Using e-books as a marketing tool is becoming very popular for online business owners. The problem is that some business owners try to take shortcuts and give away e-books that other people have written. This results in a flood of the same books hitting the market, limiting choices for those who are interested in learning more. Additionally, giving away e-books that others have written also limits the value of an e-book as a marketing tool for your business. If you want to successfully use e-book marketing to promote your products and services, these five reasons for giving away your own e-book will help you get started.

You can use your own logo and branding.

When you purchase an e-book with giveaway rights, you usually can't change the author's name or anything else about the e-book. This means that every e-book you give away is plastered with the logo and branding scheme of someone else's business. If you're using e-books to market your business, this goes against the principles of marketing. You're better off developing your own e-book and giving it away with your logo attached so you can better develop your own brand awareness instead of someone else's.

You can include links to your own Web sites within the text of the book.

When you give away someone else's e-book, you can't change the text of the e-book without paying extra money. Some e-book authors don't even offer this option. That means every time you give away that e-book, the readers are following someone else's links and helping to build someone else's business. You'd be better served by developing your own book and including your own links to improve your Web traffic and sell more products and services.

You can improve your own credibility and showcase your knowledge.

If you're giving away an e-book written by someone else, you're helping to promote that person as an expert when you should be promoting yourself as an expert. Developing your own e-book allows you to share your knowledge and experiences with others and helps you to build your credibility as an expert in your field.

You can market your book in any way you choose.

If you buy an e-book with resell rights or giveaway rights, you may be restricted in how you can market the book or share it with others. When you develop your own e-book, you have control over where the book is promoted and how it is marketed to your target audience.

You will be providing something unique for your target audience.

When hundreds of people are giving away the same e-book, it doesn't give people much of a choice when they want information on a specific topic. By developing your own book, you're filling a need in your chosen niche and providing a true resource for people who need the information you have to provide.

Developing your own e-book is one of the best ways to take advantage of the popularity of using e-books as a marketing tool. With control over what you're promoting and how it is promoted, you will build your own business instead of someone else's.