What is a viral ebook?

A viral ebook is similar to an ebook in many every except for ”’intent of distribution”’.  Whereas a traditional eBook is sold or given away to disseminate information directly, a “viral” ebook is given away for the express purpose of leading to another action.  Typically that action leads to a sale or purchase.  Viral ebooks are typically given away free, given as bonuses, or sold very cheaply.  While the information contained in a viral ebook is valuable it is intended to persuade, or provide just enough of the information to propel the reader into taking specific action.

Well written viral ebooks attempt to shock or provide readers with enough new information as to merit passing the book along.  Some viral ebooks provide each reader with the opportunity to benefit from passing the book along to the next person.  This incentive can come from allowing other readers to implement their own products or affiliate links within the book itself.

Viral ebooks are not necessarily sought out by the consumers, so much as they are a marketing technique referred to internally by the authors and companies disbursing them.  While viral ebooks can provide a value to the reader, many times a poorly authored viral ebook is only a glorified sales letter.

I, Jacob Hiller, am the author of this article, What is a viral ebook?, and I release its content under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 and later.

eBooks: Empowering Authors

eBooks are empowering “would-be” authors in ways that traditional publishing could never accomplish.  New methods of publishing and exposing potential readers are allowing individuals to become widely-read authors with no third party intervention.  eBook authoring can also be a strong gateway to eventual paper publishing.

Many “ordinary” people have extraordinary stories or a knowledge of niche subjects.  However, very few of those have the knowledge of how to create a manuscript, solicit publishing houses and play the political game of getting published.

Very few people know exactly the process that books go through in order to be published.  An enormous amount of preparation must be done in order to get your manuscript in front of a publisher, and even if  you are able to do so, there is no guarantee that your work will be selected.

Many potentially successful authors have been halted by the roadblocks of traditional publishing complications.  Ebooks empower the author to create a medium, and have their books on their own online bookstore.  Affiliate program have enabled authors to sell their books through other marketers, similar to a traditional author having their books in multiple bookstores.

Best of all – ebook authors keep 100 percent of the profits of their own books, whereas traditional authors are only able to make anywhere from 2 – 20 % of the profits.  In a sense authors are working to produce goods for the profit of publishing houses, while providing nominal compensation to the author.

Advances in ebook software have developed a more secure medium for authors to create their art.  Readers are now prohibited from a simple copy-and-paste form of piracy.  Authors are now empowered to impose other forms of security that protect their creative livelihood.

Lastly, if an author has successfully created an online readership, soliciting a publishing house is going to be that much more compelling.  If I can tell my potential publisher that I already have sold thousands from my efforts to promote my book at home, I have already demonstrated that I have an interested an audience, which is the key risk in publishing.

Ebook publishing is empowering authors to cut out the middleman, make more profits, simplify business, and get a foot in the door of traditional publishing houses.

Jacob