Guest post by Mathew Jade.
Self-publishing isn’t just for seasonal authors. When you create eBooks, you’re using one of the most efficient and productive formats for content marketing. You’re missing a great tactic for converting website visitors to leads if you’re not using ebooks to market your brand, products, or services.
Smartphone and tablet users have increased their use of eReaders in the last five years. The eBook industry now brings an astonishing $8.69 billion and it is still ballooning.
Given the potential return, you may be wondering:
- Why isn’t every business creating eBooks?
- Is it really worth the effort?
- How can eBooks help my business?
To answer those questions (and more), here are seven benefits of publishing an eBook (or more than one) for your business. eBooks can help you…
Generate Targeted Leads
eBooks help you target and convert better leads. People will willingly give you their contact details in exchange for a relevant, helpful, and timely eBook.
You need to follow a few steps if you want your eBooks to generate more targeted leads:
- Identify the audience (your target customer)
- Brainstorm ideas, skills, knowledge, and solutions
- Write on selected topics
- Promote and market your book to the targeted audience
- Create a compelling landing page with a short contact form
You can expand the number of qualified leads at the top of your sales funnel if you do this properly.
Establish Yourself as an Expert
Through your industry experience, you’ve developed unique skills, knowledge, and expertise. By sharing that in eBooks, you build a reputation as an authority in that segment.
Readers come to appreciate your understanding of the subject and recommend you as a leader on that subject. You may be among the first people they turn to with questions and referrals.
Rise Above the Competition
Today’s business world is hyper-competitive. Do you know what makes your customers choose your brand/product/service over the alternatives?
eBooks and help showcase your knowledge and expertise, especially if you are a small business. If your competitors are not taking this format seriously, you can get a leg up on them.
Creating helpful eBooks, then promoting them through blog posts, social media, email marketing, and search advertising can be a highly productive tactic for promoting your brand.
Increase Website Traffic
Promoting your eBook through social media or other channels drives traffic directly. Promoting it through related blog posts and other content can also increase organic search visits.
Just as the call-to-action (CTA) button on your landing page drives visitors to download your eBook, CTA buttons on the subsequent “thank you” page can redirect readers towards specific pages on your website such as upcoming events or your contact page. CTAs in the eBook itself can drive readers to additional information, such as related follow-on eBooks, checklists, or guides.
Build Connections
Reaching prospective buyers through a blog post, social media update, or ad is a one-time hit. But getting their email address enables to you develop an ongoing conversation.
Building an opt-in email list is the first step towards establishing a long-term business relationship with your prospective customers. Offering an eBook to your audience in exchange for their email addresses is a practical way to build your list.
Once you have their email addresses, it is time to start engaging with your prospects. This is a great opportunity for you to get some feedback. Be creative with what you do with the list, though always respectful of your prospects’ time and attention.
Publish eBooks Using Free Tools
eBooks are easy to create as they cost you nothing but time. You don’t need a professional publishing house or (obviously) a printer.
You can select from a number of available free tools to create your eBooks. Simply start with a Word document and save it as PDF. For the cover, you can use an image from a free stock photo site or better, download a reasonably priced, high quality original image from a site like Picfair.
Once you create it, set up your landing page and it will start generating leads automatically. Unlike other promotion channels, eBooks are a one-time effort that lasts as long as the content remains fresh and relevant.
Create a Passive Income Source
In B2B content marketing, eBooks are generally written to help generate leads or to help move prospects along through the sales process. They indirectly contribute to revenue by supporting product or service sales.
But an eBook can also be the product, and generate revenue directly. If you want to run a publishing business, it’s better to create many eBooks than to rely on only one.
The Final Word
eBooks are a key component in generating leads through content and digital marketing. They help businesses to build their opt-in email lists while showcasing their expertise and marketing their products and services. The best eBooks not only compel visitors to provide their contact information but also enhance your brand and engage with prospective customers.
Mathew Jade is a business, finance and technology blogger who spends his entire day writing quality blogs. He is a passionate reader and loves to share quality content prevalent on the web with his friends and followers and keeping a keen eye on latest trends and news in those industries. For more updates, follow him on Twitter @Mathew_Jade.