| name | ebook-outline |
| description | Outlines downloadable ebooks with chapter structure, design notes, and lead magnet positioning strategy. Use when creating a free or paid ebook as a content asset or lead generator. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Ebook Outline
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Outline an ebook for use as a lead magnet or paid digital product
- Structure chapters with key points, estimated word counts, and design callouts
- Plan the lead magnet funnel positioning (landing page, opt-in, delivery)
- Create a comprehensive ebook blueprint before writing
DO NOT use this skill to write the full ebook — this produces the outline and strategy only. Use it as the planning phase before drafting.
Core Principle
AN EBOOK THAT TRIES TO COVER EVERYTHING COVERS NOTHING — NARROW THE SCOPE TO ONE TRANSFORMATION THE READER WILL ACHIEVE BY THE LAST PAGE.
Phase 1: Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Topic | "What is this ebook about?" | No default — must be provided |
| Purpose | "Is this a free lead magnet or a paid product?" | Free lead magnet |
| Reader transformation | "What should the reader be able to DO after finishing this ebook?" | No default — must be provided |
| Target reader | "Who is this for? Be specific." | Solopreneurs and small business owners |
| Length | "Target page count or word count?" | 20-30 pages (~5,000-8,000 words) |
| Design style | "Minimalist, corporate, creative, bold?" | Clean and modern |
| Opt-in context | "Where will people download this? Landing page, blog post, social media?" | Dedicated landing page |
GATE: Confirm brief before building outline.
Phase 2: Outline
Ebook Architecture
**Title:** [Working title — benefit-driven]
**Subtitle:** [Clarifies scope or audience]
**Total chapters:** [5-8 for lead magnet, 8-15 for paid]
**Estimated length:** [word count / page count]
**Front Matter:**
- Cover page
- About the author (2-3 sentences)
- Who this ebook is for
- How to use this ebook
**Chapter 1:** [Title] (~[word count] words)
- [Key point 1]
- [Key point 2]
- [Deliverable: worksheet / checklist / template if any]
**Chapter 2:** [Title] (~[word count] words)
...
**Back Matter:**
- Key takeaways summary (1 page)
- Next steps / CTA
- About [business name]
- Resources mentioned
GATE: Approve outline before proceeding to detailed chapter breakdowns.
Phase 3: Write
Chapter Detail Template
For each chapter, provide:
## Chapter [N]: [Title]
**Purpose:** [What the reader learns or achieves in this chapter]
**Word count:** [Estimate]
### Key Sections
1. [Section heading] — [2-3 sentence description of content]
2. [Section heading] — [2-3 sentence description]
3. [Section heading] — [2-3 sentence description]
### Actionable Element
- [ ] [Worksheet / checklist / template / exercise for the reader]
### Design Notes
- [Callout box, pull quote, diagram, or visual suggestion]
- [Page layout note if relevant]
Lead Magnet Positioning Strategy
If the ebook is a lead magnet, provide:
## Lead Magnet Strategy
**Landing page headline:** "[Benefit-driven headline]"
**Landing page subheadline:** "[What they get + time to consume]"
**Opt-in form fields:** [Name + email only — minimize friction]
**Delivery method:** [Instant PDF download via email automation]
**Follow-up sequence:** [3-5 email series post-download]
- Email 1 (immediate): Delivery + "Start with Chapter [X]"
- Email 2 (Day 2): Key insight from the ebook + question
- Email 3 (Day 4): Case study or testimonial related to the topic
- Email 4 (Day 7): CTA for paid offer
Design Direction
## Design Guide
**Format:** PDF, optimized for screen reading
**Page size:** 8.5 x 11 or A4
**Brand colors:** [User's brand colors or suggestion]
**Typography:** [Header font + body font suggestion]
**Visual elements:**
- Chapter title pages with full-width color blocks
- Pull quotes in branded callout boxes
- Icons for key takeaways
- Worksheets designed as fillable or printable pages
**Tools:** Canva, Google Docs, or Adobe InDesign
Phase 4: Polish
1. Ebook Outline Checklist
## Pre-Write Checklist
- [ ] Title is benefit-driven and specific
- [ ] Each chapter builds on the previous (logical progression)
- [ ] Reader transformation is clear from Chapter 1 to the final page
- [ ] At least 3 chapters include an actionable element (worksheet, checklist, template)
- [ ] Design notes are specific enough for a designer to execute
- [ ] Word count per chapter is balanced (no chapter is 3x longer than others)
- [ ] Lead magnet strategy includes landing page copy suggestions
- [ ] Follow-up email sequence is outlined
- [ ] Back matter includes a clear CTA for the next step
- [ ] Ebook can be consumed in one sitting (under 45 minutes for lead magnets)
2. Title Variants
Provide 5 title options with different angles:
1. [How-to]: "How to [Achieve Result] in [Timeframe]"
2. [Blueprint]: "The [Topic] Blueprint: [Specific Promise]"
3. [Mistakes]: "[N] Mistakes [Audience] Make with [Topic] (And How to Fix Them)"
4. [Ultimate]: "The [Audience]'s Guide to [Topic]"
5. [Number]: "[N] [Things] to [Achieve Result] Without [Common Obstacle]"
Example: Lead Magnet Ebook for a Freelance Coach
Title: The Client Magnet Playbook
Subtitle: 5 Proven Systems to Land Freelance Clients Without Cold Pitching
Chapter 1: Why Cold Pitching Is Broken (~1,000 words)
Chapter 2: System 1 — The Referral Engine (~1,200 words)
Chapter 3: System 2 — Content That Attracts Clients (~1,200 words)
Chapter 4: System 3 — The LinkedIn Inbound Method (~1,200 words)
Chapter 5: System 4 — Strategic Partnerships (~1,000 words)
Chapter 6: System 5 — The Portfolio That Sells (~1,000 words)
Chapter 7: Your 30-Day Client Magnet Plan (~800 words)
Lead Magnet Landing Page Headline:
"Stop Chasing Clients. Make Them Come to You."
Anti-Patterns
- Scope creep — an ebook that tries to be a textbook. Lead magnets should be 20-30 pages, not 100.
- No actionable elements — if the reader cannot DO something with each chapter, it is a blog post, not an ebook.
- Burying the value — the best content should be in chapters 1-3, not saved for the end. Readers drop off.
- Generic titles — "Marketing Guide" tells the reader nothing. Specificity wins: "5 Systems to Land Clients Without Cold Pitching."
- No follow-up sequence — a lead magnet without a nurture sequence wastes the lead. Always plan the post-download emails.
- Design afterthought — a poorly designed ebook undermines credibility. Include design notes from the start.
Recovery
- Topic too broad: Ask "What is the ONE thing the reader should be able to do after reading this?" Narrow to that.
- Too long for a lead magnet: Cut to 5-7 chapters. Move advanced content to a paid product or blog series.
- No design resources: Recommend Canva ebook templates. Structure chapters to fit standard template layouts.
- No email platform: Suggest free options (MailerLite, ConvertKit free plan) and provide a basic automation setup guide.
- Outline keeps expanding: Cap at 8 chapters for lead magnets. Anything beyond that becomes a paid product.
