This is the fourth step to create a your ebook or other information product. You researched your idea' clients' most pressing needs. You listed ideas for different topics. Then you organized ideas for a specific topic and wrote and revised your ebook. Now it's time to test it before you spend time and money to create your ebook design and publish it.
The purpose of testing your e-book is to see if your clients find value in it and identify areas to improve. Here's how to test your e-book as well as information about testing other information products.
How to Test Your E-Book
Before you add costly design elements and publishing, give it to a small group of clients. Ask them to read the book and answer a few questions about what they liked, what they suggest, and if they would recommend it to others.
You want to test the clarity of the content and of the directions for your activities. You want to see if people answer the questions you provide.You want to see if they're motivated to complete it. And you want to see if they want to share it with others.
Unless all you're doing is converting a Word document to a PDF, such changes are costly or impossible to make after publishing. In addition, when you have your book professionally designed, revisions can add costly design changes.
In any case, test early, before completing layout, design, and production.
How to Test Other Information Products
If you have an e-course, video, or teleseminar, testing is just as important, maybe more so. For example, an e-course needs to teach and help your readers apply what they learn. You need to test that the course meets your learning objectives.
Similarly, if you have a video, test it in the scripting phase. You don't want to change a video once it's shot, especially if you've hired a professional production company to record and edit it. So, you ask people in your target population to review your script. Then you revise and record the video.
Or, if you offer a webinar, teleseminar, or workshop, you need to test the materials and activities before you publish and before you offer it to an audience and record it. You can try it with a limited number of people for free or for half price in exchange for their feedback.
Ask Specific Questions for Good Feedback
Whether you're creating an e-book or other information product, in order to get the best feedback, ask your reviewers specific questions, such as:
- What did you learn from this e-book, e-course, workshop, or video?
- What questions helped you?
- What was unclear or difficult?
- What improvements do you recommend?
- Would you recommend this [your product or program] to others?
Publish and Launch
Once you complete the revisions, you can complete the book design, publishing, and launch in in Step 5, which I will address in the next post.
Questions for Reflection and Comment
- Which testing method would be most appropriate for your e-book or other product or program? Why?
- Who can you ask to review your e-book or program before you finish designing it and launch?
- What specific questions would you ask your reviewers that would give you the feedback you need?
If you find this information useful, please share it with others.
Other Articles of Interest
You may like these other articles in this series:
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