Do you already have, or are you planning to write, an eBook to sell? 5-1 Top Tips: Writing eBooks that Sell is the second chapter of an "eBook Top Tips" series - all with the goal of helping you improve and profit from your eBook activities. Read and implement these 5 simple tips and you will be one step closer to writing an eBook that actually sells.

5. Forget everything you've been told - abandon your brand!

Throughout your business lifespan, you have been told that "the brand" reigns and to keep all marketing efforts visually consistent to help build the brand recognition and create familiarity with your potential market. However, your ebook is (hopefully) putting forward new ideas and concepts, ways of thinking and doing - so this is the opportunity to break from your brand and establish it as something new and fresh, not more of the same old stuff. Why: To help reinforce that this ebook is completely new, fresh and that the ideas within are new and fresh as well. Try: new font and layout options; use a different secondary colour in your design elements that still compliment the key brand colour. Or if you are really game, abandon all your brand elements and create a completely new look and feel that you could use across a series of ebooks or marketing collateral related to your new ebook and the concepts within...be BOLD! (PS I would still include your logo within).

4. Get one up on the printed cousin - include multimedia elements!

The key point of difference between an ebook and its printed cousin, is the ability to include multimedia - video, animation, audio files and url links. Why: Inclusion of multimedia elements adds value, interest and merit to the book. If the sources are respected and reliable they can add credibility to you as an author and the book's content. Try: Depending on how the ebook is produced you could embed a video, animation or audio file (though watch how it adds to the file size) or you can insert it so that it links to the online version, which means it won't add to your file size. However, you will need to monitor those links (especially if they are not under your control) to ensure they remain up-to-date and available.

3. What's the problem - solve it!

Ebooks that sell the best, generally solve a problem. It doesn't matter whether it happens in 10 pages or 50 - if the content solves the readers problem or successfully addresses a concern or need, people will pay. Why: We are in the era of information overload, yet with all that information at our fingertips it still becomes difficult to find the answers to our questions (especially answers that work). If you can address a specific concern, discuss and provide a solution that is credible, realistic and works, and market it so that it becomes easily accessible to those searching - then you may have found the winning formula. Try: Sticking to what you know. The point of an ebook generally, is to aid in developing your credibility within your area of expertise. It will be easier and less consuming if you write and resolve what you know. Don't pretend to be an expert in a field of which you know nothing - you will get caught out.

2. Who's gonna buy that - pick your target market!

The content in your ebook must be tailored to a particular concept and idea, appealing to a specific audience or market. Realistically, it is not going to interest everybody. So, before you write too many pages, research your market! Why: Today's market is saturated with information overload. Those that prove successful today, typically appeal to a niche market and solve a specific problem or address an area of interest or concern. Ebooks that fill that criteria have a better chance of selling and are considered more valuable. Try: Research, Research, Research. What are your target market interested in? What problems do they have? How does your particular expertise or experience help resolve those issues? Ask questions, participate in relevant forums, post questionnaires and surveys - it is worth it in the long run if the result is a credible, valuable and sellable ebook that provides solutions and new ideas.

1. Where's the value - content reigns!

Useful content, content that answers questions, content that teaches a new idea or concept, content that is valuable, content that grabs the audiences attention - that is the type of content that will sell. Why: Audiences are bombarded with useless information on a daily basis. If you have information that is genuinely helpful, useful, valuable - then sharing that knowledge and demonstrating it's usefulness will build your credibility within that field. Try: Writing a title that captures the audience's attention. Writing an introduction that is interesting, identifies the problem and the purpose of the ebook. All to entice the potential reader to read on and more importantly - BUY so they can.