Creative Storyteller, Marketing Strategist, and Advocate for Women in Tech

Published November 12, 2021 via LinkedIn

The term “Passive income” seems to be more and more worn out. Many people talk about having passive income, but the methods are not very hands-off. The goal of creating a stream of income that would be considered passive is so that you don’t have to do anything arduous to bring in an extra $2,000 a month. The truth is, most things won’t be as passive as you’d hope; however, there are a few things out there that can bring the results you want.

The old heads always say you have to spend money to make money, and I’m here to tell you that they aren’t wrong. Imagine paying someone a set amount of money to write, edit, design, and even publish a book, with your name on it. The best part is, you’d keep all the rights. The only thing you’d have to do is the marketing, but with self-publishing, the options are endless for getting your book out there. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty passive to me.

Before we jump into all the specs of ghostwriting, you have to make a few decisions. The world is a big place, with a ton of things to write about so it’s your job first and foremost to establish what you want your niche to be.

Finding Your Niche

If you’re an indecisive person, then this could be the hardest part; but it’s one of the most important if you are considering traditional publishing. With traditional publishing, you have to keep your eye on the market and what types of books are selling. You have to understand what’s going to work and what may flop. If you’re interested in self-publishing, then this is less of an issue. So here is the good news. Amazon has an amazing self-publishing system, so you’d be in control of your work and it’s guaranteed to be on at least one bookshelf (even if it’s just a close friend or family member). 

Niches are important because they establish your brand. Once you figure out what you want your book to be about, stress levels tend to decline. The next thing you want to hone in on is your motivation. Though this does put you on the journey to passive income, nothing comes without a bit of footwork.

Finding Motivation

When establishing any stream of income you have to break it down into two parts: What’s pushing you and motivating you to move forward with the plan, and what will keep you focused and motivated moving forward. With the pandemic came a ton of confusion for many people. I for one was determined to leave the service industry. I loved serving tables and being involved in the service industry culture; however, I knew that I was risking a lot to remain a part of it. The money wasn’t nearly as good as it was pre-pandemic and the public was not as forgiving when it came to inconveniences. 

Everyone is experiencing major spikes in stress levels all around. I knew that I wanted to write and dive into the tech industry, and there was no better time than now. I digress. Returning to the discussion at hand, everyone has different things that drive them during this time. It should be at the top of your list when considering an additional stream of income. 

Regardless of how passive or hands-on the job is, you still have to keep up the stamina and remain motivated to grow any business. Once you’ve decided on a niche and a motivation, it’s time to turn up the heat with a bit of giving, regarding your funds. 

Hiring a Ghostwriter

You don’t need a ton of money to get started with hiring someone to put your words to paper. In fact, if you wanted to sit down every day and hammer out 500 words until you have what you want, that’s fine too; however, we are talking about something a bit more passive. Hiring a freelance ghostwriter can be a tough investment. If you have no knowledge of the writing industry, or any industry you dive into searching for a freelancer, it can be overwhelming. 

One thing to keep in mind is that this is their job. This is how they’re making their living. Finding a quality freelancer is more important than finding the cheapest hire. You should feel secure in your purchase and in the body of work you’ll be putting your name on. My favorite site to find quality work is Fiverr. There are a ton of solid writers on the platform. Here is a list of a few things to look for:

• A professional and well-developed bio
• A high quality, realistic photo of the writer
• 5-star reviews
• Sample works
• Rates

These are all very important for finding a writer with superb writing skills. It comes down to the small things after all. Why would you hire a writer who misspelled something in their bio? Or a writer who has clipart as their cover photo. The writer must make the buyer feel comfortable and they have to build a level of trust, starting with their profile. 

Next, you want to check out their gigs. Check the spelling and all of the things they offer, and compare it to other sellers. Yes, you must do your research. Comparing packages is a must when looking for the best bang for your buck. Once you’ve settled on a great writer, hammer out your ideas and make sure the lines of communication are always open and clear. Response time is important when communicating because some writers have specific windows in which they allow edits and additional input. Communication is definitely key. 

You and the writer should develop specific steps in which the book is exchanged to make sure it’s what you want. After the writing and editing are all done, you are set to start your journey of selling your eBook. 

Tip: Most freelance ghostwriters don’t mind you taking credit for their writing; however, some would like a mention as editor. It’s always a good idea to draw up a legal contract, such as an NDA, to ensure all rights to the book are yours.

Marketing and Sales

These next steps are optional, being that some freelancers include publishing in their packages. If that is the case, then don’t worry too much about this part for now. You can always discuss marketing and other things with your freelance writer and figure out if marketing is an option for an additional fee. However, if you are self-publishing the book, you must bear in mind the various details of marketing yourself. This is when social media, ads, and networking come into play. 

The reason that it’s difficult to get a book published traditionally is because of the ability to market it. If you chose a not-so-popular niche, marketing will be a bit more arduous. You have to utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and keywords to their fullest extent. Once you hone in on your specific audience, you have to cater the ads to them. You have to stand out from the crowd and give them a reason to buy your book instead of the others. Fiverr is such a good resource because you can find someone to market your book via the app as well. This makes things a lot more passive and a lot less stressful. 

You’ll want to use the same methods for finding someone to market your book as you did with finding a freelance writer to ensure quality marketing. Once you’ve communicated thoroughly with the individual you’ve hired, it’s time to throw on the shades and settle into your hammock. That’s right. It’s time to get passive. Once your book is on a platform and is being marketed correctly, all you have to do is sit back and keep an eye on your sales. I know what you’re thinking. “Why did I just spend over a thousand dollars, without selling anything? At this point, I’m just spending money; not making any, right?”

This is what I call an investment. If you are confident in your writer and the person marketing your materials you shouldn’t have any worries. The money will come; but like all things, nothing happens overnight. This process takes time and dedication to get it off the ground. Once you start selling, however, there is no ceiling for you. This is especially true if you are putting out something that you are confident other readers will find useful. 

That’s how you can create a passive income by selling eBooks, folks. I hope it was helpful and if you have a chance, check out my gigs. Who knows; maybe we can work together and jumpstart your passive income journey.