Anyone made any money from ebooks as a side hussle

KittyS

Just been watching a webnair on making money out of e books.  Has anyone tried it and been successful?

Vectis

Do you mean writing and publishing books as e-books?

If so, yes, but it's not something I'd do in the strict sense of a side hustle as it takes a lot of time and commitment.

KittyS

Yes that what I mean 

lincroft1710

This is very much an "it depends" issue.


Obviously the right book can be very successful. But it is finding your subject and market. Writing a "proper" book as opposed to an article or pamphlet can take months.


One source suggests that the average e-book sells only 250 copies in its lifetime, which may or may not be correct. Many hard copy books have relatively poor sales. The only way to test the water is to give it a go.

Vectis

I've written several books and self-published them on Amazon.

I made money from it but it wasn't economic if I worked it out as an hourly rate based on how long it takes to write a book, unless of course you hit on a bestseller.

I was mostly writing to get the stories out of my system. I had them in my head and just needed to write them down and, in the end, I decided to publish them.

But, to make money, you need to write constantly. From experience (again, based on relatively small sales numbers, not chart-toppers) the sales come in the first few months after you initially publish, after that they dwindle away pretty quickly.

There is an Amazon scheme where you get paid by the number of pages people read, rather than the purchase of a whole book, and I got money that way too. Money still comes in now, only a few pounds a month, but I don't have to do anything for it so that's ok.

If you enjoy writing, then try it. You will need to either make your own cover artwork etc, or pay someone to do it. I was ok using Illustrator and Photoshop, so I did my own. You also need to ensure that all your spellings, grammar etc are spot on, and it helps to have someone who can proofread your books prior to hitting the Publish button.

If you've got the ideas in your head and if you enjoy writing (not just the idea of making money from it) then give it a go, but there are easier ways of making money if that's your main priority.

KittyS

that is really interesting thank you - much appreciated. 

Hermann

KittyS said:

Just been watching a webnair on making money out of e books.  Has anyone tried it and been successful?

What sort of ebook are you considering producing?

A novel is a novel and some sell well others do not, no way to know unless you try!

A guide on a niche subject can work if there is genuine demand and no equivalent already available, of course there may not be enough people interested in a niche to make any significant money.

Then there are those engaged in snake oil sales, "How to make money from Ebooks by writing an Ebook on how to make money from Ebooks". Buy my Ebook to learn how I made money from writing just such an Ebook!

KittyS

Not a novel - but just pondering at the moment.    I did laugh about the snake oil comment as that is the only way people seem to make money lol