Hiring professional Writers to write your eBook
eBooks are hot sellers because they deliver complete, instantly available, expert knowledge in a single, easily handled package. These can be downloaded and saved on an individual's computer and can be read offline, or can be printed.
You can write an eBook on virtually anything that fancies you. Just think it through and put words to your thoughts. Not everyone thinks just the way you do, you are bound to impart at least some knowledge to others, and share your insight with others. It's absolutely impossible for everyone to become an expert on everything. However, by purchasing the ideas of others, in eBook, we can all gain markedly. As well, the writer of the eBook can gain financially.
Don’t panic, as you don't necessarily have to be a great writer to write a great eBook. There are writing mentors or coaches out there that will assist you in that part of the process if need be. The only important thing is that you need to have the solid basic idea and feel passionately about the subject you have in mind. Putting together and selling the eBook is the next hardest step. However, there are services that can help with that, too. The key point is that don’t sway from your goal and don’t sink in debts or evade from profits if you find the project too daunting. Use an expert from another field, writing and publishing, to help you sell to others the expertise you have in your field. Make sure that you take care of the copyright aspect of the book, so that once your eBook is created; it is yours to sell forever.
There are plenty of advantages if you publish an eBook. It boosts traffic on your website and also brings more credibility to your existing business. You are put on a higher pedestal because you have put your beliefs in print for others to read and judge. EBook are selling, and even free eBook are great marketing tools if they refer readers back to your web site or product. The Internet is about information. If you've got it, make it available.
If you're not confident about your writing skills, you can always hire a writer to write the contents of your eBook. Obviously, you will need to pay the writer for his services. It is advisable that you somehow convince the writer to take a percentage of your sales, just like the royalties that authors get when they get a book published by print publishers, however he'll still want some up front money. There are books out there on how to hire freelance writers -- including standard contracts so that you won't get ripped off. If you decide that you want to use a professional writer to do the writing (and that may be an excellent idea), then go to your local library and research the details on hiring freelance writers. Don’t forget to thoroughly research before making any sort of commitment.
However, you may not have to go through all of that hassle. There are hundreds of ebook sellers who are offering commissions of 50% or more if you refer a buyer to their websites. No, you don't have to go hunting throughout the web to look for them. Many of them have signed up with one particular company to handle their signups and commissions.
You are likely to get phenomenal results if you hire a pro to do it right.
Many business owners and marketing professionals have legitimate apprehension about letting an outsider develop their content. After all - it's your business, you know it best, and your image is critical. However, you're wrapped up in your business every day. A good writer can see your business in a new light, draw out the key benefits of your products and services, and communicate that excitement to your clients and prospects.
Working with a writer isn't a complex ordeal; however it will benefit you greatly to become familiar with how the relationship typically works and ways to help the process move along smoothly. The following are some of the tips on how to choose and work with a writer:
Understand your project.
A crucial factor in streamlining the writing process is determining the principal points you need to communicate - before you bring in a writer. Who is your target audience? What is your message? What is unique about your company? In what type of tone do you want to speak to your reader? What type of response do you ideally want the reader to make? Having this information agreed upon before you get a writer involved will save you unnecessary copy revisions and keep your costs down.
2. Work out a rational agenda.
Yes, you've heard this all your life, but haste makes waste. Avoid hastily hiring a writer and dumping a rush job on her. Not only will you not have time to thoroughly check her experience and references, but, no matter how wonderfully talented she is, her first drafts will not be "fully cooked." This is because most writers need time to let words and ideas simmer.
Most writers will request a few weeks to develop your copy, so set a realistic schedule to give the creative process ample time. Count on going through one or two revisions as your writer refines the piece's angle and conveys the key benefits of what you're promoting.
3. Don’t look for only ‘experienced’ writers-expand your choices.
"So you've never written for a _______ company before?" I've heard many prospects say. Don't worry. A writer's ability to write well for the medium is more important than her having prior experience in your industry.
Make sure that your writer is fully aware of what you expect, don’t expect that the writer will read your mind and deliver just what you need. Also, don’t underestimate them, just because they don’t have any experience in the kind of field you require, that does not mean that they will not be able to write on it. As a side point, a lot of writers are true generalists and write just as well for an edgy new media start-up as they do for a giant hospital network. They're very skillful at diving into your business, learning it inside and out, and churning out great prose to entice your target market. Now of course, if you're creating a technically oriented business-to-business EBook or marketing piece, you may want to hire a writer with experience in both your project's medium and your industry.
4. Ask for references, and contact them.
All writers can show you samples of well-written material, but how do you know if they'll work to understand your communication needs, meet deadlines, and act professionally in front of clients? If the person you are about to hire claims to be an accomplished writer or produces a well-studded resume, she should have an ample list of references that she can share with you. Be sure to contact at least two of them, and ask them about the writer's weaknesses as well as her strengths.
5. Do it legal, chalk up contracts and agreements.
Don’t just have an oral agreement or contract. True writing pros will give you an agreement they've drawn up for you. However, you'll occasionally find yourself having to draft an agreement for the project. This doesn't have to be complex - a simple letter of agreement that you both sign should do fine. Be sure to include the project size, number of revisions included (if applicable), timetable, and agreed fee (this can be a flat fee or hourly rate). Also, the contract should include all the rules and regulations which you expect the writer to follow. Again, do not assume that the writer will be aware of all the rules related to plagiarism, etc. It is your duty to explicitly mention the rules in the contract if you want to enforce those rules.
And don't forget to ask what's not included. For example, many writers charge extra for in-person meetings, research time, and weekend or rush work. You should also expect to pay an upfront retainer. Serious writers charge one-third to one-half of the total project fee upfront, and many won't begin your project until they have the signed agreement and check in hand. And if you have sensitive or proprietary information, don't hesitate to have your writer sign a non-disclosure agreement.
6. Give your writer background info at the start.
Give the writer as much background information as you can. Share background information that a staff writer would have access to. Let her/him know about the publication, website, business or product; about the angle you are trying to write from, the style you prefer, and about the subject of the piece and potential contacts. He should have all the data handy so that he can properly co-ordinate and synchronize the topics and the content therein. At the beginning of your project, pass on any and all previous brochures or sales kits, direct mail, Web site URLs, annual reports, research results, or business or marketing plans.
7. Give constructive criticism.
"This paragraph just doesn't work" isn't nearly as effective as "Maybe you can add a bit more information here" or "Could you possibly change the language here so that it looks a bit more technical". Also, tell her what parts you do like so she can emulate them elsewhere. And of course, everyone loves to know when they've done a good job. If you like your writer’s work, be sure to share that with your writer.
Freelance Writers
Many companies are turning to freelance writers to get their projects completed. There are innumerable advantages when you deal with freelancers: no salaries, vacation time, sick days, health insurance or benefits. An outside writer will be free of bias and will offer a fresher outlook. Here are some tips for working with freelance writers to build relationships and ensure a successful project.
Negotiating Fees
Writing is a super-special skill and you get what you pay. You must understand that busy, reputable writers must earn enough money for their time in order to maintain a profitable business. If you only offer less, you may have to settle for beginners who will likely require more editing and double-checking on your part. Until a writer gets used to your style, you may have to put in more time with them.
Always discuss payment terms before starting a project. Some writers will expect at least a part of the payment on acceptance of the project. For major projects, they may require one-third to one-half upon accepting the project with the balance paid upon completion. When you are negotiating payment to the freelancer, estimate the value of the product he or she is delivering. That way you will be able to get a fair picture of the actual worth of the freelancer’s time and effort on your project.
More Ways to Save
You can also avoid hiring a freelancer to create an entirely new project for you by buying previously written or published articles. You can buy second rights to articles that have appeared in other publications in your field or on other web sites. Any freelancer can modify a generic article according to your taste and business requirement. The freelancer will often try to sell a version to different editors, and this will usually cost less than articles written specifically for your publication.
Constant feedback and updates
Communication is very important in any relationship, especially a business relationship. Specifically ask for periodic reports from your freelancer, so that you can ascertain you’re your project is going on smoothly and is on the right track. It should follow the right tone and touch the precise subject matters that you expect in your project. This is especially true while working with a new freelancer as he or she is not fully aware of your expectations and requirements. If this is the case, you can also assign a less important project. That way you are mutually benefited. You can also scrape the project and start if from the scratch if you are not totally happy with the results. Once you find a suitable writer for you project, try to use his/her services regularly so that your writer gets the required incentive from you and you can develop your business relationship with him/her.
