The thought of writing an electronic book otherwise known as an eBook that centers on the healthcare community may seem like a major undertaking. Choosing a topic, deciphering and compiling the information, writing each section, designing the eBook, and that’s before marketing and distribution. The healthcare community isn’t just doctors. There are clinics, patients, family members, office staff, legal teams, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. So, writing an eBook that will be beneficial to the healthcare community doesn’t need to be medical related, it needs to be people related! Here are six great tips for creating an eBook for healthcare.
Choosing a topic: This is the fun part! When you choose a topic, think about something you can add value to and what will be useful to the community. Are you well versed in social media? Write about how the community can be enhanced through social media. Do you have expertise in organizing? You can write an eBook on organizing a clinic. Using tools like Google’s search bar and Keyword Tool can also help you choose a topic. Entering a string of words into the search bar will engage Google’s search suggestions. This will show you what people are wanting to know more of.
Preparing: After choosing your topic, it’s important to gather and organize your information. This stage should also see a skeletal table of contents beginning to form. Everyone has a different organizing style, so it’s important to compile your data in a way that makes sense to you. If you are working on your eBook alone or in a team, using a service like Dropbox or Google Drive are great ways to have your information in one central location.
Writing: The writing part of creating an eBook is much easier to tackle if it’s thought of like a series of blog posts. As you complete each blog post, your eBook begins to fill out. The blog post method is also a great way to keep your writing juices flowing. Envisioning sections in small blog posts help to remove the anxiety of completing an entire eBook in one sitting, and allows you to accomplish things in small chunks.
Editing: The first step in editing your eBook is to read it. While reading through it, make some notes about what you’re reading. Does your section on Twitter for physicians seem really wordy? Make a note of it, and decide what can be trimmed. Ask someone in your inner circle to take a look at the eBook, and have them give you some feedback. The editing process should take several read throughs.
Formatting: When you begin formatting your eBook, it’s important to have an idea of what you want it to look like. Depending on what type of word processor you are using, you may have a suite of templates available to you. A quick Google search will turn up some great examples. Images and other visuals are a great way to display data and add life to your eBook.
Distributing: This is the time to tap into your social networks. Sharing a link to your fresh and snazzy eBook on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin is great, but you will need to engage! Join chat session that touch on the topic of your eBook, join and engage in dialogue within Linkedin’s groups, and promote your eBook on Twitter. If you have the funds to pay for a distribution service, take a look at something like Smashwords or Scribd. Both have a good foundation in the community and can help take your eBook to the next level.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, creating an eBook should be a satisfying experience. As you find your eBook writing groove you will begin to see how easy and beneficial an eBook can be for you and your medical practice. If you found these tips useful or have any eBook writing suggestions for the community, leave a comment below!