Have you got a killer ebook idea?
Maybe you want to write the definitive guide to your field. Maybe you've got a huge amount of expertise and you can't wait to set it down in words. Maybe you just know you've come up with a killer money-making idea.
STOP.
You might be able to make a catastrophic mistake.
How do I know? Because I've done it too.
A couple of my ebooks have been complete flops. They were well-written (at least, I like to think so), but they simply didn't sell. Why? Because I made a stupid mistake.
I assumed that what I wanted to write was the same as what my audience wanted to read.
HUGE mistake.
I spent weeks slogging away at ebooks that no-one cared about. My failed ebooks were too general. They tried to be the ebooks that everyone needed … and they ended up being the ebooks that no-one wanted.
But, thankfully, I wised up. I started listening.
And the rest of my ebooks – the ones that my audience actually wanted – have done just fine. (You can take a peek at them at Bloggers-Guides.com, if you want.)
So here's how you can avoid making my stupid mistake – and how, instead, you can create ebooks that your audience just can't resist.
You Have to Find Out What They Want
You can't afford to make assumptions.
Do you know what your audience want – or are you just guessing?
Have you convinced yourself that your really cool ebook idea is going to work, just because you want to write it?
I'm afraid that's not good enough.
I don't want to sound unkind here. I'm absolutely in favor of writing for the sheer joy and pleasure of writing. But I'd guess that you've got some different motivations for writing your ebook – like bringing in traffic, or making money.
And so I need to be honest: you've got to find out what your readers really want.
It's not hard to do that. It doesn't take long. And it can save you months of wasted time.
#1: Look at Your Comments and Emails
One great place to start is with your blog's comments, and any emails that you've received from readers.
What posts met with a great response? What did readers thank you for?
What are readers asking for? What do they want to learn?
If you've got any particularly responsive readers – people who comment again and again – then send those people an email. Ask them to expand on one or two of their comments: find out what exactly they want help with.
#2: Ask Around on Social Networks
Even if tumbleweed is rolling through your blog's comments, you've probably got some people who'll respond on Facebook and Twitter. Put out some questions, like:
What's your biggest struggle with …
What do you find hardest about …
How could I help you with …
#3: Read Other Blogs in Your Niche
Look for blogs that have similar topics to you, but larger audiences.
What do they regularly post about? Which posts seem to get a strong reaction? What are people asking in the comments?
You can do the same with forums, though try to make sure that the audience is at a similar level of expertise and engagement to your own. If all your blog's readers are expert musicians, an ebook on "How to play Chopsticks on the piano" probably won't go down too well.
#4: Run a Survey of Your Audience
This is the big one – something that I highly recommend, even if you only have a small audience.
Create a survey. Ask them exactly what they want from you – and make sure you give them plenty of chances to tell you.
You might want to ask about:
- Several possible topics for your ebook. If you're writing about personal finance, for instance, your options could be getting out of debt, saving for retirement, starting a side business, investing, and living more frugally.
- The expertise of the respondent. Do they consider themselves a beginner or an expert in this field – or somewhere in between?
- How much they'd be willing to pay for your ebook. Make sure you include a "nothing" or "I wouldn't pay for it" option.
- Any bonuses that they'd like you to include. Some authors package audio, video or worksheet files with their ebooks, to make them even more valuable for the reader.
It's a good idea to use multiple-choice because that makes your survey quick and easy to fill in. But whenever you ask a question:
Add in options that you think might not be popular – because you'll be surprised!
For every multiple-choice question, give readers the chance to write in their own answer.
I use SurveyMonkey to run my surveys – the basic level is free, and it's an easy way to collate and analyse results.
One more thing: don't kid yourself that this post doesn't apply to you. Because that's exactly how I felt … and that's how I ended up making stupid, costly mistakes.
Best of luck with your ebook – I hope to see it flying off the virtual shelves very soon!
About the Author: Ali Luke is the author of multiple ebooks, including the acclaimed Blogger's Guide series. She's just released The Blogger's Guide to Irresistible Ebooks, which takes an in-depth look at the whole ebook creation process, starting with detailed tips on surveying your audience and coming up with a fail-proof idea. Until Thurs 4th August, you can grab all three books in the Blogger's Guide series for just $49 – a discount of $38 on the usual price.
Original Post:
The One HUGE Ebook Mistake That Kills Your Sales (Before You’ve Even Written a Word) 
