How to create an ebook for your nonprofit

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5 easy steps for using an ebook to publicize your cause

Target audience: Nonprofits, NGOs, social enterprises, businesses, brands, educators, Web publishers, individuals.

Guest post by Amanda DiSilvestro
Content writer, Resource Nation

If you run a successful nonprofit organization, chances are you’ve tapped into both Internet and traditional marketing approaches. However, there is one sector of the marketing world that does not quite fit into either category: ebooks.

While many conventional, printed books have been converted into ebooks, smart organizations are beginning to take advantage of the new phenomenon by creating books for the digital screen focused on their area of expertise. Increasingly, consumers are starting to realize that using an ebook reader is significantly more pleasant than staring at a computer screen or having to carry around a newspaper, and it is becoming yet another outlet for finding information or opportunities in their community.

Socialbrite has previously published a guide to publishing a successful ebook and a guide to turning your nonprofit’s blog into an ebook . See below for related articles.

Here are tips on how to get started creating your own ebook and the best ways to use it to publicize your nonprofit’s cause.

5 tips for creating an ebook

Expect to give your ebook away for free
1 Most organizations that create an ebook give it away to their group members for free. The goal should be to establish credibility and get people reading your ebook as opposed to selling the material. In the end, the exposure will generate more new customers for your business (ebooks typically cost an average of 90 cents). By offering the ebook for free, more people will be inclined to join upcoming events you may be hosting or help with volunteer work.

Write ebook content relevant to your audience
2 Be sure your content sounds informative rather than sounding like begging, and use lots of subheadings and lists to make it easy to read. When it comes to choosing a topic, look through the different types of feedback your group members or customers have given and find a topic that a majority of those people find interesting. Additionally, if you have a new event or volunteer opportunity coming up, you can focus your ebook on that subject. At the end of your ebook, be sure to include your contact information for those interested in learning more.

Ebook vs. Mini report specifics
3 Many nonprofit organizations offer free ebook mini reports as opposed to a book. A mini report is usually more specific and answers a question. While mini reports may be easier to write, do not count out writing a book. The term “writing a book” sounds intimidating, but your book does not have to be long. Simply choose a topic to write about and cover all aspects of that topic; this should be more than enough information to create a book. Having a full book will help build your overall credibility and show that you really are someone passionate and knowledgeable about the particular cause.

Make sure the public can find your ebook on your website
4 Your ebook is something that should be featured on your website. Consider giving a sneak preview of the book by including the first few paragraphs, the first chapter, a list of chapter topics, or a combination of all three. Soon, everyone is going to catch onto the fact that an ebook reader is lighter and smaller than a laptop or a big textbook. Better yet, a free ebook will get readers even more excited about using their ebook readers. In the end, you want to be that free ebook that gets consumers excited.

Making the ebook available
5 As discussed above, ebooks are usually offered and publicized on an organization’s website. If someone sees the free offer and wants to download the ebook, they must provide their e-mail address and name. The next step is simple, and if you use e-mail marketing, then making an ebook available will be second nature to you. If not, don’t sweat it. Use an auto responder e-mail service such as AWeber, and let the software do the work for you. It will send out your ebook to anyone who signed up for it on your website; it’s as simple as that!

Has your nonprofit created an ebook? What has your experience been with this marketing tool?

Related

• Guide to publishing a successful ebook (Socialbrite)

• Turn your nonprofit’s blog into an ebook (Socialbrite)

• Self-publishing: Tell your story in print (Socialbrite)

• Better book buying: 10 socially conscious online bookstores (Socialbrite)