Writing ebooks can seem like a daunting and overwhelming prospect. The length alone is enough to intimidate you. When you factor in the level of quality that needs to be maintained and the kind of research that goes behind it, it’s almost enough to put you off from writing altogether.

As far as value-added content goes, however, ebooks are effective and one of the more popular and most effective content marketing options that you can consider. I’ve been able to gather high-quality leads and successfully convert them thanks to carefully written and relevant ebooks.

That said, if you want give ebook writing a try, here are some tips I can share to help you with it:

1. Pick a relevant topic

Writing long-form copy could mean that you have more opportunities to let your ideas flourish. However, there’s no point in letting your ideas develop if it’s an idea that isn’t relevant to your audience’s needs. A great ebook has to be specific and useful.

Before you begin writing, I strongly recommend that you ask your audience what they want. Use social media—maybe post about it on Facebook or tweet out a question on Twitter. You’d be surprised at the range of topics that can capture your audience’s attention.

2. Start with an outline

Don’t just start writing. The tricky thing about writing long-form copy is that while you can tackle a lot more topics and discuss them in-depth, it’s also easy to get distracted and derailed. So, before you start writing, write down the main subject that you want to talk about, and then map out each topic you want to discuss under that. Keep yourself anchored on a clear set of objectives and keep these objectives in mind as you finish your ebook.

3. Give yourself time to write

Writing an ebook is a sizable commitment. Allow yourself time to develop your ideas and cohesively write down your thoughts. Depending on how long you intend your ebook to be, you can’t expect to finish everything in just a few days. Dedicate time to actually write your ebook. Don’t edit while you write—at this point, you just want to create the content.

Remember to be consistent as well. If you decide to give your ebook a completion deadline, you should be writing regularly.

4. Don’t forget about your CTA

Make sure that you don’t leave your potential leads hanging. The end of your ebook should be able to point them to their next steps. Do you want them to click on a link or sign up for something? Be very clear and explicit about this.

The whole point of you developing this kind of material for your audience is so you can nurture them through your buyer’s journey.

Writing an ebook doesn’t have to be daunting. Approach it in small, easily manageable scales. Think of a topic and do your research. Create an outline, write, and make sure you do so while keeping your main objectives in mind. If you need more help or guidance, get in touch with me at Leadspanda and I can see how I can help.