How tough is it to sell an e-book?

[Mounds]

Curious about this. I did a Google search about it and some people say it's pretty easy. Then there's a faction of people who say it's hard. They are also people who conveniently offer a solution to the problem.
So I beg the question, is it really that difficult to sell your e-book? I don't have any major internet presence (blog, ect.) so I'd be creating a sales page for said book.
Thanks for any info!

-Tim

[mainstreetcm]

I think it depends on the topic of the ebook. For example I sell an ebook on the exact steps I used to make money money with hubpages. I marketed it on a popular internet marketing forum and sold 10 copies in my first day. Ever since I have sold one or two every day, and when I sell four I've made more money selling the book than I do at my job.

So whatever the market will be, find it and promote, promote, promote! Depending on your niche free classifieds and offline marketing also tend to bring in results.

[Mounds]

Cool, thank you. It's nice to know that there is hope, without the use of a blog.
I'm working on a book about generally increasing your cash flow. Seems like everyone can use more money but not many people know how to get there. It will cover both decreasing outflow and increasing inflow. Might even split it into two, since I think you'll run into many people who want one or the other.

-Tim

[mainstreetcm]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Cool, thank you. It's nice to know that there is hope, without the use of a blog.
I'm working on a book about generally increasing your cash flow. Seems like everyone can use more money but not many people know how to get there. It will cover both decreasing outflow and increasing inflow. Might even split it into two, since I think you'll run into many people who want one or the other.

-Tim

I do also have a sales page on a separate website, and that is where I pick the up one or two sales a day. Find related forums for the topic of your ebook and start taking part in the community. Put the link to your sales page in your sig file and you will be good to go. If you can answer questions for your particular niche you will quickly develop a rep on the board of at least being a friendly, helpful person.

It is pretty easy to set up a wordpress with a free sales page template and it will cost less than $20 to get started.

[Mounds]

Awesomeness. Thank you very much for the info.
That was kind of my plan. Start commenting in forums and blogs related to this field, with my sales page as my sig.

-Tim

[fedrik]

Selling an e-product can be frustrating. But the trick is not to give up. There are many things you can do to promote the ebook. If you can get an ISBN for your ebook, you can sell it on Amazon. Plus you can use popular video sharing websites to promote it. But its recommended that you have a website or blog, it will surely boost your sales.

Good Luck.

[Curtis2011]

How tough is it to sell an e-book?

I think the important thing is to create an ebook that contains information that people are actually looking for.

Once you do that, you don't have to write a "sales" page per se, you just have to write a "here's what you've been looking for" page.

[mikethedrummer44]

You could also make an affiliate program. This way you can go around to high-traffic financial blogs/websites and ask them if they'd like to promote your product in return for a percentage.

A lot of these types of websites already have affiliate products they promote, but if your book is good enough, you shouldn't have a problem.

[Andrew Brunelle]

A high-traffic website certainly helps sell your ebook. Also, that the topic is interesting and actually is something people want to read about. It is most likely easier than selling a real book, although a high-traffic website can also sell a book pretty well, simply based on the fact that there are so many people viewing the page. It is easier to promote stuff on the Internet, so promote it if you feel that it is something worth promoting. You should probably start some kind of website, not just a sales page. You have to give something away for free most of the time before people will buy what it is you are selling. Look at what Steve did. At least 1000 free articles, which led to his book, which led to these wonderfully profitable affiliate programs and CGWs.

[danthony]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Curious about this. I did a Google search about it and some people say it's pretty easy. Then there's a faction of people who say it's hard. They are also people who conveniently offer a solution to the problem.
So I beg the question, is it really that difficult to sell your e-book? I don't have any major internet presence (blog, ect.) so I'd be creating a sales page for said book.
Thanks for any info!

-Tim

I've got to say that it's a lot easier than it used to be! These days all you need is a premier paypal account, a little marketing and traffic, a good coverting sales letter and you can do well. just make sure to help as many people that you can in the process...

[Bradshaw]

Actually, I just sold my first copy of a new e-book I just wrote for $14.00 USD one hour after posting it.

It's a 7000-word e-book. (23 pages)

It's not that hard, honestly.

[Joe Black]

Bradshaw, do you have a link to your ebook

[gene2009]

You should have an idea where/how you'll sell your book, before you created your product. You have not only to be a good writer; you have to be a good salesperson as well.

[Mounds]

The idea of how to market it is forming, thanks to the people of this forum

This is actually a fun process. It's like writing tons of posts and putting it together into one mega post. Of course, it's a bit more refined than my usual postings (ie. no penispenispenis jokes)