In my last guide, I spoke about affiliate marking. You can view that guide by clicking here. You can also find that guide in My World.

If you can remember back to that last guide, I spoke about the concept of marketing products on behalf of others, (your affiliates) and being paid a handsome commission for your efforts. I would like to state once again in this guide, that in my humble opinion, this is a great way to earn extra income from your own online business. For the specifics involved with this type of activity, please refer to my last guide.

Now, I also mentioned that you may well be marketing information products on behalf of your affiliates, which are delivered electronically. In fact you could say that they are totally within the digital domain. That is, unless you decide that you need or want to print them, they remain a "computer file" in one format or another.

In this Ebay guide, I want to elaborate on these "electronic information products" or "EBooks" which I have previously spoken about marketing on behalf of others. So should you be writing, producing and selling your own "EBooks" or "electronic information products"? Yes! Your absolutely right! You definitely should be! Why do I say this so enthusiastically? Because for little or no additional costs, you can write your own EBooks with a word processor on your computer. I know you have a computer, or you wouldn't be reading this guide. Most, if not all computer users these days, have a word processor program already installed. But if for some reason you don't have one and don't like the idea of paying lots of money to buy one, you can download an excellent open source product called "Open Office" completely free of charge. The Open Office suite has a fully functional word processor, spreadsheet program and presentation program. They are packed with features and in most cases are completely compatible with high end, highly expensive office programs that you would purchase from a computer or electronics retailer. To find Open Office, all you need to do is a internet search. I cannot provide you with an external link, as this is contrary to the Ebay Guides policy.

In addition to a word processor, you will need a PDF creation program. There is another open source product which I can highly recommend called "PDF Creator". Once again, you will have to do an internet search to find it, but it is definately worth the effort. When this program is installed, you access it's functionality by printing from your word processor. That is; when you select print, PDF Creator will be listed as one of the printers available to you computer. You simply print your word processor document to the PDF Creator printer listed in your printing options and presto! You have a PDF version of your document.

As you may already be aware, PDF files can be viewed with the Adobe Reader program. This can be downloaded from Adobe, or other sites which offer free content. Yes, it's also free of charge.

So now you have a product which can be easily and quickly delivered to anyone in the world who has a computer with an internet connection. Can you see the potential of this concept? If you have a specific interest and knowledge of any activities such as businesses, sports, crafts or hobbies, you could share your knowledge with millions of people across the internet.

As for the specific content of your EBook or electronic information product, well, that is really up to you and possibly beyond the scope of this guide. However, I would like to mention that whatever it is that you have a special knowledge of, eg. sewing, cooking, child care, restoring / repairing automobiles, fishing, golf, knitting, pottery, yoga, model trains or whatever other hobby, sport or field of business you can think of, there will definitely be someone out there interested in your expertise on your particular topic of interest. They are probably doing an internet search for this information right now!

I did speak earlier in this article about the possibility of selling your EBook products. While this is definitely possible, maybe even a lucrative business opportunity for some, from a marketing prospective, you may also wish to consider the benefits of providing your content free of charge. Yes, free of charge. I realise that this may seem a little bit odd-ball to some. But consider the good will that you will derive from offering your expert knowledge and opinions free of charge! Your readers will love you and will be dying to get their hands on your next publication!

Of course you can offer your free expert knowledge in your EBook, a service that your readers (potential customers) will love, while at the same time, you can carefully and strategically offer your telephone numbers, your email address and other business contact details so that your readers can seek further expert advice from you at your going rates.

So remember, it's not a dumb or stupid idea to offer your information products free of charge. Your are offering good will and indeed, offering part of yourself to your readers and potential customers. In a way, you will be creating a better, more trusting environment in which to make future sales.

Good luck with your business ventures.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Barnes.

P.S. I would love to know what you think about this guide and my previous guide. You can contact me by making a comment on this article, or sending an Ebay message to me. User name: ajb2066