Sometimes your limiting beliefs are the only thing keeping you broke.
Take the myth that “nobody reads anymore in 2026.”
You know who doesn’t believe that? The top publishers making bank on Amazon KDP.
While the doubters are scrolling TikTok, Amazon’s database of 300+ million active readers spent an average of $90 each on books in 2025. That’s $27 billion flowing through one platform.
And I’m grabbing my piece of it… $50,000+ monthly, on average, from books alone.
Regardless of what some blogs and youtube videos trying to convince you about my income, it’s not from selling courses. It’s totally from the books I sell on Amazon.
The screenshot below is from my Amazon KDP dashboard:
That’s over $600,000 a year. From books most people write off as “dead.”
While everyone’s chasing the next AI tool or crypto trend, I’m building what may come across as a “Boring” business…
Quietly building a publishing empire that pays me while I sleep. I’ve shared my dashboard multiple times live on my YouTube videos, you can verify this yourself.
You Have Two Choices Right Now
Option 1: Close this tab. Go back to scrolling. Keep wondering why others are winning while you’re stuck in the same financial position you were last year.
Option 2: Invest 15 minutes reading this article. Follow a proven system. Start building your first income stream this week.
The choice is yours. But only one leads to $2,945 this month.
No matter what you do now or what school of life you come from, you’ll leave this article with a roadmap to financial freedom.
Like this single mother who built a $4,000/month yoga book portfolio while raising two kids.
Or the college dropout who now makes $7,000/month selling camping and outdoor survival guides.
Or the retired banker pulling in $15,000/month across three different niches he knew nothing about six months ago.
These aren’t unicorns. They’re regular people who stopped making excuses and started following a system.
Let me show you that system.
The Strategy (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)
Here’s what you need to understand:
You’re not going to sell just any book.
You’re going to find an urgent problem people are actively struggling with, then package the solution to that problem in your eBook.
- Not YOUR hobby.
- Not YOUR passion project.
- Not the novel YOU always wanted to write.
But the solution to the problem PEOPLE are desperately searching for right now.
The formula is simple:
- A specific group of people has a problem
- They’re actively looking for solutions to this problem
- Current solutions are either non-existent, inadequate, or inaccessible
- These people have the means and willingness to pay for a better solution
“But Tommi, why would anyone pay for a solution when they can search for it on the internet themselves?”
>> The same reason people pay a personal trainer when all workouts are free on YouTube.
>> The same reason people hire an accountant when tax information is free online.
>> The same reason people pay a chef or meal service when recipes are free on Google.
People don’t pay for information.
They pay for speed, structure, confidence, and results.
You’re collecting scattered information from ten different sources and presenting a clear, actionable solution. You’re saving your readers time and effort. And people absolutely DO pay to have their time saved.
That’s value.
That’s what sells.
Why 90 Pages Is Your Money-Making Sweet Spot?
Most eBook advice is completely wrong about length.
Too short (under 50 pages) looks cheap and incomplete. Too long (200+ pages) overwhelms readers and takes you months to produce.
Book between 80 to 150 pages hit the Goldilocks zone:
- Perceived value: Looks substantial enough to justify $19 pricing
- Quick to produce: You can finish in 7 days maximum
- High completion rates: Readers actually finish it, which signals to Amazon’s algorithm that your book is valuable
- Easy to scale: You can later create paperback, hardcover, and audiobook versions to multiply revenue
Right now, January 2026, New Year’s resolution buyers are searching and spending. They’re investing in self-improvement, business skills, health transformations, financial literacy. Anything promising real transformation.
I’ve personally published over 1,500 eBooks. That’s generated $3M+ in revenue over the years.
But here’s the truth: You don’t need 1,500 books.
One well-researched 90-page eBook, priced at $19, selling just 5 copies per day, can generate $2,945 in a month.
Let me show you the math, then walk you through exactly how to make it happen.
The $2,945 Math (It’s Simpler Than You Think)
Here’s the beautiful simplicity of this model:
Your eBook price: $19 Daily sales target: 5 copies Daily revenue: $95
$95 × 31 days = $2,945
But wait, Amazon takes a cut, right?
Yes. At the $19 price point on Amazon KDP, you’ll earn approximately 70% royalty (on books priced between $2.99-$9.99) or 35% royalty on books priced above $9.99 depending on distribution.
But once you learn how to start creating and selling books, you can always double down on the creation and later use Amazon Ads to scale.
Let’s be conservative and say you’re earning 35% after Amazon’s cut:
$19 × 0.35 = $6.65 per book
To hit $2,945, you’d need to sell approximately 442 books total, or about 14 books per day.
That might sound like a lot. But here’s what most people don’t realize:
When you price your book strategically and hit the right niche, getting 14 sales per day is completely achievable, especially in the first 30 days when Amazon’s algorithm is watching your book closely.
And if you leverage the methods I’m about to share (free distribution channels, bundling, strategic pricing), you can keep more of each sale and hit your target faster.
Before Day 1 Begins: Your Pre-Launch Research
Don’t skip this part.
This is where 90% of people fail.
Before you write a single word, you need to verify your niche will actually make money.
Here’s my exact criteria for spotting profitable niches:
✅ Other books in this topic make $400+/month ✅ They have fewer than 100 reviews (meaning low competition) ✅ The topic solves an urgent, painful problem
This combination = easy money niches.
Example: This simple book teaching “How to Set Up an LLC” makes $6,000/month. That’s just one version. Add paperback and audiobook versions, and the revenue doubles.
Here’s your step-by-step niche hunt:
- Go to Amazon and browse bestseller categories
- Search broad categories: “business for beginners,” “2026 diet plans,” “side hustles 2026,” “tax preparation”
- Look for books with strong sales rank (under 100,000 BSR proves consistent sales) but fewer than 100 reviews
Hot niches right now in January 2026:
- “Passive income ideas 2026”
- “Vision board workbook 2026”
- “Budgeting for beginners 2026”
- “How to start a cleaning business”
- “ChatGPT side hustles for beginners”
- “Mediterranean diet meal prep cookbook”
- “How to file taxes for beginners 2026 edition”
Pro tip: Books with fewer than 50 reviews are the real sweet spot. Less competition means faster page one ranking and quicker sales momentum.
Don’t overthink this. Pick ONE niche today and move forward.
Day 1: Research Your Reader’s Deepest Desires
You can’t sell solutions to problems people don’t actively feel.
You need to understand their:
Fears: “I’ll never escape my 9-5 job” Struggles: “Taxes overwhelm me every single year” Desires: “I want passive income while I sleep”
How do you find this psychological gold?
It’s literally all over the internet. People talk about their problems, desires, and daily challenges constantly:
- YouTube video comments
- Reddit posts and threads
- Amazon product reviews
- Facebook group discussions
You just need to know where to look.
You can also use AI to speed up this research.
Copy this exact prompt into ChatGPT or Claude:
“What are the top pain points, frustrations, and desires of [your target audience] struggling with [your niche problem]?”
Example for the LLC niche:
“What are the top pain points, frustrations, and desires of small business owners struggling with LLC formation?”
The AI will give you absolute gold:
Fear: “What if I mess up the legal structure and get sued later?” Struggle: “The forms are confusing, and lawyers charge $1,000+ just for basic setup” Desire: “I want a simple step-by-step guide that makes me look professional”
Now you’re speaking directly to their wallet.
This is how you understand your buyer— you don’t guess.
Run this prompt for your chosen niche. Save the top 3 fears and top 3 desires. You’ll weave these psychological triggers into every chapter of your book.
Day 2: Generate Your 10-Chapter Outline
Now that you understand reader psychology, it’s time to build your book’s skeleton.
Paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:
“Based on [paste your reader research above], give me a 10-chapter eBook outline that speaks directly to [target reader] and solves [their problem]. Model the tone after James Clear (clear, actionable). Each chapter needs 1 big promise and 3 key takeaways.”
Boom.
You’ll have a professional outline in 60 seconds.
Why 10 chapters?
It’s perfect for a 90-page book (roughly 9 pages per chapter). It’s scannable. It delivers high perceived value.
Make sure these chapter titles look tempting on their own in your table of contents. When people preview the sample on Amazon, the chapter titles should invite them to keep reading.
Example outline for an Anxiety book:
NOTE: This image isn’t from any real book, I just created it while writing this blog. It’s just an example to demonstrate the way. Obviously, it could be better.
Also, feel free to copy these chapters if you’re creating a book related to anxiety.
See how each chapter promises a specific transformation or solution? That’s what sells.
Pro tip: Always model successful voices in your niche. Readers buy familiarity. If your target audience loves Tony Robbins’ energy, write like him. If they prefer calm, academic tones, adjust accordingly.
Day 3-4: Use Claude to Write Your Book (The Publisher’s Cheat Code)
Here’s a secret most authors won’t tell you: Claude (Anthropic’s AI) is significantly better than ChatGPT for long-form content. The output is more natural, more human-like, and flows better.
Here’s how to use it:
Upload to Claude:
- Your 10-chapter outline
- Your reader research (their fears and desires)
- Desired tone: “Oprah/James Clear—warm but authoritative”
Then use this chapter-by-chapter prompt:
“Write Chapter [X]: [paste chapter title and promise]. Use the reader research above. Speak directly to their fears and desires. Make it exactly 9 pages. End with a powerful call-to-action that creates curiosity for the next chapter.”
The result? Natural, human-sounding content that actually converts readers.
Write your first 3 chapters on Day 3. Don’t edit yet, just get words on the page.
Finish chapters 4-10 on Day 4.
You’re not aiming for perfection here, just get your first draft out.
Day 5: Polish and Prepare for Launch
Now it’s time to polish your manuscript and get it ready for the world.
Editing:
- Run your full manuscript through Grammarly Premium (aim for a readability score of 80+)
- Use Hemingway App to ensure 7th-8th grade readability (this makes your book accessible to the widest audience)
- Add storytelling hooks every 1-2 pages to keep readers engaged
Your Book Cover (This Converts or Kills Sales):
Here’s a harsh truth:
People do judge a book by it’s cover.
Your cover is one of the most important marketing asset. A bad cover will kill even the best book.
Use Canva (they have free templates specifically for book covers).
Winning cover formula:
- Big, bold title that communicates the benefit
- Clean graphics
- Learn a little about color psychology
Examples of what works:
- Bold sans-serif fonts (Montserrat, Bebas Neue)
- Minimalist designs with one strong visual element
- Contrast that makes the title pop
Don’t overthink this. Look at the top 10 books in your niche and model what’s working.
Day 6: Upload to Amazon KDP (And Go Live in 24 Hours)
Here’s your KDP upload checklist:
Pricing: $9.99 for your eBook (this hits the 70% royalty sweet spot on Amazon)
Keywords: Use all 7 keyword slots from your research. These help Amazon show your book to the right buyers.
Book Description: You can use a quick framework I like. (And it works well)
Fear → Agitate → Solve formula:
“Are you tired of [fear]? You’re not alone. [Agitate the problem]. But what if [your book’s promise]? Inside this book, you’ll discover [3 specific benefits].”
Categories: Choose 2 low-competition categories where you can rank faster.
Hit publish.
Your book will be live within 24-72 hours.
How to Actually Sell 5 Copies Per Day (Multiple Methods)
Here’s where most people get stuck.
They publish the book and… crickets.
That’s because publishing is only 20% of the battle. The other 80% is strategic promotion.
Let me give you multiple methods to hit your 5-sales-per-day target (or 14 sales per day if you’re keeping Amazon’s cut in mind).
Method 1: The “Soft Launch” Price Test
Day 6-7: Price your book at $2.99 for the first 48 hours.
Why? You want to generate momentum and early reviews fast. Lower price = more buyers willing to take a chance.
Track your sales hourly:
- 5+ sales/hour = you’ve got a winner. Raise the price to $9.99
- Fewer than 2 sales/hour = tweak your keywords or cover and retest
This gives you real market data before you invest heavily in promotion.
Method 2: Strategic Free Distribution on Gumroad
Upload your eBook to Gumroad and price it at $19 (you keep 90% of each sale after Gumroad’s small fee).
Promote it directly to your audience via:
- Email (even if you have a small list)
- Social media
- Niche forums
Why Gumroad? You keep way more profit per sale. Selling just 5 copies per day at $19 (with Gumroad keeping 10% + payment processing) leaves you with roughly $17 per sale.
$17 × 5 copies × 31 days = $2,945
That’s already close to your goal, and you’re just getting started.
Method 3: Build a Simple Lead Magnet Funnel
Create a free “cheat sheet” or “quick-start guide” related to your book topic.
Example: If your book is about LLC formation, your free lead magnet could be “The 5-Minute LLC Checklist.”
Set up a simple landing page (use Carrd, Google Sites, or Beacons—all free) that says:
“Get the FREE 5-Minute LLC Checklist when you join 2,000+ entrepreneurs building real businesses: [Email signup]”
Once people sign up, send them:
- The free checklist (builds trust)
- A welcome email explaining who you are
- A pitch for your full book 2 days later
Even a tiny email list of 100 people can convert at 5-10%, giving you 5-10 sales immediately.
Method 4: The “Strategic Social Blast”
You don’t need a massive following. You need targeted visibility in the right places.
Facebook Groups (Join 10+ niche-specific groups):
Don’t spam. Provide value first, then mention your book naturally.
Reddit (r/Entrepreneur, r/sidehustle, niche-specific subreddits):
Share your journey honestly:
“I just launched my first KDP book and made
on Day 1. Here’s exactly what worked: [quick summary]. Happy to answer questions.”
Include a subtle link. People love transparency.
Method 5: Launch on Multiple Platforms Simultaneously
Don’t just rely on Amazon.
Upload your eBook to:
- Gumroad ($19, you keep 90%)
- Payhip (similar to Gumroad)
- Lulu (for print-on-demand paperbacks)
- Draft2Digital (distributes to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo)
Each platform gives you another sales channel. More channels = more daily sales.
If you get just 2 sales per day from Amazon, 2 from Gumroad, and 1 from social media, you’ve hit your 5-copy target.
Days 7-31: Scale and Optimize
Once your book is live and making initial sales, here’s how you scale to consistent daily revenue:
Get Your First 10 Reviews FAST
Reviews = social proof = more sales.
How to get them:
- Send advance review copies (ARCs) to 5-10 friends or family members
- Post in niche Facebook groups: “I’m giving away free review copies of my new book in exchange for honest feedback”
- Use services like BookSprout or BookBounty (both are Amazon-compliant)
Goal: 10 reviews in the first week. This creates a credibility explosion.
The “Price Pulse” Strategy
Alternate your pricing to create urgency and momentum:
- Week 1: $9.99
- Week 2: $14.99 (test higher price)
- Week 3: Flash sale at $4.99 for 48 hours (creates buying frenzy)
- Week 4: Back to $19 (your “premium” price)
This pricing variation keeps your book visible in Amazon’s algorithm and creates urgency for buyers.
Create a Simple Upsell
Once someone buys your book, offer them a related product:
- A detailed workbook or templates ($9-$19)
- A 30-minute consultation call ($97)
- An exclusive video course ($197)
Even if only 10% of your buyers take the upsell, you’ve doubled your revenue per customer.
Rinse and Repeat with Book #2
Week 3-4: Start outlining your second book in the same niche but from a different angle.
Example:
- Book 1: “LLC Setup for Beginners”
- Book 2: “LLC Taxes: The 2026 Complete Guide”
Cross-promote both books inside each other. Readers who loved Book 1 will buy Book 2 immediately.
Two books at $19 each, selling 3 copies per day each = $186/day = $5,766/month.
Now you’re building a real publishing business.
Common Mistakes That Kill Sales (And How to Avoid Them)
90% of people fail in Week 1. Don’t be them.
Mistake #1: Violating Amazon’s Terms of Service
- Never BUY fake reviews.
- Never use misleading claims.
- Never copy someone else’s book cover design.
Amazon will suspend your account permanently, and you’ll lose everything.
Mistake #2: Publishing and Disappearing
You can’t just upload your book and hope for magic.
Check your KDP dashboard daily. Respond to reader questions within 24 hours. Stay active.
Amazon’s algorithm rewards publishers who engage.
Mistake #3: Perfectionism Paralysis
Waiting for your book to be “perfect” costs you $2,945 this month.
Publish “good enough” on Day 5. You can always update it later based on real buyer feedback.
Done is better than perfect.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Feedback Signals
Zero sales doesn’t always mean you have a bad book. Usually, it means wrong keywords, weak cover, or poor book description.
Test different covers. Rewrite your description. Adjust your keywords.
Treat this like a real business, not a lottery ticket.
Your 7-Day Action Plan (Print This and Check Off Daily)
Day 1: Niche Hunter
- Find 1 profitable niche ($400+/month books, <100 reviews)
- Run reader research prompt in ChatGPT/Claude
- Save top 3 fears + 3 desires
Day 2: Outline Master
- Generate 10-chapter outline using AI
- Choose your writing tone (Oprah, James Clear, etc.)
- Review outline for flow and value
Day 3: Writing Sprint
- Write Chapters 1-3 using Claude
- Don’t edit—just write
Day 4: Content Machine
- Finish Chapters 4-10
- Complete full manuscript
Day 5: Polish and Publish
- Run manuscript through Grammarly + Hemingway
- Design cover in Canva
- Upload to Amazon KDP
- Set up Gumroad page
Day 6: Review Blitz
- Send ARC copies to 10 people
- Launch soft pricing test ($2.99-$9.99)
- Monitor hourly sales
Day 7: Multi-Channel Launch
- Promote on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit
- Email your list (even if it’s small)
- Upload to secondary platforms (Gumroad, Draft2Digital)
Accountability tip: Share your niche and progress publicly. Social pressure works.
The Truth About Making $2,945 This Month
Let me be brutally honest with you.
This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.
It’s a get-results-fast system if you actually execute.
Most people will read this article, feel inspired for 10 minutes, and then do absolutely nothing.
They’ll tell themselves “I’ll start next week” or “I need to research more first” or “I don’t have time right now.”
And they’ll still be broke next month.
But a small percentage, maybe 1%, will close this tab, pick a niche within the next hour, and start their outline today.
Those people will have a published book by this time next week.
And some of them will hit $2,945 before the end of February.
The only question is: which group are you in?
The math is simple. The system is proven. The only variable is you.
So here’s what you do right now:
- Pick ONE niche from the list I gave you earlier
- Open ChatGPT or Claude
- Run the reader research prompt
- Start your outline
Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for perfect conditions.
Just start.
Because every day you wait is another $95 you’re leaving on the table.
The clock is ticking. You can eithr take action now, or keep waiting for the “Perfect” time.
What will you have to show for it?