You have probably heard about online marketing books – those exhaustive tomes which exhaustively cover everything a marketer might need to know, from search engine optimization to social media marketing, email marketing, etc. While there is certainly value in such a book, the truth is you don’t need to read a 400+ page book to be an effective online marketer. There are simpler ways to get the same results. In fact, you might even want to consider putting down some cash to buy a few relevant tools. Here’s how you can create your own powerful online marketing book in no time at all.

Start With a Research Project

One of the simplest ways to create a powerful online marketing book is by starting with a research project. If you’re looking to become a digital marketer, then you’ll most likely need to gain some experience first. Why? Because, as we’ve established, not everybody is cut out for being a digital marketer – you need to have the skill and the aptitude for it. So, in order to create a book which will be both effective and comprehensive, you should first consider starting with a research project.

The best research projects don’t just provide information for the sake of it. They actually lend themselves to creating a valuable resource which can be used by future generations of marketers.

Make Use Of Your Network

If you are fortunate enough to have a network of colleagues, then make full use of it. When you have a network, you have access to a wealth of knowledge and experience which you can draw upon. You can even access experts via Skype or Google Hangouts, if you aren’t able to get your colleagues to physically meet.

With your network, you can establish a project which will become your online marketing book. You’ll want to start by discussing the research you’ve conducted so far, and then you can begin to flesh out the details of how you intend to approach each topic. Your network will be able to provide invaluable support and guidance throughout the process, as you work your way through the material.

Build A Valuable Resource

Even if you’ve conducted your research and started with a solid plan, you will still need to work hard to create a valuable resource. A good resource will not only exhaustively cover each topic, but it will also provide the reader with actionable advice and tools. In other words, you’ll want to avoid simply giving people information – you want them to come away with real world practical knowledge which they can apply to their business.

To build a valuable resource, you need to approach your research with a ‘how-to’ mindset. That is, you want to provide people with the information they need to get the job done – how to perform a task, or how to solve a particular problem. When approaching each topic, first ask yourself, ‘How can I make this meaningful and valuable to my reader?’ Then, you can begin to answer that question. For example, if you’re writing a blog post on the most profitable affiliate markets, you might want to include some advice on how to become an affiliate marketer. You can also offer up tips on how to effectively build a blog. To attract potential customers, you might include some information on SEO – how to properly optimize your content for search engines like Google.

Create Organized Chapters

Now, you don’t need to worry about organizing every detail of your online marketing book, from chapters to subsections. You can simply organize the information however you think makes the most sense. Then, when you’ve got your material laid out in a logical manner, you can begin to add the essential details. Once you’ve got the basics down – organization, content, and style – adding the extra details will be much easier. Furthermore, if you ever find yourself getting lost in the details, it’s a good idea to step back and re-evaluate the entire structure.

Gather Feedback From Real World Marketers

What is the point of creating a powerful online marketing book, if you don’t actually end up using it? The best research projects never stop – they are always evolving and changing in line with the latest trends and technologies. However, in order to keep up, you’ll need to update your book regularly, and even then, you’ll probably end up neglecting some of the topics. That’s why it is essential to gather feedback from real world marketers.

With a little bit of effort, you can set up your very own survey, and you can get some of your colleagues or friends to participate. When they do, they’ll be able to provide invaluable insight into the effectiveness of your book, and they can also point out any glaring omissions or errors. Also, participating in a research project doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sit back and wait for others to tell you what you need to know. You can actually get involved in the process and give your input – that’s how best to create the most useful and comprehensive resource possible.

Make Sure You Follow The Right Style

When creating a book, you’ll often need to consider the target audience – to whom you are writing the book, and what they will find useful and interesting about your subject matter. In other words, you’ll need to consider the’style’ of the book. That is, when someone approaches your resource with a ‘this is what I need for [tech] x, [biz] y’ mindset, you can be certain they will find what they’re looking for, however, if you’re writing for a general audience, then make sure you intersperse your content with numerous examples, diagrams, and other visual aids – to make sure your readers fully understand what you’re communicating.

Once you’ve got your book completed, the next step is to actually market it, which we’ll discuss in the next section.