Follow these eight steps to create an ebook you can use to market yourself:

1. Choose a topic
It sounds obvious, but this is probably your most important and crucial step. Choose a topic that is specific enough to showcase your expertise in your industry, but isn’t so niche that very few people would be interested in reading it. Remember, your goal is to demonstrate your expertise as it relates to the job or gigs you are trying to win, so keep focused on that concept when you identify your topic. How can you identify ideas and concepts that will interest your audience? Do your research. Visit all of the online sites for organizations where you want to work. Do they focus on any topics in your realm of expertise? View details from your professional conferences online – especially national events that bring in big-name speakers. What are the keynote topics for your professional associations? What obstacles will experts discuss and try to solve? Those problems are great fodder for your ebook. If you can provide useful information, advice and solutions for people in your field, you likely have a great ebook topic.

2. Identify what others say about your topic.
Google is a great resource, as you can search for what other people have written about your topic. Decide if you agree or disagree and take a stand. Then, incorporate specifics into your ebook that will help other people who want to solve the same problem.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

3. Plan what you want to say.
There’s nothing worse than an ebook without a point. Make sure you choose a topic with a clear focus and don’t stray from the topic. When you write something too general or unfocused, your ebook won’t help you demonstrate your expertise. Write your thesis statement or title and outline what you have to say to prove your point. Consider listing out chapter titles in the form of an outline. If the concept of a book overwhelms you, consider focusing on one chapter at a time, but never lose sight of the big picture.

4. Have a target length in mind.
Once you know what you want to say, you should be able to identify how long a book you want to write. Be realistic, but keep in mind, if you want a significant product at the end, you’ll need to write many thousands of words. Don’t obsess about the length, but when you have a goal in mind, it will help you keep on track.

How should you determine your length? Your book should be short enough to inspire people to read it, but long enough to make the point that you know what you’re talking about, can organize your ideas effectively and have a solution to the problem you’re addressing.

5. Organize your time.
It’s unlikely you’ll finish an ebook of any worth without allocating time and dedicating your time and resources to keeping pace to finish before it’s time to start to re-research topical concerns in your field. If possible, allot time every day to write, or select bigger chunks of time and write every other day. When you put your book aside and come back to it after more than a week, you’ll need to spend time getting reacquainted with what you wrote, and you’ll waste time you could otherwise spend putting more words on the page.

6. Ask someone to review and edit your work.
Before you publish anything for other people to read, make sure it’s well written and not peppered with typos and errors. It’s difficult to self-edit, as you’ll likely miss mistakes you initially introduced. If you can’t afford to hire a professional editor, ask a talented friend to review it.

7. Select a format.
Once your ebook is ready for readers, you’ll need to get it into a format that makes it easy to distribute and share. There are many options for ebook publishers and choices you’ll need to make regarding formats and distribution channels. While you want the book to be attractive (having a professionally designed cover always makes a book stand out), you want to focus on the content first. Consider getting started with steps one through 5 and when you are comfortable with what you write, begin to explore options to make sure your finished product will look professional.

8. Let people know about your book.
Include information about your ebook in all of your job search marketing materials. Include a mention in your resume and incorporate details in your online profiles. When you are using an ebook to help market you for a job, it’s best to share it widely and make it available for free. Upload it to your LinkedIn profile, have a link to find it in your email signature and offer to send it to networking contacts who may be interested in the topic.

If your book is impressive and contains useful and actionable ideas, you are likely to get somejob leads as a result.

More from Miriam Salpeter
Traits of most valuable employees
How to make a great impression at work
Best employee qualities

Originally appeared at AOLJobs.com.

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It’s not always easy to start thinking about a new business when you’re working full time. After eight years in the Navy, Vinay Chadha transitioned to a civilian job in Veteran Affairs at the Office of the Inspector General, but always had plans to open his own business. When he came across Maui Wowi Hawaiian, a coffee and smoothie company, he began cold calling local venues, and was offered a vendor contract to sell at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Since Chadha was only a franchisee for three months, he didn’t have so much as a blender. He had to quickly acquire two more mobile carts, hire employees and purchase products, all while staying afloat at work. Now he operates his franchise at least three times a month at Qualcomm.

Chadha suggests the following for those considering starting a business while already employed.

1. Be prepared for the unexpected. Chadha found himself needing to purchase extra supplies to meet the demand at the stadium. You never know when you’ll need extra capital to fulfill orders or to take advantage of an opportunity. Sometimes, time will be the resource you need, not money. Do what you can to plan ahead, but consider saving up your vacation time in case you need it to take care of a project on the fly.

2. Find a business model that is compatible with your lifestyle. “I think one of the worst decisions potential business owners can make is to invest in a business that they are not truly passionate about,” Chadha says. Since you’ll spend a lot of your free time, not to mention money, growing your business, you want to choose carefully before jumping in with two feet. “Additionally, it just makes good business sense as you will be more involved and motivated to make your business succeed,” he notes.

3. Tap into the Small Business Administration and other small business owner resources. Chadha suggests accessing resources via SCORE, a nonprofit business counseling association. If you’re a veteran, there may be additional resources targeted to you. The SBA provides a wealth of information anyone considering owning a business would benefit from knowing.

4. Have realistic expectations. No one said owning a business is easy. Once you launch your new venture, you essentially hire yourself (at least at first) to handle everything that needs to be done. You’re the IT support, chief marketer and customer service specialist. It can be difficult to effectively manage all of these roles, so you’ll need to try to pace yourself until you get a firm handle on your customers and their needs and gain access to the resources you need to serve them. “Research, patience, hard work, drive and persistence will always be a business owners most valuable assets,” Chadha explains. “You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel and believe me as a new business owner that is the way I sometimes feel.” Your investment will eventually pay for itself if you put the time, effort and energy needed into it.

5. Have a plan with an end goal in mind. As simple as it may sound, knowing where you want to be and having a road map to get there is extremely important, Chadha says. Don’t be the business owner that has a fully functioning ship in the middle of the ocean with no navigation system. Your plan should include consulting your networking contacts and making sure to extend yourself to your network as a resource at the same time that you may ask for help. When you coordinate your goals and your activities, you’ll succeed much more quickly than if you try to wing it.

Originally appeared in U.S. News & World Report.

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But first, since Iâ€m all about the connections…Some fodder from last night:

The “coaches are brothers” story. Whatâ€s the likelihood of two brothers being head coaches of NFL teams? (And playing each other in the “Big Game?”) Yes, thereâ€s the family legacy issue, with the father as a coach, and Iâ€m sure there was some big-time networking involved, but it still seems pretty improbable. What is the lesson for the rest of us? Thereâ€s a big world out there, and lots of room for talented people with skills to make a mark, be distinctive and to succeed.

If youâ€re thinking of starting a business, you may recognize that there are lots of other people out there who are making a living doing what you want to do. In spite of that, it doesnâ€t mean you canâ€t also be successful. While there is only one  winner, it doesnâ€t mean that you canâ€t be very successful if you take the right steps to demonstrate your expertise and to expand your network.

Unknowns (and underdogs) can win it all. Okay, maybe the Ravens arenâ€t exactly “unknowns.” But, they are a relatively new team, formed in 1996. As a non-football watcher, I had to ask, “what is a Raven?” when I heard they were facing the 49ers. They went from start-up to Big Game winners. So it took 17 years for me to hear of them, but I am not their target audience, so thatâ€s okay! Similarly – you donâ€t need everyone to know about you – only the ones you need to influence. And, even in a big, deep field of plays, you can still succeed, with hard work and maybe a little luck.

Your thoughts influence your actions. If you watched the game, it was clear the momentum shifted after the blackout. What looked like a blowout game turned into an actual contest. It turns out that’s not so surprising. The AP reported that Ravens safety Ed Reed said some of his teammates were worried that the game would turn when the lights came back on. “The bad part is we started talking about it,’ he said. “Some of the guys were saying, ‘They’re trying to kill our momentum.’ I was like, ‘There’s two teams on the field.’ But once we started talking about it, it happened. We talked it up.”

This is such a big factor for anyone who wants to make a change or try something different. If you convince yourself that you can or cannot do it — it is more likely to be true!

How does all of this relate to my news? I have a new book in the works! This summer, Social Networking for Business Success: Turn Your Interests Into Income will hit bookstores near you. Iâ€m thrilled to have collaborated with my friend and colleague, Hannah Morgan of CareerSherpa.net, to co-author this book full of ideas and resources for anyone who wants to use social networks to expand their business opportunities. It’s a subject near and dear for both of us, and we’re excited to share our new book with you!

In our book, we offer information and advice for a quick ramp-up if youâ€re a business owner who wants to use social networking tools to expand and grow. We also provide targeted help for those of you who may be thinking it would be a good idea to start thinking of yourself as a business and marketing your skills accordingly. The Super Bowl lessons make it clear that the improbable is possible.

Your success is in your hands – sometimes; all it takes is just the right information to move from the theoretical to the actual.

We canâ€t wait to share this book with you! (Read Hannah’s big announcement.)

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Whatâ€s Workingâ„¢

A Right Management survey found youâ€re probably working  harder than ever and that weekends no longer provide the work respite they once did. The research said, “more than one-third of workers regularly get weekend emails from their boss who expects them to respond. Another one-third reported getting such emails from time to time.”

Whether your motivation is that you are miserable at work or because you anticipate a layoff, itâ€s possible you may be better off marketing yourself as a consultant or starting a business instead of looking for another traditional job.

Consider these five tips to prepare to become a business owner.

Start saving money. If youâ€re the type of person who checks the calendar to find out when the next paycheck is coming because you are out of grocery money, itâ€s time to scale back your spending and save some money for a rainy day. Freedom and flexibility come with being able to manage to cover your expenses even without a regular job.

Audit your free time. Think about how you spend your time outside of work; is there any time to start a new business on the side? We used to call this moonlighting; some refer to it as a “side hustle.”

Decide what you want to do. It sounds obvious, but if you want to run a business, you need to identify the intersection between what you know how to do and what people need and are willing to pay you to do for them.

Evaluate your skills. Are you totally disorganized when it comes to managing money? Do you avoid writing like itâ€s the plague? Do you cower in fear when itâ€s time to attend an in-person networking event? Would you rather get in a pit of king cobras than speak in front of a group? If you want to run a business, youâ€ll need to be prepared to take on these and other challenges.

Study trends and market needs. You may have great skills and a passion for a topic, but you need to know if people are willing to pay you to use those skills.

Keep an eye on your competitors, review employment and industry trends via resources such as the Riley Guide, and tap into services such as Trendwatching.comâ€s free monthly trend briefing.

Read the complete post on U.S. News & World Report.

photo by nicsuzor

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The Harvard Business Reviewâ€s Tammy Erikson

Workplace expert Alexandra Levit reported on technology firm Mavenlinkâ€s 2012 infographic, The New Independent Workforce, which shows the number of self-employed, independent service firms, solopreneurs, and temporary workers grew by an estimated 4.3 million workers since 1995. They expect the contingent workforce to grow to 40 percent, or 64.9 million by 2020. By 2020, 40 percent of American workers, or nearly 65 million people, will not be working in what we know as “traditional” jobs, where they work consistently for one employer who provides benefits and insurance.

What does this new world of work mean for you? Even if you have a traditional job now, you may find yourself in a position down the road where your livelihood depends on your ability to market yourself as a one-person company. The writing is on the wall: the job market and career opportunities are changing – you need to change, too.

Follow these three tips to get yourself ready for the new job market:

1. Pay attention to trends in your industry. Try to predict hot topics and problems organizations will need to hire people to solve. Since no one has a crystal ball, this is a tough assignment.

2. Develop niche expertise. When youâ€re really good at something specific, itâ€s easy to make a case for why an organization should contract with you for short- or long-term contingent jobs.

3. Learn to market yourself. The concept of “personal branding,” which suggests individuals should think of themselves as a brand and market their skills accordingly, meets skepticism and criticism, but if 40 percent of American workers will effectively be working for themselves in the near future, there is no doubt the ones who land the best opportunities will be those who understand the value of broadcasting their expertise beyond the four walls of their current workplaces.

Donâ€t be complacent; always think about the future and how to position yourself and your expertise if you want to maintain any control over your professional future.

Do you need some help navigating the new workforce? I can help! As a career expert and social media consultant, I am perfectly positioned to teach you how to market your skills so you’ll be able to maintain.

Read the entire post at U.S. News & World Report

photo by iansand

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