So you have an idea for an eBook, great – but how do you sell eBooks on Gumroad?
If you are looking to sell your first eBook on Gumroad’s site, a popular e-commerce platform for both sellers and buyers, then you have come to the right place.
More people than ever before are reading information via a digital product platform and Kindle devices, whether that is online or through a digitized book. It is said that 1 in 3 Americans are reading eBooks.
Online publishing also gives many people the ability to become published authors too. The traditional route of publishing a book is long and difficult, with many books never seeing the light of day.
However, eBooks are a whole different ball game.
If you are wanting to know how to sell an eBook on Gumroad, then check out this easy beginner’s guide to do just that.
Why Sell An eBook Online?
There are many reasons to sell an eBook, so let’s dive right into them.
First, selling eBooks is a great way of passing on your knowledge or telling a story. You also have the full rights to what is in the eBook, and to how it looks.
If you are struggling to get published in the traditional sense, then selling it as an eBook is another great option. You will also be able to reach a wide audience without putting in much of your own website money.
This makes it a cheaper option too!
An eBook can be read anywhere at any time, making it convenient for many people. We are living in a digital-heavy world, and people appreciate a good eBook these days.
A Beginner’s Guide To How To Sell An eBook On Gumroad
Here is a simple beginner’s guide on how to sell an eBook on Gumroad:
Initial Ideas
Before you can sell an eBook, you will need to know exactly what it is about. While you may want to write about something you love, in order to make any profit, you will need to see if there is a demand for your subject.
There are a few ways of doing it. Firstly, check out the competition. How are they doing, and are people actually buying what they are selling?
Secondly, the Google Doc in the ebook topic. What is being said about it and are there enough people enjoying this niche to warrant your book being about the subject too?
However, while you will want to write a book that will sell, you will still need to have a passion for the subject. If you don’t, then you are likely going to give up on writing about it.
For this reason, write a list of different topics that you are willing to invest time in.
Researching Subject
Now that you have your topic, you will want to plan the content that is going to go inside it. Before you can even begin writing, you will want to do as much research on the topic as possible.
If you are writing about photography or marketing certain digital products, then you might already think that you know all about it. However, it is a good idea to have a look online to find out what people are asking about the subject.
Take a look at forums and social media too. There are many specific things people want to know about. If it is not widely covered through other eBooks, then this is a great chance to do something about it.
Create Content
Before you create the content, outline exactly what you want inside the book. It will help during the writing process. For this reason, you will also want to understand who your target audience is too.
However, what you are aiming for is engaging and thought-provoking content. The last thing you want is content that doesn’t flow or sound interesting.
One thing to remember is that while you know the subject well, never assume that the reader does. Explain things without dumbing them down.
Get Feedback
Once you have finished the book, ask for feedback. As much as the eBook may appeal to you, and you may think you have done an amazing job, all writers need feedback.
A third party will be looking for flow and whether it reads well to them. It helps if the person does not know about the subject.
Don’t take critical feedback to heart, but also know when to stop making changes. It is all just a part of the process!
Design eBook
Releasing an eBook isn’t just about the book itself, you need it to look attractive too. People love good design, however, you will want the design of the book to correlate with what’s inside the book too.
If you are not good at design, then find a person who is. It is never good to self-publish a book and have it look like it has been rushed. This is a way to lose sales as people will not feel like it is worth reading.
Instead, invest in a good designer who can do it for you, or use your own skills if you have them.
Set Up Gumroad Account
Before you can sell the eBook you will need to create a Gumroad account. Fortunately, it is really easy to do so. You can then upload the eBook straight away, and put it on the sales page.
Selling the eBook is easy too! All you need is for people to click on the shareable link that takes them directly to your e-shop.
Do remember to set the price reasonable too. One way of doing this is by looking at competitors. You will always want to ensure that the price is not too high.
You can start off at $8.99 and increase it over time depending on the demand for it. After 50 or so sales, increase it to $12.99, and so on.
However, you can sell your free eBook. Customers can still give you money if they feel that you should get something for it.
Marketing The eBook
Now that the eBook is for sale, you will want to think about how you can market it. While you may gain a few organic ebook sales via Google Docs and Gumroad page, to achieve many more, you will need to invest in different marketing strategies.
Firstly, tell everyone on social media that the book is available to buy. This is a great way for people to share posts and get the book seen by many people.
If you own a mailing list (which you can sell on Gumroad), then sending something out to potential customers is always a great idea.
Using ads is also a great way to specifically target potential customers. You can do this via social media which will target the demographic of the book directly.
Final Thoughts
Selling an eBook is a great idea if you have a topic or story that you want to share with the world.
An eBook may seem like a daunting process, but once you work your way through the steps, you might have a successful book at the end of it.
However, things do take time, so it is always fun to watch a project grow.
