Is selling ebook still profitable?

45 replies
Hello experts,

My name is Rommel and I am from the Philippines. I'd like to start an online business and I was thinking to use affiliate marketing as my business model but I guess it's not a good choice for me at this moment in time as I am just starting out.

I'd like to know if online publishing is still a good business model?

Thank you in advance for your answers.
#ebook #profitable #selling
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Is selling ebook still profitable?
    Sure, If you have buyers.
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  • I think believe there is a lot of money to be made in both industries. I've made and am currently in both industries.

    In my opinion affiliate marketing has the most potential with the least amount of investment.

    There are many different ways to run a self publishing business and without knowing what you plan is. Some people like to outsource everything and some people like to do most of the work.

    Please ask if you have any questions.
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  • Profile picture of the author colorado1850
    Absolutely! As you start 'doing' the affiliate marketing or whatever you choose to do - tell people about what is working / not working for you.

    You could also buy the rights to resell / white label an ebook or course that someone else created and leverage their experience.
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    • Profile picture of the author Francis Gabriel
      Hi! I'd like to know more about this rights to resell ebooks, what is white label?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    It depends.

    Who are planning to sell your ebooks to? Are you sure there is a market?

    Do you have an email list? Are you in Facebook groups where you can post about your book? Do you have a blog with followers?

    Do you have a budget for advertising? Do you know where you'll advertise and how much it will cost?

    Are you planning to sell your book on Amazon? If so, how will you market it?

    What will your expenses be? Are you going to do the writing yourself? How much will a good cover cost? Do you know what fees will be involved on each platform?

    Yes, people still make money with ebooks. But there are a lot of things to consider.

    Rose
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  • Originally Posted by Rommel Mercado View Post

    Re: Is selling ebook still profitable?
    Yes definitely, selling ebooks is still profitable, if your eBook is your front end product in your sales funnel.

    Selling an eBook isn't usually a profitable business, unless there are up sells to back end products in the eBook.

    Example of what your sales funnel can look like:

    $7 to $10 eBook ===>> $47 to $97 video course ===>> $197 to $497 group coaching program ===>> $997 to $2997 one on one coaching or live event.

    When you have targeted buyer traffic to market to, and send to your sales funnel, then you can tweak your sales funnel to improve your conversion rate.
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    • Profile picture of the author crackhouse
      Originally Posted by Internet Trillionaire View Post

      Yes definitely, selling ebooks is still profitable, if your eBook is your front end product in your sales funnel.

      Selling an eBook isn't usually a profitable business, unless there are up sells to back end products in the eBook.

      Example of what your sales funnel can look like:

      $7 to $10 eBook ===>> $47 to $97 video course ===>> $197 to $497 group coaching program ===>> $997 to $2997 one on one coaching or live event.

      When you have targeted buyer traffic to market to, and send to your sales funnel, then you can tweak your sales funnel to improve your conversion rate.

      Best piece of advice bar none. If your eBook is successful it will get pirated, if it's the start of yoru sales funnel process, it won't make a difference.

      K
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      I sell backlinks on some of the most lucrative editorial websites in the world.
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      • Originally Posted by crackhouse View Post

        Best piece of advice bar none. If your eBook is successful it will get pirated, if it's the start of yoru sales funnel process, it won't make a difference.

        K
        Thanks!

        To set up a profitable online sales funnel takes dedication, determination and discipline.

        Most newbies thinks that the internet marketing gurus, makes all his/her income from the front end products, that they see the guru, spending money on advertising.

        The "low hanging fruit" offer, is usually used as a positioning tool, to build trust with your prospects, by helping them solve an immediate problem.

        Your ebook and paperback books are just glorified business cards, used to familiarise your audience with you, and your book is used to introduce your audience to your other, more expensive products, that you have to upsell to them in your online sales funnel.

        So therefore, yes, selling ebooks is still profitable.
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        • Profile picture of the author chimichanga
          This is all pure gold. HOWEVER, i'm in a bit of a pickle and was hoping you'd shed some light.

          The thing is, I've created such an awesome lead magnet (purely subjective on my part) where I believe i've conveyed way more than enough info and quality. The only thing holding me back from making it live and available would be because I accidentally gave too much value...and it's free (44 pages on a professionally done, interactive pdf).
          The actual ebook I plan on monetizing actually has the tools and solves the problem my audience has issues with. Again, I think I may have given too much information out...I have 10 years of experience in my field and offer coaching services, a back end service, for a significantly higher price tag.
          My question is, should I dilute the lead magnet, or even split it up into 2 parts and drip it into my email campaign, as to not give any and all away at once? As Andre Chaperon would say, never give it ALL away.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    Originally Posted by Rommel Mercado View Post

    Hello experts,

    My name is Rommel and I am from the Philippines. I'd like to start an online business and I was thinking to use affiliate marketing as my business model but I guess it's not a good choice for me at this moment in time as I am just starting out.

    I'd like to know if online publishing is still a good business model?

    Thank you in advance for your answers.
    It can be. All depends on the niche and if you can reach your potential customers.
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  • Profile picture of the author merdekakan
    Ebook is still one of best strategy to make money. We must create 3 main factor , strongest goal in specific niche, change the promotion approach and never give up until we can sell minimum 1000 ebook. Normally under 1 years for $500/ebook. Try, try , learn and try until success
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  • Profile picture of the author cearionmarie
    It sure is. Any item is can sell as long you have the right market and the right marketing.
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    www.influencerauditor.com

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  • Absolutely! People are writing and selling eBooks everyday. I haven't seen any recent statistics, but my gut tells me that this is on the increase not decrease.

    Now, to expand on this... Not every eBook sells!

    You must do your research first, Confirm there is a market for your chosen topic, where the readers (buyers) are hanging out, and exactly what they are buying.

    Then check out your target audience on social media and forums, and write in a solution or two, to the questions they are asking, or the problems they are having.

    Don't just write the eBook, and expect it will sell, find out what is selling and target the eBook at it. There is no point in spending a huge amount of your time writing something that nobody wants to read or buy.

    Make sure your content is current (again, do your research), and well written.

    It is common practice to enhance the eBook, with some Checklists or Mind maps, to make it a package, rather than just a book.
    All-in-All, it comes down to your Research and your Marketing.

    All the Best,
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  • Profile picture of the author Jessica Ambos
    Hello kababayan! Yes, absolutely as long as your content is good that people want to read it. Ebooks are still in the market and people will always pay for something if they really need the infromation. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaeI
    Hard to tell without any details regarding the niche and your marketing strategy. But if you are seeking for general recommendations, sure online publishing can work.
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  • Profile picture of the author ctrlaltdelete
    Hey Rommel. Always nice to see a Filipino here. Always had good experience with Philippine freelancers.

    You can do both--become an affiliate marketer and make a profit through e-books , but it depends on the type of audience you have or want to have, plus the niche you're in.

    Build up your audience first (social media can be such a huge help in this aspect), keep studying, and get yourself known as an expert in your niche so that people are more likely to buy from you. It can take some time to get to where you want, so some patience and determination is a must.
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  • Profile picture of the author ashwinsd
    Yes, it is. Rather than publishing one big book, try to break down the topics and have multiple small books.
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  • Profile picture of the author romanepo
    Whatever you do,Every sales depends on product quality and getting to the right customer.At first you need to select your product if it is affiliate process or digital marketing model.
    Online publishing is one of the good business model ,if your product is more interesting or very difficult to buy hard copy.
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  • No, I don't think so. Nowadays people are lazy to read book that full of words. Instead, video will be a better choice.

    If pictures speak a thousand words, then videos do a MILLION.
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  • Profile picture of the author Risktaker89
    If you have a market for it, then it will be profitable.

    Researching the market for it is more important than how the content will be delivered.

    Just do it. Start from an ebook. You can always upgrade the content to video later on too.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Most definitely profitable Rommel. It is simply a means through which to help folks; some people prefer reading eBooks, and will happily gobble up content in this form. I have over 100 eBooks on Amazon. Bite-sized bits. I also have a few on Selz. Definitely go for it!

    Ryan
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    Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise
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  • Profile picture of the author garry baker
    Why do you guess affiliate marketing is not for you?


    And yes if you write an ebook that solves peoples problems and find those people and get them to buy it...


    Not to be super simplistic but that is all there is too it...


    But Step #1 is you have to write your ebook...


    Do not try to go to Step #2 until you write your ebook...
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  • Profile picture of the author dilipcybex
    Personally, I would put my money on YouTube videos than an ebook. But again, if you are planning to make money out of ebook, get someone sponsor in return for the ads as well. It will make more money than you get from selling your ebook.
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  • Profile picture of the author jonogray
    It sounds like you need a newbie course in basic internet marketing. You can gather a lot of info on WF here or buy a video course.
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  • Profile picture of the author Judey
    Yes , selling digital products are still profitable.

    And if you're not yet ready to create your own info product you can start selling as an affiliate.

    Affiliate Networks like clickbank and jvzoo , has lots of affiliate offers you can promote.

    First build a targeted email list , then start promoting affiliate offers to your list and you'll start making money.
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  • Profile picture of the author skylikemake
    Yes, but it depends how well you can promote your ebook
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  • Profile picture of the author NathanZad
    Ebooks are great. Amazon can't be wrong!

    Just make sure you have a good cover and know that it answers your audience's questions.

    I love ebooks and text much more than video. If you like it too, then writing one is the way to go.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sioh Boon Yap
    Originally Posted by Rommel Mercado View Post

    Hello experts,

    My name is Rommel and I am from the Philippines. I'd like to start an online business and I was thinking to use affiliate marketing as my business model but I guess it's not a good choice for me at this moment in time as I am just starting out.

    I'd like to know if online publishing is still a good business model?

    Thank you in advance for your answers.
    Hi. There is no right or wrong business model. My mentor making good money from affiliate marketing and ranked one of the best in ClickBank. For me affiliate marketing is the easiest way to start online business since everything is already in place and you just need to promote and market it.

    Selling e-book is not a bad ideas as people can download it on the spot and it is relatively cheap. I used to buy a few e-book and downloaded them. However, your must make sure you have good content and make your e-book pretty interesting. For a start, may I suggest you give some free e-book and lets see how was the response. If people like your e-book, then I think it is time for you to start selling them.
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  • Profile picture of the author MartinBuckley
    Heck, ya selling eBooks is still profitable, the key is getting traffic to your sales page, which can be done a number of ways,such as creating short videos on YouTube and leaving a link from your video to your sales page. Also you could offer a FREE eBook and have links in it to affiliate eBooks or your own eBooks and build a list by using a opt-in page to get your free eBook. There are a number of places you can promote eBooks online for free or cheap, like in Facebok groups, Twitter, Instagram, JVzoo, ClickBank, MooshPay and maybe even here as a Warrior Special Offer, it all depends on your eBook subject and your budget, but again yes selling eBooks is still very profitable I do it myself with success, so why can't you.

    I hope this helps,

    Marty Buckley
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  • Profile picture of the author monstaholland
    Hi Rommel, I can't help in any way for affiliate marketing but I can with ebooks.
    I don't have a lot if buyers, but I managed to score $1000 dollars 2 weeks ago with a non fictional book that I wrote in 48 hours just because I was bored!
    I highly suggest giving it a go, you never know what might happen!
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  • Profile picture of the author Hazaron99
    I think it is. E-books are much more accessible than hard copies. Plus they are usually cheaper so they should attract people that are on a budget.
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  • Profile picture of the author swetha gowda
    Yes, by selling E-Books are profitable as you can have a better understanding and create brand value for yourself and be a mouth of word.
    So I recommend publishing E-Books for a positive track.
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  • Profile picture of the author kazimuhith
    Yes, it is. It will always be. It is working for me at Amazon ...year in year out.
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  • Profile picture of the author savyeman
    Selling ebooks is profitable only if you have a relationship with your list. You can build a list by posting videos on Youtube.

    One of the fastest ways to go about building a list is solo ads. But I would not rely on just that because the traffic can be bad because of a saturated list.

    I would also look to build a list with PPC and other forms of traffic.
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  • Profile picture of the author liedetector
    Yes, ebook selling is best way to earn money online. I have valid reason why i saying ebook selling is best. First of all, you will give the information to people as well as can famous among the readers and can earn money too. It is good idea if you have proper knowledge about different subject and write on ebooks.
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  • Savyeman, I will have to disagree.

    If you have a list, thats great long term, however, most self publishers do not have a list and are quite successful.

    It's all about meeting the demand.
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  • Profile picture of the author SPF
    Even with all the changes Amazon is currently doing in the Kindle Store, I still believe that self publishing is not only the best way to build income starting out, but you can scale it up faster than affiliate marketing and drop shipping.

    However, it does take some maintenance long term, and strategy. Most people end up getting bored and starting another business with the income from self publishing.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    You don't NEEF a list to make money but it certainly increases your potential and normally will increase the earnings.
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  • Profile picture of the author King Manu
    A book can sell pretty well, the idea is that you should love doing it. If you are doing it just for the sake of sales, I think you will have a hard time. Books are a hard skill to develop, and some writers need years before becoming really good at what they do.
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  • Profile picture of the author WhiteStripe1
    Yeah. Nowadays a lot of people are publishing in Internet. But your content must have a certain weight. If its not informative you lose your money and time.
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  • Profile picture of the author DripRevenue
    eBooks are selling just as well as any other product online... IF the audience is right. Just remember to have a strong backend/AOV (no that does not just mean a list) in order to maximize earnings.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeuguarino
    yes. If your ebook is interesting and funny to read
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  • Profile picture of the author MeelisM
    Hi Rommel

    Great question.

    Selling ebooks is definitely profitable.

    My suggestion to you is to find a niche which people are constantly buying ebooks in, find a place where those people shop for the e-books and then once you've written your ebook on a particular topic, post it for sale.

    It can be amazon kindle publisher platform, warrior forum or anywhere else where people keep buying ebooks.

    People will definitely continue to be buying e-books for a long time to come.

    Meelis
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