In this article I am going to show you exactly how to write a successful folio and sell it.

What is a FOLIO?

A folio is a booklet, a newsletter, a guide, a pamphlet, a report, a how-to manual, it is simply an easy-to-understand articles which show the reader “How To” do something.

What are the characteristics that make a successful FOLIO?

1. It has to be factual and helpful
2. It should be written in numbered instructions
3. It has to be written in simple language to make it easy to understand

Does the Folio have to be long like a book?

No, a folio can be anything from a brief two-page article to a professionally printed book with a hardback cover.

What is amazing about folios is the fact that people who purchase those folios are interested in the information they contain. Seldom do they care about the quality or type of paper the information is printed on.

What to write about in a FOLIO?

If you can put together a couple of pages on a “how-to”, then you have already written a folio!

Writing a folio is a very simple thing but BE CAREFUL!!

• Never ever write about something you don’t know! You must write about something you are really experienced in and not just anything
• Never ever write about something you don’t like! You should be able to enjoy writing those folios or else you will end up doing a horrible boring thing that you won’t keep up

How to write a folio?

1. Research it! Ask questions. Read books, newspapers, and magazines on the subject. Talk to friends and neighbors. All this will make you an expert in the subject you are writing about.
2. Keep notes on everything.  When you have read everything you could find, sit down and study your notes. Then think about the whole subject for a day or two.

3. Pretend to be the person who knows absolutely nothing about the subject. Write down 10 questions that such a person might ask. Then write out, in your own words, the answers to the questions. Do not try to be literary! Remember keep it simple and easy to understand.
4. Writing in the form of questions and answers is the best way to write a folio
5. Voila! Your Folio is ready!

How to sell a folio

As a writer you are familiar with different ways to sell your articles online and offline. You may publish those folios online for free to be available for everyone to read.

You may want to publish only headlines of your folio and leave selling information at the end of the folio for those who would like to purchase the whole information in it.

You can also sell your folios directly to freelance agencies online or offline.

But the most effective ways to sell your folios are a little different. Here’s how:

1. Direct Mail:

   Magazines and tabloid papers are mostly distributed via mail. You can place a classified ad in these magazines and papers telling people about your folio. Folios are mostly priced from $1 to $3. That’s why they are easy to be sold. People want information and they will buy when it is cheap.

2. Offering free information:

   You can set up an ad introducing your folio and offering some free information about it. You can place your mailing information and allow people to ask you questions about the folio. When you answer them back giving free informative answers, they will want to buy the whole thing and you make a sale.

3. Wholesale agents:

   This option is for those who have big folios and printed a quantity of them you can let those wholesale agents sell your folios for you. You can find those through classified ads too.

And to finish it up, here are some fresh ideas to write about:

• How to plan your honeymoon with the least cost?
• How to know if your kid is doing drugs?
• How to be friends with your teenager?
• How to stay positive through frustration?
• How to throw a killer party?
• How to drive a car for those who are afraid?

Enjoy writing your folio!