| You know your subject area really well and you | | | | You're busy working within your niche, and |
| have years of experience in your field. So, you | | | | consistently using proven techniques and |
| can write your next eBook without wasting a | | | | approaches. But something new is always "out |
| whole bunch of time doing research...right? Well | | | | there", being proposed, discussed, piloted, |
| you could, but you would be risking your | | | | acclaimed, or trashed. You need to know about |
| reputation in at least four critical areas. | | | | these new ideas so that you can give your |
| Your reputation is based on your expertise and | | | | readers an understanding of factors now hitting |
| how you share it with your readers. They know | | | | (or just about to hit) their world. If you don't at |
| you as someone who can be relied on to give | | | | least reference some of the latest approaches |
| them information that is clear, reliable, insightful, | | | | and ideas, then you raise questions in your |
| leading edge, and applicable to their situation. But | | | | readers mind ("Why wasn't there anything |
| how do you know that your next eBook will live | | | | mentioned on...?). You can end up looking like "old |
| up to their expectations? Research is both quality | | | | guard" rather than "leading edge". And who wants |
| control and risk management. Your research will | | | | to read outdated or incomplete stuff? |
| answer the following questions. | | | | 3. Is it interesting and useful to my readers? |
| 1. Is all the information in my eBook accurate? | | | | Do you really know what problems your readers |
| If you're going to state something in your eBook | | | | are currently struggling to solve? You may think |
| as a fact, it had better be a well documented | | | | you know, but is there any information out there |
| fact. This is vital to ensure that you are not | | | | that can give a definite answer? |
| singled out as being inaccurate. You need to | | | | What questions are they asking and not getting |
| research every major fact in your eBook, and | | | | good answers to? What new approaches are |
| identify: Who has verified that this "fact" is indeed | | | | they trying and struggling with? What types of |
| true? Are they a credible authority? Has any | | | | help are they asking for? The answers you find |
| reliable authority disagreed (e.g. identified it as a | | | | to these questions tell you the needs that your |
| "myth")? | | | | eBook must address. If it answers some of these |
| If your research identifies that there are different | | | | questions, it will get their attention. If your eBook |
| opinions, then present it instead as a "leading | | | | provides appropriate guidance, and helps your |
| theory" and identify that there are some | | | | readers move towards a solution, then it has |
| dissenters. Or quote the leading authority | | | | proved its value, and you have a hit on your |
| ("According to Dr...."). | | | | hands! |
| 2. Is it current and complete? | | | | |