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You
can actually write an ebook without actually doing the writing. Because of an
interesting legal twist, you can hire a writer, and then when the writer is
finished, you own the complete copyright to the work. But there's something
else that's almost too good to be true: having an ebook written doesn't cost
near what it costs to have a hard cover book written. It's actually pretty
affordable for someone who plans to recoup their money with ebook sales.
One
more almost-too-good-to-be-true fact: ebooks often sell for the same price that
a traditional, hold-it-in-your-hand, book would sell for!
No
writing, no problem!
Now,
more than ever, the Internet is starting to define business. People are
actually paying for and downloading songs for their listening pleasure. People
are researching, planning, and booking entire vacations online. People who love
information are inhaling the Internet. Information is everywhere.
Of
course that presents a bit of a dilemma. Information overload. Part of the
problem with researching the Internet is the information you glean during your
surfing is highly if not completely unorganized. You do a Google search. You
notice there are thousands of pages relevant to your search terms. So, you
narrow your search by adding a word or two. Now you're down to several hundred
pages. And you start clicking on them, one after the other.
On
to the next problem of up-popping popups.
By the time you close all the windows, you may have very well forgotten
why you sat down at the computer in the first place.
Even
on sites without pop ups, you really don't know what exactly you're going to
get or whether or not the source is reliable.
What
about ebooks? You can read Charles Dickens on a computer, but we are talking
about ebooks that teach, in a non-fiction sort of way.
How to select a great topic
It
couldn't be easier to select a topic for an ebook. People are hungry for
information, and people are looking to the Internet to feed their hunger.
Observe
what's going on around you
Think
of what problems you've recently solved, and what kinds of problems others have
had and solved. Any problem that has been solved in your world could easily be
the subject of your next book. People love to read how other have solved a
problem that they currently have.
So,
brainstorm a list of problems in
your life and in the lives of those around you. While you're at it, start
another list of unsolved problems evident in your corner of the world. Write
down problems you wish you had solved. How to lose the last ten pounds. The
truth about UFOs. The straightest path to becoming a millionaire. These
unsolved problems would also be great ebook topics. Remember, you don't have to
know the solution, just the topic. You're going to get someone else to do the
research and write the book for you. You will not actually be writing one word.
Spend
a few minutes Googling
The
Internet is a great way to find out what people are looking for at any given
moment. You can search for almost anything. Google™ is a popular search engine
you can use, or you can try any of the others like Yahoo!®.
And
while you're on the Internet...
Find
out the most popular nonfiction books from the New York Times bestseller list,
Amazon, and a Google search for ebooks. Your findings will tell you exactly
what book subjects people are buying right now.
You
can create books around the same ideas that are covered in the Amazon best
seller list, and turnaround and create an ebook on the exact same subject!
Now,
copyright law does protect the way
ideas are expressed, so you want to make sure your hired author does not
plagiarize or copy book text outright.
And you cannot use the title word for word either. But there's nothing
stopping you from creating another book or ebook that covers the same subject
with a different voice.
Digging
a little deeper
There
are groups of people who are willing to buy nonfiction ebooks: hobbyists. At any given time, these
people are looking for ways to spend their money on their hobbies. Their
passion is your financial gain.
You
may have certain opinions on what exactly certain people should need or should
read. But those are not necessarily good topics for immediate ebook profit.
Those topics may be areas for you to dabble in at your leisure. However, if you
want to make money at this, find out what niche groups want, and hit those
groups with your ebook.
Find
hobbyists and niche groups by searching the web for "popular
hobbies," "enthusiasts," or "what America is buying."
Or, you can search specifically for forums and discussion groups for hobbyists.
In the forums, people talk with each other to share ideas with one another.
Often, they will exchange testimonials for equipment, upcoming events, and
books.
One
popular site where hobbyists go to talk to one another online is Yahoo! groups.
Some of the forums are open to new members, and you can join to read what
everyone's discussing. Once in the forum, you can review discussion threads
from today, yesterday, or a year ago. Don't go back too far if you want to find
out the hottest possible ebook topics. You can participate in discussions if
you like. FYI, do not drop into a discussion group just to market an ebook;
hobbyists consider this spam and will drop you from the group.
When
you read and/or participate, you'll find out what this group is buying. All you
have to do is skim to find out what questions they are asking each other about
products or traveling or information. What they are interested in buying is a
key piece of information because passionate consumers love to research before
they buy. This is an immediate ebook market. Create a book on how to select the
best this or that on the market, related to the current wants of the
enthusiasts.
There
are some hobbies that seem to continually attract enthusiasts, like playing
golf, watching football, restoring old cars, and listening to music. These are
classics. Then there are some hobbies that seem to come and go in waves, such
as Red Hat Societies participation, snow boarding, or line dancing. Pick either
a classic hobby or a fluctuating hobby in its peak season for your best odds.
A
big market on the Internet is the 20-30 set. Here's what they are doing right
now, according to one survey. They're snowboarding, wakeboarding, traveling,
camping, listening to music, taking photographs. They're drinking gourmet
coffee, rock climbing, playing guitar, camping, dancing, looking for online
love, shopping for computers and other electronics, attending sports events,
studying the Bible, exercising, trying to find jobs, and watching movies. Any
one of these subjects would make a great ebook with a buying market standing
by.
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Other pages on Ebook Writing: Ebook Marketing Hiring
Ghost Writers Topic Ideas
Working with Ghost Writers Cover Art
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