Books are a great source of information, amusement, and inspiration.
Did you know that reading books can also be a source of income? Yes, that’s right! There are numerous ways to earn money by reading books.
Whether you’re a bookworm or just like to read in your spare time, you can actually make money from your reading hobby.
Let’s look at the top 4 practical ways to make money reading books.
1. Reviewing Books
One of the most well known, and best ways to get paid to read books is to write book reviews. Book reviewers are compensated for reading books and producing reviews that offer an unbiased evaluation of the book’s value, style, and content.
Working for a publishing company, working as a freelance book reviewer, or writing reviews for websites or blogs are all ways to earn money writing book reviews.
How much can I make by reviewing books?
Depending on the kind of book and the length of the review, you might make a wide range of money from book reviews. Depending on their expertise and writing abilities, freelance book reviewers can earn anywhere from $10 to $100 or more for a single review. Depending on your expertise and qualifications, you can expect to get a regular salary of $30,000 to $100,000 or more if you work for a publishing company.
What kind of books do I need to review?
Book reviewers can review a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and technical books. So my recommendation is review books you typically would read or have an interest in, as it will get tiresome to read books you have no interest in.
How many books do I need to review?
The number of books you need to review will vary depending on how much time you have to dedicate to this side hustle. Some book reviewers might only publish a few reviews every month, but others might publish numerous reviews per week. More reviews means more money.
How do I get started with book reviewing?
Just to reiterate, you must love reading and write well if you want to make money in book reviews.
You can start by writing book reviews for websites that pay for book reviews or for your personal blog.
A few examples of websites that will pay you for book reviews include:
- Kirkus Review
- BookList
- Reedsy Discovery
- UpWork
- OnlineBookClub
2. Book Blogging
Another option to get paid to read books is through book blogging. Author interviews, book news, and reviews are among topics that can be covered as a book blogger.
Affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and advertising are all ways that book bloggers can make money.
How much can I make blogging about books?
Your ability to make money from book blogging largely depends on the size and popularity of your blog. While some book bloggers only make a few hundred dollars each month, others make several thousand.
How do I start a book blog?
You must choose a blogging platform, like WordPress, and start a blog in order to start a book blog.
You should also start writing about books in a certain genre, once you build up some authority in your category, you may start to rank on google, driving traffic and bringing in some income to your small blog.
How do I earn money from my book blog?
The main ways you will make money with your book blog will be
- Display Ads
- Sponsored Posts
- Affiliate Marketing (getting paid when someone buys a book you review)
Selling eBooks, courses, or other book-related goods is another way to make money.
I have a whole article on maximizing profits for a small blog.
How much time do I need to invest in my book blog?
Your goals and the size of your blog will determine how much time you need to dedicate to your book blog.
You’ll need to dedicate time to writing, promoting, and administering your book blog, which can be a part-time or full-time profession.
3. Online Book Clubs
A fantastic way to get money while reading books is through online book clubs. Join a club, read the assigned readings, then take part in online conversations and critiques.
Even cash awards are offered by certain online book clubs for participation. Simply conduct a search online or visit sites like Goodreads or Bookbub to find online book clubs.
A great one to start with is OnlineBookClub.org. You get the books for free, then you give a review. The website states that subsequent reviews pay from $5 to $60, but your initial review won’t be compensated in cash.
How much can I earn in an online book club?
Depending on the club and the level of commitment necessary, you can expect to make anywhere from $5 and $60 each book from participating in online book clubs.
How much time do I need to dedicate to online book clubs?
Depending on the club and the needed level of participation While some clubs merely require a brief study and a few minutes of discussion, others call for a more active involvement.
Do I need to read a certain number of books to earn money?
Depending on the club, yes. While some book clubs have participation requirements, others let you engage as much or as little as you like.
4. Book Scribing
The process of converting a book into an electronic format, like a Kindle or e-book, is known as book scribing.
As you will be paid for each page you transcribe, this is a fantastic way to make money while reading books. Simply look for book scribing opportunities online or get in touch with publishers to get started.
How much can I make scribing a book digitally?
Depending on the publisher and the sort of book, you can expect to get anywhere between $0.10 and $0.50 per page from book scribing.
How many books do I need to scribe to earn money?
Depending on the publisher, a minimum of 10 to 20 pages must be transcribed for most earnings to kick in.
Do I need to have a certain level of typing speed to scribe books?
Depending on the publication, at least a minimum degree of typing speed is required for most chances.
Get Paid to Read
I hope this article was able to shine some light on this lesser known side hustle. It really is interesting that you can earn (sometimes) significant income by simply reading books and completing a few actions afterwards.
Bookworms enjoy it! Everyone else, there are other ways to make money on the side so don’t fret!
