If you're in business then you're undoubtedly an expert at something. Why not maximise your profits by selling your knowledge in the form of an e-book?

What are you really good at? Marketing? Bookkeeping? Customer Services? Design? Do you know lots about building up a successful business? Maybe you've gone wrong once and had to start again and could give others advice that would help them avoid the mistakes you made?

Everybody in business has valuable knowledge that could be passed on to others - knowledge that others are willing to pay for.

While it's true that a lot of e-books have fallen flat on their face, those that are successful are often very successful.

The ones that don't sell well are those where the author has tried to emulate the kind of book that does well in print. The two media simply aren't competitive. They compliment one another and to be successful, it's important that your e-book is the kind that suitable for Internet marketing.

1. Short & Sweet

An e-book should contain far less information that would be the case if the book were being written for print media. Just cut straight to the point without any dilly-dallying around with information that isn't strictly necessary.

If you're writing a book about book-keeping, while a chapter covering the history of book-keeping would possibly go down well in a printed book, keep it out of an e-book. While it's possible to touch on the subject, in a paragraph perhaps, remember that your readers will want practical information - nothing else.

Always bear in mind that e-books are promoted through the Internet and 90 percent of those who log on are looking for information.

2. Target Your Audience

You're far more likely to be successful if you carefully target your audience.

If you're writing about bookkeeping, don't write about bookkeeping in general but decide which group you're going to write for. Small business? Start-ups? Limited companies? There's nothing stopping you writing for each group but write a separate e-book for each. You'll sell far more that way.

Decide on your target audience and give them in-depth, useful information and you'll soon be enjoying a nice, regular income from something that took surprisingly little time to write.

3. Cut the Jargon

Except where strictly necessary, always use plain English when writing. Although you may understand common industry words and phrases, don't assume that your reader does.

When you do need to use industry speech, always explain the meaning.

By writing clear, precise, informative e-books, you'll soon build up a reputation for being an expert in your field.

4. Sir, Lord, Count or Baron?

We're talking titles.

The title of your e-book is far more important than you probably imagine. It's what first grabs a potential customer and compels him or her to read more.

"Book-keeping for Small Businesses" may tell them what the book's about, but "Taking the Head-Ache Out of Small Business Book-Keeping" is far more compelling.

Why? Because it promises the reader that there's something in it for them; that by buying your e-book, they'll learn how to deal with book-keeping in ways that will make it a breeze for them.

If you're not certain you can find a title that will sell, consider paying a professional copywriter. They're used to finding words that will draw customers and their services often aren't as high as you might imagine.

5. The Price is Right

Don't get greedy and out price your book.

Remember that a book that sells for