How to Write, Publish, and Sell eBooks to Make Money Online

In today’s digital economy, creating and selling eBooks has become one of the most accessible side hustles for creators, influencers, and anyone looking to generate income online. With the global eBook market projected to reach $18.13 billion by 2026, there’s significant opportunity to turn your knowledge into a profitable digital product.

Whether you’re an established creator or just starting out, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about making money with eBooks.

Why eBooks Make an Excellent Income Stream

Creating and selling eBooks offers several advantages as an income source:

• Low production costs with profit margins of 80-90% after initial creation
• Passive income potential – create once, sell repeatedly
• Establishes your expertise in your niche
• Complements other income streams like courses or coaching
• No inventory or shipping to manage

10 Steps to Creating and Selling a Profitable eBook

1. Find Your Winning Topic

The most successful eBooks solve specific problems or fulfill clear desires for a defined audience. Consider these high-converting topic strategies:

• How-to guides that solve specific problems
• Insider knowledge from your professional experience
• Transformation stories with actionable takeaways
• Curated resources that save readers time and research

Pro tip: Survey your audience on social media to discover what challenges they’re facing before choosing your topic.

2. Research and Outline Your Content

Once you’ve chosen your topic, create a comprehensive outline:

• Research competing eBooks to identify gaps you can fill
• Break your topic into logical chapters and sections
• Include practical examples, templates, or worksheets
• Plan for visuals that enhance understanding
• Consider using AI tools to help generate your outline

3. Write Your First Draft

When writing your eBook:

• Use conversational language that resonates with your audience
• Include actionable steps and practical advice
• Break up text with bullet points and subheadings for scannability
• Share personal anecdotes or case studies to illustrate points
• Aim for at least 10,000 words for a comprehensive guide (though shorter eBooks can work for specific niches)

4. Format Your eBook Professionally

Your eBook’s format affects both readability and perceived value:

• PDF: Great for design-heavy content with fixed layouts
• EPUB: The standard for most eReaders, allows text resizing
• MOBI: Required for Kindle publishing
• Interactive PDF: Includes clickable elements and forms

For formatting tools, consider:

• Canva for template-based designs
• Google Docs or Microsoft Word for basic formatting
• Adobe InDesign for professional-quality layouts
• Calibre for converting between formats

5. Design an Eye-Catching Cover

Your cover significantly impacts click-through and purchase rates:

• Use high-quality images (consider stock photo sites)
• Choose fonts that match your brand and are easily readable
• Include a compelling subtitle that clarifies the benefit
• Study bestselling covers in your category for inspiration

6. Edit and Proofread Thoroughly

Quality matters for your reputation and reviews:

• Self-edit for structure and content first
• Have others review for clarity and value
• Consider hiring a professional editor for polishing
• Always proofread for spelling and grammar errors

7. Choose the Right Platform to Sell Your eBook

Different platforms offer various advantages:

Self-Hosted Options:

• BlurBay: Offers subscription models, community features, and file selling capabilities with competitive fees and no minimum requirements
• The Leap: 0% transaction fees (only Stripe’s 2.9% processing fee)
• Gumroad: 10% commission with no monthly fee, good for beginners
• Payhip: Free plan with 5% transaction fees, includes marketing tools

Marketplace Options:

• Amazon KDP: Largest audience reach with 35% or 70% royalty options
• Smashwords: Distributes to multiple platforms including Apple Books
• Rakuten Kobo: Good for reaching international audiences

For maximum control and profit, consider selling your eBook online through your own platform while also listing on marketplaces for exposure.

8. Price Your eBook Strategically

Pricing affects both sales volume and perceived value:

• Low-tier pricing ($2.99-$6.99): Maximizes volume for fiction or simple guides
• Mid-tier pricing ($9.99-$19.99): Standard for most non-fiction eBooks
• Premium pricing ($24.99+): Appropriate for specialized knowledge or comprehensive guides

Consider launching with a promotional price and raising it later, or offering tiered packages (eBook + additional resources).

9. Create a Marketing Plan

Effective marketing is crucial for eBook sales:

• Pre-launch: Build anticipation with sample chapters or early access
• Launch: Create urgency with limited-time bonuses or pricing
• Email marketing: Send targeted campaigns to your subscriber list
• Social promotion: Share excerpts and testimonials on your platforms
• Cross-promotion: Partner with complementary creators
• Landing page: Build a dedicated sales page highlighting benefits

Women looking for ways to make money from home often find eBook creation particularly flexible and accessible.

10. Build Additional Revenue Streams

Maximize your eBook’s earning potential:

• Bundle with other digital products
• Create a course based on the eBook content
• Offer coaching or consulting services
• Create a paid community around your topic
• Develop a subscription for updated content

Setting Up Your eBook on BlurBay

BlurBay makes selling eBooks simple with these steps:

1. Create your account: Sign up at BlurBay.com
2. Upload your eBook file: Support for PDF, EPUB, and other formats
3. Set up your product page: Add compelling description, benefits, and preview
4. Set your price: Choose between one-time purchase or subscription access
5. Connect payment processing: Integrate with supported payment gateways
6. Create a custom landing page: Use BlurBay’s tools to design a converting page
7. Launch and promote: Share your unique link across your platforms

The platform also allows you to bundle your eBook with community access, creating passive income opportunities beyond the initial purchase.

Success Stories: Real People Making Money with eBooks

The Fitness Influencer

A fitness trainer created a $19 nutrition guide eBook that generates $2,000-3,000 monthly through her Instagram following of 50,000 followers.

The Technical Expert

An IT professional published a specialized cybersecurity guide priced at $39, earning over $5,000 in the first month through targeted LinkedIn marketing.

The Side Hustler

A full-time employee wrote a weekend guide to making money from their phone, priced at $9.99, generating a consistent $800 monthly through strategic SEO and Pinterest marketing.

FAQs About Making Money with eBooks

Can you really make money with an eBook?

Yes, the eBook market continues to grow, with projected global revenue increasing to $14.9 billion in 2025. While competition exists, creators with targeted content and effective marketing regularly earn substantial income from eBook sales.

How much money can you make from an eBook?

Earnings vary widely based on niche, marketing, and pricing strategy. Beginners might earn $200-500 monthly, while established creators can generate $2,000-5,000+ monthly from a single successful eBook. The average revenue per eBook consumer is expected to reach $13.97 by 2029.

What type of eBooks sell the most?

Adult fiction leads in overall revenue, while religious books have shown the highest year-over-year growth. In the non-fiction space, practical how-to guides, self-improvement, and specialized professional knowledge consistently perform well.

How much does Amazon pay per eBook?

Amazon KDP offers two royalty options: 35% for eBooks priced below $2.99 or above $9.99, and 70% for eBooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. This means on a $9.99 eBook, you’d earn approximately $6.99 per sale under the 70% option.

Do I need to be an expert to write an eBook?

No, but you should be knowledgeable and passionate about your topic. Many successful eBook authors simply share their experiences or research deeply into topics they’re interested in.

How long should my eBook be?

Quality matters more than length. Successful eBooks typically range from 10,000-30,000 words for non-fiction, though shorter, focused guides (5,000+ words) can also perform well if they deliver clear value.

Start Your eBook Journey Today

Creating and selling eBooks offers a flexible, scalable income stream that works particularly well for content creators, influencers, and side hustlers working from home.

With low startup costs and potentially high returns, eBooks represent one of the most accessible entry points to digital entrepreneurship. Whether you’re an online nutrition coach looking to expand your offerings or a complete beginner, the process of creating, publishing and selling an eBook can be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling.