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As the year winds down, there’s still time to make HUGE progress in your business.
In this post, I want to dive into how to write and sell an ebook. My newest ebook, Instagram for Business, is launching next week, and I can’t wait to share the process with you.
Why I Love Writing eBooks
My journey with eBooks began in 2018 when I launched the first edition of The Travel Influencer Handbook. Since then, I’ve updated and relaunched it every year, with the most recent edition released in February.
So why do I love writing eBooks? First, it allows me to create a physical product without the complications of e-commerce.
When I worked in corporate finance, I ran an Amazon FBA store and sold travel products on my blog. While it was a great learning experience, I found dealing with shipping, returns, and customer service challenging.
Ebooks, on the other hand, are digital products, meaning there’s no inventory, no shipping, and minimal overhead. Once you create the ebook, it can generate passive income if you continue to drive traffic to your website.
Why You Should Write an Ebook
Writing an ebook showcases your expertise in your niche. Having a digital product on your website or Instagram shows potential customers that you’re knowledgeable and credible.
Additionally, ebooks are often lower-priced items, which means they’re more accessible to your audience and can help you convert more sales.
While it takes effort to write, edit, and design an ebook, the long-term payoff can be significant.
How to Write and Sell an Ebook
As an entrepreneur, creating and selling ebooks is a fantastic way to showcase your expertise, diversify your income streams, and create passive income.
If you’re considering writing an ebook but aren’t sure where to start, this guide will take you through the entire process—from market research to pricing and promoting your product.
Let’s dive into the practical steps to get your eBook out into the world!
✍🏽 Download my FREE Ebook Guide
Conduct Market Research
Before you begin writing, it’s essential to validate your idea and ensure there’s demand for your topic. This can be done in several ways:
- Analyze DMs and Inquiries: Pay attention to the questions you receive from your audience. Are people constantly asking about a particular topic? In my case, I noticed people frequently asking how I land brand collaborations and how I manage to travel while working online. I decided to package all my knowledge into an ebook.
- Leverage Facebook Groups: If you’re not getting direct messages or inquiries yet, check out relevant Facebook groups in your niche. People often share their pain points, and you can gather insights into what they need help with.
- Ask Your Audience Directly: Whether through social media polls or one-on-one conversations, ask your audience what they are struggling with and how you can provide value. This feedback helps you validate your topic.
✍🏽 Download my FREE Ebook Guide
Choose a Name for Your Ebook
Once you’ve validated your idea, the next step is to come up with a title for your ebook. I recommend brainstorming without overthinking.
Write down all your ideas—don’t worry about grammar or structure just yet. This process is about getting your thoughts on paper.
Create a rough table of contents to guide the writing process. At this stage, it’s all about free-flowing ideas, so don’t be afraid to let your creativity take over.
This could take a few days, and you can always go back to refine the structure and add more content as you think of new points.
Write Your Ebook
Now that you have your idea and structure, it’s time to start writing. Focus on delivering the information your readers are looking for.
Think about the transformation your ebook offers—what position are your readers in before they read it, and where will they be after?
As you write, mark areas where you want to include screenshots, quotes, or other visuals. This will make it easier to come back and insert these elements later.
✍🏽 Download my FREE Ebook Guide
Design and Format Your Ebook
Once you’ve completed the text, it’s time to design your ebook. I highly recommend using Canva to create a professional layout, add images, and design the cover.
Canva offers free templates for ebooks that make the design process seamless.
You can either:
- Design the entire ebook in Canva and export it as a PDF, or
- Create specific pages in Canva and copy them into a Word document.
For my first ebook, I did everything myself using Canva and Word. As long as the information is valuable, you don’t need to worry about fancy designs.
You can always refine the visuals over time or hire a designer later if necessary.
Export and Finalize Your Ebook
Once the content and design are complete, export your ebook as a PDF. This makes it easy to distribute and ensures the layout remains consistent across different devices. Congratulations, you’ve now created your first ebook!
But the process doesn’t stop here. Now, we’ll discuss how to host, price, and promote your ebook.
✍🏽 Download my FREE Ebook Guide
Host and Distribute Your Ebook
When it comes to hosting and distributing your ebook, you have two main options:
- Host on Your Own Website: This gives you full control over pricing and marketing. You can integrate your ebook sales page into your website, which helps you maintain brand consistency.
- Sell on a Marketplace (e.g., Amazon): Marketplaces offer a larger audience but limit your control over pricing and profit margins.
For me, hosting on my own website works best because I retain full control over pricing and customer interactions. While platforms like Amazon are great for exposure, I prefer having all my products available directly on The Wanderlover website.
Price Your Ebook
Pricing is one of the most critical steps in the ebook process. While Amazon ebooks typically range from $3 to $5, hosting on your own website allows you to set your own price. For example, my Travel Influencer Handbook is priced at $67, and my upcoming Instagram for Business ebook will also be priced at $67.
When determining the price, consider:
- The value of the information: What transformation are you offering your readers?
- Your audience’s willingness to pay: How much are your readers willing to invest in solving the problem your ebook addresses?
- Your competitors’ pricing: Look at similar ebooks in your niche for a comparison.
If you’re unsure about pricing, feel free to DM me on Instagram! I’d be happy to help you work through your questions.
✍🏽 Download my FREE Ebook Guide
Accept Payments and Deliver the Ebook
Once you’ve priced your ebook, it’s time to set up a way for people to buy it. I use ThriveCart to process payments, manage files, and track sales. It’s affordable and easy to use.
You simply upload your PDF to the platform, create a sales page, and link it to your website.
ThriveCart also allows you to create discount codes and set up an affiliate program, which can help boost sales.
You can read my full ThriveCart Review.
Promote Your Ebook
Creating your ebook is just the first step—promoting it effectively is what will drive sales. Some strategies to promote your ebook include:
- Email Marketing: Send a launch announcement to your email list and offer early-bird pricing to encourage immediate purchases.
- Social Media: Share the ebook on your social media platforms. You can create posts, stories, and even host a live session to talk about the value of your ebook.
- Partnerships and Affiliates: Offer commissions to influencers or affiliates who promote your ebook. This helps you reach a wider audience.
- Paid Advertising: Paid ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Google allows more people to discover your eBook on autopilot every day without you having to lift a finger.
✍🏽 Download my FREE Ebook Guide
Conclusion
Writing and selling an ebook is a fantastic way to share your knowledge, grow your brand, and create a stream of passive income.
Download my FREE Ebook Guide if you want to get started today!
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