How to sell your books and make some cash

Most instructors leave money on the table. They build a great course, gather an audience, and then forget that an ebook — a short, focused PDF — is one of the easiest ways to add a second income stream.

This guide is for instructors and writers who want to sell their books on BetaLMS without becoming a full‑time author. We will cover what to write, how to package it, how to price it, and how to actually sell copies.

Why ebooks are a great side product

Ebooks are powerful because they:

Are easy to produce — you do not need a publisher.
Have no fulfilment cost — every sale is pure margin.
Complement courses — a learner who buys your course may buy your ebook too.
Travel well on social media — a PDF cover is shareable.
Can be updated forever; no inventory to throw away.

You do not need to write a 300‑page tome. The best‑selling ebooks online are short, focused and practical.

Step 1: Pick a topic that converts

Avoid the temptation to write a "general" book. Specific topics outsell general ones by a wide margin. Ask yourself:

What is the one question I get asked over and over?
What is the one skill my students struggle with the most?
What problem can I solve in 30 pages or fewer?

Examples that work well on BetaLMS:

"The 20 SQL queries every analyst should memorise"
"How to price your photography in your first year"
"A one‑week study plan for the National exam"
"The freelancer's invoice template pack"

Notice each title promises a specific outcome.

Step 2: Outline before you write

Sit down with one sheet of paper. Write the title at the top, then list 5 to 8 chapters. Under each chapter write 3 bullet points. That is your outline.

Resist the urge to flesh it out before you are happy with the outline. Bad books are bad because they had no plan.

Step 3: Write a draft in seven days

Block 60 minutes a day for a week. Each day, write one chapter as a rough draft. Do not edit, do not polish, do not look back. Just write to the bullet points.

After seven days you will have a complete (ugly) first draft of around 8,000 to 15,000 words — exactly the right length for a digital product.

Step 4: Edit ruthlessly

Now edit. Read each chapter out loud. Cut anything that does not add value. Most ebooks are improved by removing 20% of their length, not by adding more.

Get one or two trusted readers to give honest feedback. Ask them three questions:

Where did you get bored?
Where did you get confused?
What was the single most useful sentence?

Fix the boring parts, clarify the confusing parts, and put more of the third kind everywhere you can.

Step 5: Design a cover that does not embarrass you

Your cover is not art — it is marketing. A good ebook cover:

Uses 2 fonts maximum.
Has a clear, readable title.
Promises a specific outcome.
Looks good as a thumbnail (think small, then bigger).

If you cannot design, hire a freelancer for $30. It will pay for itself with the first three sales.

Step 6: Set the right price

Pricing is a strategic choice, not a guess. A few proven anchors:

$5 to $9 — entry price, great for impulse buys and email‑list builders.
$15 to $25 — sweet spot for a focused, practical ebook.
$39 to $79 — premium price, requires a strong reputation and a clear ROI for the buyer.
$99+ — usually paired with templates, a course module or a Slack community.

Most BetaLMS authors do best at $15 to $25 for their first book.

Step 7: Upload to your BetaLMS portal

Inside your instructor portal:

Go to Ebooks → Add ebook.
Enter the title, short description, cover image and PDF file.
Choose your price and the currencies you support.
Click Publish.

Your ebook now has a public sale page with your branding, a buy button and an automatic delivery flow. After purchase, a download link is emailed to the buyer and stored in their account.

Step 8: Sell it on purpose

A published ebook is not the same as a selling ebook. Promote it deliberately:

Bundle it with one of your courses for a higher overall price.
Mention it in every relevant live class and lesson.
Post snippets in the Community feed — one strong tip per post.
Email past course buyers with a small launch discount.
Add a buy banner to your academy homepage.
Repurpose chapters into blog posts (yes, like this one).

The best authors sell more copies in month six than in month one because they keep promoting consistently.

Step 9: Iterate

After a few months you will have feedback and data:

Which chapter do people quote on social media?
Where do reviewers say they wished there was more?
What new question do readers email you?

Use that feedback to update the ebook. Send the new version free to existing buyers — they will love you for it and tell their friends.

How much can you make?

Realistic numbers for a focused niche:

A small audience (1,000 followers) selling at $19 can sell 30 to 80 copies in a quiet month: $570–$1,520.
A medium audience (10,000 followers) at $25 can sell 200 to 400 copies a month: $5,000–$10,000.
A teaching brand with active live classes and email can do far more.

These are not get‑rich numbers — but as a second income stream stacked on top of your courses, an ebook is one of the highest‑leverage things you can build.

Final word

You almost certainly have a book inside you. It is shorter, more specific and more practical than you think. Pick your topic this week, outline it tomorrow, write a draft over seven evenings, and sell your first copy before the month is out.

Your future self — and your bank balance — will thank you.