The introduction of the ebook took the professional and often complicated task of publishing and put it into the hands of average people who know how to write. It has been both good and bad. On the good side, there is no shortage of talented writers who have learned how to monetise ebook writing. That’s what we will discuss in this post.
To begin with, an ebook does not have to be a specific size to be useful. Some of the best ebooks on the market are no more than a couple of dozen pages. The goal is to provide information that readers consider valuable. If a writer can do that, half the battle of monetising ebooks is already won.
The actual process of monetising ebook writing is figuring out the proper channels. Writers can monetise their books either directly or indirectly, as explained below.
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Direct eBook Monetisation
Direct monetisation involves strategies in which the writer puts his or her ebook in the hands of readers in exchange for some sort of payment. There are lots of ways to do this. Here are just a few examples:
- Sell Independently – eBooks can be successfully sold independently. Writers market and sell their ebooks on their own websites; they can integrate their websites with social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
- eBook Sites – Another way to directly monetise ebook writing is through a website that specialises in digital literature. These kinds of sites are abundant, so writers have to be careful about which ones they choose. The best sites have heavy traffic and sales.
- Self-Publishing Outlets – A third avenue is to hook up with a self-publishing company. Most of these companies allow for both printed and digital options. The advantage of self-publishing is having access to on-demand printing that expands the writer’s reach.
Indirect Ebook Monetisation
It can be awfully challenging to sell an ebook directly. Indeed, there are many very good writers who lack the exposure and connections needed to make direct monetisation possible. There are other times, usually involving companies rather than individual writers, where direct monetisation is simply not the goal.
A few examples of indirect monetisation include:
- Selling Links – Writers with a particularly strong grasp of a given topic can often sell links to other companies. Paid links are placed within the text with the obvious goal of directing readers to those sites.
- Selling Ads – eBook writers can also sell ads that are strategically placed in their books. This strategy is a bit riskier though, as ads tend to turn some people off.
- Speaking Engagements – It is common for individuals who make their living via public speaking to write and publish ebooks to help them land future speaking engagements. In such a case, the ebook becomes a marketing tool more than anything else.
- Marketing and Promotion – In cases when it is a small business publishing an ebook, the point is to use it for marketing and promotional purposes. A new ebook might cover a particular product just on the verge of release. Another book might take a broad-based approach to a topic relevant to the industry. In either case, the ebook is intended to drive new customers to the business.
- Gift Incentivisation – One last method of indirect monetisation is to use an ebook as a gift to customers who sign up for service or purchase a product. Gifts are great incentives if they are used thoughtfully and with purpose.
It is possible to monetise ebook writing on multiple levels. How much money there is to be made depends on the quality of the ebook, the topic discussed, and how a writer promotes it. Here at Connotations, we offer an ebook writing service that is affordable and effective. Please contact us for help on your next ebook project.