Make Money From Free Web Work

Is it possible to publish something for free on the Internet and then make money on that same project? After reading a few case studies, I know the answer is yes.

However, I must add that a successful crossover from free online publication to income producing publication is a situation that requires certain events to make it happen. It’s an event not exactly the same as a once in a century planetary alignment, but it’s close.

Please note that I’m not talking about self-published projects successes like Christopher Paolini‘s Eragon, which, if you read the backstory of his successful transition from self-publishing to traditional publishing, you’ll see that it almost required an alignment of planets to happen. I’m discussing those who published something online and made it free to Net visitors and then crossed over from free to income producing.

Success Examples

Julie Powell hit success with her blog The Julie/Julia Project which chronicled her adventures in cooking the recipes in Julia Child’s famous cookbook. That blog led eventually to her career as a writer and eventually to the movie Julie & Julia that debuted this past summer.

In 2005, Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a children’s illustrated novel, published it as a free online read at Funbrain.com. Despite the fact that in April 2008, Amulet, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, published the book in hard copy, the original is still free online. It made the NY Times Bestseller list.

Why was it successful? It built an audience online, and that same audience bought it to have it in book form. When it hit bookstores, it attracted new readers because of the buzz created by an online book going hard copy as well as word of mouth. The resulting synergy is exactly what was hoped for.

J. A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniels mystery series, wrote 10 books before he made his first sale to Hyperion. A couple of years ago, he took his 9 unpublished books and made them available for free online. Now, he’s formatted them for Kindle and is selling them online at a very low price. Even though they’re priced low, he’s making a nice chunk of change which he discusses on his blog.

A lot of photographers have made their work available at the stock photography websites and have gone on to sell rights to those images.

Do you know a success story like these? If so, let me know. I’m making a list.

Takeaway Truth

Don’t limit yourself by thinking traditionally. Free can lead to myriad possibilities for success if you use your imagination.

Tags: business, entrepreneur, free online, income producing, j a konrath, jeff kinney, julie powell