How to Create an eBook That Sells: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you made it here, you’re thinking about creating an eBook. Did we guess right? 

At Publishing.com, we’ve helped thousands of people start their writing journey and watched them become self-publishers. Some are beginners who have never self-published, while others are seasoned writers struggling to make their goals. Despite their differences, they share one thing in common: the desire to sell an eBook. 

So, buckle up as we walk you through a proven process on how to create an eBook that sells. We’ll share the tips you need to take your book from concept to successful eBook.

5 Steps That Simplify Success

We know you’re eager to start. In just a few minutes, you’ll have everything you need to start writing and selling eBooks.

If you’re ready to get started now, we offer a free training that gives an insightful overview of this process. Plus, you can always refer back to this guide as a visual companion to help you along the way.

Step 1: Get Your Content Off the Ground

The first and most critical step to creating eBooks for money that are successful is ensuring your content is engaging, valuable, and marketable. It all starts with good research and structure.

Research

Have you established who your writing is for? It’s important to know who your audience is. Ask yourself: Who am I writing for? What problems are they facing, and how can my eBook help them? Solving someone's problem is a surefire way to be a successful salesperson.

Think about your audience's preferences, reading habits, and the types of books they already enjoy. This can be as simple as putting yourself in their shoes and googling questions you think they need answers to or searching books on Amazon that you think might help. You can also go a step further and use tools like KDSpy to research and analyze book categories, bestselling topics, and keywords. The more you understand your audience, the more likely your book will appeal to them, and the better your sales will be.

Overall, explore different viewpoints and experiences to make your eBook well-rounded. Your content can stand out by offering unique and valuable information.

Structure

While it may sound boring, the structure of your eBook is crucial for readability. Before you start writing, it can help to create an outline that maps out your chapters. A well-structured book not only keeps you organized but also gives your readers a clear progression that makes sense as they read it.

In your outline, it’s helpful to break your content into bite-sized sections using headings and subheadings. Word and Google documents have this feature available, so you don’t need to uncover some secret code to access this format.

Example Title

Heading 1

Heading 2

Heading 3

This not only improves the flow of your book but also makes it easier for readers to navigate and search for sections. Incorporating lists and bullet points is another great way to better arrange your thoughts and keep your reader engaged.

Writing and Editing

Okay, you have an outline and the general flow of your eBook; now what? Start writing! 

As you begin, remember that your content serves a purpose. Stick to the message you’re trying to convey and focus on creating content that is just as engaging as it is valuable. Write an eBook in a style that resonates with your audience and keeps them hooked. It helps to include:

• Callouts
• “Quotes”
• Bolded Text
• Italics

These elements grab attention and give readers a reason to pause and absorb what they’ve just read. They can also quickly scan and refer back to sections if needed.

Once your first draft is complete, you'll want to revise and edit your work. Polishing your eBook for clarity and impact is just as important as writing it. You want your readers to see you as a professional, and editing is huge when first developing that trust; grammar mistakes won’t help.

Pro Tip

Writing doesn’t have to be a slow, labor-intensive process. AI tools like Publishing.ai help you with everything from generating book topics that resonate with you to monitoring analytics and everything in between. Let our software write your professional-level book quickly and efficiently without compromising quality.

Step 2: Find Eye-Catching Visuals

It’s no secret that people are drawn to images. That’s why it’s very important that you either know where to find great images or know how to create them yourself.

Source High-Quality Images

Free image resources like Unsplash and Pexels are excellent for finding high-quality visuals for your eBook. Ensure the images align with your content and enhance your reader's engagement.

Create Custom Graphics

If you want your eBook to stand out, consider creating custom graphics. Tools like Canva allow you to easily design attention-grabbing visuals that complement your writing.

Step 3: Create Visually Appealing eBooks

First impressions are everything! Choosing the right approach for the design of your eBook cover can do wonders to set your book apart from others on the digital bookshelf. Let’s look at tools and tests that can get you ready to publish.

The Right Choice

You could have published a million books or never published at all, but the right choice when it comes to designing your eBook is the simple choice.

• ‍eBook Templates: Find a beginner-friendly tool with a library of eBook templates. Tools with drag-and-drop abilities make it easy for anyone with ANY skill level to create a polished and visually stunning eBook.
• ‍Start from Scratch: For more experienced designers, starting from scratch allows for greater creative freedom. Customizing your layout, color scheme, and font types gives your eBook a unique personality that matches your brand or the subject matter of your content.
• ‍DIY Advanced: If you're a jump-off-the-deep-end type with graphic design experience, Adobe InDesign is an advanced tool that offers more control over layout and typography, perfect for intricate designs.

The eBook cover is arguably the most important design element, so it’s important you choose a route that is comfortable enough for you to make a well-designed book cover. A well-designed book cover can be the difference between a potential reader clicking on your eBook or scrolling past it. Your book cover should not only be visually appealing but also reflect the content of your book. 

Remember, this is your eBook's front-facing sales pitch, so it’s worth investing time in creating something that grabs attention and communicates professionalism. 

Industry Tip: At Publishing.com, we recommend our students use eBook templates within Canva. These eBook templates help you maintain consistency across pages, creating a cohesive look. It also doesn’t hurt that they offer a quicker route to completion.

Unlock Your eBook’s Full Potential

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with information? Get full support through your entire eBook creation process. Our course, AI Publishing Academy (AIA), is designed to help writers and non-writers, new and experienced, with easy-to-understand videos that don't stop once your eBook is published. You'll be under the guidance of our expert instructors and coaches, who have helped thousands achieve their publishing goals.

Why Our Course?

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Be successful on your eBook publishing journey from the very start.
• Expert Instructors: Learn from industry professionals with real-world experience.
• Interactive Learning: Worksheets and hands-on experience to ensure you get the most out of the course.

If you’re ready to take the next step, then join AIA and start learning from our proven system so you can start seeing sales.

Pro Design Tips

Drastically enhance readability and usability by focusing on these three helpful tips:

Tip #1 

A well-organized Table of Contents (TOC) helps readers navigate your eBook easily. It provides structure and ensures that readers can quickly find the sections they’re most interested in.

Tip #2

Adding links, videos, and other interactive elements can boost reader engagement and provide a richer experience. Hyperlinks can direct readers to additional resources, while embedded videos can offer a more dynamic way to convey information.

Tip #3

Online eBooks are read on various devices, including tablets, mobile devices, and computers. Testing your design on different screen sizes ensures compatibility, and checking its digital format ensures a seamless reading experience for your audience, no matter their device.

Step 4: Publish Your eBook in a Cost-Efficient Manner

We’re almost there, and now it's time to prepare to press that publish button! Before you submit your eBook, there are a few things to consider, so let's get you up to speed.

Where to Self-Publish

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the leading platform for self-publishing. It gives you access to Amazon’s massive audience, exclusive promotional tools, and global distribution—all while allowing you to make the most of your earnings with their high royalty rates. 

Once you publish, we recommend other eBook-selling platforms, like IngramSparks and Google Play Books, that can increase your revenue streams, but it’s important to start with the fundamentals, like Amazon KDP.

Formatting and Compatibility

Some of the most common formats are EPUB format, Portable Document Format or PDF, and MOBI. The right eBook format is whatever makes your life easy and is compatible with different devices. For this process, our suggestion is to use Reedsy, but we also created a comprehensive guide to formatting that breaks down each format type and its benefits.

Prepare for Upload

It seems like overkill, but before you hit the publish button, double-check that your eBook’s metadata is complete and optimized (follow this Amazon KDP tutorial for instructions on how to do that). This includes your title, subtitle, keywords, and description—these elements help potential readers find your eBook through search engines and Amazon marketplaces. 

Once everything is in place and optimized, you’re officially ready to click publish and share your eBook with the world!

Our Suggestions, Your Success

Another variable in success is establishing your credibility. After all, it's important when you're publishing on one of the world's largest self-publishing platforms. We’re big on recommending our students do what they can to get all the reader reviews and ratings they can. 

Our student Janine says she “sold 30 books in a short time, receiving ten reviews, 8 of which were 5-star. This gave [her] great confidence to continue [her] publishing journey."

While reviews can be great confidence boosters, they also play a HUGE role in sales and aid in establishing your credibility overall!

Step 5: Smart Promotion

Creating a fantastic eBook is only half the battle—you also need to promote it well so your target audience can find it and you can make sales. This step looks different for everyone, but we’ve developed reliable advice to help your eBook gain traction.

Jane experienced this firsthand by publishing two books in one year. The first book, which she published on her own, did generate some income. However, after enrolling in our AIA course to leverage our marketing strategies, she published her second book and saw more than double the sales compared to her first. The last time we spoke, she said, “The second book's average weekly sales are going up all the time!” Her success highlights the powerful difference our course can make in boosting income streams and long-term sales growth.

Set Your Marketing Plans

Start laying out your goals and create timelines when you want things completed. This could be:

How many downloads or sales do you aim to achieve in a specific time frame?

• Create eBooks to Bundle
• Encourage Reviews
• Post to Multiple Platforms

What channels will I use to reach your audience? 

• Create a Website
• Engage through Social Media
• Start an Emai/Subscriber List

What promotional activities do you want to try?

• Consider paid advertising
• Host a Q&A
• Write Targeted Blog Posts

Following these strategies helps generate buzz around your eBook and boost your sales with the more people you can get in front of. Marketing doesn’t stop once your eBook is live; selling eBooks is an ongoing process that can lead to passive income over time.

Bonus: Free Tools and Resources

A lot of our students are on fixed income which is why we are firm believers that creating a high-quality eBook doesn’t have to drain your savings. We know AI can sound scary, but it’s surprisingly user-friendly and… cheap! Below is a list of some AI tools and other resources to help you streamline your writing and publishing process.

Grammarly has a free version that is great for editing and proofreading your manuscript!

ChatGPT’s free version offers users an easy way to create outlines, reword writing, or alleviate writer's block. Just be sure you're taking care of your writing, ensuring it is your own, and using the right ChatGPT book prompts.

We also listed other resources that are perfect for self-publishers looking to keep out-of-pocket costs low while still producing a professional product.

Canva is a game-changer. We’ve mentioned it before, and we’ll mention it again. It's easy to use, and you can create stunning eBook covers and graphics without any design experience. Their library of free eBook templates makes it accessible for beginners while still offering enough customization options for more experienced users.

Reedsy offers a free eBook formatting tool that’s intuitive and straightforward. It easily converts your manuscript into professional-looking EPUB format and PDF, ready for distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do eBooks Make Money?

Is selling ebooks profitable? Yes, eBook publishing is a great way to generate income, especially if you choose the self-publishing route. 

What Platforms Can I Publish My eBook On?

Some of the most popular self-publishing platforms are Amazon (KDP), Barnes & Noble Press, and Kobo.

Do I Need an ISBN for My eBook?

For most platforms like Amazon KDP, you don’t need an ISBN to publish your eBook, as they will provide one for free. However, if you plan to distribute your eBook across multiple platforms or want full control over your metadata, purchasing your own ISBN may be beneficial.

How Much Should I Charge for My eBook?

Pricing your eBook depends on several factors, including your target audience, the length of your book, and the platform you're using. For example, with Amazon KDP, pricing your eBook between $2.99 and $9.99 allows you to earn the highest royalty rate of 70%. However, you’ll need to experiment with different price points to find what works best for your audience.

Can I Update My eBook After It’s Been Published?

Yes, you can update your eBook, correct errors, add new information, or revamp your cover after it’s been published. Most platforms allow you to upload a new version of your eBook at any time.

How Do Royalties Work for eBooks?

Most self-publishing platforms, like Amazon KDP, offer two royalty rate options: 35% or 70%. The 70% royalty option is typically available if your eBook is priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Outside this range, the 35% royalty rate applies. Each platform has its own guidelines, so make sure to check the specific terms based on your chosen platform.