Have you ever given any thought to becoming a published author? Me either. I never though of myself as an author or even a good writer so the thought never crossed my mind.

Well things have changed and so has my thought process about becoming a published author. You see, Amazon Kindle has changed everything.

The Kindle is hot. In fact, Amazon is selling more electronic books than print books these days.  And getting published on Kindle is hotter still with the way Kindle books are exploding. Not to mention how easy it is to publish on Kindle. If you want to get started here is a good video course for cheap that will give you all the help you need. It is called Kickin’ It On Kindle.

Some of the biggest reasons why people have bought or will soon buy a Kindle are:

1) It makes your library portable

2) It lets you add to your library from anywhere

3) Kindle screens can be read in broad daylight

4) Kindles are getting more and more affordable

5) The Kindle Store is Growing FAST!

And the best part is….. they’ll be looking for a variety of books to read on their Kindles.  Just put yourself in their shoes and you’ll immediately see the growth potential. Lets take a closer look at each point.

1) It makes your library portable

Remember when the iPod first came out and you no longer had to lug around CDs and cassette tapes when you wanted to be entertained on the road?

In addition to the convenience, there was the sheer capacity of the iPod.  You could store thousands of songs in a device that fit in the palm of your hand, and you could access any of them at a moment’s notice.

Enter the Kindle.  It has the same capacity for storage and instant access.  You’ll get weeks of entertainment in a device small enough to fit almost any purse, all accessible at — you guessed it — a moment’s notice.

And unlike CDs and cassette tapes, books are heavy, so if you’re a voracious reader, you no longer have to lug around pounds of books to ensure you won’t get bored on even the longest flights — or beach vacation.

2) It lets you add to your library from anywhere

This is where the Kindle does the iPod one better.  Thanks to Amazon’s Whispernet, you can add books and other documents at the click of a button.

You can also subscribe to blogs, newspapers, and periodicals, and have them added automatically.  Kindle makes it easy to keep up with what’s happening, without having to squint at the screen of your smartphone or iPhone.

3) Kindle screens can be read in broad daylight

Unlike computer screens, Kindle screens are designed to imitate paper, and they are doing a terrific job.  You can read them clearly in any kind of lighting, even in broad daylight while you’re out lounging by the pool.  Try that with your laptop!

4) Kindles are getting more and more affordable

When the Kindle first came out, it was kind of pricey.  Of course that didn’t stop a lot of technophiles from investing in one anyway.  But it did keep more budget-conscious readers out of the loop.

That’s no longer the case.  Now, Kindles are just a fraction of the price they were when they first appeared, and at just over $100 for the least expensive model, they’re flying off the shelves.

In part, that was to be expected since new technology tends to be more expensive for early adopters, but in the case of Kindle, sheer economics was probably driving the drastic cut in price.  First, there was the growing competition from the Nook and other e-readers, and then…

Amazon realized that it was making far more money from selling books for Kindle than from selling the Kindle devices themselves, so it became a smart move to get those Kindles into the hands of as many people as possible so they could buy…Kindle books!

And the more people have Kindles, the bigger the market for your own Kindle book.

5) The Kindle Store is Growing

Amazon’s Kindle store is getting bigger by the minute.  Sales of Kindle books are growing by leaps and bounds, and one way in which Amazon is trying to keep up with demand is by making it incredibly easy to publish books, blogs, and more to its Kindle store.

And that’s where you come in as a potential Kindle author!

An ever-growing number of people are rushing to create content for Amazon’s Kindle store.  In fact, there is a lot of intriguing information available for Kindle that’s not available in any other form.

As a result, even more people are likely to break down and invest in a Kindle, which will lead to ever more readers who are shopping in the Kindle store for new information.  And you could be right there to provide it!

Yesterday I received a call from a customer who asked why my eBook wasn’t available for download on an iPad.

I new the day was coming but it still caught me off guard. You see… you can’t just upload your eBook to and iTunes store and be done with it….no buddy. You have to convert your PDF files to ePub files and then upload them to iTunes.

If you have an iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone here are some easy instructions.

If you don’t have on of those then there are several other steps you must take and unless you know how to do these and use a Mac you are better off going with a “broker”.

Most “brokers” charge a one time setup fee to get your eHub to the correct specs, and then maybe a small annual fee to track and report sales and commissions. I found this to be the easiest route since I use a PC and you might find the same.

They will convert your PDF files to ePubs and do all the work for you but if you would like to save a little bit of money you can easily convert your PDF files to ePubs.

I found this free converter called Epub2Go. It is fast and free. After you have converted your files to ePubs then look up your favorite iTunes brokers and follow there lead.

That is what I am about to do. Have you had any requests for this?

Part of promoting your website business is getting in front of as many people as possible. While you are there, give them something interesting the read, listen to or watch that will direct them to your website through a link. One of the ways that people like to hear about new sites is through podcasts.

What is a Podcast?

A podcast is a multimedia tool that people can follow. Think of it as audio or video information that you can listen to or view on your computer, your iPod or any other multimedia enabled device. It’s like having your own radio show on your website.

Podcasts can be syndicated using RSS (really simple syndication). This is the same process that people use to keep up with blogs and websites. The RSS feed allows them to receive updates when changes are made on the site so they don’t have to visit every day.

Creating your Podcast

There is software available to help you create your audio and video files. You can embed code for them on your website so others can view them. Beyond the technical aspects, the purpose of the podcast is to present interesting information to your readers in a new and unique way. People browse the Internet to find useful items. They like to read, but would admittedly like to watch or listen as it is a more convenient way to get the same information.

So what will make your podcast stand out? Use engaging dialogue, present relevant topics and use visually appealing props and sets for video casts.

Going Viral

For one, don’t forget the keywords. You want people to be able to find your podcasts when they use their search engines. Even if you are using mainly audio, include keyword optimized titles, tags and links in your podcasts.

Submit your podcasts to directories. Use every avenue to get yourself in front of the public. That includes creating press releases to announce your podcasts if you are introducing them for the first time. Optimizing your press releases and submitting them to free press release sites keeps people finding them even after you are through using them.

Let your existing customers in on the new podcast. Use your email list to keep them in the loop as you unroll your podcast project. Give them links directly to the podcast so they can view it and hopefully pass the link on to others.

Your podcast can be turned into a radio show with regular guest spots. Interview other business owners in your niche and notable online personalities who would be of interest to your readers. A recurring show can increase your traffic and your following.

Want to get people to your website? Create a podcast. Turn it into a radio show or recurring video cast to create a following and gain more traffic to your business.