How to Create an Ebook Step 1: Plan

I just finished writing my second e-book in one week, my third in a month. I want to share my secrets with you. In Step 1, you'll learn how to plan an ebook by answering these three key questions.

1. Who is your audience and what do they want to learn?

Your first step is to identify your audience and the purpose of your e-book, e-course, or other product. Answer these questions:

  • Who are your ideal clients?
  • What do they need most to learn and why?
  • What information or skills will you help them with?
  • What will they know or, better, be able to do as a result of your e-book?<

To answer these questions, you need to know your niche and about your ideal clients. Ask them questions. Search social media sites and forums where they gather. Search keywords on the web. Do your research.

Then list all the ideas you can think of. Even if you can't address all the topics now, you can refer to it and add to it later.

2. What are  your marketing goals?

Once you know who you're writing for and what you'll write about, identify your marketing goals.

  • Do you want to offer the e-book on your website in exchange for contact information to build your list?
  • Will you send new in-person contacts to your website with your business card to download this gift?
  • Will you also offer hard copies at presentations and workshops?
  • And how many new contacts do you want to add to your list from each source?
  • If you’re selling your e-book, will you sell it on your website, on Amazon.com, or with another vendor? or
  • Will you sell it in the back of the room at speaking engagements or workshops you give?

3. What will you help your audience learn now?

Once you know your audience, purpose, and topic, you can brainstorm more specific ideas for the e-book or e-course you're writing now. If you need to research other sources or interview people, then you'll do the research next.

For now, I assume you are writing from your own expertise, you can take your chosen topic and brainstorm your ideas and organize them with main points, sub-points, examples, illustrations, stories, definitions, statistics, or whatever you need. While some people can work directly from an outline, many of us think in a more organic fashion. I recommend using a web or mind-map to organize your ideas.

Once organized in your map, you can number the sections in order. You can also type your mapped content into an outline or table of contents.

Now you're set to start to write, and that is the topic of my next post.

There are many ways to order your book. For example, you might tell a story or explain a process chronologically. If you plan to have your audience learn to do something, then also think about exactly what will your audience learn from your e-book, e-course, or video. These learning objectives can be the topics for your key sections.

For example, here are the learning objectives for an e-book called, How to Find and Organize Ideas for Your Information Product:

After reading this e-book, readers will be able to:

  • Research their clients, needs by searching keywords on Google, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
  • Research their clients' needs by asking questions, and surveying them in forums and on their blogs and newsletters.
  • List topics for their e-books.
  • Organize one topic into main ideas, sub-topics, and supporting ideas using an information map or web.

Having objectives like these help you know what I was writing about.

Answer these questions for reflection and comment

  • Who is your audience?
  • What do they need to learn from you?
  • What e-book topic would you like to write about for them?<
  • What's your next step to get started?
  • What resources do you need to complete the above steps?

For more information on creating your e-book, click to see these related blog posts:

6 Keys to Writing a Successful Ebook

Create Your Ebook: Step 1

Create Your Ebook: Step 2

Create Your Ebook: Step 3

Create Your Ebook: Step 4

Create Your Ebook: Step 5

Create Your Ebook: Step 6

8 Comments

  1. Renee

    Hi Holly,
    I get stuck on #3. I have enough info to write at least a dozen ebooks that would be beneficial to target audience (and that's after I have narrowed it down, gotten input, etc!).

    I have difficulty focusing on ONE ebook when it seems as if I am "drinking through a fire hose." One thing that has helped is writing down ideas for other ebooks, blog posts, and articles so that I don't try to do 75 things at once. But that's not enough. The problem is focusing long enough on info that I know so well that I want to move on to something else.

    Suggestions?

  2. Holly Genser -- Writer & Coach

    Hi Renee,

    Thanks for your question. It sounds like you need help with the writing process and staying accountable over time, so that you finish your ebook, posts, and articles. Here are some questions for you so I can focus on the issue.

    • Do you have your ebooks, blog posts, and articles outlined or mind-mapped so you know what your main points are and the details, examples, and so on you want to bring up? If not, then you might want to ask for my e-workbook, How to Find and Organize Ideas for Your Information Product. The first section wouldn't apply to you--it's about getting ideas, but the second section is about organizing your ideas before you write.
    •  Do you have difficulty sitting down to write, writing, editing, and so on? If so, then you might need to split the task into steps. Check out all my blog posts linked on this page on creating an ebook.
    • Do you have difficulty just doing it? Do you need an accountability partner? Maybe you can find a buddy.

    If you want more help planning and staying on track, I provide those services. You can contact me for a 30-minute complimentary consultation to discuss what's happening with your writing and how you can move forward to meet your goals.

  3. Renee

    Hi Holly,
    Thanks for your thorough response. Just requested your e-workbook. I did mind-map an idea for a series of blogs/articles. But then I moved on to writing other web content. I'll dig it out 🙂 Thank you!

  4. Holly Genser -- Writer & Coach

    Hi  Renee,
    I'm glad to be of help. Let me know if you have any questions about the workbook or about your writing. I'd like to  topics interest you.

  5. Bill Gibson

    I have just scratched the surface of your content rich blog and already just want to say thank you. I am a retired career police officer and criminal prosecutor now teaching police science and drug prevention. My passion is coaching young law enforcement prospects on how to get hired and old retired ones (like me 🙂 on how to use their rich service experience in meaningful ways. I am in the early stages of planning and developing ideas and netwoking. There is so much "noise" out here, so many $10, 000 programs people are graciously willing to sell for ONLY $3, 995 if I buy today. Its just very refreshing to find a real expert who is wiling to help while hoping to attract a business relationship. I guess the bottom line is that you are demonstrating the way I would like to approach this business. Thank you!

  6. Bill Gibson

    Renee I am glad to hear its not just me. I grew up in the 70s when we had all those muscle cars. I have so many ideas, good ideas with lots of detail parading through my mind I barely have time to write down the next concept. I have described it as feeling like one of those old high horsepower cars spinning its tires going around in circles but not going anywhere. It also really does seem like drinking from a fire hose! Sounds like good advice Holly. Thanks to you both and luck Renee

  7. Holly Genser -- Writer & Coach

    Hi Bill. I'm so glad that you find my posts useful and my approach welcoming.

    Did you sign up for my free workbook and newsletter? I think you'll find the workbook useful for organizing all your ideas with a visual approach. And, of course, you'll get my new posts delivered to you automatically.

    Regards,

    Holly

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