There was so much interest in the benefits of creating an ebook I posted about on October 1st, that I want to include how to actually write it and convert it into a PDF. So, below are the four simple steps to do just that.
The 4 Simple Steps to Creating an eBook
1. Create content
The first step is to create your content; this can be done as a simple word document. The content can be anything you think your readers or target market will want or need. In addition, it can be any length you decide upon. You can create a simple 10 page e-book, or a 100+ page e-book.
The choice is yours, as long as it will provide your reader or target market with an informative product that they’ll find of value.
You can also create a compilation of articles you’ve already written on a particular topic and organize them into an easy to read product that includes a content page.
Note: It’s wise to include a disclaimer explaining that you, the author, strived for accuracy, but cannot guarantee it due to the ever-changing nature of the internet. And, it’s advisable to include an “All Rights Reserved” with a copyright reference.
Another option, if you’re creating the e-book as a freebie on your site, is to allow it to be offered by others on their sites, emphasizing that all information must remain intact, including all links. This will help increase your visibility and lead readers back to your site/s.
2. Organize Your Content
Whether your product is a few pages or 100 pages, having it organized is important. The e-book needs to offer easy reading and clarity, along with value. If you are creating a longer product, divide the content or articles into sections or parts, and provide a Content Page.
Be sure to use a large and bold font for section headings and it’s advisable to include page breaks for each section.
Remember, you want to provide valuable information, including resources if possible, that will prompt the reader to view you as an expert in your field/genre. This will help motivate the reader to click on the links you provide, leading back to your site/s, products/services, or affiliate products.
Finally, be sure to add a brief bio, including your sites, books published, services, products, and links, on an About the Author page.
One last note about organizing your content – have plenty of white space. If you notice, this article has very short paragraphs, making it easy to read.
3. Include Images and Tweak Your Content
Once you have the content in place, add images. You can add an image at the beginning of each section, or where ever you see fit. This is another trick to make the e-book more interesting to read.
Using your word program’s clipart function is a free way to get images. Microsoft has clipart in the toolbar: Insert: Pictures: Clipart. You can also input free images from other sources. Again, the choice is yours.
The images will help break up the monotony of straight content. Another technique for this purpose is to use different color font for headings and subheading, or for “tips,” or other special information. Changing the font itself is yet another tool to make specific content stand out.
You will also want to include your own head shot on your About the Author page. Readers connect more with a face, rather than just a name.
4. Turning Your Word Doc into a PDF
Okay, you’ve created a great word document, now it’s time to magically turn it into an e-book. There are a number of free PDF creator software applications to do this.
For those wondering, PDF is an acronym for Portable Document Format. A PDF creator is an application that converts documents into PDFs by creating a virtual printer that prints to PDF files.
If you don’t already have a PDF converter, it’s time to do an online search for “free pdf creator.” Just be sure the one you choose is Adobe compatible.
My experience is with PDF995. They offer a free version which displays a sponsor page each time you run the software, but I opted for paying $9.95 for a version that doesn’t display promotion. You can check it out at: http://www.pdf995.com/
Two other free PDF convertors you might try are:
Primopdf
http://www.primopdf.com
Dopdf
http://www.dopdf.com
Install the software you chose, and you’re ready to go.
To use a PDF converter, choose Print while in the open Word document that you intend to turn into a PDF. In the Printer box, choose the PDF converter instead of your printer, and print.
NOTE: You would follow the same process for fiction writing also.
Creating an ebook is that simple!
And, to add more bang to this article, here is the link to an article by Carolyn Howard-Johnson on
Kindle Formatting Made Easy
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Karen Cioffi is an author-writer online platform instructor. To take your platform up a notch visit: http://www.karencioffi.com/author-online-platform-ecourse/
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