There’s nothing difficult about setting up an ebook (or any other kind of file) for download on your website. Just follow this simple 5-step procedure…
1. CONSIDER COMPRESSION
You can compress your ebook file to make it smaller (in memory terms) using compression software like WinZip. WinZip compresses your files and puts them into a self-extracting file. When your readers click on the file, it will install itself to any directory they select on their PC. You can get a shareware copy of WinZip from the WinZip website (http://www.winzip.com).
You could offer both a compressed and an uncompressed version of your ebook on the download page. This will enable a quicker download for those customers who have WinZip and are familiar with it. By the same token, those who don’t know about using WinZip have the option of downloading the larger file.
If you’re offering both compressed and uncompressed versions, then you should link your customers to the WinZip website, and explain how to use WinZip to unzip (uncompress) your ebook file.
2. SCAN FOR A VIRUS
Don’t risk spreading a virus to your customers through your ebook.
Before you send it online for others to download, it’s imperative that you run a virus-scan on it. Make sure that you use an up-to-date virus scanning software. If you don’t have one, then send a copy of your book to a friend who does.
3. TRANSFER THE FILE TO YOUR WEBSITE
Now that your download files are ready, you need to send them online to your webhost’s server. In other words, you need to send the e-book’s EXE and/or ZIP files up to your website where they can be accessed by your customers.
Here’s the procedure for this…
Let’s say that your ebook’s EXE file is MyBook.exe and let’s say your website is at http://www.websitename.com
Ideally, you should place the book in a sub-directory (sub-folder) of your website. You can create the sub-directory using FTP software (you can get a shareware version of WS_FTP at http://www.ipswitch.com) or through your webhost’s control panel. If unsure, ask your webhost support for help.
You can call this directory anything you want. Let’s say you call it ‘download’.
Now upload the book to this directory using either FTP software or your webhost’s ‘File Upload’ feature if they have one.
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If you’re using FTP software to upload the book, simply open the sub-directory you’ve just created in the panel on the right. In the panel on the left select your book. Now using your software’s ‘Upload’ button, send the file up to your webserver. (In WS_FTP the upload button is the right-pointing arrow between the two panels). Be sure to select ‘binary’ as the ‘transfer mode’ (this is usually the default setting).
If you’re using your webhost’s file upload feature, then check their instructions on how to use it.
4. ENABLE THE DOWNLOAD
You’ve now placed your e-book file online (2 files if you’re offering a zipped and unzipped version). The only thing that remains to be done is to place a link on your webpage pointing to the file.
Sticking with the example above, you would simply place a link to:
http://www.websitename.com/download/MyBook.exe
or in the case of a zipped file…
http://www.websitename.com/download/MyBook.zip
Once your customer clicks this link, the download process will begin. The customer’s browser will open up a “save as” window which will allow them to save your file onto their computers.
5. TEST IT!
Test the download link to ensure that everything works as it should. Then, get some of your friends to try it out on their PCs.
If, when you click the link, nothing happens, then verify that you’ve written the link correctly (they are usually case sensitive) and that the EXE file is where it’s supposed to be. If this is all okay, then you should talk to your webhost support.
And there you have it! Your ebook is ready to download. Now all you have to do is tell the world it’s there 🙂
Michael Hopkins owns BizzyDays Publications. BRAND NEW E-BOOKS FOR FREE! Customize them and give them away. FREE PUBLICITY for you, FREE CONTENT for your visitors AND you can EARN MONEY as well! http://freeebooks.bizzydays.com
