There are thousands of articles on the Internet that show you how to write an eBook, but very few that tell you what you need to do to market and sell your eBook online.

Writing the eBook is the easy part. There are many other things that need to be done to sell your eBook. Listed below are some of the basic activities that need to be done so that people will come to your Website and buy your eBook and you will make money. If you don't know what some of the terms I mention below mean, then start searching the Internet for these words and buy an eBook that covers this information.

1. Do your research

Before you begin writing, do your research. Research your area of expertise and determine if your eBook is likely to be profitable. Do an Internet search for your topic and see what eBooks are out there on your subject. Check out the prices. Soon you will know how to write an eBook with your niche that will sell.

2. Build a website that attracts traffic

First you have to have a place to sell your eBook. It must be traffic rich with keywords that attract a targeted traffic -- people who already are looking for the type of eBook you have to offer. Build your keyword rich Website and the Internet surfers will come and visit you.

3. Build your list

Collect business cards at networking and speaking events. Add the names and email addresses to your autoresponder. Drive traffic to your Website by writing eZine articles on your subject and sending them to eZine article services. Offer a free report if they sign up for your newsletter which you will send to them once or twice a month. Oh yes, you have to get an autoresponder service to collect your names. Do an Internet search for "autoresponder" and you will find several services that offer this.

4. Write a sales page

Start looking at Websites that offer an eBook similar to yours. Check out their promotional sales letter. Would you buy the product based on their sales letter? If yes, then write a sales letter similar to theirs, but don't copy word for word. Create your own exciting copy that will make people want to buy your eBook.

5. A Paypal account with a Paypal button on your sales page

Start with a Paypal account to use to sell your book and make money. Later, when your sales are bigger and you have more than one product to sell on your site you can sign up for a commercial credit card account.

6. Promote your book in forums, blogs, and social networking sites

On blogs and forums everytime you make a comment include your name, eBook title and Web address if possible. Sign up for Facebook, Linkedin and other social networking sites to promote your book and direct people to your site. Include a chapter, or part of one, on your networking sites to give people a taste of the eBook. There are eBook directories that can help promote your eBook.

7. Write articles for article directories

Writing articles of 600-1000 words and sending them to eZine article services is a good way to get people to come to your site. Check out the site EzineArticles as they have good articles on how to use them and the guidelines are similar for other services. This gets your name and Website address out there in Internet world and some people will come to your site and sign up for your eZine. Then you will have more names added to your list.

8. Joint Ventures

Team up with other eBook authors to cross promote each other's eBooks. Promise to send referrals to each other and recommend each other's products. It may be difficult at first if you don't have a large list of names, but give it a try. If it is a good eBook partners may be interested in promoting your book for a 40-50% commission.

Selling your eBook takes weeks or months of work. Begin doing these activities while you are writing your eBook. Don't wait until it is finished. Wouldn't it be nice if you already had a built in list of names to announce your new eBook to? This can happen if you have been steadily acquiring business cards and adding them to your list. Plus get signups for the eZine (online newsletter) that you promised your subscribers you would send out once or twice a month.

Get started writing and submitting articles, building your website, building your list, creating your sales copy, posting to your blog, and getting joint venture experts to promote and sell your eBook.

Little did Nancy know that selling an eBook would take lots work. But if she takes some baby steps every day she will get it done in her own time, and so will you.

Copyright 2008, Joan Clout-Kruse. All rights reserved.