Research and Find a Topic for your Ebook

 

Research and find a topic for your eBook before you just jump in and start writing blindly without proper planning. You will either have a poorly written ebook in the end or it will become the standard your audience expects. Needless to say that not too many sales will come your way.

• Why write an eBook?
• Identify your target audience
• Research trending topics
• Check out the competition
• Brainstorm Ideas
• Validate your data
• Research and find a topic for your eBook - Conclusion

Why write an eBook?

Keep in mind that this article is based on non-fictional book writing. 

Most of us have a built-in writer inside of us but like most, it is never used for many reasons. People write eBooks to share their knowledge and skills with others while getting in return some kind of gratification.

Gratification has a different meaning for different people and although most writers write ebooks for monetary rewards there are some who just do it for recognition.

With the internet has come the opportunity for any novice writer to put their book out there on the market. Self-publishing websites have become very popular and direct marketing through your own website can put your ebook in front of millions very easily.

Like anyone else, you have a skill or knowledge that can be shared. The secret is to plan your writing journey correctly in order to get the most out of your efforts. Also, keep in mind not every book you write will be a hit unless you are either unique or lucky.

To do this you have to research and find a topic for your ebook based on your interests or you will put too much effort in and give up. Research is the keyword here. Doing research for an eBook is the same as doing it for your blog but in just a more organized and detailed fashion.

This is part one of a 10-part series to help you along your journey.

Identify your target audience

Understand your readers, their interests, and the problem or need that your ebook will address for them. Here are some ways that you can start narrowing down on what your end goal will be.

Define your target audience 

Determine the demographic characteristics of the people who are most likely to be interested in your ebooks, such as age, gender, income, and education level. In other words who are most likely to buy or read your ebook.

Conduct market research

Use tools such as Google Trends, SEOPressor, or Keyword Surfer to find out who is searching for popular keywords and phrases related to your topic. It is also the quickest way of starting off your research as it will give you an idea of where and what to start looking for.

Use social media

Look at social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see who is engaging with content similar to what you will be publishing. People on social media cannot stop talking about what their interests are and like to show it off so take advantage of it.

Analyze your existing audience

If you already have a website or blog, use analytics tools like Google Analytics or Monster Insights to learn more about your current audience and see if they are a good fit for your target market. Just don't fall into the beginner's trap of getting sidetracked into spending too much time trying to read your statistics.

Create a buyer persona

To better understand and target your ideal reader, create a detailed profile of them, including demographics, interests, and pain points. It does help when you start writing to have a picture in mind of who you are writing for.

Surveys and interviews

Conduct surveys or interviews with potential readers, customers, or experts in your niche to gain a better understanding of their needs and preferences. It is a good indication of how much interest there is in the real life of the web. remember online everybody loves everything without sincerity.

Look for similar books in your niche, read their reviews and best-seller lists, and try to figure out who their target audience is. It can be seen as reverse engineering someone else's success without copying it but rather using it to become better.

Research trending topics

Examine current trends in your industry or niche, as well as popular keywords and phrases, to identify potential hot topics. At the beginning of your research, it is best to read as much related material as you can to establish a starting point or you will get distracted throughout the process.

Utilize keyword research tools

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEOPressor, or Keyword Surfer to determine which keywords and phrases are trending in your niche. These tools can also help you determine the level of competition and search volume for a specific topic that you are trying to compete in.

Examine industry blogs and news sites

Keep up with the latest trends and developments by following blogs and news sites in your niche. It helps you to make sure the information in your book is not outdated even before you start writing it.

Participate in online communities

Join online communities related to your niche, such as forums or Facebook groups, or Quora, to see what people are talking about and what topics are currently popular. Many discussions here will highlight problems your audience might experience in your niche.

Examine social media platforms

Frequent social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to see what topics are trending and what people are discussing. When people look for something they will always try and find the quick answer from someone on social media.

Examine your competition

Investigate other ebooks in your niche to see what topics are already covered and to identify market gaps that you can fill. Every book out there claims to be "comprehensive" but there is always something missing and what puts your book above the rest will be that something.

Examine the best-seller lists

Examine the best-seller lists on sites like Amazon, Smashwords, and ebooks.com to see which books are currently popular in your niche. Many of these are self-publishing platforms and will give you a good indication of market saturation if any.

Look at popular podcasts and videos

Podcasts and videos are also excellent ways to stay current on the latest trends and developments in your industry. Find one or two authoritative figures in your niche to follow but make sure they provide you with valuable knowledge that you can utilize.

Use Google Trends

Google Trends is a free tool that shows how frequently a specific search term is entered in comparison to the total search volume. It can also be used to compare multiple terms over time to see how they have changed. It is also useful to see what it will cost you should you want to advertise your ebook on Google.

Check out the competition

Investigate other ebooks in your niche to see what topics are already covered and to identify market gaps that you can fill. Always keep in mind that your competition started like you are doing now and has done all the hard yards. So for you to draw from their experience can serve as a great motivator to push on.

Determine your competitors

Investigate other ebooks in your niche to determine who your primary competitors are.

Examine their book titles, covers, reviews, and ratings so you can have a big-picture view of your niche. It also gives a good idea of what is bad and what is good. It helps you to avoid making the same mistakes.

Examine their content

Read or skim their ebooks to get a sense of the topics they cover, the writing style, and the level of detail they provide. Examine their content for any gaps that you can fill with your own ebook. Focus on their headers and sub-headings to get a good idea of what is missing or what you have to fill in the gaps.

Investigate their marketing strategies

Examine the methods they use to promote their ebooks, such as social media, email marketing, or paid advertising. Examine their strategies to see if you can replicate or improve on them.

Try to find their website or track them on social media, Youtube, and other channels to see their strategy or to see their following in the niche.

Examine their pricing

Examine your competitors' ebook pricing and see how it compares to your own pricing strategy. Make sure as a beginner your pricing is correct because it is a fact that pricing is related to authority in a niche. 

You can't break into a market at the top level unless you are absolutely certain that you can offer something new that no one else did before you.

Examine their feedback

Examine the reviews and ratings for your competitors' ebooks to see what people think of them. Look for common themes in both the positive and negative reviews to identify areas for improvement. People leaving reviews are real readers but it is also well known that reviews can be bought so try to determine what looks real and what is not.

Examine their channels of distribution

Examine which platforms your competitors are using to sell their ebooks and how they are reaching their target audience. Strategy is very important in online selling no matter the product or service. 

That is also why you will quickly realize that best sellers come from masterful marketing strategies that take a lot of effort and time.

Determine their advantages and disadvantages

Examine what your competitors do well and where they fall short. Use this knowledge to improve your own ebook and make it stand out in the market. There will always be writers that already have advantages in the market such as authority elsewhere or years of experience in writing as journalists or media experts.

Keep an eye out for them

Set up Google alerts for your competitors' names and book titles, follow them on social media, and subscribe to their mailing lists to stay up to date on their activities. It is always good to see what they do that is fresh as they are experienced and know have to identify trends and changes as it happens.

Brainstorm ideas

Make a list of achievable topics, then narrow it down by determining which ideas are most relevant to your target audience, expertise, and interests. By now you should know who you are targeting and this task should be easier to organize.

Create a conducive environment

Find a quiet and comfortable location where you can focus without distractions. This brainstorming session needs to be as wacky as possible and once the ideas start flowing you don't want to be interrupted.

Establish a time limit

Make time for brainstorming and allow enough time to generate a large number of ideas. You need time to brainstorm and having a brainstorming session is different than suddenly having a rush of bright ideas.

You need to have time to switch over into brainstorming mode and it cannot be done in a rush.

Define the issue or challenge

Clearly define the issue or challenge for which you require solutions. This will help you stay focused and generate relevant ideas. With enough research, you can easily find a focus point that will help you drive the rest of your eBook planning.

Encourage crazy ideas

During brainstorming, don't hold back and don't dismiss any idea as being too wild, unrealistic, or irrelevant. Encourage out-of-the-box thinking and creativity because they can lead to unexpected and innovative solutions.

Most of the good ideas that bring a new flavor to your niche are because of not focusing on the norm. Normal has been done thousands of times before.

Use prompts or triggers

Use prompts or triggers such as pictures, quotes, or questions to help generate new ideas and keep the brainstorming session flowing. A whiteboard or sticky notes can make up a valuable source of go-to triggers when you are ready to brainstorm.

Involve people with different backgrounds and perspectives

Invite people with different backgrounds and perspectives to participate in the brainstorming session. This will help you develop a broader set of ideas and perspectives. This can ensure that you will pick up on ideas and struggles experienced in other niches.

Make a list of all your thoughts

Make a note of any ideas that come to you, even if they don't appear to be relevant or practical at first. You can always return to them later and read them again. Believe me, this works wonders for you when you enter a phase of "writer's block".

When it hits you it is easier to refer back to your own research outcomes than trying to start from scratch. Starting from scratch is a focus killer and can undo everything you have done so far.

Take breaks

Between brainstorming sessions, take breaks to allow your mind to rest and return refreshed, allowing you to generate more ideas. Forcing brainstorming will never work as you have to switch to a different frame of mind.

Breaks must be short and remember it is only to quickly clear your mind and the purpose is to continue with new ideas when back. A brainstorming idea must only be recorded and not deliberated on. That is for later.

Reflect and evaluate

After the brainstorming session, reflect on the ideas that were generated and determine which ones are the most viable and relevant to the problem or challenge at hand. I also advise taking three or four of the most achievable ideas and one ridiculous ideas to work with.

Sometimes a combination of ideas can make your content very unique to your audience and the problems you are trying to solve.

Validate your idea

Before you begin writing, validate your idea by conducting surveys or interviews with your target audience to determine whether they are interested in your topic and looking for a solution to that problem. 

Make sure you focus on the audiences you previously identified or you will not get honest feedback.

Create Surveys

Create a survey and send it to your target audience to gather feedback on your ebook concept. Inquire whether they would be interested in reading a book on your topic, whether they have a need for the information your book will provide, and how much they would be willing to pay for such a book.

Interviews

Conduct interviews with potential readers, customers, or experts in your niche to gain a better understanding of your target audience's needs and preferences. Inquire about their pain points, what they are looking for in a book right now, and what they would like to see in a book on your topic.

If you do not have someone to interview revert back to other sources in your research where reader opinions were available.

Focus groups

To discuss your ebook idea, organize focus groups with a small group of potential readers. This can assist you in gathering feedback on the concept, title, and cover design, as well as gaining an understanding of how your book could be marketed.

This can be a bit hard if you are an individual but start a Facebook group online and tell your visitors upfront what the purpose of the group is and what you expect to get out of it.

Test your title and subtitle

Run your title and subtitle by a small group of potential readers to see if they catch their attention and pique their interest. It is proven that catchy titles sell better so spend some time researching this before putting it out there.

In preparation, you can learn more about creating headlines and even make use of online headline-analyzing software such as the free one from MonsterInsights.

Examine online communities

Join online communities related to your niche, such as forums or Facebook groups, to see what people are talking about and what topics are currently popular. Communities normally will consist of like-minded people interested in the same topics.

Examine the market

Take a look at the books that are currently selling well in your niche and determine whether there is room for another book on the same topic. You would've done this at an earlier stage so now it is time to make a decision on how your ebook will be different.

Examine your current audience

If you already have a website or blog, use analytics tools like Google Analytics or MonsterInsights to learn more about your current audience and see if they are a good fit for your target market.

Examine the competition

Investigate other ebooks in your niche to see what topics are already covered and to identify market gaps that you can fill. Also, see how writers are doing that are targeting the same topics as you. This will be a good indication of what your chances are to break into the market.

You can validate your idea by ensuring that your ebook will be well-received by your target audience and that there is a market for it before investing time and money into writing and publishing it.

Research and find a topic for your eBook - Conclusion

You have now selected your topic and it is time to start preparing your writing process.

Research it thoroughly to be certain that you have enough information and material to write a complete and accurate ebook, as well as to ensure that it has not already been covered in a better way by another author.

Next. you will focus on getting the material and resources to write your book.

Investigate your topic further

To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your topic, gather information from a variety of sources such as books, articles, websites, and experts in your field.

Take careful notes

Take notes and highlight important information to help you organize your research. To keep your notes organized, use a note-taking app or tools like Evernote or OneNote. If you are anything like me you can still even use your hardcover notebook as long as you keep it organized.

Make an outline

Create an outline for your ebook using the information you've gathered. This will aid in the organization of your thoughts and ideas, ensuring that your ebook flows logically.

Gather information, data, and research

Gather facts, data, and research to back up your ideas and arguments, as well as to make your ebook more credible. You can never do too much research in the beginning as believe me you will always find something you have to consider including. 

This is when you have to go back and find a place for it which can be a distraction.

Gather examples, case studies, and personal anecdotes

Look for examples, case studies, and anecdotes to help you illustrate your points and make your ebook more interesting. Seeing this kind of content makes it more engaging and truthful for your readers.

Look for the following images and infographics

Gather images and infographics to break up text and make your ebook more visually appealing. Before using any images, make sure to check the copyright laws and attribution requirements.

Graphics creation and placing take a long time and if you don't have it ready will kill focus and cause procrastination. This is normally a "writer's block" Kickstarter.

Create a reference list

Maintain a list of references and sources that you can use to cite your sources and give credit to the original authors.

Before you begin writing your ebook, gather enough ideas and resources to ensure that it is well-researched, informative, and engaging and that it meets the needs and expectations of your target audience.

The next chapter in this 10-part series will help you with outlining and structuring the contents of your book.