Do you have a draft of a digital book sitting your desktop?
Well, it’s not going to do anyone too much good parked there. If you want to find readers, you’re going to have to publish it. While some writers prefer to take the traditional path of working through a big-name publisher, others are more attracted to self-publishing.
Fortunately, self-publishing is viewed with more clout than ever before, plus It lowers the barriers to publishing while affording writers a greater payout per ebook sold. But how do you get your ebook out there? It’s a good question.
Let’s take a look at selling ebooks through your own website.
Build a Website
The first step for how to sell ebooks on your own website is – well – building your own website. The simplest way to get into the ebook game is to build an ecommerce website through a platform provider like Shopify. These services set you up with everything you need to succeed right from the get-go. This includes payment processing, business tools, tracking, security features and more. These solutions virtually eliminate barriers to entry, so you can concentrate on actually selling your ebook.
Of course, other methods exist as well. You can purchase a domain from a popular host like Yahoo Small Business, GoDaddy or HostGator; then build out your store from there. However, this process is rather slow since you’ll need to work out web design and functionality on your own.
You could also hire an agency to set up this for you. But the financial costs are prohibitive for most newbies. Then again, this option provides you almost unlimited say in how your website looks and works. So, if you have the funds and the time, this might be a smart option for you.
Optimize Your Site for Sales
Next up, you’re going to need to optimize your ecommerce site for sales. Because there are a lot of things to consider, this will take a little trial and error.
Will online consumers prefer your website to be simple or flashy? Do red “SALE” buttons convert better than blue buttons? Does it behoove you to have a large number of webpages to help you rank on Google, or is it better to keep your ecommerce website slim and focused?
All of these options can make your head swim, if you aren’t careful. That’s why it’s wise to employ A/B testing to see what works and what doesn’t. Luckily, many platform providers offer built in testing services or add-ons to help sellers parse the options. Similarly, agencies will generally have their own research or tools to guide you through this process.
Market Your eBook & Website
While you are working through A/B testing, you should also kick start your marketing outreach. Begin with securing a social media presence. This means establishing profiles on Instagram, Facebook and maybe even You Tube. This gives consumers an easy way to find you. It is also prudent to push your book via Reddit groups or online forums focused on readers.
If you already have a social media following or an active blog, you can promote your ebook and website there since you have an audience already interested in your work.
Leverage Cross-Promotions
Another approach is to reach out to thought leaders in your field.
Connect with a popular YouTuber who reviews ebooks; or maybe a local radio host willing to talk to writers. The idea is to get your book in front of persons with influence over an existing audience. Even if they only have 100 active followers (listeners, readers, viewers, etc.), that’s 100 more people than you might have reached otherwise.
Admittedly, these are just the basics behind selling an ebook through your own website. The rest you’ll need to discover by getting into the game and getting your hands dirty. There is no teacher like experience, so take your desktop ebook draft and start selling today.
