WRITER’S STORIES
How I earned extra money online.
Although I can earn money from writing stories on Medium, I am able to earn extra by converting my articles into eBooks and selling them on Gumroad.
This is my Gumroad store — HERE.
Selling eBooks can be a fulfilling and profitable venture, especially when you find the right platform that aligns with your goals and needs as an author.
After experimenting with various options, I chose Gumroad as my platform of choice for distributing my eBooks. Here, I’ll share my personal journey and the five main reasons why Gumroad became my go-to for eBook sales.
Introduction to Gumroad
Before diving into the specifics, it’s essential to understand what Gumroad is.
Gumroad is a straightforward, user-friendly e-commerce platform designed for creators of all types — from filmmakers and musicians to writers like myself.
It simplifies the process of selling directly to consumers, bypassing many of the hurdles that traditional or more complex platforms present.
Reason 1: Ease of Use
The primary reason I gravitated towards Gumroad is its incredible ease of use. When I first decided to sell my eBooks, I was looking for a platform that wouldn’t require a steep learning curve.
I wanted to focus on writing and content creation, not on navigating complicated software.
Setting up my Gumroad account was a breeze. Within a few clicks, I was able to upload my first eBook, set a price, and prepare it for sale. The interface is intuitive, clean, and direct. There’s no clutter or unnecessary features to wade through, which made it incredibly easy for someone like me, who prioritizes simplicity in digital tools.
Reason 2: Customer Connection
Another significant factor in my decision was the ability to connect directly with my customers. Gumroad offers tools that allow creators to engage with their audience in a more personal way.
Through Gumroad, I can send updates, discounts, and newsletters directly to the people who have purchased my eBooks.
This direct line of communication is invaluable. It helps me build a community around my work and receive immediate feedback from my readers. Such interactions are crucial for improving my eBooks and tailoring future content to meet the needs and interests of my audience.
Reason 3: Flexibility in Pricing
Gumroad provides remarkable flexibility in how I price my products, which is not as prevalent on other platforms. I can set standard prices, or I can use a “pay what you want” model, which has been incredibly effective for reaching a broader audience.
This model allows buyers to pay more than the base price if they feel the content is worth more, which some of my readers appreciate and take advantage of.
Moreover, running promotions and discounts is straightforward on Gumroad. These strategies are essential for driving sales during specific periods, such as holidays or the launch of a new eBook.
Gumroad’s flexible pricing capabilities enable me to experiment with different strategies to see what works best for my market and genre.
Reason 4: Analytics and Insights
Understanding who buys your eBooks and how they find them is key to growing your sales. Gumroad offers a comprehensive set of analytics tools that help me track sales, visitor traffic, and conversion rates. These insights are critical for refining my marketing strategies.
With Gumroad’s analytics, I can see which of my marketing efforts are working and which aren’t, allowing me to invest more wisely in ads and promotional activities.
This data-driven approach helps me maximize my return on investment and continuously grow my reader base.
Reason 5: Minimal Fees and Transparent Policies
Finally, the fee structure and transparency of Gumroad are crucial reasons why I stick with the platform. Gumroad charges a reasonable fee for each sale, and there are no hidden costs or unexpected charges.
This transparency allows me to plan my finances and understand exactly how much I will earn from each sale.
In comparison to other platforms that might charge monthly fees or have complex fee structures that vary by product type or sales volume, Gumroad’s straightforward approach is refreshingly simple and economical.
Conclusion
Choosing where to sell your eBooks is as significant as writing them. For me, Gumroad has proven to be the best platform due to its ease of use, direct customer connection, flexible pricing options, valuable analytics, and clear fee structure.
It has not only facilitated the sales of my eBooks but also helped me grow as a writer and marketer.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to switch platforms, consider what aspects of eBook selling are most important to you and see how Gumroad might meet those needs.
In my experience, it has been an indispensable tool for connecting with readers and building a sustainable writing career.
If you are interested in downloading my eBooks on Startups, IoT, and Entrepreneurship, kindly check out my Gumroad store.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 