7 Best Platforms for Selling Your Ebooks: Boost Your Side Hustle Income

Selling ebooks can be a great way to earn some extra cash on the side.

With the rise of digital reading, more people are looking for convenient ways to get their hands on new books.

You can turn your passion for writing into a profitable side gig by selling ebooks online. There are many platforms out there that make it easy to publish and sell your work.

Each one has its own features and benefits.

Let’s take a look at some of the best options for selling your ebooks and starting your digital publishing journey.

1) Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Want to make some extra cash with your writing? Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a great place to start.

It’s one of the biggest platforms for selling ebooks and print-on-demand books.

KDP is super easy to use.

You can publish your book in just three simple steps.

Upload your file, set your price, and hit publish.

Your book could be live on Amazon stores worldwide in about 72 hours.

The best part? It’s totally free to upload your book.

You don’t need to spend a dime to get started.

KDP lets you keep control over your book’s content, design, and pricing.

You can earn up to 70% royalty on your ebook sales.

That’s a pretty sweet deal for your side hustle.

Plus, you can enroll in KDP Select to make your ebook available on Kindle Unlimited, potentially reaching even more readers.

KDP isn’t just for ebooks.

You can also publish paperback versions of your books.

This gives your readers more options and could boost your earnings.

Remember, Amazon is a huge marketplace.

Millions of people shop there every day.

By publishing on KDP, you’re putting your book in front of a massive audience.

Want to track how your book is doing? KDP provides handy sales reports.

You can see how many books you’re selling and where your royalties are coming from.

2) Apple Books

Want to make some extra cash from your writing? Apple Books could be your ticket.

This platform gives you access to a huge audience of iPhone, iPad, and Mac users.

Apple Books is big.

It’s in over 150 countries, which means your ebook could reach readers all around the world.

That’s pretty cool for a side gig, right?

You can set your own prices on Apple Books.

This lets you decide how much your work is worth.

You also get to keep a big chunk of the money – up to 70% of the sale price.

One neat thing about Apple Books is that it’s great for fancy ebooks with multimedia.

If you’ve got a book with videos or interactive bits, this platform can handle it.

Apple Books also has a cool pre-order feature.

This means you can start selling your book before it’s even out.

It’s a great way to build buzz and get some early sales.

There’s a catch, though.

You need a Mac to publish on Apple Books.

If you don’t have one, you might need to find a workaround.

Remember, Apple likes exclusive content.

If you only sell your ebook on their platform, they might give you more visibility.

This could mean more sales for you.

3) Smashwords

Smashwords is a great platform for selling your ebooks as a side hustle.

It’s user-friendly and offers wide distribution to major retailers.

You can easily upload your ebook and set your own price.

Smashwords takes a small cut, but you keep most of the profits.

One cool thing about Smashwords is that it converts your ebook into multiple formats.

This means readers can enjoy your work on different devices.

The platform also gives you tools to market your ebook.

You can offer free samples and run promotions to attract more readers.

Smashwords has a large community of indie authors.

You can connect with others and learn from their experiences.

You don’t need to be tech-savvy to use Smashwords.

Their step-by-step guide makes publishing a breeze.

Smashwords pays you monthly, which is great for consistent income from your side gig.

They offer multiple payment options too.

Recently, Draft2Digital acquired Smashwords.

This means you might get even more features and reach in the future.

Remember, you’re not locked into exclusivity with Smashwords.

You can sell your ebooks on other platforms too.

This flexibility is perfect for maximizing your side hustle potential.

4) Barnes & Noble Press

Want to sell your ebooks through a well-known bookstore? Barnes & Noble Press might be your ticket.

It’s a great option for authors looking to make some extra cash on the side.

B&N Press lets you publish both ebooks and print books.

You can reach millions of readers through their online platform and physical stores.

The best part? You get to keep a big chunk of your sales.

B&N Press offers a 70% royalty rate on ebooks.

That’s a sweet deal for your side hustle.

Getting started is pretty easy.

You’ll use their tools to format your book and design your cover.

Then you can set your price and hit publish.

One cool thing about B&N Press is that your book could end up in their actual stores.

Imagine seeing your work on those shelves!

They also offer some extra services if you need help.

You can get pro editing or cover design to make your book shine.

Remember, B&N has a built-in audience of book lovers.

That means more potential buyers for your ebook.

You don’t need to be exclusive with B&N either.

You can sell your ebook on other platforms too, maximizing your side income.

So if you’re looking for a reputable place to sell your ebooks, give Barnes & Noble Press a shot.

It could be a great addition to your self-publishing journey.

5) Kobo Writing Life

Want to get your ebooks out there without dealing with a big publisher? Kobo Writing Life might be just what you need.

It’s a cool platform where you can publish your ebooks and audiobooks all by yourself.

With Kobo, you can reach readers all over the world.

They’ve got millions of people using their app and e-readers.

That means your books could end up in lots of hands!

The best part? You’re in charge.

You decide how much your book costs and when to put it out there.

No need to wait for someone else to give you the green light.

Kobo Writing Life is free to use.

You don’t pay anything upfront to get your book listed.

Instead, you get a cut of each sale.

The more your book sells, the more money you make.

You can sell your ebooks on Kobo for any price between $0.99 and $199.99.

If you price it between $2.99 and $9.99, you get to keep 70% of the sale price.

For other prices, you keep 45%.

Don’t worry about being tied down.

Kobo doesn’t make you sell only on their platform.

You can still put your book up for sale elsewhere if you want.

6) Google Play Books

Want to reach a huge audience for your ebooks? Google Play Books might be your ticket.

It’s a big player in the ebook world, especially for Android users.

Every Android device comes with the Google Play Books app already installed.

That means your ebook could be just a tap away for millions of potential readers.

Selling on Google Play Books is pretty straightforward.

You just need to create an account and follow their guidelines.

Once you’re set up, you can start uploading your ebooks.

One cool thing about Google Play Books is that it can help your book show up in Google search results.

This extra visibility could give your side hustle a nice boost.

Pricing your ebook is flexible on this platform.

You get to set your own prices, which is great for testing different strategies.

Google Play Books also offers some useful tools for authors.

You can track your sales and get insights about your readers.

This info can help you fine-tune your marketing efforts.

Remember, Google is a tech giant with a massive user base.

By selling your ebooks here, you’re tapping into that huge market.

It’s a smart move if you want to expand your reach and potentially earn more from your writing side gig.

7) Draft2Digital

Looking to sell your ebooks without the hassle? Draft2Digital might be your go-to platform for this side hustle.

It’s a user-friendly service that helps you distribute your ebooks to multiple online retailers.

With Draft2Digital, you don’t need to worry about formatting your book.

They offer free ebook conversion, saving you time and effort.

This feature is especially handy if you’re just starting out.

One of the best things about Draft2Digital is its wide reach.

They connect you with dozens of retailers, making it easier to get your ebook in front of potential readers.

You can sell on popular platforms like Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

When it comes to royalties, Draft2Digital takes a small cut.

For a $4.99 ebook sold on Amazon, you’d earn about $2.97.

That’s not bad considering the convenience they offer.

Another plus? Draft2Digital provides free ISBNs for your books.

This can save you money, especially if you’re publishing multiple titles.

The platform also offers helpful marketing tools.

You can create universal book links, making it easy to promote your ebook across different stores.

Remember, Draft2Digital is great for authors who want to “go wide” with their ebooks.

If you’re looking to sell on multiple platforms without the headache of managing each one, this could be your ticket.

Benefits of Selling Ebooks Online

Selling ebooks online can be a great way to make money on the side.

It offers some cool perks that make it worth trying out.

Passive Income

You can earn money while you sleep with ebooks.

Once you write and upload your book, it keeps selling without much extra work from you.

This means you could make cash even when you’re not actively working.

Platforms like Amazon KDP let you set up your ebook and forget about it.

Readers can buy it anytime, day or night.

You don’t have to be there to make the sale.

Think about waking up to find you’ve made sales overnight.

It’s like having a little money-making machine that runs on its own.

Global Reach

Your ebook can reach readers all over the world.

You’re not limited to just your local area or country.

Apple Books lets you sell in over 150 countries.

That’s a lot of potential customers!

You can write in English and still sell to people in Australia, India, or anywhere else.

This big audience means more chances to make sales.

Plus, you don’t have to worry about shipping or inventory.

Your ebook gets delivered instantly to buyers anywhere.

Low Overheads

Selling ebooks doesn’t cost much to start.

You don’t need to print books or rent a store.

All you really need is a computer and internet.

You can write your book using free software.

Many platforms don’t charge you to list your ebook.

They just take a cut when you make a sale.

This means you can keep more of the money you earn.

You don’t have to spend a lot upfront, which makes it a low-risk side hustle to try out.

Marketing Strategies for Ebooks

Selling ebooks can be a great side hustle.

To boost your sales, you’ll need some smart marketing tricks up your sleeve.

Let’s look at a few key ways to get your ebook in front of more readers.

Social Media Marketing

Social media is a goldmine for ebook promotion.

Start by creating eye-catching posts about your book on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Use hashtags related to your book’s topic to reach interested readers.

Try running contests or giveaways to spark interest.

You could offer a free chapter or a full copy of your ebook as a prize.

Make short video teasers about your book for TikTok or Instagram Reels.

These can give potential readers a taste of what’s inside.

Don’t forget to join online book clubs or writing groups.

These communities can be great places to chat about your ebook and find new fans.

Email Campaigns

Building an email list is crucial for ebook marketing.

Start by offering a freebie, like a short guide or chapter, in exchange for email sign-ups.

Send regular newsletters to your subscribers.

Include sneak peeks of your ebook, writing tips, or behind-the-scenes info about your writing process.

Try segmenting your email list based on readers’ interests.

This way, you can send targeted emails that are more likely to result in sales.

Use automation to set up a welcome series for new subscribers.

This can introduce them to your writing and nudge them towards buying your ebook.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Team up with other authors in your genre.

You could do joint promotions, where you both plug each other’s ebooks to your audiences.

Reach out to bloggers or podcasters in your niche.

Offer to be a guest on their show or write a guest post.

This can help you tap into their audience.

Consider partnering with relevant brands or businesses.

If your ebook is about fitness, you might team up with a local gym for a promotion.

Look into affiliate marketing programs.

Other bloggers or influencers can promote your ebook and earn a commission on sales they generate.