That’s secret to writing, publishing, marketing and promoting how-to manuals: identify what concepts, experiences, and special knowledge you have that other people want and need in order to solve problems they have. Key point: people do not buy "how-to manuals", they buy solutions to their problems.

As you begin taking your first steps in this exciting business, keep in mind that it should be treated as a business. Also, recognize that any real business is not going to make you rich overnight. If your how-to manual fills a big enough need in marketplace, you could find your self running a lucrative full-time enterprise (if that’s what you want). Beware of many scam artists out there who will make claims like "Learn Secret Formula That Will Make Your Products Sell Like Crazy" or "Make $7,000 On The Internet In Seven Days Or Less" or "Increase Your Sales 1700% in Seventeen Days".

As a by-product of writing, publishing, marketing and promoting my other manuals, I learned from experience what has worked, as well as what hasn't. I won't jive you; path to profitability in this business (as in virtually all others) is not a short one. Be prepared to "stay course".

Easy & Cheap. It’s getting easier and cheaper than ever to produce your how-to manuals for distribution, from traditional print media to electronic formats that can be distributed over Internet immediately!

Profitable. Finally, this is an incredibly profitable business! People who need what you know will pay more for your 30- 90 page how-to manual than they pay for a hardback book at bookstore! And mark-up on your product can result in substantial profits on even just a few hundred or a few thousand sales.

Pricing. And that’s point I want to end this article with: one of biggest mistakes self-publishers make is that we tend to underprice our manuals! Manuals that contain specialized knowledge are virtually always priced higher than books in stores. This is because you are making available specific information that a specialized segment of marketplace is seeking. Your customers desperately want your information -- and they are ready, able and willing to pay for it!