Hello everyone,

I'm planning to write my first ebook. It needs to be inexpensive, as it's for consumers on a budget.

A lot of you have ebooks for sale.

Do I need to buy Adobe's publishing software to get an ebook compiler that will put the book in pdf format? I did some online research, and it appears that there are programs for as little as $30. But it wasn't clear to me if the format was pdf. And I have no way of knowing if they're decent programs.

Can anyone give me advice on this?

I appreciate it!

Namaste,

Janet

Janet,

I downloaded a free program called Primo pdf (Free PDF Converter - create high-quality PDF from any printable file type -- not an aff. link) that converted my Word file into .pdf quickly and easily.

I've also gone to the Adobe website (Adobe) and they have an online conversion service. You have to register, and then the first five conversions are free -- then you have to start paying. You just upload your file and then download the conversion almost immediately.

I've also heard good things about Open Office, which is a free download and apparently includes .pdf conversion, but I haven't tried it myself.

Hope this helps,
Ken S.


EDIT: I typed in the URL for Primo pdf above, and when I posted this message, it got automatically converted into the company's tagline -- interesting! Must be a feature of the forum software?

I've used primo too. Quite easy. None of the fancy "digital signature" stuff, but still worked well.

Okay, free fits my budget!

Thanks very much, guys!!

Janet

Wow Janet,

Are you sure you want to write a book for people on a budget?

If this is your first ebook, might I suggest you go after people
who are ready to shell out some green.

Just a suggestion before you spend a bunch of time and energy
trying to pull teeth.

Jason, you're funny, you're always going for the big bucks.

I'm really enjoying writing this book. I do hope to make a good amount of money, but I have an idea that good money to me is peanuts to you. If I can sell 1,000 copies at $10 each, that's $10K, and that would be fantastic. I don't know what kinds of sales I should expect, or how much I'd need to put into marketing. But I have an idea for a free article that I hope will get me publicity. So I'm hoping marketing the book will be inexpensive.

Maybe my next ebook will be for the big spenders, but for now, I don't have anything to tell them - maybe they could teach me.

Namaste,

Janet

Janet,

If you love doing the book, then don't let anything stop you.
There is definitely a market for the thrifty. Believe it or not,
I'm actually a super thrifty guy. I've actually never really
been a money hungry dude until recently. If I had enough
to get by and eat, all was chill.

Heck, you should see my old house I lived in after I gave
away all my belongings and journeyed on to a new life. My
house didn't even have plumbing, or a kitchen. Freezing cold
in the snow, I'd kick back and drink breski's and fiddle with
the computer trying to figure out ways to make some $$$.

Check this house out, it's hillariouss... - Underachiever iPack Review
Definitely from humble beginnings.

What is really funny is going back and reading copy I wrote many
moons ago and forgot about. Hillarous how many errors are in that
page. Although I'm a hit it and quit it copywriter. I just write a bunch
of stuff in a sitting or two and never really mess with it. Imagine If I were
really money hungry Janet, I'd perfect my existing pages and triple
my income. I really should do that. SLACKER

The only reason I mentioned is because I know from experience how
it is to sell to budget minded people and it's not always the easiest.
It can be done though,and I hope you do well with it.

In fact, I'm pretty sure your gonna make that ebook rock and the
customers will love it.

Jason, I love the copy on that page! It just sounds like you. Very readable. In fact, I signed up.

As for the log cabin, it looks like fun to live in, but I know that in real life I would be too spoiled for it. My son would love it.

In fact, when I left his dad, he had a great idea - his dad would build me a log cabin in the backyard of his dad's house. Your photo reminded me of that. Poor little guy. His dad and I do live about a mile away from one another, and he's feeling better about the whole thing. But it was such a sweet idea.

It looks like you've come a long way! Impressive!

Thanks for your vote of confidence! I think it will work for me because it feels right, and I think - I hope - I really have something of value to share.

Namaste,

Janet

Janet,

Don't undersell yourself. People are paying for knowledge--knowledge they want but are too busy or too lazy to spend the time acquiring. I think $10 is too little to ask for your time, energy, and expertise. I understand marketing to the thrifty. Thrifty is a condition of my life! (Dollar General Store loves me.) However, if you test your price, you may be surprised to find out that higher priced products sell more! Why? If it costs more, it must be worth having. Consumers sense this. Unless that $10 product is a stepping stone to get them to buy another higher-priced product, I'd rethink your cost. Less does not necessarily make your wallet fatter. I can't by the AWAI course without the payment plan, but I jumped on the installment plan.

Case in point--I have a small eBay business. I market to college students and homeschoolers (textbooks and videos). Now, I've processed orders until the wee hours of the mornings and at times, it keeps me very, very busy. However, being that busy and getting low-end pay gets old after awhile. It was the catalyst I needed to get back on track with my writing career. Just a thought. . . .

Jason, I loved your site. So funny. You remind me of a friend of mine. I couldn't help but laugh. It just proves that "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

Hey,
Any product with the word "Primo" in it has to be good!

Janet -- my advice:

don't go any less than $17.00 for your knowledge...

It's all about "pre-selling" your product and "networking" with the right people.

Like Namaste has already stated, "People are paying for knowledge -- knowledge they want but are too busy or too lazy to spend the time acquiring."

Janet, you are very knowledgeable... don't sell yourself short!