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Aug 19, 2024
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How to Sell eBooks Online

Turn the Page on a New Online Career: How to Write and Sell eBooks
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There's never been a better time to turn your writing into a profitable eBook! Whether on mobile phone, Kindle, iPad, or another type of tablet, the eBook online market is estimated to hit over 17 billion dollars in book sales in 2024, and eBook fans just keep increasing in numbers, with projections reaching $21 billion in eBook sales by 2029.

This means that your words, stories, and illustrations - whether a mystery, young adult novel, cookbook, or fantasy series - can reach a global audience, all while you're building a successful business selling eBooks online of your writing. Let's check out what eBooks are, find out about the most popular eBook genres and where you can sell them, and get you started on your journey as a self published eBook author!

What’s an eBook?

An eBook, or "electronic book," is simply a specially-formatted digital publication that can be read on various devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. EBooks are sold online in several formats, the most common being EPUB (compatible with most e-readers), MOBI (primarily for Amazon Kindle devices), and sometimes PDF.

For readers, eBooks offer an easy, portable way to access their fave reads; eBooks are also environmentally friendly, often more affordable than traditionally printed books, and offer instant downloading so you can, for instance, start the second book in a series minutes after you're done reading the first one! For authors, eBooks provide an easier path to self publishing, which means much lower production costs plus the potential to reach a global audience, no matter what genre you're writing in.

How to Sell eBooks Online in 10 Steps

Selling eBooks online takes some thought and planning, starting with the books and stories you want to write. Once the most important part - writing your book! - is settled, following the rest of these steps will get your book into eBook online outlets, so you can self publish and start gaining readers and fans.

1. Find Your eBook Inspiration

The first step is deciding what you want to write about, so you can create an eBook. Choosing a genre or niche with strong marketing potential will, of course, work in your favor; but the most important thing is that your eBook of choice should appeal to you, so that your enthusiasm and authenticity show through in your writing. Any research you do should align with your interests and your expertise, while catering to readers' preferences as much as possible; thinking about what kinds of books you enjoy reading is a good start, as is researching genres or topics that already have an existing dedicated audience.

2. Write Your eBook 

This might seem like an obvious point, but the quality of your writing is of main importance here - content is king! So when writing an eBook, invest your time in crafting engaging content that provides value to your readers, and presents a good flow from the start of your eBook all the way to the end. When your eBook's first draft is complete, ensure that it's correctly edited and formatted for a professional finish, so that your eBook can easily compete when listed online alongside others.

3. Design Your eBook's Cover

Don't underestimate the power of a great cover! First impressions definitely matter. And your eBook cover is a reader's first impression, so invest in creating a professional and eye-catching design that visually represents your content. If you have the graphic design skills, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, you can contract out with a pro designer or use a service like Fiverr to get the job done. And don't forget about your eBook title - you want it to be short, clever, and catchy, while easily transmitting to your potential readers what your book is about in just a few words.

4. Format Your eBook

As mentioned earlier, the most common eBook formats are EPUB, MOBI, and PDF. EPUB is the open standard format for eBooks, and offers broad compatibility across various devices. MOBI is specifically designed for Amazon Kindle devices as their proprietary format. PDF files are “fixed layout” documents, so can be good on their own for things like cookbooks that have linked text and images; and they can generally be read in a web browser. There are many online resources and software programs that can assist you with eBook formatting; you might also consider using conversion tools to ensure that your eBook can be accessed by a wide range of devices and readers. 

5. Determine Your eBook's Price

Pricing your eBook is going to be another individual decision, as there's no one-size-fits-all approach to pricing. Research other eBooks online in your chosen genre to determine a competitive price point - but be sure to consider the time you've invested in your book, the value your content offers readers, the current popularity of your genre, and the book's affordability against similar eBooks on the platform you've chosen.

6. Select Your Publishing Platform

EBook publishing platforms provide a marketplace for authors to sell their eBooks online. You probably already know about popular options like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Apple Books. But there are other self publishing options, too, like Fourthwall; Barnes and Noble Press; Rakuten's Kobo (fun fact: the name "Kobo" was picked as an anagram of the word "Book"); and Google Play Books. When deciding on your platform, consider factors like available features, fee structures, and platform reach, as well as copyright protection/registration options.

7.  Upload Your eBook

Each different platform will have its own upload process for your eBook. Ensure that your eBook file is in the correct format, and follow the directions carefully. After your eBook is uploaded safely, it's time to write a compelling eBook synopsis and description, telling your potential new readers and fans why they'll want to read your book! Be sure to do your research and include relevant keywords in your description text to improve discoverability in online searches.

8. Market Your eBook 

Once your eBook is listed and published, it's time to do your promotional "digital book tour”! Combine posts on your social media accounts; announcements on your writer's/author's website (if you have one); email marketing campaigns; and posts on any online communities that might be relevant to your writing niche to craft an extensive marketing strategy that will let all of your potential readers know that your eBook is available and where it can be found.

9. Engage with Your Readers 

Building a loyal readership is crucial for the long-term success of your writing and your eBooks. There are many different ways you can interact with your readers, including through your socials or on online communities. You can also respond to reviews (both positive and negative), and actively participate in discussions related to your eBook and your book genre; scheduling some special live streams (if you also stream) or appearances on podcasts can also give you more opportunities to talk to fans about writing an eBook.

10. Use That Data!

Monitor your eBook online sales data closely. Most eBook publishing platforms can provide insights into your download numbers, reader demographics, and geographic reach. Then it's up to you to analyze this data to identify areas for improvement, to see if, for instance, specific keywords attract more potential readers, or there are better ways you can market your eBook online. Regularly evaluating your analytics data can help you fine-tune your listings to better showcase your eBook.

Best Selling eBook Genres 

While basically anything goes in eBook writing, there will always be some eBook genres that will sell better than others. Reading trends, of course, fluctuate - but these are some of the most popular current eBook genres/niches on outlets like Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble.

Biographies and Autobiographies

Biographies (the story of a person written by someone else) and autobiographies (the story of a person written by themselves; also called a "memoir") are fascinating looks into the history of an individual, and continue to be top-selling eBooks across a wide range of "people types" (actors, musicians, inventors, historical figures.) You can write about another person - celebrity or otherwise - whose story you find compelling; or even write about yourself and your own experiences.

Cookbooks and Food

Food is one of those topics that's universal, so writing about food or how to prepare food (or beverages!) can be a fun way to get started in eBook writing. You could go the classic route and put together a recipe book with your favorite recipes in a particular cuisine, complete with gorgeous foodie photos; or you could use food as the center point for a series of stories, for instance revolving around food you've tried on your travels. B. Dylan Hollis' quirky and funny "Baking Yesteryear," which actually sprang from him testing out unusual old recipes on TikTok, is a great cookbook example.

Content creator B. Dylan Hollis published his cookbook, available as both an eBook and a print book, after becoming a hit on TikTok by showcasing unusual old vintage recipes.

Fantasy and SciFi

With mega-franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, and the Marvel and DC universes, it's a given that SciFi and fantasy eBooks are some of the most popular reads. If you've ever wanted to invent your own planet or craft the perfect superhero, this could be the perfect genre for you to create an eBook; and unless you're writing very technical stories (ie based on real NASA missions), you can push the limits of fantasy as far as you want - since you're making everything up yourself!

Personal Development

The personal development eBook genre offers practical advice and guidance on various aspects of life, from personal finance and productivity to relationships and confidence-building. Readers are drawn to eBooks in this genre to get actionable tips and guides to improving their lives, so if you have the expertise and the ability to communicate it, your eBook could even help people. A couple of good popular examples in this genre are Patrick King's "The Art of Witty Banter" and James Clear's "Atomic Habits."

Author La’Tasha Kiongozi sells wellness eBooks and workbooks in her Creative Wholeness Fourthwall store.

Romance  

A consistent best-seller, romance eBooks are a timeless genre with a dedicated audience, featuring captivating meet-cutes, love stories, and happily ever afters. "Romantasy" is a newer offshoot of the Romance genre, where the romantic storyline takes place in a fantasy setting as a fun reading indulgence (think Erin Morgenstern's "The Night Circus" or the Stephenie Meyer Millennial classic "Twilight.") 

Pro Tip: Speaking of Romantasy, don't forget about subgenres when creating an eBook! They can be a great way to narrow down to a more specific niche, which can help your eBook stand out from the crowd. You can also use subgenres to focus in on current eBook trends - for example, SciFi could include anything from dystopian novels or apocalyptic survival fiction to space force stories; while Personal Development could feature topics like spirituality, fitness, or emotional intelligence. 

Pages of Profit: Sell eBooks with Fourthwall!

Building a sustainable career as an author goes beyond just writing an eBook and selling eBooks online - and that's where Fourthwall comes in! Fourthwall is the perfect ally for writers looking to both turn their writings into profit and build a dedicated readership. With Fourthwall, you can build your own custom-branded website and bookstore for your eBook, easily uploading your eBook files via your Fourthwall dashboard, setting your eBook pricing, and adding beautiful book cover images and promotional photos. 

In addition to your eBooks, you can customize a huge range of complementary merchandise to sell alongside your books, from T-shirts and mugs to calendars, wall art posters (just picture a giant poster of your eBook cover!), and even aprons (perfect if you're publishing a cookbook!)

Author Paul Hollis uses his Fourthwall store to sell a special reader’s bundle that includes both his “The Hollow Man” eBook and a Hollow Man-themed mug.

You can maximize your eBook's reach and build your reader community with Fourthwall, too. Monitor your sales performance via your Fourthwall analytics, use direct messaging to communicate with your fans, and offer memberships to the most dedicated members of your readership so they can access exclusive content. Take your first step today with Fourthwall, and turn the page on your career as an eBook author!

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to use Fourthwall?

There are no monthly fees, no upfront costs, and no contracts to use Fourthwall. You set your prices and choose your own margins. Here is how our pricing and splits work when you sell:

  • Products from our product catalog. All products in our product catalog have a publicly listed flat fee, which gets deducted from the selling price you set. There are no extra percentages/margins. You keep 100% of profits.
  • Products you ship yourself. No fee (0% fee)
  • Digital products. 3% flat fee
  • Subscription memberships. 5% flat fee

Additionally, all US-based credit card transactions have an added 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee (same as Shopify). Fees vary for PayPal and other providers. Learn more.

How much money do I make on sales from the Fourthwall catalog?

Product costs are listed directly in our product catalog.

If a t-shirt is listed in our catalog at a $10 cost, we will automatically deduct that amount from your profits whenever you make a sale. You can sell products for any price you want.

For example, if you sell the shirt for $22, you'll make $12 in profit on each unit sold. If you sell it for $50, then you'll make $40 in profit on each unit sold.

Does Fourthwall ship worldwide?

Yes! Fourthwall works with manufacturing & fulfillment partners around the globe in the US, UK, EU, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.

Shipping rates are dynamically determined by the size of package and destination. We work with most major carriers and pass through the true cost of shipping. That means that you can offer low-cost, fast shipping to your fans. Most items have a delivery window of 5-8 days.

Be sure to browse our product catalog to find products that are fulfilled out of your target regions to provide the fastest & cheapest shipping for your community.

Does Fourthwall handle sales tax?

Fourthwall operates as the "Merchant of Record", which means that we're responsible for handling all sales taxes. This includes nexus registration, collecting sales tax, and remitting this to US states & other countries.

That way you can focus on designing products and promoting your shop, not taxes.

Can I connect a custom domain to Fourthwall?

Yes. You can connect a custom domain or subdomain on Fourthwall. Learn More.

Does Fourthwall offer artwork & design support?

If you need help finding an artist or designer, check out our design community.

This is a vetted network of exceptional designers that can help you make great quality designs for your audience. We also recommend tools like Canva or Kittl.

Does Fourthwall provide customer support for my orders?

Yes. For any product from our product catalog, we'll handle all customer support for you.

From answering general order questions to making address changes, our team is there to ensure that your buyers are treated with the same level of care that you would personally give them. We have a 12-hour or less average reply time, including nights and weekends.

For any items that you source on your own and ship from home, however, you'll need to do customer support.

Can you show me examples of storefronts on Fourthwall?

Yes! Over 200,000 sellers use Fourthwall to power their storefronts. This includes creators, podcasters, artists, musicians, startups, non-profits, and more.

Get inspired and browse all examples sites.

What integrations does Fourthwall have?

Fourthwall supports many free integrations, including:

  • YouTube Product Shelf (Merch Shelf)
  • TikTok Shop
  • Facebook and Instagram Shopping
  • Twitch Product Gifting
  • StreamElements and Streamlabs stream alerts
  • Zapier
  • Klaviyo
  • Mailchimp
  • And many, many more

See all apps & integrations.

Are there any requirements to join Fourthwall?

There are no requirements to join Fourthwall! Sign up now.