Lessons from My eBooks Sales

Someone asked me whether downloadable guides are a good lead generator for your business.

I never expected my eBooks to reach thousands of readers, let alone generate meaningful engagement. But looking at the numbers on my Payhip dashboard, I realise that writing and sharing knowledge can have a far-reaching impact.

The Journey of Sharing Knowledge

When I started publishing eBooks, my goal was simple: to document my experiences in IoT, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies. I wanted to provide insights, guides, and frameworks that others could use, whether beginners or seasoned professionals.

Some books were offered for free to encourage accessibility, while others were priced modestly to reflect the value they provided. The result? A mix of high engagement and steady sales across different topics.

What the Numbers Reveal

Here’s a quick breakdown of how my eBooks have performed:

• Most Popular Titles:
  • IoT Notes – 42,846 views, 2,745 orders, $153.57 sales
  • Your IoT Journey – 32,767 views, 1,277 orders, $96.12 sales

These two books clearly stand out. They focus on IoT, a topic I’ve been deeply involved with for years. It confirms that readers are eager to learn about IoT from a practical perspective. (Note: Initially, I sold these eBooks but now have made it for free)

• High Engagement, Low Revenue:
  • The Ultimate ChatGPT Cheat Sheet – 529 views, 139 orders, $0.00 sales
  • IoT Infographics – Your IoT Journey Guide – 1,680 views, 298 orders, $0.00 sales

These free resources were downloaded hundreds of times, proving that people appreciate concise and visual learning materials. Even though they didn’t generate direct revenue, they helped establish credibility and expand my reach.

• Niche Interest but Willing to Pay:
  • Internet of Things (IoT): A Beginner’s Guide – 651 views, 3 orders, $17.47 sales
  • Startup Survival: The Journey of a Tech Entrepreneur – 691 views, 5 orders, $20.95 sales

These books didn’t attract huge numbers, but those who did purchase them found value in the content. It shows that niche topics may have a smaller audience but can still be monetised effectively. However, I have significantly reduced the prices of these eBooks.

Lessons from This Experience

1. Free Resources Create Awareness
   Many downloads came from free materials, proving that giving knowledge away can be a powerful strategy. It builds trust and increases the likelihood of people exploring paid content later.
2. IoT is a Strong Niche
   Books related to IoT consistently performed well. This reinforces that IoT remains a hot topic, and people actively seek structured knowledge.
3. Engagement Doesn’t Always Mean Revenue
   Some books had high views but few orders, while others had lower views but better conversion rates. Pricing, perceived value, and the topic’s urgency significantly influence an eBook’s performance.
4. Presentation Matters
   The success of IoT Notes and Your IoT Journey suggests that readers appreciate structured, well-organised content with clear takeaways.

What’s Next?

Seeing these numbers has given me new ideas. I plan to refine my offerings, update content, and possibly bundle resources to increase value. I’m also considering interactive formats like video courses based on my books.

Publishing these eBooks has been a rewarding experience—not just in sales but in the connections and conversations they have sparked. If you’re thinking of writing your own eBook, go for it. You never know who might find value in your words.

Check out my eBooks here: Payhip Store.

What do you think makes an eBook successful? Let’s discuss it!