New E-book readers, Write Your E-book Now

The statistics speak for themselves. According to Yankee:

**By 2013, U.S. e-book reader sales will climb to over 19 million, with 6 million e-book readers purchased in 2010 alone.

**The U.S. installed base of e-book readers will hit over 36 million by 2013.

Although e-book readers have been around for some time, the cost has kept people away, as has the new e-format.  Japan introduced a color reader this past year for $1,000.  Increasingly, people are getting used to reading online or through their electronic devices.  The increased revenue from digital downloads shows that these concerns are disappearing.  According to the Association of American Publishers, the total industry revenue from digital-book downloads rose 149 percent in 2009.  

Amazon, which started the ball rolling with its Kindle electronic reader has sold about 3 million units in the U.S. and is now selling them in 100 countries worldwide.  

Barnes & Noble’s Nook runs on the Android platform and includes Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G wireless connectivity, a six-inch E-ink display, and a separate, smaller color touchscreen for the primary input device. 

According to an article on Teleread.com Sony reports that e-readers are the best sellers on the U.S. Sony Style Web site, and sales volume quadrupled year over year. Sales were so high over the holiday season that registrations crashed the servers on Christmas day.  The best selling model is the Touch edition, instead of the lower priced Pocket edition.  Sony wants to use e-ink for its displays, not LCD, so it’s waiting until color e-ink is for its new color reader.

E-reader Info. com says that Taiwan’s Delta Electronics will start shipping 13.1″ color e-readers at the end of the second quarter, in addition to the  8.1″ monochrome ones.

Apple announced a tablet computer, the iPad, that comes with a new iBookstore.  Most consumers don’t read enough that they are going to buy one device just for reading but Forrester’s data says that more consumers  read e-books on their cell phones and PCs than on e-readers.

The prices are already going down.  There will also be new features, such as listening to music while reading, or an e-book that has two screens like a book, or touch screens.  The battery life is getting much longer at the same time.  The Nook has a plastic screen to reduce glare.  Electronic-ink technology is set to move from black and white to color by the end of 2010. Even video is very close.

All this bodes very well for businesses that want to write high-quality and i informative e-books  on topics that their customers need and want. These e-books can be used as marketing tools or as income builders.  The next couple of years are really going to shake up the e-book industry.

Selling E-Books Well Worth the Production Cost

Online marketing vehicles come, and marketing vehicles go, but e-books selling is growing stronger.  Jack McKeown, Verso Digital business development director, analyzed the habits of 110 million virtual users and found that “Avid readers are using their eReaders to supplement their print reading habits.”

According to McKeown, a hybrid market of readers is emerging that  continues to divide its book purchases between e-books and print books.  A majority, or two-thirds, of these readers are 45 or older. In comparison, only 28 percent are in the 18-plus bracket. It is important when writing books to interest the baby boomer readeres and grow new readers with the younger crowd.

Interestingly, the survey also found the maximum price these avid readers would pay for e-books.  The results show about 28 percent will not pay over $10.  However, 37 percent say they are unsure about what they would pay. Somewhere in the $10 to $18 range may be the right price.

This once again shows the importance of e-commerce and online service providers to use e-books as a marketing and income-building tool. Readers want information, and are willing to pay for it. E-books can be produced at such a low cost that it makes it well worth Internet businesses to get them written and published.

When’s Time to Start Online Business? Now!

The reports of online business success in 2009 continue to mount and continued growth is expected for 2010.  If you are thinking about starting an online business or service, now is the time to put things into action.

According to PRWeb, e-commerce “has continued to rocket” its way forward.  Holiday consumer e-commerce spending was over $25 billion, close to a 4 percent rise over year prior, even in this tough retail environment.  November 30 “Cyber Monday” showed sales adding up to $887 million dollars.  Based on U.S. Census Bureau e-commerce sales  information for 2009,  businesses not considering starting an online business in 2010 are not taking advantage of  a 100+ billion marketplace  that is expanding by the day.

If you already have a brick-and-mortar business, but not a “working” Web site, or you want to start an online business, read over the articles in this online-business-guide and get going.  Also, you can find more information in my books about making a sizeable income with an Amazon.com business or leveraging the power of Yahoo! to build your business in my published books with Atlantic.  If you want ideas about the type of business to start, check out my 199 online business ideas.

E-Commerce Social Media Examples

This past year, numerous e-commerce sites increasingly used the social media as a marketing tool due to the economic situation and the growing impact of the social media in product and service decision making.  Rather than just putting up a Facebook account, many Web site businesses are using the social media to provide additional information and services not on their home site.

1) Some online businesses are giving fans perks, such as t-shirts, coupons and other types of savings. 

2) Do you have a unique business or service and want to show it off? Join other Internet companies that are using their Facebook for photos and videos on how their products work.

3) Many online services have particular nonprofit organizations that they support. The Facebook page is a perfect place to highlight the latest participation with that organization.

4) Does your online business have special contests? They can be listed here on Facebook. For example, what about a special recipe winner each month that uses your Web site’s products.

5) The Facebook page can be a great place to include photographs of customers’ photographs with your products.

6) There are numerous widgets now that do everything, but there is usually not room on the Web site of the business. Add them on Facebook and change them monthly.

Online Video Marketing:Trend Bigger in 2010

The trend toward using videos for marketing business Web sites, generating traffic and building a following is gaining more momentum in 2010. 

According to comScore, over 78 percent of the American online audience views Internet videos.  The Wine Library video blog has a hundred thousand viewers every month.  Increasing  numbers of people like to watch videos both online as well as on their mobile phones.  Now, it’s quite easy to create and publish videos on YouTube and iPhone.   Print blogging has soared over the past several years, and video blogging will probably do the same.  These blogs are also primed for search engine optimization, which enhances your marketing efforts. If you have or want to start an online business, you should give thought to videos for business Internet marketing online.

At the same time, live video streaming is also increasing.  These are not videos that play to a large number of general viewers. Instead, they are similar to written blogs that are designed to reach niche audiences.  In most situations, you ar targeting specific people with special-interest events with perhaps 1,000 or less individuals. 

Although there are a large number of free informative videos online, many of them do not cover topics in much deapth or are not high quality. Some of the videos also include advertisements, and viewers need to watch these before getting to the real meat .  Therefore, look for more video tutorials to be sold to interested customers either for a one-time use or on Web sites that offer subscription plans.  

Small online businesses can use videos in a number of different ways, such as providing information, establishing relationships and enhancing interest in products or services.  As your competition continues to only use text as a marketing vehicle, you can stand apart by including videos.  With a personal touch, you can talk directly to them and provide information on your products or answer questions that often arise with customers.  You can explain why you are better than the competition and how you can best meet their needs.

If, for example, you sell lighting, then produce video tutorials on how to enhance a livingroom with new forms of light.  Show how different lights change the look of the room. Or, you can talk about the benefits of the lighting products in terms of energy savings, length of use and quality design.  Or, have video just devoted to Q&As that you receive on a regular basis from your customers. Put that up on your site in addition to the regular FAQ list.  

It may seem overwhelming and expensive to do a good video, but that is not true. You do not need a full-length movie that is being shown in national theaters. Videos can be done very reasonably in a short period of time.

Niche/Specialize to Start New Online Business

The e-commerce results for 2009 are similar to those in 2008, the Internet continues to allow a level playing field where anyone can start an online business with little cost and much cheaper than a brick-and-mortar.  Especially in today’s tough economic times, this may be an answer for building income.  Yet, since so many people are going online, competition is becoming tougher than ever. How to start an online busines is by finding a niche and specializing remains the right way to proceed.

If you want to start an online business and succeed in e-commerce, look at the twigs off the main branches.  Carefully study what is and what is not being offered by competitors.  Then, start with a few products through drop ship to get your feet wet and test the waters. 

Start building your customer list with interesting information, e-reports, marketing lists and unusual products. Make sure that your customer service ordering and shipping processes are working well.

Once you get the hang of what you are doing and have a list of return customers, go into phase two of your business plan and begin to expand with other products or start another niche site.  Let your present customers know what is taking place and how they will benefit.

5 Tips on Selling E-books Online for Business

Next year, Google is entering the online e-book store business, along with Amazon, Sony and Barnes and Noble.  Google Editions will let readers buy digital books on e-book readers, laptops and cell phones. If you have not yet thought about the e-book for your business, now is the time.

Even if you are just starting your online business, you should be thinking about the e-book or, at least, e-report, you will have on your Web site for business Internet marketing online.

Here is an online business guide on how to start your e-book.

1) Look at your business or service. What topic do you feel is most important for your present or future customers? For example, let’s say you rent vacations in the Caribbean.  Think about some of the topics that may be of interest such as recipes, snorkeling explorations, early history, and unknown places to visit.

2) Consider the questions your customers ask most before taking their trips.  Which of these would be important enough for an e-book?

3) Go on forums and read the members’ questions. You will have a better idea of what information they need.

4) Give thought to how you will be using your e-book: Offered for free to build your e-mail list, to build your expertise with potential customers, to encourage purchase of other products, to help jump start your new online business, or as an income builder. This will help you decide topic, length, and type of information to include.

5) If you already have an e-mail list of customers and potential renters, do a quick survey to see what topics they would like to see covered.

Social Media Markets Online Fashion Sites

If you are starting an online business in the fashion field do not leave out social media from your Internet marketing plan. According to an article by Macala Wright Lee of Fashion Marketing.me on Mashable Social Media Guide, social media changed the fashion industry five ways in 2009.

1) Nearly all brands from Sears and  JC Penny to Oscar De La Renta and Louis Vuitton are creating a presence in varied social communities, most notably Facebook.

2) Luxury brands are introducing their own social communities, such as Modepass.

3) Fashion brands are going mobile, with iPod rated top choice. Apps offer style trends, tips, important dates…

4) Style bloggers have an enormous impact on buyers.

5) Fashion sites are relying more on information from users. 

What does this mean for you?  Starting an online business in the fashion field is not easy, especially if you do not have a niche that differentiates you from the competitors. Social media has to be part of your marketing mix to promote and establish your Internet site.

Here is an online business guide to using social media for marketing your fashion business:

1) Carefully pay attention to what people are saying on forums. The users’ input can be an invaluable asset to you on product choice, marketing , pricing and competition.

2) Use the social media to build your brand name and credibility as a reliable source. Do not sell product, provide information.

3) Start a Business Fan Page on FaceBook, so customers can let you and others know what they appreciate about your products or services.

4) Join Twitter and leverage it to establish and promote your business. Make sure that you reach out to your specific niche target audience. Also, check out the competitors and see their Twitter strategy.

5) If you have not yet started your blog, then get going. Use it for a two-way communication vehicle with present and potential customers.

6) As noted elsewhere on Online-business-guide, use a variety of different ways to gain input from your Web site visitors, such as surveys, e-mail, forums and product reviews.

Holiday Sales Rise Says Start Online Business

If you are thinking about starting an online business.  Think about it more seriously.  This holiday season saw another increase in online e-commerce despite the U.S. recession.

E-commerce sales rise 5 percent to $27 billion for the 2009 holiday shopping season in comparison with last year, when sales were down, according toComScore.

Tried-and-true business Internet marketing online ideas paid off once again. ComScore says that in this difficult economic time, those retailers who had enough  financial resources and a desire to invest in aggressive marketing and free shipping offers were the clear winners.

Another study following the holiday season shows that the larger online businesses did better than the medium- and small-sized ones. This was partly true because the larger companies have retail brick-and-mortar businesses attached to the Internet presence.  Another reason, these larger companies are devoting the resources to make buying very easy for their customers.

Lesson Learned:  Even when money is tight, do not forget about the customers’ online comfort.  When starting an online business, remember that the Internet buyers are becoming very savvy and spoiled. Check out online-business-guide articles for information on how to start your e-commerce Web site.