Selling eBooks without writing them is not only possible, it’s fast becoming a popular way to earn online. With the right approach, you can start generating sales from digital books that you didn’t spend weeks or months writing.
Whether you're working a full-time job or just want a passive income stream, this guide covers how to sell eBooks without writing them, using tools, legal content sources, and proven sales strategies.
Where to Get eBooks You Can Legally Sell
You don’t have to be a writer to become a successful eBook seller. These are five popular sources of ready-made content:
1. PLR (Private Label Rights) Content
PLR eBooks are sold with the right to edit, brand, and resell. You can find PLR content in niches like health, self-help, finance, and productivity.
Pros:
Cheap and ready to use
Can be rebranded as your own
Cons:
Often overused
Needs editing for quality
2. Ghostwriters
You can hire someone to write a custom eBook for you. This gives you full ownership and uniqueness. Upwork, Fiverr, and WriterAccess are common places to hire.
3. Public Domain
Works published before 1929 in the U.S. are usually public domain. You can legally reuse and even sell them. Think classic literature, historical guides, and educational material.
4. Creative Commons Licensed Works
Some creators allow reuse under a Creative Commons license. Always check license terms. Some require attribution. Others allow full commercial use.
5. Repurpose Your Own Content
Already have a blog or newsletter? You can turn your top-performing posts into an eBook with some editing. Add chapters, format it properly, and it’s ready to sell.
How to Package and Brand Your eBook
Once you have your content, presentation matters.
Design a high-quality cover — use Canva or Photoshop
Add visual elements — charts, infographics, examples
Create a clickable table of contents — this adds professionalism
Insert calls-to-action — upsells, lead magnets, affiliate links
Bundle with bonuses — worksheets, checklists, audio guides
Keep your tone clear, helpful, and reader-friendly.
Tools to Sell Your eBook Easily
You don’t need to hire a developer or run a big store to sell eBooks. These tools make the process easier:
Payhip – simple and beginner-friendly
Gumroad – works well with social media audiences
Sellfy – for digital products and subscriptions
ThriveCart – built for digital sellers, one-time pricing, built-in affiliate center
If you're looking to save while setting up, there are sometimes promotions where you might get a Thrivecart 50% off coupon, a great way to reduce upfront cost when investing in a reliable checkout system.
Selling on Your Own Website vs Marketplaces
Marketplaces like Amazon Kindle let you list quickly and reach buyers fast. But they take a cut and give you limited control.
Selling from your site gives you full profit margins and control over your brand. You also collect customer emails, which lets you market future products more directly.
Pairing your site with a platform like ThriveCart lets you build sales funnels, upsell sequences, and even run your own affiliate program.
Pricing and Discount Strategy
Pricing matters more than most realize. Here’s how to get it right:
Start with a price range between $7 and $29.
Test higher pricing with added value (like bonuses or video content).
Offer discounts through time-limited offers to encourage fast action.
Using discount codes can help drive urgency. In fact, there have been occasional deals like a 75% off ThriveCart coupon code floating around in niche marketing forums. If you spot a real one, you could save big on setup costs.
Promoting eBooks Without a Big Budget
If you're not spending thousands on ads, that’s fine. Try these grassroots tactics:
Email Marketing
Build an email list or start with your personal contacts. Offer them a sample chapter in exchange for joining your list.
SEO
Write blog posts around your eBook topic. Add internal links and optimize for keywords. Long-tail phrases work best like:
"productivity eBook for remote workers"
"meal planning guide for busy moms"
Social Media
Create value-first content around your topic. Share tips, slideshows, or behind-the-scenes posts to attract the right buyers.
Affiliate Promotions
Let others promote your eBook in exchange for a percentage of sales. This can snowball sales quickly, especially if you target niche influencers.
Run Giveaways
Offer your eBook as a prize or entry gift in contests to grow your audience.
How to Keep It Legal and Ethical
Always double-check licensing and distribution rights for anything you didn’t write. A few smart steps:
Keep receipts or contracts from PLR or ghostwriters
Don’t just copy/paste articles into a PDF
Credit sources where licenses require it
Avoid false claims about income, health, or results
When you keep it clean, you build long-term trust with your audience.
Final Checklist Before You Launch
Here’s a launch prep list to keep handy:
✅ eBook designed and formatted
✅ Delivery method set up (email, instant download)
✅ Landing page copy optimized
✅ Sales funnel tested
✅ Checkout process working (with optional coupon offers)
✅ Affiliate or ad campaigns ready to go
✅ Email autoresponder sequences scheduled
Selling eBooks without writing them isn't cheating. It’s smart business. You’re saving time, focusing on strategy, and giving readers what they want—quality information in a format that’s easy to digest.
Whether you're repurposing, licensing, or outsourcing content, you're still solving a problem. That’s what people pay for.
And if tools like ThriveCart help get your systems up faster, using a Thrivecart 50% off coupon or spotting a real 75% off ThriveCart coupon code can make the entry cost more manageable.
Let the writers write. You focus on building and selling.
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