E-books, or electronic books, are digital books viewed on a screen. They can be purchased, downloaded, and repeatedly read like a physical book.
Many businesses now use them as a part of a wider content strategy, as do budding authors wishing to expand their reader platform and gain exposure for their work. So, they have many purposes, and many different groups use them, but how do you make one? The simplest answer is with a computer or laptop, but it goes a little deeper than this. The following guide details some top tips for creating an e-book.
How to Make an E-book – General Steps
There are some general guidance steps involved in creating a professional-looking e-book. You first need to provide top-quality content, bringing us to the first point of consideration.
Step One: Create the Content
Regardless of the profile and category, successful content depends upon multiple factors. To create a well-rounded e-book that is fit for purpose, it is important to tick the following boxes.
A Synopsis
Customers are less likely to download or purchase an e-book if it lacks a synopsis. Providing an overview of the text, what it entails, and the ultimate purpose of it all gives people a reason to say yes. To write a good synopsis and accurately convey what it’s all about, you have to read it yourself and ask other people to do the same. Only then will you be able to access the words from the audience’s perspective instead of the writer’s. Write the first draft, and don’t forget the call-to-action for the potential readers to boost potential engagement.
A Contents Page
The contents page may seem irrelevant for literary fiction, but it still counts in the eyes of the reader. Many people browse the chapter titles and quantity before committing to the read, and the same goes for business e-books that are part of a content strategy. While it may be more relevant in business, the contents page should be neat, well-presented, and concise to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.
Distinct Chapters
Chapters are essential, especially for commercial e-books intended to spark engagement. The online format allows for smooth reading, but it can be harder to take a break when there are no breaks in the narrative. If the focus is on giving information, breaking it into sections is common sense. If it is a work of fiction, the story will be easier to digest if there are clear intersections to follow.
The Core Content
The core content is what makes the e-book the e-book. It is the sandwich filling and the whole purpose of why it exists in the first place. Make it count.
Author’s Bio
Tell the readers who you are and why you wrote the e-book. People love to feel personally connected to a piece of work. It is human nature. The ability to compel is bolstered significantly by telling your story ahead of the e-book content.
Step Two: Edit the Content
Once you have that first draft and the perfect format, it is time to begin editing. Here are some general tips for editing.
Online Editing Tools
Paying for an online editing tool can be a good place to start. If you are confident in your ability to produce comprehensive grammar and functional spelling, it is still worth doing to rule out any absent-minded mistakes that may have slipped the net. Some free software exists, but there is no room for error for something as important as this; therefore, paying for the premium version is the better route.
Professional Services
Consider looking externally if you don’t trust an online editor or the do-it-yourself method. Plenty of external professional services exist for the sole purpose of editing content and writing. Check the reviews and ask for recommendations before settling on your choice.
Re-writes and Infinite Drafts
Re-writes and infinite drafts are the banes of every writer, but they are a necessity, nonetheless. Sometimes, this process can become obsessive, so balancing seeking perfection and staying true to your goals is vital. Re-write as many times as you feel necessary, but don’t overdo it, and if you are struggling with writer’s anxiety, ask for help from someone you’re close to.
Step Three: Create an eBook Online with a Tool
There are many tools, which this guide will go into more detail about below, that can be used to create an e-book. Going digital is the only way to create a digital book, after all. So, if you’re not tech savvy, now is the time to adapt.
Step Four: Understand Your Target Audience
Who are you writing this book for? If you are a business, do you have a specific client base in mind? What is the goal here? The answer to all these questions determines the answer to who your target audience is exactly. Understanding them means you can write the best responsive content. A fictional book for a YA audience won’t sell if it’s inappropriately adult themed. Likewise, a content focussed e-book about how to sell won’t appeal to people in HR. So, find your niche, and work to it above all else.
Step Five: Decide on a Marketing Strategy
When the book is complete, it is time to decide on a good marketing strategy to sell copies. If you already have a target audience in mind, focus on compelling engagement functions for this demographic. If you don’t, do your research and find them. If this is a novice project and you’re just putting feelers out, sharing on social media and asking family or friends also to share information is a good way to generate leads in the early stages. Businesses may have communication and subscriber lists that pre-date the e-book’s existence, so this is where to start in the context of commerce.
Tips for Designing an eBook Front Cover
The front cover is the first impression. It is what will draw the reader in or turn them away. Therefore, it has to be perfect. Here are some quick tips for a compelling front cover.
Keep it Simple
Simplicity is perfection. A convoluted cover with too many font varieties, garish colours, and overcrowded graphics will turn people away immediately. Whereas a unique, neutral, consistent cover is more likely to draw the eye and be taken seriously.
The Title Has to Be Compelling
Get the title right and peak interest before they’ve even read the content! This is the best trick any writer can use regardless of their writing format.
Using Online Tools: How to Create an eBook in Canva
The actual creation process of the e-book, once the content has been fine-tuned, is relatively straightforward. There are several online tools that show you how to create an e-book for free and look professional, are highly functional, and give excellent results. Canva is one option we will focus on in this guide, and it is a creative tool used by many graphic designers and e-book creators with professional-looking results.
- Open up Canva and log in.
- Search for an eBook to generate template options.
- Pick the template that you connect with the most.
- Paste your content.
- Play around with the formatting with the various tools provided. Pick a font and be consistent. Don’t make it too flashy.
- Add images, if appropriate.
- Save your e-book and get ready to share it on the sales platforms.
Yes, the process of creating electronic book formats is really that simple. Plenty of other tools are just as great and have a similar approach.
How to Make eBooks Stand Out
When you create an eBook for free, there is a risk that other writers have used the template repeatedly. To avoid startling similarities that make your e-book less than appealing to readers, strive to be unique and brand consistent. This involves conducting market research and checking out competitor books online, being reliable with your genre but making tweaks to appear unique and getting the format right throughout the whole document. Readers want something they can follow but don’t want repetitive content. If you’re a business, never plagiarise. There is always a way to make work bespoke and reword popular knowledge to line up with your company’s ethos and brand. You just have to find the niche.
There are lots of free online tools that serve to create e-books. The process may take some time, but once you get to the basics, the whole thing comes together intuitively. The content comes first, as you can’t have an e-book without the words inside, so get this edited and ready for action. Decisions about images and fonts are all major thought processes and are pivotal to the project’s success rate. Above all, try to enjoy it, whatever the reason for its creation.
