Rare Book
Hoping to Bring In Money On the Web? The Public Domain Is Your Friend
Perhaps you have been told of public domain publishing as a pathway to earning money online. I would like to tell you about a twist on that idea that can have you bringing in extra revenue almost right away.
First, though, the basics. As you might know, many books and other materials have gone into the public domain (fallen out of copyright) and can be republished, in any form, by anyone who makes the effort to do so. In the United States most works published through 1923 are now considered to be public domain (“PD”).
If you find a PD book you believe people would pay for if it were republished, you could reprint it as a physical book and sell copies via eBay, Amazon or your own web site. Some enterprising individuals have done this with old correspondence courses and other non-fiction, how-to type materials from years past.
Or, you could format your PD discovery as an e-book and make it available for downloading, for a price. This is probably the more usual way that people are bringing in money at this time from the public domain. Once again, non-fiction, how-to and self-improvement are the most profitable subjects.
Now here’s the little twist I mentioned. The method I prefer is to make PD books freely available on the web, and place advertising on their pages. Strictly speaking, then, you are selling ad space, not the book itself.
A few years a guy named Steve Smith learned about an obscure little book from 1892 that combined a time-travel-type tale with a novel about golf. Its title was Golf In the Year 2000.
Afer a bit of searching, he was able to find a copy of the book for just $10. He scanned the pages, converted them with OCR software, and posted the whole book to a site he had registered specifically for this purpose.
He went further than that, though. On his web pages, he surrounded the book’s text with Google AdSense and affiliate merchant ads. He then made money when visitors clicked on the AdSense ads or purchased things through the affiliate links. By the way, if you’re wondering, you can view his site at www.golf-in-the-year-2000.com.
Steve’s online edition of Golf In the Year 2000 attracts a steady flow of golf devotees, science fiction fans, Victorian literature lovers and the simply curious, he reports. And the ads on his pages bring him money!
It’s a simple idea, and one that others could duplicate. Public-domain sources are abundant nowadays. You might be able to find an appropriate book in one of the many web-based PD archives, preferably one that not many other people have discovered yet.
The good thing with this idea is that the book you showcase (and use to earn ad revenue) need not be confined to non-fiction or how-to. As with Steve’s weird little golf/science fiction find, it can just be something that will attract users to your web site, for the sheer novelty if nothing else.
You could also look in used-book stores to try to find something rare enough not to have made it to the web at all. In that case you will probably need to buy a scanner and some OCR software to get the text into your computer.
Public domain publishing is indeed a potentially lucrative field.Further, how you “repurpose” your public domain finds is completely up to you. That’s what makes it so fun, as well as profitable.
This method of publishing public domain material is also described in this article, along with suggestions for further reading.
If you are interested in selling actual used books online, as on Amazon or eBay, there’s a downloadable report available that shows a new and mega-profitable way to do it. Check it out here or read a solid review of it at Can You Still Make Money Selling Used Books on Amazon?
Rare Book Conservator – Career Spotlight – March 2011
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Smelleze® Reusable Book and Antique Deodorizer Pouch: X Large – Treats 6-12 Books $14.99 One of the problems encountered in old books is the harmful result of exposure to moisture over a long period of time. Humid conditions promote the growth of mold and mildew which results in books having a musty odor. Smoke and other odors can also be absorbed by books over time and result in unpleasant book odors. Some collectors are very sensitive about book odors and this could negatively affec… |
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Rare Books #6 by Jennifer Kennard – 24W x 19H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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