How to Write eBooks and Make Money

As the publishing world grows faster and becomes more competitive, what is the process behind writing an ebook and making money online? 

Online publishing continues to revolutionize how we view, share, and sell content today. As eBooks are gradually becoming the norm, publishers, authors, and content creators are working to use this medium to their advantage and thrive in this new market full of possibilities. In addition, ebooks have offered both publishers and authors a unique and creative opportunity to stand up to the behemoths in the publishing industry. 

Young creatives are flocking to reap the benefits of the evolution and growth of the digital world. They are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to gain more credit and visibility for their work outside the realms of traditional publishing and distribution. Since the writing and publishing process has been made less daunting due to technology, it seems logical for creatives to get involved and use the ebook market to their advantage. 

Publishers and Authors: Pay Attention to eBooks!

Today, paid advertising algorithms and the monopolization of the publishing industry are changing the rules of the game. Independent publishers and content creators are especially being affected. Authors and publishers need to plan and get strategic about planning, publishing, and selling their content to audiences in order to stay in the game. 

While selling ebooks online is by no means a new or easy endeavour, the eBook market has boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. They continue to define the digital market and authors and publishers are scrambling to scale this new market. So, a question presents itself: Is it possible for an author to write eBooks today and make money? 

What you need to know about Self-Publishing eBooks

Although the process may not be an easy one, self-publishing an ebook gives the author more creative freedom and benefits than traditional publishing. There are many reasons an author may contemplate self-publishing. For example, they are unsatisfied with their current publishing company and policies, or they are a new author looking for a start. Whatever the reason, there are a few aspects that need to be considered before diving in.

To start with, how important is having ownership over their own work? If an author chooses to go down the traditional route, they would have to get an agent who would present their work to publishing houses and who would be in charge of making business negotiations on the author’s behalf. Once an agreement is reached and contracts are signed, a lot of the autonomy over editing, design, how the book is marketed, etc., are no longer in the hands of the author. You can say that they have signed a lot of their ownership away just to assure that their book will be published. 

Self-publishing, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Authors are able to work independently during the writing process and be directly involved in the publishing process, including editing, cover design, marketing, production, and distribution. In addition, they are able to keep the rights to the work. With regards to design, access to software and platforms such as Adobe Illustrator, Canva, and Adobe Spark has made things like creating an ebook cover more accessible and easier for independent authors and publishers. As a result of all that self-publishing has to offer, authors are able to have greater autonomy over decisions made and true ownership over their own content. In short, they are able to exercise complete control because they become the sole proprietor of their content. 

Next, if we compare self-publishing an eBook to the publishing process of a physical book, there is less time and fewer costs involved. Some of the biggest costs involved in publishing are paying hefty commissions to third parties and intermediaries, for example, agents and publishing houses, as well as paying for the physical costs of printing books. 

However, if an author chooses to self-publish and take charge over the publishing aspects, the costs associated with intermediaries are completely eradicated. Indie authors are also able to save time and money by using all the resources technology and the internet have to offer,and the best part is that they don’t have to sacrifice quality or professionalism. 

Finally, given the landscape of the current publishing industry, ebooks immediately open a new realm of possibilities for independent writers and publishers. Be it fiction, non-fiction, biographies, or self-help, ebooks are becoming a lucrative market for up-and-coming authors and content creators to self-publish their books. One of the many reasons authors are considering going independent is because of all the challenges and barriers commercial publishing often poses. Whether we want to admit it or not, the traditional publishing industry is constantly subjected to persistent gatekeeping that is either intentional or unintentional. How many authors who are now well-known authors had been rejected when they were first starting out? Agatha Christie, Dr. Seuss, JK Rowling, Stephen King to name a few. In this sense, self-publishing allows and even advocates for creativity and diversity to blossom in this industry. It is a way to also ensure that these potentially classic authors don’t slip through the cracks.

So, although self-publishing by writing an ebook is no easy task, it is definitely less daunting than before, especially since there are many extremely successful self-published authors that have already paved the way.

How to Write eBooks and Make Money?: Publica Can Help! 

First, it is necessary to ensure that authors and content creators are armed with the knowledge, information, and appropriate channels to sell, distribute, and market their content effectively. After putting in the work that writing requires, they need to be able to target their content to their respective niche audiences and establish a readership base. 

Today, online platforms like Publica help both content creators and publishers to sell their content with no intermediaries and without administrative or  logistical costs. It is easier for a publisher or an author to sell without a third-party platform because they can create their own e-commerce opportunities. 

Publica can be a great resource for smaller and independent publishers and authors to create an overall brand as well as gain further visibility for their work. Using Publica can also allow authors to offer readers more customized support and develop important customer-seller relationships. 

Most importantly, as mentioned before, authors become the sole drivers of the promotion and marketing of their online content and therefore exercise a great degree of independence. They might also choose to leverage social media, advertising, and communicate news about their work to better engage with their audiences.  This means there are fewer costs for creating, selling and distributing than with a physical book.

Publica is not just a resource but also a platform that enables publishers and authors to create a digital store easily. There are different plans to choose from, including a free subscription. Publica recognizes the importance of self-publishing.

Moreover, Publica is also making it easier and more accessible for publishers to communicate and keep track of customers.  The platform allows subscribers to view the reception of their publications by tracking and observing reader analytics. These user metrics and statistics often help analyze trends in customer behavior, spending, as well as engagement patterns. Now, using these data can not only help to optimize the buyer experience for subscribers' audience, but also it provides a great basis for their very own eCommerce. 

Having an eCommerce often allows authors to manage their own marketing and sales plan autonomously. For example, they can create offers and promotions, offer subscription plans, free trials, and even provide downloadable publication samples. 

Publica also grants publishers the opportunity to choose from different plans so that they can better market their content and reach more diverse audiences. The only thing that authors need to do is export their content into a PDF or EPUB format to upload content onto the store. 

In conclusion, the expansion of the digital content market is opening a host of opportunities and experiences for publishers, authors, and content creators. Self-publishing is giving them the opportunity to make more money by participating in every step of the writing, marketing, and distribution process. In short, an author most definitely can write eBooks and make money, especially if they use Publica, a resource and platform that cuts out intermediaries.

So, as the publishing industry enters a new era, will we see authors finally tap into the potential of self-publishing eBooks and make the most of it? 

Only time will tell. 

Why not set up your own online content store with Publica today? Sign up for an account, write eBooks and start selling today!