Publishing an eBook online is a great way to get your story out there while also earning some money on the side.
But how exactly do you write and sell an eBook?
Don’t worry – we’ve got all the answers right here!
In this handy guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about writing, publishing, and making money off an eBook so you can start earning as soon as possible!
So let’s get started, shall we?
How To Write And Publish An eBook
First of all, let’s take a look at how to get your eBook published.
Writing an eBook is essentially the same as writing a regular book on a computer, as you’ll be uploading the book as a file to be published.
However, it’s a good idea to format your book in advance (ie. pages, font size and style, paragraphs etc.).
This can be done while publishing, but doing it beforehand will make the process much faster and easier.
Once your book has been written, it’s time to publish it! Unlike publishing a physical book, self-publishing an eBook is a pretty simple and streamlined process.
There are several different options for self-publishing, but the most common way is through Amazon KDP.
This allows you to upload and publish your eBook directly to the Kindle e-shop, where it can be bought and read!
Publishing An eBook With Amazon KDP
Considering it’s specifically designed for the Amazon Kindle, Amazon KDP makes publishing your eBook simple and straightforward.
In fact, publishing your eBook only takes a few simple steps – here’s what you need to do:
Create An Amazon KDP Account
To begin, make yourself an Amazon KDP account. KDP (or Kindle Direct Publishing) publishes your eBook directly onto the Kindle e-shop.
It also lets you format, edit, and customize the publication before uploading.
Creating an account only takes a few minutes; simply head to https://kdp.amazon.com and create an account using your email address or Amazon account.
You’ll need to enter your tax information before you can complete the set up – this is so you can actually make money off your eBook after it’s been published.
Format Your eBook
Next, you need to properly format your eBook before you upload it. As mentioned earlier, this is much faster and simpler if you’ve already formatted your book beforehand.
If you haven’t (or if there are some changes you want to make), then you can do it easily using the editor in your KDP account.
Formatting makes a big difference to your book’s appeal, and making sure your eBook’s properly formatted beforehand helps it stand out.
Taking a close look at the formatting of your eBook also helps you avoid any issues with paragraphs, chapters, and page spacing.
You’ll also need to upload a cover for your eBook, and you’ll be able to see what it will look like on a Kindle screen as a preview.
Upload Your eBook
Now it’s time to upload your eBook! This isn’t the same as actually publishing it, but it is the step that really sets things in motion.
Once you’ve finished formatting your eBook and set a cover, all you have to do is click Upload to put it on your KDP account.
This will bring up some information to fill in – namely, the title, subtitle, and description. While the title and subtitle are fairly self-explanatory, take care when writing the description.
This is an important part of publishing and is meant to draw in your readers – avoid anything too long-winded that gives away the plot, and try to catch a reader’s attention.
You’ll also be able to set the price of your eBook for when it hits the e-store.
Set A Publish Date
After you’ve uploaded your book, you’ll be prompted to choose a date to publish it on the Kindle e-store.
The publishing date is crucial to your book’s success; not only are there some release dates that are better and worse than others (depending on the type of book and the season), but it also gives you a chance to build up excitement for your book release.
Schedule your publication date for whenever suits you best, and prepare to do some marketing!
Try to bring attention to your upcoming release – hyping it up in blog and/or social media posts, or schedule a launch party to celebrate its publication.
This will massively aid your book’s success and get more attention.
Publish Your eBook
When the date finally arrives, your eBook will be published directly onto the Kindle e-store.
And just like that, you’re done! Feel free to celebrate in any way you want, and enjoy your launch party!
Making Money Off Of Your eBook
Publishing an eBook may be relatively simple, but earning money from it can be a bit trickier.
The first – and most important – thing to note is that you’re not likely to become a millionaire overnight.
Getting good money from your eBook can take a while, especially if you’re a new author.
However, there are some ways you can improve your earnings.
As mentioned above, bringing attention to your upcoming release is one of the best ways to improve sales.
Posts on social media and blogs that promote your book will get people interested, and building up the release online and with a launch party will help you widen your potential audience.
Similarly, you also need to make sure that the book itself looks appealing. Formatting matters, and your book will do much better if you know it looks good on a Kindle.
And although the saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover”, most people do – the cover of your book is the first thing people will see, so making a good first impression will get you the most readers possible.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – now you know all there is to know about publishing and making money from an eBook!
Self-publishing an eBook can be a daunting task; but as long as you follow these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to earning money from your eBook in no time.
Hi, my name is Justin Shaw, I started my career with a Masters in Computer Science but found writing to be my forte'.
I'm now the Principal Tech writer for GshiftLabs.com as well as a few other well known publications. I help make the complex world of Tech-Jargon easy to understand.
