is writing an ebook profitable?

Question

I am a writer and have recently discovered some ebook sites. I was considering sending in a manuscript, but was not sure if there were any actual profit or if this was a waste of time. The ebooks webite says that the writer recieves 35% com. But I was not sure if this was a very popular way to read books.

Answer 1

That depends on what you are willing to spend in time and money to promote it. Personally, my opinion is no. I have turned down e-book contracts. First of all, someone buys it then what keeps them from sharing the file with everybody they know?

Secondly, I like holding a book in my hand. I love my library. I would never purchase an e book myself so I didn't sign a contract to sell them.

Is the publisher going to spend money to promote and publicize your book? What are they going to do so that people know it is there? Or is that your responsibility? If it is, 35% isn't such a great deal. BTW - The contract I got was for 45%.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

Hello.

I'm going to give you a different point of view.

Yes, ebooks can be profitable, but it depends on a few things.

What topic you are writing about and how you plan on marketing it.

How well your ebooks sells will depend on the topic. Are you talking about a normal story novel, or an ebook about a certain subject? If you are writing novel, story or book of poems, something like that, I'd say try to get it published.

If you're writing about a "niche" (subject matter) that not many people are interested in, it probably won't do that well. But if you are writing an instructional ebook about something lot's of people are doing searches on the web for, you can do quite well.

Take the subject of internet marketing. Most of the big name marketers write their own ebooks. They will find a subject that many people are trying to learn and write about it. An example might be how to promote your ebook on MySpace by finding people with similar interests.

Some one else here on Answers just asked about an ebook on Gardening. A very good niche. So it is really going to depend on the subject matter.

As you mentioned, some of those ebook sites only pay you a small part of what your book earns. And they will not really do much to promote your book. They promote the site and hopefully someone sees your ebook there. Most of the work to send people to your ebook page will be done by you.

So as long as your already doing the work, you might be better off setting up your own website and directing people to it. That way you make 100% of the profits. Or you can sign with ClickBank. List your ebook and offer affiliates 50% for each copy they sell. There are 1000's of people on ClickBank who are looking for things to promote.

Of course there's always eBay. Don't listen to the doomsayers who say you can't sell ebooks there. Most of the ones that sell for only a dollar or so are ones that tons of people are selling.

The people on eBay who are making money selling ebooks are selling ones they wrote and no one else is selling. So they can sell them for $5, $10 or even more. I've seen a lot of people who make good money selling the ebooks they wrote. But they had to find the right subject first. There was one guy who wrote an ebook about indoor cat tree's and included plans for making your own and sold them on CD for $25. He was pulling about $1000 a week. (This was a couple of years ago, haven't checked on him lately). But that's just an example of putting out the right product at the right time.

So yes, you can make a profit with ebooks. You just need a little imagination and actually do some work to promote it. Too many people have the "field of dreams" apporach to the internet. If you post it, they will come. Doesn't work that way. But if you do things right, you can make money with your ebook.

Hope that helps give you a little different perspective on things. Good luck with your endeavor,
Robbie

Answer 3

Yes with good content they are very profitable.
Some eBooks can be downloaded for free or at reduced cost, however, prices for many eBooks - especially bestsellers - are similar to those of hardcover books, and are sometimes higher. Most eBooks at Barnes and Noble, for example, are comparable in price to their traditional print versions.
People read magazines and news articles and Ebooks on their computer daily (20% on a monthly basis), 85% accessed the Internet on a daily basis, and 84% read Ebooks daily on their computer.
In regards to eBooks, 95% reported they were familiar with the term electronic books; 61% had read an article on eBooks; and 58% had watched a television news report or heard a radio news report on eBooks. 85% had read an eBook on their computer; 26% had read an eBook on a handheld organizer, laptop, or personal digital assistant; and 90% had purchased an eBook.

Answer 4

It's profitable, but you may see profits of oh, a dollar? Maybe two?

Take the time and get your book published for real by a company, on paper.

So, it's a giant waste of time for online publishing. And self-publishing, while I'm at it.

Answer 5

Ehm..
Hey,
this is a good resource on how to make money online http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=548

It's a proven method I used myself with good results. It's ideal both for expert marketers and newbies
I hope it helps

Answer 6

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