Make money online - "The Rich Jerk" book review

Copyright 2006 Michael Cottier
Do you want to make 200k or more a year? Begin now, working only three hours a week on the internet. I know there are many advertisements on the net that claim you can make money, and just about everyone has seen them before. Well I was one of those people until I stumbled upon "The Rich Jerk" book. Before I was enlightened on how to properly make money on the net by the jerk, I tried multi level marketing, pyramid schemes, auctions, surveys, home data entry and much more. I made a few dollars from those methods, but not enough so I make a living from, or even a second income for that matter. So then I started buying some book's from people who claimed to make loads of money, and thankfully I only bought a couple before I found The Rich Jerk.
The Rich Jerk was the last book that I ever bought, and will be forever. Why? Because the methods that he teaches you are honest, easy to implement and they actually make the internet a better place! It's a win-win situation for all and can be done by anybody and everybody, plus there is no limit to the amount you can make. You don't have to quit your job; you could just make some money on the side or become a full time internet business entrepreneur. It is completely up to you and the amount of effort you put into it.
At first I was of course skeptical, since I failed so many times, but I was determined to make money on the net so I knew I had to go for it. The full money back guarantee though is what really made me decide to get this book because I thought "What do I have to lose right?" Well that wasn't all that made this book great though, their were forums, a helpful blog and email updates of new money making opportunities that are working for the rich jerk. In fact the book was so good, that I read it many times over, and was very surprised to find out all the ways you can make money on the internet. In the first week after using the knowledge in The Rich Jerk, I made $526. I plan to keep doing this until I have enough money to retire, but even then I probably won’t stop because it is fun to make money on the net using The Rich Jerks methods.
If you still want to know a little about what is actually covered in The Rich Jerks book, below is an overview of his e-Book and the overall ways you will learn to make money on the net. The chapters are actually very detailed and informative, these are just descriptions below.
Chapter 1- Creating an Affiliate Network that sells like Crazy
Chapter 2 - Unique Search Engine PPC Strategies - That Kill your Competition
Chapter 3 - Search Engine Optimization Strategies
Chapter 4 - Selling Your Own Information Product
Chapter 5 - Buying Wholesale and Selling on EBay
Chapter 6 - Creating a website you can make Profitable Right Now
Chapter 7 - Other Online Ventures to Consider
Chapter 8 - Supplemental Info for Beginners
Chapter 9 - Quality Products/Services I Highly Recommend
Like I said before though, updates, a blog and a forum with people trying to make money on the net like you are included free of charge with this book. That is why I consider it to be the best of the best, because no one else really offers this kind of help and support. Also most of the books being sold that claim to help you make money on the net are really just scams, and are actually written by people who don’t even make money on the internet! The Rich Jerk has been around for years and has helped so many others become rich jerks too, including myself.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Michael Cottier

How To Sell More of Your Ebooks Online

Have you written an e-book? An e-book is a digital document that can be sold online in a purely digital form. Thus, unlike with selling a physical product, the fulfillment of an e-book is done completely online. This is great for you, the author, since you can completely automate the order taking and fulfillment processes.
Once you have the fulfillment process automated, the question becomes how to market the e-book online in order to get people to buy it. “How do I effectively market my e-books online?” is one of the most common questions I hear from my clients. Here are five tips that will help you sell more of your e-books and generate more revenue:
- Find a target market to sell the e-book to. Many people think that everyone is their target market, and as a result try to sell their e-book to everyone. They usually end up chasing after potential customers who are not in their target market and are not likely to ever purchase the book. Their e-book sales suffer as a result.
Instead of trying to sell your e-book to everyone, concentrate on a smaller group of people who comprise your target market. These people are much more likely to purchase what you have to offer, and as a result you will get many more sales.
- Create an effective sales letter for your e-book. Since you cannot take a picture of your e-book and post it on your web site (unlike a piece of jewelry, for example), your need to use the sales letter to promote the e-book.
Make sure that your sales letter effectively describes your e-book and focuses on the benefits your clients will get by purchasing your e-book. Highlighting the benefits will keep people reading the sales letter, and it will generate more e-book sales.
- Give your customers just a few options on your web site. Sometimes clients tell me that their sales letters don’t sell. When I take a look at the sales letters, they are usually a big mess. Sales letters that do not sell contain too many distractions for the reader: they have links to other web pages and web sites, banners, and text ads for other products.
Make sure that your sales letter provides only a few options to your customers – an option to buy the product and an option to subscribe to your newsletter, and that’s it. The fewer options you give to your web site visitors, the more likely they are to buy your product.
- Have a newsletter subscription on your web site. Sometimes people who come to your web site and see your e-book are not ready to purchase the e-book. However, they are ready to subscribe to your newsletter and learn more about you and your products. These people will be ready to buy your e-book eventually, so make sure that you keep in touch with them through your newsletter.
- Use online marketing techniques to promote your e-book further. Use search engine optimization, business blogging, article publishing and other online marketing techniques to promote your web site and e-book. These methods will bring more visitors to your web site, who are craving the information that you share in your e-book.
You can only make money with your e-book if you sell it. Follow the five tips that we discussed to sell more e-book copies and make more money.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com -By: Biana Babinsky

Creating Additional Value from EBook Sales

Copyright 2006 John Thornhill

The act of selling an eBook can be a profitable experience. When one considers the relatively inexpensive nature of eBooks with resell rights and the ways by which cheap eBay auctions can be constructed, the selling of eBooks at auction can be a wonderful means of creating revenue.

However, it is a mistake to look at a completed eBook transaction as the end of the potential profits. EBooks can be sold in a manner that produces a lingering value for the seller simply via the inclusion of affiliate links either within the eBook or as part of the delivery of the eBook.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to generate an online income. It works quite simply. If someone purchases a product after using your uniquely coded link to get to the sales page, you receive a commission on the sale. Many companies and product manufacturers offer affiliate programs and all eBook sellers should take a close look at their potential.

For instance, if you are selling an eBook about widgets, you may want to consider joining an affiliate program offered by someone in the business of selling widgets. Along with the eBook you have sold, you can include a mailing that includes some additional widget information. This might just be an email to the buyer included with the eBook. It could even be offered in the form of a free “special report” offered along with the eBook.

Regardless of the format, this additional communication would include a link back to your affiliate partner. If your customer decides to make a purchase via the links you provide, you will then receive additional revenue in the form of a sales commission.

Affiliate commissions can be quite high and even if your efforts produce very few conversions, it can still be a profitable exercise and a great way to increase the potential value of the eBook transaction to the seller.

If you are selling an eBook you have self-authored, or one that came with private label rights allowing for full editing and customization, you can include affiliate links within the eBook itself. This is a powerful technique for driving qualified traffic to affiliate sites that can really help improve your bottom line.

One does, of course, risk transforming the sale of an informational product into mere advertisement by overusing affiliate links. This should be avoided, as it generally decreases the likelihood of affiliate sales and also creates a lower perceived value for the eBook itself.

However, judicious use of affiliate links is a great way by which an eBook seller can add an additional profit dimension to the products he or she is selling on eBay. Selling eBooks can, in and of itself, generate some eye-opening profits, but by using affiliate measures one can really supercharge their potential earnings after the eBook sale is already made!

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: John Thornhill

Please Sir, I Want Some More ... Public Domain Material

Charles Dickens is said to be the world's most prolific novelist, yet most of his works are relatively unknown to the general public, especially those he wrote under the pen name Boz. His most popular titles, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, have been retold countless times in books, scripts, theatre plays and movies, and are all now in the public domain. These works have been so popular that they have been re-published by so many different publishers that they have never been out of print.

As a business owner looking to add new products to your inventory, whether that be online or offline, you can’t go past public domain material. At a cost of ‘nearly free,’ you would be mad to give it a miss.

As with the above example, some stories are timeless classics, classics that will sell year after year, in many different formats and versions. This may be exactly the right type of product for your business. There are so many public domain works out there that you essentially will never run out of material to publish. And you will most likely find many manuscripts that will complement your existing products.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to check that the original manuscript was published before 1923 in the United States of America (other countries may have different copyright laws so you may need to check this with a copyright lawyer). You should always get a certificate of copyright clearance for each public domain document you are going to publish. This may save you many legal hassles later if anyone tries to dispute your right to re-publish the work.

Public domain books and other materials can be found in many places, with the most likely being second-hand book stores. Some people enjoy this process the most; discovering that hidden gem amongst the thousands of tattered old Mills and Boon romance novels.

Though, with the advent of the Internet this process is becoming increasingly more accessible to everyone. There are now many web sites that publish public domain material that can be freely accessed, and even some membership sites that actually find the material for you.

If you make substantial changes to the material, that is, make enough changes that make the new version unrecognisable from the original, you may even claim the new copyright with yourself as the author.

As Dickens made popular the serialised novel, so too can you be publishing serial after serial of public domain material.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Kristy Taylor

Making Free eBooks pay.

Copyright 2006 John Thornhill

Selling eBooks on eBay can be a great way of producing an enviable revenue stream. By purchasing the rights to an eBook at the right price and then selling the eBook to many customers, one can generate a great deal of profit. However, there is an interesting way of increasing eBook sales and producing an additional revenue stream simply by giving things away to customers!

As many eBay sellers have noticed, informational products are becoming an increasingly competitive field. More and more people are slowly learning about the profit potential in eBook sales and are joining the fray. The market is nowhere close to being too crowded, and there is still room for a great deal of money to be made. However, those who want to truly prosper by selling eBooks on eBay can improve their odds by giving customers a little something extra.

Offering a free product to any buyers of an eBook can separate one’s auctions from others and make buyers more interested in obtaining a product. If three sellers are offering the same eBook at the same price, the seller who is also willing to include a special free gift will undoubtedly earn the bulk of the sales.

The free gift can be another eBook title on a related subject. You may have another eBook “in inventory” that is an aging title or somehow “past its prime.” Although you may no longer be selling the title as a stand-alone product, it can make a great value-added free gift to your auction and may tempt many buyers to look to you as a source for the primary title being offered.

The free gift could also be a special report or other informational document you have authored yourself. Although writing the additional material may be difficult or time-consuming (ghostwriters, of course, could be hired for this function), the end result could be quite valuable. You will be offering something completely unique and timely. That alone should inspire increased sales. You can also embed affiliate links to products for which you receive a commission within the text of the freebie. This could make your free giveaway item into a sales tool that could generate impressive profits long after the eBook sale is completed.

Including a freebie with your eBook auction may seem counterintuitive at first. It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, at face value, to give away anything! Doing something that increases the cost or effort required to conduct an auction also seems almost at odds with increased profitability. However, this is not the case. In reality, using a little added “extra” can increase sales by a margin that more than justifies the gift. Your auction may stand out more, give an additional reason to buyers to make their purchase with you, and even provide additional revenue through the use of affiliate links within the free item.

After considering all of these factors, it is easy to see why many eBay eBook sellers are providing their customers with a little something extra! Freebies can actually be used as a great way to increase profitability.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: John Thornhill

A Helping Hand to Online Success - the eBook!

If, like me, you’ve tried – and failed – in the past to achieve success online with internet marketing, then rest assured that help is finally at hand. I certainly wish I had had access to such knowledge when I started out three years ago, and perhaps I wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed with the practicalities of website design, using autoresponders, joining affiliate programs, writing sales letters, and how to get traffic to my site. I know better now, but more of this in a moment. . . .

The simple fact of the matter is, that to enter the world of internet marketing, you need something to promote and sell (well you want to make money at it don’t you?), whether a physical item, or – information. The very nature of the internet – where knowledge can be shared and exchanged at the click of a button – lends itself perfectly to . . . the eBook!

The advantages of the eBook over selling physical items is that there is no need to buy or store stock, no time and effort incurred in packing anything up and shipping it off in the post – and your customer can pay their money for your product and get immediate access to it from a download page. In an age where demand is for instant gratification, an eBook is ideal – easy and effective! And once written, you can sell unlimited copies of it without having to produce each item – so it’s both time and cost-effective too.

When thinking of a subject to write about for your eBook, the secret to greater success, and finding your ‘niche market’, is very simple. Like they tell all first-time budding authors – write about what you know. Whether it’s a few chapters on ‘How to Stop Smoking’ (if you’ve been successful at this), on the mechanics of owning a motorcycle, how to earn money online, or even ‘Tips on Flower Arranging’, you can bet that someone out there in ‘cyberspace’ wants to know about it. If the subject of your eBook is also your hobby, so much the better. If you’ve got passion for your subject, you’re going to convey that enthusiasm in what you write, and make that eBook even more interesting and useful.

Of course, if you have knowledge or practical experience on a popular subject in which there is a large potential market to sell your eBook, perhaps health and fitness, or food and drink, you could be more likely of success, but remember you’ll also be competing with many others. So choose your subject carefully!

However, in writing your eBook, don’t forget to give your customer value – and they could become customers for your future eBooks too! Make the content and quality of your eBook meaningful – whatever its length, it has to be good, or you’ll leave your customers feeling disenchanted. Give away a few free bonuses – an extra report perhaps, or some free training that they would have to pay for elsewhere. Aim for customer satisfaction!

If you don’t know how to go about creating an eBook (you could always write an eBook explaining how to do it!), then it brings me to the ‘more of this in a moment . . .’ that I mentioned above – the launch of a FREE course in all aspects of internet marketing, including creating eBooks. Visit the website below for what you need to get started online. Good luck!

Penelope Housden.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Profitmaker

How To Prevent Thieves From Stealing Your PDF Ebooks!

There are 2 main options for protecting your PDF file:

OPTION 1: Use Adobe Acrobat's basic protection.

Adobe Acrobat allows you to set basic protection for your PDF document. This includes:

* allow/disable the ability to copy text of document
* allow/disable printing of file
* allow/disable changing document
* require password to open document (Yes their password protection was broken a few years back, but it's still adequate protection and will keep out most people.)

Ideally, to use this option you should use Adobe Acrobat, however the high cost may put that out of reach of many. Fortunately, there are MANY, MANY inexpensive PDF creators that will allow you to also set some of these permissions.

Such as:
http://www.pdf995.com
http://www.pdffactory.com
http://www.deskpdf.com

There are also some standalone applications like: http://www.verypdf.com/encryptpdf/index.htm

Overall, option 1 is what I call "static protection". Meaning, once you choose the security and then distribute the file, you cannot change the security for those files that are already distributed. For example, you distribute a file to Client A in December. In January, your relations with the client become strained and you no longer want them to have access to your file. Unfortunately, with static protection, you cannot change their access permissions. It is already "set".

Though this option may allow you to prevent copying text within the file, it does NOT prevent a user from copying the entire file and redistributing it to others. Though it may allow you to require a password to access the file, the password can be easily passed around so anyone can have access. So it's not entirely secure and easily circumvented. If protection of your document is critical, you should boost protection using additional mechanisms.

OPTION 2: Use a third party protection system.

This option includes systems that offer "real time" control over your document. "Real time" means that you have the ability to change or alter the document security after it has been delivered to the end user. This is what I choose to focus on as it provides the greatest amount of security and post-distribution control.

Some just offer basic lock and unlock ability, while others go into more extensive PDF settings that can be altered at any point. Here are some things you should be looking for when evaluating a PDF protection system.

1. Does the system offer complete protection?

This the first thing you should look at because if the protection is not up to par, move on! You will never even get to the other points.

When evaluating protection features, make sure you check each feature out for yourself and don't always take the company's word about protection. Many times I have seen companies advertising certain protection features on their website, but in testing, the product doesn't seem to do what is claimed. So, always check first.

For PDF files, there are some basic areas that any adequate system must protect against. In order to be totally protected, the PDF security system you use MUST:

* Prevent saving a copy of file.
* Prevent emailing of file and exporting or extracting pages from file
* Prevent copying of file from the TEMP folder
* Prevent copying file and text to the clipboard
* Prevent redistilling of the file
* Prevent unlimited, uncontrolled printing of file
* Prevent access to file without permission
* Watermark all printed pages

If any system that you look into does not cover these, I recommend that you move on to something that does.

2. Can you afford it?

If the system passes the security test, the next thing you should look at is the cost of the system. Is it within your budget? Can you justify the price of this type of service? Do you buy the entire system and run it on your server, or is it a hosted service that charges you a monthly fee. There are pros and cons of both.

If you run the system on your server then you will avoid monthly fees, but these types of systems usually require extensive programming and integration work which can increase your overall costs and take weeks to months before you get up and running.

If you choose a third party system that is hosted by another company, you avoid the integration issue as most of these services can get you up and running in minutes to hours.

3. Does the system offer auto-distribution?

Does it automatically deliver your document to your customers and clients hands-free? If so, does it integrate with your payment system and/or shopping cart?

4. Is the system flexible?

The next thing you should look at is the flexibility. Does it allow you to tweak and modify the security options to fit your unique requirements? The ability to customize things such as program icons, customer download emails, thank you pages, etc. makes a big difference.

5. Is there any customer support?

What kind of support and help will you receive when you purchase the product or service? Is their any documentation of all features and uses? What good is having the best system if you don't know how to use it?

6. Is the Company reliable? Does it protect my data?

Is this company reliable? Do you feel that the the company will shut down, thus leaving your documents inaccessible and/or unprotected? Ask them what measures do they provide to ensure that your information remains protected in this event? Do they back up your data? If so, how often?

7. Can you demo the system?

Most companies offer a trial or demo period for free or a small fee. You should always try the system out to see it "in action". Set it up to do exactly what you are looking for and see if it works the way you need. Never sign up or purchase something that you have not yet tested.

8. Other questions?

Those are the major criteria, of course there are other things that you may want to consider such as:

* What is their cancellation/refund policy? Do they require a contract or can you sign up for a month to month service?

* Does their system use Acrobat Reader or another PDF viewer? If they use Acrobat Reader, do they have an Adobe DRM license which is required for all Acrobat reader security systems?

* Does it allow you to contact your database of users/clients

* Can you export your user database

There is a lot to consider when deciding on a PDF protection system. My advice is Do NOT rush into it. Because once you choose a system and start distributing files using that system, you are stuck with it.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Anthony Ellis

Boost Ebook Sales with eBook Directories!

Are you selling an ebook or giving one away for free? Submitting your ebook to ebook directories will generate steady sales and downloads. eBooks add value to a web site and many webmasters search ebook directories to find ebooks they want to offer to their web visitors. It's worth your time to list your ebook(s) in ebook directories. It can dramatically increase your web traffic and sales. Just do a Google search to find directories.

Here are some steps you need to complete before submitting your ebook:

1. Become familiar with the different types of directories.

Check how they list the ebooks and read their submission guidelines. Check what subjects they accept as different directories accept different topics. Some directories provide free listings, some charge a listing fee, and some want a link to their website.

2. Create web pages.

You need to design a web page with a download link to your ebook. Make your sales copy, headlines, and links compelling, even when you're giving away a free ebook. Also, create a link page so you can provide a link to the directories that require this.

3. Design an ebook cover.

An ebook cover is important when selling an ebook and even when giving away your ebook for free. A cover image makes your ebook look tangible. A well-designed cover can double or even triple your ebook sales and downloads. Also, ebook directories will want a thumbnail size of your ebook cover. Check their guidelines for size requirements. We recommend using specialized ebook cover software to design an ebook cover. Photoshop Action scripts provide the best quality results. Or you can hire a designer specializing in ebook covers.

4. Set up a separate email address.

Set up a separate email address so you don't clutter up your main email.

5. Prepare the information you will submit to the directories.

eBook directories will ask you to provide them with some information. This may include your name, email, book title, URLs, descriptions of your ebook, keywords, and book cover. Prepare this information before you start submitting your ebook.

• List your ten most relevant keywords. People use keywords to find ebooks that are relevant to the topic of their web site. Use a keyword tool like WordTracker or Good Keywords to find related keywords.
• Write descriptions. You will need descriptions about your ebooks when submitting your ebook to the directories. Write three descriptions/ads with varying lengths - from two sentences to several paragraphs to accommodate different directories.
• Organize the information you will provide to the directories. Create a file with a text editor, like Notepad. Include your name, email, ebook title, 3 descriptions, 10 keywords, download URL, URL of your link page, and URL of the ebook cover. Use a clipboard utility like ClipTrakker or WinM8 and a form-filler like RoboForm when submitting the information.

Don't overlook ebook directories when promoting your ebook. It will pay off in steady sales and downloads.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Leva Duell

How E-books Can Improve Your Business

Have you ever wondered what was so great about e-books and software you see being sold all over the internet?

How are they going to help you? Why should you invest in them? What are resell rights and how are they really going to affect my business?

Are you new to internet marketing? Do you need to build a website but are not sure how to get started and you do not have the resources or the money to hire a website designer or hire a one on one consultant to teach you how to market online?

E-books are an excellent way to teach yourself new ideas not only for business but for your personal life as well. From easy to understand step by step instructions on how to build a website to how to market your new website online to learning how to cope with depression or learn a new recipe to wow your guests an e-book can not only save you money and time but also give you another product to offer to your website visitors.

You will not have to rely on others to design your website, if you get a great idea and want to start promoting it you do not have to rely on others to update your site when their schedule allows but go in and update the site yourself.

What about turning what you just learned into a business?

A new service to offer to your existing clients or use this new skill you learned to bring in more visitors to your website. Think about it, you are new to the internet you are not sure where to start you purchase an e-book to teach yourself a new trade. There are others out there everyday starting where you were, not sure how to get started, can’t afford to pay huge prices for consultations or website designs. Now turn that new skill into a money making machine!

Imagine teaching yourself how to build a website using FTP then turning around and offering that as a new service to your clients.
What about how to install scripts on websites, or how to use SEO to enhance your site, so many e-books and software products out there can teach you new ways to increase your traffic. Learn while you earn is my motto, test out products you see then use them to earn you more money.

What are Resell rights? How can I use Resell rights to increase my income?

Resell rights gives you the permission to resell or giveaway the product you just bought for any price you want and keep all the profits.

Unlike affiliate programs where you have to pay another person out of the profit with resell rights you keep all the profits! When looking for items to add to your website you need to pick and choose products that will fit your visitor’s needs. Think about what you would be looking for if you were coming to your site. Not only can you resell the product but you can offer it for free to gain you more subscribers to your newsletter, add new products weekly or monthly to have your visitors keep coming back to your site.

Many resell right packages come with graphics, websites you can upload to your server or add the graphics to your pages, PDF files, and once in a while a Word document so you can add your own information and become the expert writer. You have all the information you need to start selling the day you purchase resell rights to a product.

Can resell rights really help me grow my business?

I have been selling e-books and software that I have tested and have had other entrepreneurs test for over 2 years now. I have noticed a huge difference in the traffic to my website when I offer something for free that will help my visitors. Everyone loves the word free. Entice your visitors with a great freebie e-book or software product that you have tried and have had great success with, bring them to your site, place the freebie near another offer you have going for that month.

You can also gather together a great package and offer it as an up sale. What does up sale mean? Say you have a wonderful product you want to sell, offer free e-books or software for each purchase. Be sure to totally explain everything they will receive with the up sale, the benefits of the e-book or software that you are providing should they purchase.

Ok so you don’t do web design what about looking into e-cookbooks or self help e-books and software time management. There are tons of e-cookbooks and self management software available if you know where to look and many of them are very affordable for any budget.

Become self efficient today! Learn how to run your business from start to finish with e-books and software that come with resell rights! You will be amazed at what you can do if you teach yourself and not rely on another person to do your website details for you!

Increase your traffic today offer e-books for your clients that fit your site for free, increase your newsletter subscriber base today offer free e-books to new subscribers when they sign up for your newsletter. Create an awesome up sale by including hard too find e-books and software products that your visitors need and want.

The future is bright; e-books are the wave of the future. They are easy to use, are delivered immediately so you can learn and earn right in the comfort of your own home.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Rebecca White

Benefits Of E-books

The internet has brought us many great things including streaming music, online shopping, electronic bill pay and many more beneficial applications. One thing that I feel is often overlooked but very valuable is ebooks. Especially ebooks in the non fiction/self improvement subject areas.

Just as there are many great musicians that will never get signed - there are thousands of great authors who will never get the big book deal. Thanks to the internet and ebooks – we can tap into the minds of these great authors. One common misconception is that if the book was any good it would get signed by a major publisher. This is simply not true. The publisher may feel that the information is not marketable when indeed it really is. There can be numerous other reasons the e-book author does not get a big book deal but don’t let that stop you from missing out on some great information at a great price.

An e-book author is free to write what they truly want and will not be influenced by a publisher, publicist, or any one else. Ebooks usually contain much more than a printed book. They sometimes have printable worksheets, menus, lists, affirmations or any number of other beneficial items that relate to the particular topic of the ebook. Unlike mainstream authors, ebook authors are often times reachable and happy to answer questions you may have about their ebook.

An e-book is purchased directly from a website and then downloaded immediately to your computer. You can read it right there on your computer screen or print it out and take it with you. You can enlarge the font if you are having trouble seeing the print, you can transfer it to a memory stick or other media so that it is portable, or you can simply read it as you have time. Most ebooks come with a money back guarantee and special bonus items.

I urge you to give e-books a try. Find a subject you are interested in and then shop around. You will discover new authors, new skills, new behaviors and perhaps a whole new you.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Bill Herren

How to Select a Graphic Designer for Your eBook Covers

There are three important considerations that must be satisfied when selecting a designer to create a cover for your ebook, software box, or CD cover: design skill, marketing experience and price.

Obviously, design skill is an important consideration. Samples are the primary way to evaluate a designer’s skills. Look for evidence that the designer has the ability to create quality, professional-looking, effective cover images and knows how to work with fonts, colors and images.

Are the designs effective from a marketing standpoint? Is the designer experienced in Internet marketing? Or is someone knowledgeable about Internet marketing supervising the designs?
Is the designer experienced in designing ebook covers or other images that will be used to sell products on the Internet? Does the designer understand your goal? A cover designer with marketing experience will ask you questions about your goal, audience and web site topic in order to design an effective image.

Check the sample images closely and look for these points that make an ebook cover effective:

• Does the design support your sales message?
• Is the design appropriate to your book’s topic and audience? This includes the choices of fonts, colors, images, and layout.
• Is the title easily readable at the small size displayed on a web page? If there is other important text, is this readable as well?

Testimonials can also give you some insight about the designer. Try to determine how genuinely satisfied the testimonial writer is with the design. You will also want to look for any indication as to how easy it was for the customer to work and communicate with the designer.

Price is the simplest point to evaluate when choosing a designer. If you want to get an effective image, the lowest bidder may not be your best choice. Do not sacrifice quality for the sake of a lower price. Low fees usually indicate that the designer is inexperienced. If you cut costs in the design of your cover, you may be cutting down potential sales. A quality ebook cover will more than pay for itself in increased sales.

By paying attention to the considerations we have mentioned here, you will find the right graphic designer for your project. Good luck!

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Leva Duell

How to Select Fonts for Your eBook Cover

Choosing the right fonts is an important decision you will have to make when designing a quality ebook cover. You will want to choose a font that is readable and appropriate for your audience.

The following general information about fonts will help you to make the right choice:

Size: An ebook cover image is usually a rather small image. Therefore, you have to be sure that the font you use will be readable on the small image. A lot of fonts just don't work well at very small sizes.

Weight: The term "weight" refers to the thickness of the elements that make up each character in a font. Most fonts have a regular version and a bold version. The bold version has greater weight because the letters are thicker. A bolded font stands out more, even at smaller sizes. Some fonts also offer a "heavy" and a "black" version that is even thicker than the bold version. Arial black, Helvetica black, and Impact are just some examples of popular fonts that are used to create titles and headlines. These fonts also work well for ebook covers.

If you look at book or article titles, you will notice that they tend to be "heavier" and larger in size than any of the other text. This is because the author wants to emphasize the title/subtitle.

Serif vs. Sans Serif: Take a look at the letters in the Helvetica font and Times New Roman font. Helvetica is a sans serif font, while Times New Roman is a serif font. The difference is the extra flourish at the ends of each line in each character in a serif font. The term serif refers to these flourishes. Compare the letter "I" in both of the fonts mentioned above and you will easily see the difference.

Sans serif fonts tend to be more readable when used in titles, subtitles, captions and headlines. They also tend to be more readable at the smaller font sizes. Serif fonts, on the other hand work better where there is a large amount of text (a paragraph or more).

Appropriateness: It's important that you choose a font that is appropriate for your audience. For instance, if your book is targeted for women, choose a more feminine font. If your book’s focus is children, then it would be appropriate to choose a font that conveys a sense of playfulness. However, regardless of age and gender, if your subject is serious then you would want a font that conveys a serious tone.

Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules in this area of font selection. What seems appropriate for a masculine subject in one situation may not be so in another situation. The point here is simply to pay attention to what message and feeling you're communicating with your selected font.

Here are some more font tips for ebook covers:

• Use one or two fonts. Never use more than three different fonts. Better yet, use different weights of the same font. For example, use Arial Black for the title and Arial Bold for the subtitle.

• Don't use too much text on your cover. It won't be readable anyway. The less text you use, the larger and more readable your text will be. You may want to consider using a shortened version of your actual book title for the cover image.

• Use the largest, boldest font for the book title, a smaller size for the subtitle, and even smaller sizes for author name and any additional text.

• Use text colors that contrast with your background to make your title stand out. However, make sure that the color of your text does not clash with the background color. Depending on your background colors, red, white and yellow often work well.

• You can bold, italicize, or underline words and phrases for emphasis. Use italics and underline sparingly. If overdone, you'll loose the affect and reduce the readability.

• You can make your text stand out with special type effects such as drop shadows and outlines, but use these effects sparingly.

• Use capitals only for short headings. Sentences or paragraphs in all capitals letters are hard to read. For longer headings, use upper/lower case.

• Consider placing the author's name and the web site URL as a watermark on the cover graphic to make it harder for people to steal your images.

• Put your book title on the spine of large book and box images.

There are literally thousands of fonts to choose from. Build a small collection of fonts that work well for ebook cover design. This collection will probably include the standards like Impact, Arial Black, Arial Bold, Helvetica Black, Helvetica Bold, Times New Roman, Garamond and other fonts you like that are readable and practical in smaller sizes.

Like just about all rules, most font rules can be broken. The bottom line is, if your prospects can not read your book title, or if your ebook cover conveys a message that is not appropriate to your subject, then your choice of font can result in a loss of sales (or free downloads).

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Leva Duell

How to Choose Colors for Your eBook Cover

Color can have a profound impact on your prospective buyers. The wrong colors can negatively impact your sales, while the right colors can trigger positive emotions motivating your visitors to buy from you.
Color can affect how we feel and influence what we think. In general, bright bold colors tend to stir us up, while the softer pastel colors calm and relax us. Responses to colors can vary by age, gender and cultural background.
Colors will affect how a potential buyer reacts to your ebook. Carefully select your color scheme for your ebook cover. Here are some guidelines to help you make good color choices. Bear in mind that these are guidelines, and that there are no hard and fast rules. Just use common sense.
• Consider your audience. For example, if your ebook primarily targets men, then you will want to use strong, bold colors. If your target audience is women, then choose soft, pastel colors. If your focus is on children, choose bright, vibrant colors.
• Choose colors that are appropriate for your book's topic. For example, green may work well for books about starting a home business, making money, and reducing debt.
• Use colors that match or complement the color scheme of your web site.
• Keep the number of colors down to two or three, and no more. This does not include photographs which can have a whole range of colors.
• When using photographs on your ebook cover, use colors that complement the primary color in the picture.
• Make sure that all of the colors you use work well together and do not clash.
• Communicate your message with easy-to-read text. Use colors for your text that contrast with the background color so your text is readable. For example, a dark font on a light background is easy to read.
• Consider the mood you want to create. Remember that emotions trigger sales. People buy what they want - not what they need. The list below will show you how colors can affect us in different ways.
Red – Action, energy, strength, passion, fire, heat, power, attention-getting. Can also mean love and romance. A strong masculine color. Red is a good color for a call-to-action. Red is cheerfulness, excitement, and warmth. Pink is a soft version of red. It is most associated with romance, calming affect; a feminine color.
Blue – Confidence, travel, freedom, truth, professionalism, wealth and power. Also tranquility, dependable, acceptance, patience, understanding, cooperation, comfort, loyalty and security. It is one of the most calming colors and is associated with the sky and the sea, intelligence, reassurance, and trust. Blue has also been known to be an appetite suppressant, so it would not be good for cookbooks or recipes but you can consider it for diet books.
Green – Money, wealth, prosperity, calm, health, food, nature, hope, growth, freshness, soothing, sharing, and responsiveness. Green symbolizes spring, renewal, and fertility.
Orange – Health and vitality, autumn, youthfulness, fire, steadfastness, courage, confidence, friendliness, cheerfulness, warmth, excitement and energy. Has been known to stimulate the appetite. Vibrant and warm, orange is associated with autumn and the earth.
Yellow – Light, purity, understanding, caution, brightness, intelligence, joy, organization, Spring. Yellow often represents sunshine, warmth, light, energy and happiness.
Purple – Dignity, sophistication, creativity, spirituality and mystery. Deep purple is associated with royalty and richness, while lavender is associated with romance and nostalgia.
Brown – Credibility, stability, the hearth, home, the earth, wood, comfort and strength. Brown can be used as a neutral or a warm color.
Black – Space, night, authority, dramatic, classy, committed, serious, power, elegance, and sophistication.
White – Purity, peace, perfection, fresh, easy, cleanliness, goodness, and spirituality. Worth noting here, white represents life and marriage in Western cultures, but it represents death and sorrow in Eastern cultures.
Grey – A conservative color, symbolizing security, maturity and reliability.
Take advantage of the impact color can have on your ebook sales and choose colors that will create positive responses.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Leva Duell