A few weeks back my friend, John Thornhill, blogged about another income stream that he’d added to his arsenal. And I thought to myself, “sugar, why didn’t I think of that? Of course……” [cue light-bulb moment].

What was especially weird was that I actually HAD “thought of that” a few years before…. and I’d actually gone as far as to do something about it. So what did I do wrong? And what was the “brilliant idea”?

Well, let’s answer the second question first. The idea!

John decided to turn one of his best-selling “eBuuuwks” into a real life, physical buuuwk (just joshing with you, John ) And in doing so, he’s exposed himself to a much wider audience.

How so?

Well, now that he is the author of a physical book, which has its own official ISBN number, his book can be seen on the world’s leading online bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

And that’s not all….

He has yet another product to sell on eBay. With the current eBay rules you can’t sell an eBook as a digitally delivered item. However, now that he’s converted his eBook to a book, he instantly has another type of product to list.

He’s also created another traffic generation system because he still adds his links back to his existing products, just as he does in his eBooks….

… and yet another way to generate an affiliate income. Yes, he can still generate an affiliate income from his book.

Pretty cool, huh?

So where does my big mistake come into all this?

Well, after I’d read his blog post I thought, wow, I’m going to turn my best-selling eBook Operation Ebook into a `real book’.  And then I remembered that I had actually opened an account with Lulu.com a few years before, in 2005 to be exact.

I seem to remember I was working on my first eBook, a babies name eBook, actually, (I cringe when I look at it now) and I was looking for a way to turn it into a PDF.  OK, OK, so now, of course, I know that I can do this really easily with Open Office, but at the time I didn’t know this. That’s when I stumbled across Lulu.

I created the book and then, to be honest, I completely forgot all about it.  Other things came on the scene, I was selling the eBook digitally on eBay and the `Lulu stuff’ just went out of my head.

And so did the login details of my account :0 Yep, that was me, flitting from one “next best thing” to another — I’m sure you all know the scenario?

Anyway, when John had the clever idea of showing everyone the process of turning your eBooks into books and creating a totally comprehensive, step-by-step video package that does just that, I begged and cajoled a sneak peak. Cheeky, I know….. but if you don’t ask, you don’t get [bats eyelashes in a sickening way]

You know me… I’m a sucker for a good old rummage, and I have to tell you, I’m so excited about these videos and this “turn all my eBooks into physical books” business, that I want to get testing straight away. A lot of fantastic things have happened at Lulu since I last visited in 2005

So I’m actually going to see if I can create my book in an hour, as John claims on his website http://www.ebook-2-book.com Yep, that’s right, I could have my own book up and running and for sale in an hour….

Now, I’m not promising that I’m going to be back posting in an hour with the finished product… think I’m going to have to get the stop-watch out as I’ve got bath-time, bed-time stories, dishwasher filling and some dirty clothes to put in the machine… but I’m going to be really strict, get the stop-watch out and report back with my results.

If you don’t want to wait to see if it can be done and are chafing at the bit to get started on your own project you can grab the package here http://www.ebook-2-book.com

I tell you what, I’ll run a little competition (this’ll keep me on my toes)

The first two people to email me with their Clickbank receipt number, after purchasing eBook 2 Book through my link AND to post a comment below about which of your products you’re going to turn into a physical book and why you think it’ll make a good physical book — I’ll send them through the post, absolutely free, a copy of the `physical’ version of Operation Ebook that I’m going to create using John’s eBook 2 Book video course.

I’ll also offer 5 copies of the downloadable version to the next five people (same stipulations as above — a receipt number and a comment )

Please send emails here

So what are you waiting for? Get publishing http://www.ebook-2-book.com

P.S. What a nice surprise!! I just found my old password and login to Lulu.com buried in the nether regions of my `puter, and, can you believe this…. that book I was telling you about, that I’d just abandoned, forgotten all about, has sold two copies! How cool is that? And that’s just through someone finding it on Lulu – there were no links on any of my websites, or in any of my autoresponder messages etc. Nothing.

Yes, the princely sum of 8 quid is now mine…  I’m off out on the town!

I’ll report back later

Now that the subscribers to the priority list have had their exclusive 24-hour first-come-first-served period, there are a few of my limited licence PLR autoresponder email packs left.

Just upload them to your autoresponder, set and forget!

If you are looking for eBay-related autoresponder emails; fresh content to send to your subscribers… check these out… but hurry, once they’re gone, they’re gone

Grab your 3-month, 6-month or 12-month packs here

Enjoy!

Some of the most popular questions I see on internet marketing forums involve creating PDF documents

Particularly, many people creating their first eBook want to do so in PDF format but are a little in the dark about how it all works.

How do I turn a document into PDF format?

How do I make clickable links?”

How do I cloak the links so you can click on words like `Click Here’ instead of having to display the full url of a website?

How do I secure my PDF document so it can’t be copy and pasted?

Here’s a short, illustrated tutorial that you might find helpful

• Go to http://www.openoffice.org and download a free copy of this wordprocessing software – it’s quite similar to Word!

• Once you’ve downloaded and installed on your computer, open up a new page

• Alternatively, if you have already typed your content in, say, Word, then copy and paste it to a blank page

N.B. You may find that the formatting is rearranged from Word to Open Office, so you will probably have to spend a few moments sorting out your formatting. However, now that you’ve got Open Office on your computer, you will be able to begin future projects immediately in Open Office.

• To change text into links simply highlight the words

• Then click on the hyperlink icon in the top tool bar

• You will then see a pop-up box which you need to complete

• Insert the url that you wish to link to in the Target box

• Set the frame as _blank in the drop down Frame box – this means that when someone clicks on your link they will still be able to access your PDF underneath, they will not close it when they close the webpage that you have just directed the reader to.

• If the words don’t already appear (sometimes they are there automatically) then type in the words that you wish the reader to see in the Text box e.g. Click Here

• You may also wish to include an image which, when clicked, leads to a website. Simply click on the image and follow the steps above from clicking on the hyperlink icon – you won’t need to fill out the Text box

Once you have created all your links, you will want to convert your document into PDF format.

• Go to your top tool bar and click on File to get a drop down menu, select Export as PDF

• You will now have another box pop up, click on the Security tab and check the restrict permissions box. Choose your restrictions.

• Then click on the set permission password box

• Insert your password, confirm it, click OK

• Click the Export button and you will see a pop up with all your files and directories on your computer. Choose where you want to save your PDF file on your computer from the dropdown menu, name it in the File Name box, click Save

• Go to where you have saved your PDF to view it

Check out your new PDF file to see if everything is how it should be. You can always make amendments by opening the original Open Office document and then creating your PDF again.

If you right click on your PDF document or try to select any text to copy and paste, you will see that this cannot be done.

]]> http://paula-brett.com/blog/how-to-create-a-secure-pdf-doc-with-cloaked-clickable-links/feed/ 19 http://paula-brett.com/blog/ebay-fee-calculator/ http://paula-brett.com/blog/ebay-fee-calculator/#comments Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:00:52 +0000 Paula Brett http://paula-brett.com/blog/?p=94

I’ve been like a magpie the last couple of days — keep coming across nice little freebie things to lighten the load and help you with your business.

The latest gem is the eBay Fee Calculator – calculates fees for any item you might list (not digital, obviously), including all the additional bits you might want to use, like gallery, scheduled, bold, highlight etc.

It also works for several of the eBay sites across the globe including eBay.com and eBay.co.uk You can chose Auction style, Buy It Now or Shop listings.

This cool bit of kit also calculates PayPal fees.

Enjoy!

Best wishes

Paula

The furore still hasn’t died down…..

The eBay `digital thang’ is being discussed far and wide, on blogs, forums, newsletters, emails — how to get round it, over it, under it.

At the risk of sounding a sanctimonious prig – I have to say that I strongly suspect all those that are trying to think of ways to cheat the system could be in for a fall.

If you have traded on eBay any length time you will know that eBay’s word is law. I’m amazed at the creativity of many people thinking of weird and wonderful ways to carry on sending download links to customers — sending letters with download links, sending customers to a thank you page with the opportunity to download the item and get a refund on postage and countless other wily ruses.

Of course, there will always be those that try to list their digital products and avoid sending them by snail mail, but these people will get reported and banned eventually, without a doubt.

If you’re serious about using eBay to build your business my advice would be to stick to the eBay rules and plough your creativity and energy into transforming your products into amazing-looking multi-media items – great quality and higher value. If you’re on the Powerseller chase, then there’s no reason why you still can’t pursue this – in fact I suspect you’ll make it a damn site quicker selling physical products at a higher price than you will selling 1.97 products.

As I said in my earlier post, I really am excited – I think this could be a fabulous opportunity. I’m already working on one of my products and turning it into a multi-media extravaganza – it’ll be twice, probably three times, the product that it was originally – a product that any customer would be delighted to have delivered to their door.

Whilst I’ve got pages and pages of notes and ideas about what I’m going to do with my product, I haven’t actually got to the techy burning of CDs, designing covers and compilation part of it all yet. I was planning to do a bit more research in the next couple of days but now I can relax a little about that aspect of it all.

Why?

Well, Dave Nicholson of Planet Divinity has come up with the perfect package. Many of you will know Dave and his amazing graphics work and I’m sure a good number of you will have had your own designs and graphics done by Dave’s talented team. I personally wouldn’t go anywhere else for my graphics and that’s why I’m really excited about his new package.

I really can concentrate on the content of my product now rather than all the `other’ stuff, because I know, when I’m ready for all that, Dave’s Digital Media Solution will walk me through all the rest.

• How to arrange everything on my CD or DVD for optimum effect
• How to make a simple but effective menu system to guide my customers through

• How to integrate my autoresponder, so I can still add my customers to my `digital mailing list
• And templates, template, templates, so I can create product after product quickly and professionally

• And loads more!

This really is a first class package of tools and I would urge you to take a look at what’s on offer.

Dave’s offering a special introductory price at the moment, for all those that want to get in on this on the ground floor. I suspect that once the realisation sets in with all those unprepared eBay sellers dropping by the wayside and searching for just this kind of solution, he’ll quite rightly up the price to it’s true value – so make sure you take your business seriously and move with the times and get shipping your CDs and DVDs.

Here’s the link again so you can check it out and see what you think – it might be just the solution you’re looking for

www.PaulaBrett.com/Recommends/Digital_Media.php

I switched on my `puter today to the news that eBay’s latest bomb shell is to ban digital items from being listed as of 31st March.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200803.shtml#2008-03-24125416

This has inevitabley caused a great deal of concern and anger amongst those who sell digital items such as eBooks, hosting, audio, graphics, software and other digitally delivered items, on eBay.

Check out some of the comments here

I have to admit that I gave up ranting, raging and firing off emails to eBay a long time ago. In my experience, they will do whatever they want to do and no amount of boycotts and strikes will deter them from that.

I think we have to be think positively here and adapt. Change is notoriously unwelcome by the vast majority of people but couldn’t this be a great opportunity to adapt, change and evolve our businesses for the better?

This news really doesn’t have to be the end of your business selling your eBooks and other digital items on eBay. In fact, I can see lots of exciting possiblities.

The only real downside I can see is that your customer won’t be able to have instant gratification in the form of instant download. But then again, you will not be at a disadvantage because it’s not as if your customer will be able to go elsewhere on eBay and download the same product instantly either – all digital sellers will be in the same boat.

There is no reason why you can’t burn all your digital items to CD and send them via snail mail. Yes, of course, this cuts out the automated aspect of your business but it really only means that you have to set up a new system.

And the possibilites for adding bonuses and extra information and items to the CD are endless. All of the places and products that you directed your customers to after buying from you digitally can still be included. You can still overdeliver and give fantastic value for money.

There is also the chance for you to become more than a faceless download link to your customers – they will actually be holding your CD in their hand, full of goodies – full of your personality! And I don’t think that you’ll be losing out on your list building, as you can easily add a link within the CD to a sign up page, or any other pages you wish your customers to have a look at.

Is there a possibility here to send a physical newsletter to your customers, and not just get them to sign up to a digital mailing list?

Physical items have always held more perceived value to customers than a download link. And just think, you’ll have no more emails telling you that their link won’t work, or that they don’t know how to download items, or they can’t unzip your product.

“But this will mean me spending my time packaging items and schlepping to the Post Office every day and it will cost me a fortune buying CDs and packaging etc.”

Not necessarily!

First of all, remember the higher perceived value I just mentioned? In my opinion, you will be able to charge more for your products to cover these expenses. Shipping and packaging will be taken care of, as you will now be charging for this.

There are two ways you can produce your CDs…

1. Create and ship them yourself
2. Use a service to create and ship them for you.

Let’s take a look at some examples

1. If you go to a website like www.bigpockets.co.uk you can buy

• pack of 50 CDs for GBP 2.99 (about 6.00 USD) this works out at about £0.05 per CD (approx 10 cents)
• a 50 pack of cardboard CD mailers £1.49/$2.98 = £0.02/$0.04

Of course, there are other websites that offer similar deals but to burn and pack a CD using the above example would cost you 7p (or 14 cents)

You will then need to factor in shipping costs and what your printer ink and perhaps petrol travelling to and from the Post Office regularly will cost you.

2. Alternatively you can use a service that would do the whole lot for you – yes, a bit more expensive but well worth thinking about. I haven’t extensively researched these type of companies but one that I have used myself quite a bit is www.swiftcd.com

Swift CD are based in the US and they will burn and ship a CD for you to anywhere in the world.

For just $3.69 you get a CD containing your contents, a custom label printed on the face of the CD, manufactured at order-time, packed into a lightweight mailer, addressing and customs forms (when necessary). They guarantee shipment within two business days for the US (4-7 days internationally), and usually ship same day if they receive your orders by noon New York time.

Again, you do need to add on shipping costs which are $0.41 within the US and $0.90 for everywhere else but you won’t have to use your printer ink and make the trip to the Post Office.

Another service that might help those eBayers in the UK is the `print your own stamps’ facility offered by Royal Mail. I used this when it was first introduced and it’s simply a case of opening an account, uploading some cash to your account and then printing your stamp to a label. Whack the label on your cardboard mailer and stick it in the post box. No queueing up in the Post Office!

Perhaps US readers will comment on whether there is a similar service in the United States?

I’ve also been told about a product called Disc Buddy, I’ve not actually used this product, but it looks pretty interesting and might be worth viewing the video.

I hope this post has given eBay digital sellers some ideas and, most of all, some encouragement not to give up. This isn’t the end of your business — it’s just a case of re-evaluating and devising a different system.

Best wishes

Paula

Is anyone trying eBay Blogs yet? http://blogs.ebay.com/

Could be an excellent way of driving traffic to your listings and other projects.

If you have your own blog, which includes a fair amount of eBay related materials, you could just copy and paste. Mind you, eBay is so diverse now that any kind of `outside’ blog you may have would probably go down well on eBay.

The software that I mentioned in my last post is about to be launched any day now. So sign up here for your free demo

And guess, what? Yours truly is doing the voice-over for the on-line demo-video…………. So you can all have a listen to my dulcet tones – arrgghh! It’s worth signing up for the demo just for that

Enjoy and speak soon.

Paula