Content is King, right? In today’s quest to create good content to rank well in the search engines, you may just have the answer already and not even know it! Did you know that you can build SEO with an eBook? We already know that content marketing has arrived and is THE way to build your online presence. Business owners, it is time to get busy and put your knowledge down on paper…errr I mean white paper or eBook.
No matter who you, chances are you have some specialized knowledge that would be valuable to others. Whether you are an experienced investor with stock tips and strategies to share or a professional dog trainer with insight into the canine mind, the tips and tricks you have learned over the course of your career can be extremely valuable. You can actually build SEO with an eBook! All you need to do is organize your thoughts and share your specialized knowledge with your target market.
Creating your eBook
Chances are you already have some ideas that can form the outline of your eBook. Start by making a list of the most interesting and important things you have learned in your field. These facts will be just as interesting and compelling to your readers as they were to you. Also, compile a list of industry facts you think are the most valuable.
After you have a list of tips, expand on each one, creating an easy to read bullet list to draw the eyes of your readers and keep them interested. The best way to write your own eBook is to concentrate on writing about something you enjoy doing or something you’re knowledgeable on.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What skills do I use in my job?
What have I learned about achieving business goals?
What tools do I use to be successful?
What advice would I give to people in the industry?
How have I overcome obstacles in my business? (For example, have you found ways to deal with a marketing problem or gotten over a bad business deal)
Ali Luke from Copy Blogger says a great eBook idea needs to be:
Specific. Don’t try to write the definitive guide to your topic: it’s overwhelming for your readers, and it doesn’t leave you much room for your next eBook.
Useful. If you do consulting or coaching, what problems come up again and again? Do your blog readers always ask for posts dealing with a particular issue?
eBooks made Easy
Once you have decided on a topic and have created your outline the next step is easy. Just download the eBook for eBooks template and just start filling in the blanks. That’s right, it’s that simple. If you want to create an eBook, then this specially designed template can save you hours of time. As a writer and product creator I know how time consuming and frustrating writing an eBook designing and formatting is. Now the problem is solved. Just remember these tips while you are doing your writing:
Write in a simple, easy to understand language
Stay consistent with text style, color, and formatting
Include visual elements to emphasize points
Make it educational!
Market your eBook & Get Links
If you already have a website or a blog, use those resources to market your ebook. Chances are you can pick up quite a few leads by simply by prominently displaying your eBook on the home page. If you are still building traffic, use the eBook as a promotional tool to drive traffic and capture leads. Use SEO, link building services, email and other marketing tools to build traffic and generate interest in your eBook. Social networking sites like Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIn can also be valuable marketing tools, so take full advantage of them. Don’t forget capture emails, names, and phone numbers of the people that download your eBooks for further contact. Also, make sure your analytics are set up so you can gage your ROI.
Networking with others in the field can help a great deal, as can being an active participant in newsgroups and discussion forums relating to the subject of your eBook. Just make sure your posts are informative, valuable, and not just marketing gimmicks meant to push your book. Remember, good content = links.
You may also be able to sell your eBook on sites like Amazon and eBay, which can be excellent outlets for both general interest and niche publications. The more marketing outlets you can use for your eBook, the more successful you can be.
Submit your eBook
Don’t forget to submit your eBook to eBook directories for additional exposure and link backs. Here is a list of a few sites to consider submitting to:
Give Your ebook Away
Consider giving your ebook away to clients to build loyalty. This will, of course, depend on the nature of your business, so you need to evaluate this marketing strategy carefully. If you run a dog training service and product website, then you could give away an eBook on basic dog training and use that book to market specialty products like collars, leashes, or even a more in-depth training program. An investment website could give away an eBook on basic investment strategies and use that book to market more in-depth courses on stocks and bonds.
Modern internet marketing techniques require a combination approach, using a variety of online and offline resources. If you have something you want to share with the world, then you can build SEO with an eBook and use it to market your business and share what you know with an eager public. Remember – the better the book, the more links back to the book and the higher your site will move in the search engines!
Bernadette Coleman is CEO & Executive Director of Advice Interactive Group, an award winning digital agency focused on improving visibility for clients across the digital universe. Highly experienced and considered an industry leader in search engine marketing, social media, design, and development, she leads one of the fastest growing interactive agencies in the U.S. by Inc. 500 You can read more about her on Google Profile.