Make Money With eBooks Through Issuu's Digital Sales

Are eBooks still relevant in 2023?

How do I sell content online?

Where can I go to sell my eBooks online?

These are all valid questions that come up from time to time. The word "eBook" might make some marketers think back to the early 2010s and remember a simpler time online when it felt like all it took was a blog, a social media account, and maybe a few eBooks to keep your brand top-of-mind. While we might look back on those times through rose-colored glasses, you'll be happy to know that many of those tactics are still just as relevant today as they were back then. Yes, that includes writing an eBook.

According to Statista, the eBooks market is projected to reach $14.16B in 2023, and there's expected to be a growth of 2.2% year-over-year, which would put revenue from eBooks around $15.33B by 2027. In a world that feels overwhelmed by content at times, that projection should inspire some optimism for brands who are just getting around to adding eBooks to their content strategy.

eBooks are still relevant in 2023, but it can be hard to know where to get started. In this article, we'll show you how to create a strategy to sell your eBooks online and how you can use Issuu as an all-in-one platform to get a slice of that 14 billion-dollar pie.

What Are eBooks?

You might be wondering if you have content to add to an eBook. Perhaps the idea of creating such long-form content feels intimidating, but rest assured because eBooks are defined as digital content in a book format. Whether that looks like a few design-heavy pages with minimal text or the next Great American Novel is entirely up to you!

What Are Some Examples of eBooks?

Many businesses use eBooks to create passive income while organizations might use them to help fund further research. When you have data to share, like research reports, readers are more likely to assign a monetary value to that info and pay a small fee for access.

Other times, eBooks make a great freebie to promote other forms of paid content. Traditional publishers do an incredible job of melding digital and traditional methods to promote their upcoming books, with many opting to create a digital preview of a whole book. The publisher Holiday House does a great job displaying excerpts of their latest content this way.

Of course, book and magazine publishers also benefit from selling digital versions of their content in its entirety online. From fashion magazines to self-publishing novelists, eBooks often sell well and have the potential to be a successful branch of a distribution strategy.

How to Create an eBook

When you're ready to create an eBook, it's not hard to get started. With some careful planning and some time, you can take your ideas and turn them into elevated content to help you grow your audience and revenue. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

1. Write What You Know

You don't have to reinvent the wheel to create content that will resonate with your audience. Are you an expert in your field? Do you have years of experience in a specific area? Do you want to collaborate with other creatives? Or are you just interested in creating a passion project from your hobbies and interests? Create from a place of knowledge or expertise, and you'll make your best content every time.

2. Create an Outline

Not sure where to start with your eBooks? An outline is always helpful. Put down all your thoughts and plan what you'd like each page to say. Is there a story to tell or just precise data? Do you want to support your content with images or videos next to the text? Take time to think about what you'd like your eBook to say and how you imagine the reading experience.

3. Cite Sources

While it might have been a while since you've written an essay for a grade, there are plenty of best practices to take from those days – including citing high-quality sources. The market is already oversaturated with content that doesn't always come from the best sources. Your readers deserve the most accurate information available, so make sure you're considering that while sourcing your content.

4. Pick a Digital Publishing Platform

Once you have the idea for your content, you'll need to consider where to host and share it. Issuu makes it easy to publish your eBooks and other content online. Simply upload your file or import it from our integrations with cloud storage and other digital tools. You can also add visual assets like video to your files and turn your eBook into an experience that works perfectly anywhere you have an audience.

5. Use a Template

You don't have to be a designer to make well-designed content. There are plenty of fantastic templates on Canva. Or, if you are a designer, Adobe InDesign integrates seamlessly with Issuu so that you can go straight from design to your Issuu publisher workspace in no time.

How Do I Sell My eBooks?

Issuu makes it easy to sell your eBooks online. Issuu's Digital Sales feature is a clean and sophisticated way to make money with eBooks online. You can choose your price and have a secure eBook sales solution for your brand. In addition to individual eBooks, you can also sell subscriptions. This is a perfect option for a book series, magazine, or any other regular publication.

With Digital Sales, you can give readers a taste of what your eBook is made of to entice them to buy. Choose any pages in your publication to share as free preview pages before they buy the eBook. This is a great way to show potential customers the quality of your content without giving away too much.

Get paid directly for your eBook from your readers when you use Issuu to publish. With Stripe payments, set-up is easy, and your funds are deposited directly into your account.

Make Money with Ebooks on Issuu