I recently saw a number of threads in a number of different forums that all asked that same question (in varying degrees):
“How Easy Is It To Make Money On Kindle?”
With more and more “How To Make Money With Kindle” products being launched almost every day (the most of which are complete garbage), with big media covering “success stories” of “new” writers making 6 figures in their first year writing and with the marketing genius of Jeff Bezos at the helm of a complete cultural and economic shift in the publishing world – it really is no wonder that so many people are looking to Kindle Publishing for financial relief.
The Short Answer
Let me give you the short answer to this question:
It’s so easy a monkey could do it.
And I mean that in the nicest way possible, of course.
If you write something, create a nice cover, write a good description, get enough reviews and just hit the publish button eventually you will make money. I almost guarantee it.
The Long Answer
The problem however, is “how much” will you make.
There it gets a bit more tricky.
If you are looking for some hard and fast numbers, I have found Dean Wesly Smith’s breakdown to be nearly identical to what I make on each of my books. Additionally, I have published a number of Kindle case studies which further illustrate what you can expect to make per book that you publish.
But even these numbers are skewed and unreliable because they don’t take into account the biggest variable of all…
You.
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Unlike what product creators want you to believe, there is no “system” of generating profits. There is no “proven blueprint” to success, especially in the world of writing and even more so in the world of fiction.
I am sorry to have to say it, but it is true.
And the reason for this is because of you.
You are a unique person. You have a unique imagination. You have a unique set of skills. You have a unique set of circumstance.
You may have 20 hours a week that you can devote to writing in complete seclusion or you may have 15 minutes a day to write with your children hanging off your arm.
You may have 10 years experience writing as a hobby or you may not even remember the last book of fiction you read.
Unlike other online marketing business models (like being an Amazon Associate, or affiliate marketing etc.) success in Kindle relies more heavily on mastery of the craft of writing. If you can’t write well, you won’t make much money at all.
But there it is – “you won’t make much money at all.”
Even being a terrible writer you will make some money. It might not be a lot at first. It probably won’t pay your bills. It may not even be worth your time, but you will make money.
I have never been involved in a money making endevour where cash was guaranteed like it is with self-publishing in this modern era.
The key then, as I see it, to success with Kindle and the self publishing world is to become a prolific writer. Simply write all the time. Publish what you write and then write some more.
Thinking about outsourcing your books to others? If you are planning on making money in the world of fiction, then just don’t. I know very few people who have recouped their investments from hiring low cost writers to create fiction.
I won’t go into it here, but fiction is just a different animal than non-fiction and it isn’t such a clear game of buy low and sell high that a lot of product creators claim it is.
If you want to make money writing books for a living, then you should count yourself lucky to be alive in this day and age because it has never been easier.
If you are looking to make quick cash – I recommend something else entirely. This isn’t the world you should be playing in – you will be competing against people like me who have been writing professionally for 4+ years and who have dedicated themselves to the craft.
If you do want to get started making money with Kindle then I HIGHLY recommend that you check out the course that turned me into a best seller (multiple times over) >>> Kindling