus, they need to know something about you and an eBook can make a huge difference.
It did with me, so that’s why I’m sharing it all week here, social media and on LinkedIn posts.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Twitter: sueken
July 15, 2016 at 7:56 am #
I have my first e-book almost completed but other things came along and I neglected to finish it. II will set aside a chunk of time to just work on that. It will be free but I’m considering using it as a way to sell a related product, although I have to do some work on creating that too.
I look forward to reading your other posts on the topic of e-books, Thank you Donna.
Sue Bride recently posted..Purpose, Persistence & Positivity Pays
Hi Sue,
Well I know how that goes lol. I had to stop everything the past few weeks as I launched this eBook and started getting many visitors to it. Plus thankfully people going right into the sales funnel and taking care of all that in the back end.
Once you do an eBook, put it out there and have a working sales funnel for them to connect to, it is another side of the marketing world. 🙂
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Hey Donna,
Leveraging ebooks has got to be the most convenient way to build leads and gain traffic. I’ve only written one ebook which has helped me to build up my email list. I’ve also done quick lists and plan on writing more.
I haven’t gotten to the point of selling any ebooks, but I see it also as a convenient ways to build an income stream. It definitely doesn’t have to be a novel, but enough information for your audience to start putting your tips to practice.
Great share Donna! Have a good one!
Sherman Smith recently posted..Why Solopreneurs Struggle With Generating Blog Traffic
Hi Sherman,
Leveraging eBooks is a great way to build your leads and traffic. I had spent a long time and lots of research trying to figure out if it should be free or paid when I did mine. Because I do have a sales funnel working well, I decided to make it free.
After all, when I’m in the marketplace, no one knows me. So they have to look me up, check out my blog and stats before they will opt into something. I made it easy for them in one little ebook.
Since then, I am noticing a huge spike in sales. We have to always consider that people have no time and won’t jump through hoops to purchase our stuff.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Twitter: mrsdeegee
July 14, 2016 at 3:25 pm #
Hi Donna,
Sage advice.
I do have a book out. I also have a report.
But it’s been time to write another book (ebook and probably paperback version) for a while now.
I’ve gotten started on that, so it’s just a matter of finishing it.
It seems that smaller books with bite-sized, but valuable content is the best idea. I’ll probably include both story-telling and “how to” info in mine. That’s the way I write naturally and I express myself best that way.
Great reminder for me and an informative post for people looking to take their message to the next level.
Dana recently posted..Stereotyping – A Way to Divide and Conquer
Hi Dana,
The trends of today’s world is to get those bite size pieces of information and even entertainment. Unfortunately, people have lost a long attention span on just about everything. Well…not all people, but the majority of them.
I would go with the bite-sized eBook. You can make a series …hmmmm
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Twitter: atishranjan
July 14, 2016 at 4:05 am #
Hello Donna,
I have read somewhere that in this competitive market, we should not leave any publicity stuff for ourselves or our products because this is what strengthen you brand visibility. e-book marketing is one of those ways to build a better brand for your business.
Giving out one free book to subscribers, and others keeping as paid is a good way to giving attract them first, and then get some business.
Thanks for the awesome post, Donna.
Hi Atish,
When it comes to eBooks, it is a great way for people to get to know us. Why not give it away for free? When I see them for such a low price it really doesn’t pay to do all that work for peanuts. Who will buy it?
It is great to have an eBook to spread around the marketplace, especially for those who don’t know who you are.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: ArtaGene
July 12, 2016 at 6:05 pm #
Hi Donna,
Read two of your other posts about ebooks and using for your business or adding
another element to your blog or business.
So helpful, Old blogger or not, there is always room to learn something new
and grow.
Think the biggest step is just Do it !
Thank you for the share!
Cararta recently posted..About
Indeed, Cararta there is ALWAYS room to learn something new. I say it keeps us vibrant and alive.
I’m writing here and on LinkedIn all week long on the topic of eBooks.
I am also so happy you reached out to me last night. I think it is a win win idea you have and yes…Just Do It!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: Virtual_Bren
July 12, 2016 at 5:59 pm #
Hi Donna!
What awesome advice! I think 2 of my gf’s have been speaking to you because they are working on just this! I remember how exciting it is to put an ebook together and I look forward to doing it again. However, it won’t be marketing my business. Or maybe it will? I do see a lot of Freelancers and Bloggers that are publishing How To’s and they are awesome!
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Bren
Bren Pace recently posted..Don’t Fret About Resharing Your Old Posts! Automate It!
Hi Bren,
I would say if you are going to do another eBook…put links in and market. The reader has a choice…to read it as is or to find out more about you and/or what you can offer that will help them on the specific topic you are writing about.
Knowing you…it would be pretty interesting (wink)
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: ravichahar27
July 12, 2016 at 3:24 am #
Hi Donna,
Nowadays ebook marketing is a plus point to boost up the business. Most of the bloggers sell their ebooks. There are many others who provide it to their readers free of cost.
I like the idea of ebook marketing. Even I am thinking about creating one. Though, it will take some time. But still, providing a guide to our readers is the best thing to do.
Great post.
Have a nice day.
~Ravi
Ravi Chahar recently posted..WordPress Security Tips And Tricks To Secure Your Website
Hi Ravi,
I love giving away a free ebook. It can serve many purposes. The Know, like and trust factor when we are out there in the market place and no one knows us. It can also work well as a lead magnet to our sales funnel. There is so much one can do with creating an eBook.
As a product creator of digital products, the eBook was pretty easy and quick to do. Offering it free has increased my opt-ins so quickly it is crazy! The day after I put it out I noticed a spike in sales.
On the other hand, even if it is a low cost eBook, it does have to have something in it to market.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: SauravTemok
July 12, 2016 at 1:14 am #
Hi Donna,
I was glad to read your post!
Most of the websites and blog are created with major purpose of getting a huge traffic and monetizing the efforts into profit.
One of major way to monetize the blog is to create a quality Content and sell this content to the people at nominal price.
The common form of this content is an E-book which readers can download from your website and other major platform.
The Readers on the blog comes only to consume a great content, which is informative and new as well. The readers will be ready to pay a marginal price if they find the content useful and interesting.
Surely there are many benefits of creating an E-Book apart from generating revenue. It helps the blogger in establishing a brand for them.
Thanks for sharing your views on E-Book with us.
With regards,
Saurav
Saurav Kumar Nayak recently posted..44 Impressive Ways You Can Use Social Media to Grow Your Business Overnight
Hi Saurav,
Selling an eBook at a small price is great to do because people are interested in the topic you offer. Here is where we get very serious buyers.
On the other hand, here, I offer it free….so that many people who want to get to know me better when I’m in the marketplace can pick a copy up and get a clear idea of my business. It has happened over and over again where I’m selling a WSO or some other course and people need the KLT factor. The links are all there so they can find out who I am and what I do.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: kim_willis
July 12, 2016 at 12:07 am #
Hi Donna
So timely you wrote this post. In the last month, I’ve finished writing two e-books.
Even though some people say it’s ‘old hat’ I think an ebook is a great way to generate more leads.
They’re also fabulous from a branding and authority positioning perspective.
eBooks can be used in other ways too. I’ll be running a webinar soon, and plan to give one of my eBooks away to everyone who stays till the end of the presentation.
I note that you offer an eBook on the topic. Your readers should grab it, with both hands.
Thanks Donna
Kim
Kim Willis recently posted..Why Your Business Blog Isnât Working and What You Can Do About It
Hi Kim,
Who says e-books are ‘old hat?” There is always people saying things probably because it didn’t work for them. Ebooks are used for so many purposes. I’m writing about it all week long.
From branding to generating leads, e-books can work for you. I’m so excited for you running a webinar and giving away one of your eBooks at the end of the presentation. Love that tactic!
Yes, I’m offering my free eBook here and know it will help others because I tell my own story too.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: joyhealey
July 11, 2016 at 6:38 pm #
Hi Donna,
You must be a mind-reader 🙂 I’m just putting the finishing touches to an ebook about a training system I’m using.
I’m spending longer tweaking the formatting, setting up a squeeze page and autoresponder than I did writing the ebook. But I did cheat by re-using some of my old blog posts.
I already have a few eBooks to my name, but I’m afraid the earlier ones are rather in need of updating. Yet another project!
Anyway, I’ll be sharing my new ebook on my blog “soon”. So pleased you agree with me that it’s still a valid marketing tool. Whatever “they” say about videos, you can’t print them out and make notes in the margin. It’s ebooks for me every time 🙂
Joy – Blogging After Dark
Joy Healey recently posted..4 Reasons Why Email Marketing Isn’t Dead & 4 Tips For Starting a Campaign
Hi Joy,
I too find the “tweaking” part of it takes more time and thought than the e-book itself. The sales page has to work, and the autoresponder has to behave itself lol. We don’t want our stuff to land in the spam folders.
It’s a never ending job. But as long as we love what we do, the process is easy and enjoyable. I will be looking forward to the unveiling of your new book!
BTW “They” can say a lot of things. But when it comes down to it all, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. We have to go with what we feel strongly about.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: coachtocoachguy
July 11, 2016 at 6:34 pm #
Thanks for outlining an incredibly powerful strategy Donna!
And strategic ebook marketing is definitely (as you well know) and can
personally attest to, is a proven, low cost, lead building and passive income
generating strategy.
And I love all the different marketing twists you just laid out Donna, they are
incredibly creative and extremely practical.
And I really enjoyed your much more detailed, expanded article you recently did,
chronicling part of your incredibly marketing journey!
I will definitely be sharing this one Coach!Thanks!
Mark recently posted..Three Incredibly Simple Ways To Increase Retail Sales Without Spending More Money!
Hi Mark,
Thanks so much!
When done strategically, an e-book can be great for a lead magnet. As long as the content is helpful to others, and they start reading our emails following the book, the sales funnel we create will take care of the rest.
Phew…I just had tweaked my sales funnel a few weeks ago.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: cheryschmidt
July 11, 2016 at 2:47 pm #
Hello Donna, As Sarah has stated above you have shared some great examples of Ebook Marketing My Friend! I did write an Ebook along time ago, but never really did much with it/ Perhaps it is time to update it by adding my story to it..
Great Share My Friend
Chery :))
Hi Chery,
You are so creative and I’m sure if you wanted to all you have to do is add some stuff and market it.
It all depends what exactly you want to market. Say it is a network market you want to introduce to others, you can put a link in there and talk about it.
Just rambling lol.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: saraharrow
July 11, 2016 at 2:39 pm #
Great examples Donna, thank you so much for sharing them. I do wonder sometimes if my blogging story is a bit too me-me-me and think I couldn’t possibly be that interesting. How do I have less of me in an ebook and still be of interest to a reader?
Sarah Arrow recently posted..Websites for Entrepreneurial Women: 1230 TWC Website Case Study
Hi Sarah,
I do believe the best way people learn is by telling our story. So it’s not me me me and I’m sure it will be interesting.
However, if you want less of you in an eBook, just write about any topic. You are so knowledgable and have been online a long time. Choose a subject and write away….It’s like a huge blog post.
I know you can do it!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Oh My Goodness Ahmad,
I never realized you were so young! Were you born an adult? I just read MeetAhmad and you sure have impressed me with your story. Now that can be an eBook if you elaborated on it because it is a story where you have picked up and kept going. A lesson we all need to be reminded of.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: TecheismCEO
July 11, 2016 at 1:18 pm #
Hi Donna,
an awesome post indeed,
Ebook marketing is really a good technique that many marketers make use of!
Thanks for sharing.
~ Ahmad
P.S. Please do read my latest blog post at MeetAhmad [dot] com, I would love to see your views there!
Twitter: blogrankseo
July 11, 2016 at 1:08 pm #
Hello Donna Sis,
What’s Up? This is Great Ebook Marketing Introduction I’ve got plenty of ebooks under my belt, but I’m still trying to figure out how to use them to best support my business. Keep Sharing Have a Nice Day Ahead 🙂
Muhammad Tabish recently posted..How To Get Business Engagement By Network Marketing Recruiting
Hi Tabish,
If you wrote one and used it as a lead magnet…offering it free say to others put it everywhere. When you do write the e-book, write about something you are an “expert” in. Then have a few links where they can join you or a network company …whatever you want.
It does build the KLT factor to those who don’t know you very quickly.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: seowonderworld
July 11, 2016 at 12:50 pm #
Hi Donna,
I have been planning to write an eBook as soon as I get time very soon. Your post has motivated me even more. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Alisha Shrestha recently posted..What is PPC and how it benefits small businesses grow
Hi Alisha,
I am so happy that this post has motivated you to write your eBook. I’ll be writing here, on Facebook and on LinkedIn all week long of different ways an eBook can help in business.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: marquitaherald
July 11, 2016 at 12:10 pm #
Since I have several eBooks it’s pretty obvious that I completely agree with you. Most of my books are sold from Amazon but I do use one as a gift for my subscribers. It has a very clear purpose beyond an ethical bribe and that is to lay the foundation for the purpose of my site which is focused on building resilience. Also, your point about writing more than one book is really smart. So many people write one and stop. What many authors have found is the more books you write, the more you sell because if people read one and like what you say they will go back and by others – it certainly has worked that way for me both as a writer and a reader.
Hi Marquita,
The many books you have written are for everyone to read because they are focused on building resilience. We all need that no matter where we are in life and what business we are in.
It is great for that ethical bribe! Also your idea you have given here is noted. Write more than one eBook. Off I go….
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: atishranjan
July 14, 2016 at 4:07 am #
I completely agree with Marquita’s comment. Its good to keep one free book for subscribers. 🙂
Atish Ranjan recently posted..AceThinker Screen Grabber Pro Giveaway!
Hi Atish,
Marquita has written so many books and articles. She is a master at it.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Thanks Donna! I’m looking to grow my neurologically-based chiropractic office through ebooks, so I appreciate the tips! Now I just need to take action!!
Dr Lance
Hi Dr. Lance,
That would be wonderful for your business. If you picked up a copy of my free eBook here, you can get the idea. I’m sure in your practice, there is so much information you can give to people. From there…you can grow not only your practice but if you wanted, your books….talks … teaching…whatever you deem possible.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: erthorpe
July 11, 2016 at 7:31 am #
Hi Donna,
I’d stay after school to talk marketing strategies with you!
Not only is your post good advice about using ebooks to pull more business, it’s another brilliant piece of sales copy. Really like your work!
Edward
Edward Thorpe recently posted..Are Cholesterol Reduction Drugs Safe
Hi Ed,
This entire week I’ll be focusing on eBooks and how they can be good for marketing, branding, etc. So stay tuned..I’m here and on LinkedIn posting.
Glad you like my work.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused