8 Pointers To Keep In Mind When Creating eBooks

eBooks are great. There’s nothing like subscribing for a free or pay for eBook to help you learn something new or gain a different angle on a topic. While reading various eBooks in different areas including teaching, internet marketing, blogging, and quieting yourself, I put together a short list of best practices when creating an eBook, since I might be writing one in the coming months.

1. Include Embedded Bookmarks

Generated from the table of contents, bookmarks allow the reader to navigate through the eBook. However, bookmarks can also be used to point the reader’s attention to specific sections.

2. Keep Introductory Material To A Minimum

What’s the right amount of introductory material to include about your topic? Well, make sure you keep it around 10-15% max. Give just enough material for folks who are new to your topic so they can grab on to what you’re talking about. Give definitions, examples, case studies, websites, blogs, etc. to help us understand what you’re presenting.

3. Tell Us The Details

Dig into the details and tell us about it.

• What does it mean?
• How does it all work?
• Tell us what does what?
• Tell us why it does what it does?
• Recommend what we should do.
• If there’s a key feature that makes everything clear then explain it in detail and how it helps save the world.
• Why should we do it that way or this way?
• What is the right way to do it or at least the way you think is the right way?
• Stay away from, “You should do this” type of statements without explanation. What if we don’t do that, then what will happen or what’s the alternative?
• Don’t gloss over anything. If you gloss over something, it probably doesn’t need to be included.

4 – Do The Research

Are there free resources on the web that have addressed the topic in more depth and answered questions you’re answering better? You might consider linking to them for more information and answers. Or, readjusting what’s been written but from your frame of reference and ideas.

5 – Consider Graphics

I like graphics. They break the flow of text and make an impact on a point or points being made. Of course, relevant and excellent photos help. Consider using the various photos available at Flickr under the various Creative Commons licenses. Read about the license first before using.

6 – Consider Quotes

Quotes act like images in or around the text. They offer memorable tidbits of knowledge that stick in the readers mind when making a point or multiple points.

7 – Consider Space

Space can come in the form of wider margins on the left or right side of the body of text the reader can use to jot down notes. Space between major sections or chapters can include a blank page or a large relevant graphic separating sections or chapters.

8 – Resources

End with a boatload of resources I can go follow up with. Sometimes this can be the juice that makes me salivate. The stuff that you turned me on to. Examples include:

• 10 websites to check out
• 10 blogs to check out
• 10 specific articles you have to read now that will make you really understand what I wrote about in the eBook and will help you apply all this vast information to better yourself or situation in some way. In fact, I like tons of resources after each section. Kind of a go to all these places and get all this information to help you with this section.

That’s it from me. How about you? Any eBooks that you want to share and why they’re great? Do it in the comments – Thanks!!