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How to Create, Design, and Sell Your First Ebook (Step-by-Step for Beginners)
Raise your hand if creating an ebook has been on your to-do list for way too long. You keep putting it off because it feels overwhelming, right?
I get it. That was me—and many of my students too. But after doing this consistently for over 20 months, I can tell you it’s much simpler than you think.
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The best part? You don’t need a website, followers, or fancy tech skills. All you need is:
- Your idea
- A free Canva account
- And the willingness to follow through
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of creating, designing, and selling your first ebook. Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Ebook Topic
Before you open Canva or write a single word, you need the right topic. And not just any random idea—a problem-solving topic.
People don’t buy ebooks for entertainment alone. They buy them for solutions. So ask yourself:
- What’s something I’ve figured out that others still struggle with?
- Where am I one or two steps ahead of others?
Some examples:
- Easy vegetarian dinners for students on a budget
- How I planned my immigration move to Canada
- A beginner’s guide to saving your first $1,000 in Canada
It doesn’t need to be super niche. If it solves a real problem for someone, it’s valuable.
Tip: Choose a topic you’ve personally experienced. That way, the writing process feels natural, and your ebook will be more authentic.
Step 2: Write Your Ebook Content
Don’t panic—your ebook doesn’t need to be 100 pages long. A powerful ebook can be just 10–15 pages if it’s actionable and solves one clear problem.
Here’s a simple structure you can follow:
- Title Page
- About You
- Introduction
- Main Content (your steps, tips, or strategies)
- Conclusion
Start with a brain dump in Google Docs. Get all your ideas out, then organize them. If you get stuck, you can use ChatGPT to help outline the flow. But remember—add your own voice, personal stories, and real-life strategies. That’s what makes your ebook unique.
Step 3: Design Your Ebook in Canva
Now comes the fun part. Head over to Canva and search for “ebook multiple pages” in the template section. Canva will show you dozens of ready-made designs you can customize.
Here’s what to do:
- Pick a template you like
- Replace the sample text with your Google Docs content
- Swap out stock photos, links, and placeholder graphics with your own
- If you don’t want to use your photo, use Canva’s graphics and elements instead
You don’t need to be a designer. Canva makes it easy.
Once done, click Share → Download → PDF. That’s your finished, ready-to-sell ebook.
Step 4: Set Up a Simple Sales Funnel
This is where many people get stuck: how do you sell your ebook?
You don’t need a website, Etsy shop, or expensive tools. You just need a simple sales funnel. I recommend Systeme.io because it’s free to start and beginner-friendly.
Here’s what you need inside Systeme.io:
- A landing page describing your ebook
- A checkout page to accept payments
- An email automation to deliver the ebook
That’s it. Everything runs automatically once it’s set up.
Step 5: Promote Your Ebook
Now that your ebook is live, it’s time to get it in front of people. Start small—pick one platform (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Pinterest).
Here are some ways to promote it:
- Share behind-the-scenes of you creating the ebook
- Post valuable tips related to your ebook topic
- Answer questions your audience might have
- Add the ebook link to your bio
And don’t worry—you don’t need thousands of followers. I made my very first sale ($2.40) with no audience. Over time, that grew into more than $140,000 in sales.
Step 6: Scale Beyond One Ebook
Once you’ve launched your first ebook, don’t stop there. Here are ways to grow your digital product business:
- Create a freebie to build your email list
- Upsell other ebooks or digital products
- Turn your ebook into a paid workshop or course
- Bundle it with other products for more value
One ebook can be the foundation of a full digital product business.
Final Recap
Here’s the roadmap to creating and selling your first ebook:
- Pick a problem-solving topic you’ve experienced
- Write short, actionable content
- Design it in Canva using templates
- Set up a funnel with Systeme.io
- Promote it consistently on one social platform
- Expand into more digital products over time
And if you’re still stuck on what ebook topic to choose, grab my free Niche Clarity Workbook. It’ll help you find the perfect profitable idea to start with.
Creating an ebook doesn’t have to be complicated. With just your idea and a Canva account, you can launch your first digital product and start earning online.
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