The simple answer is – it varies greatly. The amount of money a self-publisher makes could be anywhere from a few dozen to tens of thousands of dollars per month, depending on the genre, market, and approach.
Here are some factors that play a role in determining a self-publishing income:
• Genre: The type of book you’re writing makesall the difference. If you’re in a popular or fast-paced genre like romance or young adult, you’re likely to sell more copies and make more money.
• Target Audience: Who is your target audience? More specifically, are they active readers and book buyers or passive viewers and browsers? If they don’t see a clear value proposition, they’re unlikely to purchase your book.
• Sales Channels: Are you selling your book on Amazon, through your website, or both? Make sure you’re optimizing the sales channels you’re using to make sure your readers have easy access to your book.
• Price Point: How much is your book costing? Is it reasonably priced for your target audience? Prices that are too high will cost you sales, but prices that are too low may not yield a big enough profit margin.
• Marketing Strategies: How are you bringing awareness to your book and introducing it to potential readers? Are you using social media to reach new audiences, or are you relying on word of mouth?
Overall, the success of self-publishing depends on the effort you put into it. Without a good understanding of the market, your target audience, and the right approaches, it’s difficult to get meaningful results. That said, self-publishing success stories are out there and authors make considerable amounts of money each year. So with dedication and perseverance, a new author can make a nice living self-publishing books.
If you want to know more about self-publishing and how to make money from it, I recommend reading this interview with authors who have achieved success in the self-publishing industry:
https://blog.reedsy.com/self-publishing-success/