Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway.

Up until now, this opinion has had clout. But now, book authors need only write a short introduction of one to two pages. Through five essentials below, part of your essential "7 hot-selling points" that every book needs to sell well, your sparkling introduction will compel its readers to take out their credit card and buy. Potential book buyers want this concise, personal note from you.

Here's Five Essentials of Your Book's Introduction:

1. The hook. Your first paragraph must compel your potential buyer to read more, so they will buy your book. Make your opener short--one sentence is best. Answer their question, "So What? Why should I buy your book?" Your opener might be a shocking statistic, qustion, fact, powerful quote, or headline of a top benefit. It may be a short vignette from one of your chapters. Whatever it is, it must grab reader's attention.

2. The background. Your particular audience has challenges. Describe where they are now, why they haven't succeeded, how they are uninformed in a few paragraphs. Include a few sentences on why you wrote book. At end of this information, state your thesis statement, a general statement of what your problem your book will solve. This includes entertainment.

Q. The big question asked me in teleclasses or client sessions is "How should I price my eBook?

A. The big answer is "it depends."

Here's seven tips to help:

1. Determine your audience's need and demand for your book. If your book solves a particular problem for a preferred audience, it will sell well at any price. When you know your 30-60 second "Tell and Sell," you'll be more likely to know a proper price.

Let's say you have a book "Stop Divorce Now." Your tell and sell includes "Helps nearly divorced audience, both men and women." That audience gives your book a slant, and makes it more valuable. In "Tell and Sell" you must also include benefits your book brings its audience. The top benefit of this book is that it stops divorce now.

No matter number of pages, anywhere from 15-99, this kind of book will bring a healthy price. Maybe $39.95, maybe more.

2. Sell to your "wants it short, easy, and cheap to yield big profits audience. You can charge more than some general information book aimed at a general audience.

The 8 and 1/2 by 11" forty-page book _Write Your eBook or Other Short Book--Fast!_loaded with how to's and which specific steps to do first, along with hundreds of Web and email resources is well worth list price of $24.95. The author puts it on discount several times a year for only $18.95, but it sells well at $24.95.