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Starting a passive income journey in Europe can be an exciting yet challenging experience, especially when it feels slow at first. I’ve been there, spending four years developing digital products and grappling with slow growth. But with patience, strategic shifts, and consistency, I finally surpassed €800 per month in net profit – with €922 in royalties for this month. Here’s how I did it!
1. The Beginning: From Teaching English to Digital Products 🎓
My journey began in 2018 as an English teacher in China. I created my own educational materials, and one day, a co-teacher was impressed by my work and suggested I sell them online. That advice led me to explore TeachersPayTeachers (TpT), where I started selling my resources. However, the niche I initially chose was overcrowded, and growth was slow.
I had to pivot my focus. After some trial and error, I found success by targeting a bilingual niche. I steadily built my product range on TpT and eventually expanded to Etsy, where I was able to sell educational products. While Etsy didn’t work out long-term, it was an important part of my learning process.
2. Discovering KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and AI Tools 📚🤖
My biggest breakthrough came with Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. Initially, my workbooks on KDP were unsuccessful, but when Large Language Models (LLM), like ChatGPT, became available, I saw an opportunity to streamline content creation. I began experimenting with AI to generate educational books quickly.
Using a Python program I developed, I could create entire books – complete with images – with just the click of a button! This allowed me to scale my business faster than I ever imagined. The AI-generated content and easy formatting through tools like Affinity Publisher 2 enabled me to create quality educational resources efficiently.
3. Leveraging TpT and KDP for Maximum Earnings 💰📈
As the year came to a close, I saw a significant increase in sales on TpT. This motivated me to take some of my successful products and translate them for KDP, testing them there as well. The results were promising, with my KDP sales surpassing anything I’d seen before. This encouraged me to create more books, and now, I have 25 books listed on KDP!
4. Investing in Ads for Growth 📣
By this point, my KDP books were selling well, and I reinvested in advertising to boost visibility. This month, I spent €510 on KDP ads, and as of now, I’ve earned €922 in royalties. After deducting ad costs, that’s around €410 in profit, a huge leap from my earlier earnings!
On TpT, I also reached €400 in sales for the first time! These platforms have become my main revenue streams, and I’m excited to see how much more I can scale this business.
5. Payment Methods and Platforms 💳
When it comes to payments, platforms like KDP and TpT offer several options for receiving earnings. For European users, popular methods include PayPal, direct bank transfer, and platforms like SikiraPay – which is convenient for seamless international transactions. These payment methods allow you to manage your earnings without much hassle, and SikiraPay is particularly good for those looking for an alternative to PayPal, offering secure, low-fee transactions.
6. Why Digital Products Are Ideal for Passive Income 🌍💼
One of the biggest advantages of selling digital products is the flexibility and scalability it offers. Unlike physical products, digital goods such as ebooks, workbooks, and educational resources can be produced once and sold repeatedly, with no need for inventory management or shipping costs.
I’ve found that diversifying platforms is key. While TpT and KDP have worked best for me, there are also other platforms like Gumroad and Etsy (though I didn’t find much success on Etsy, it’s worth testing) that can help you reach different audiences.
7. The Power of Automation and AI 🤖🔧
One of the biggest game-changers for me has been automation, especially through the use of AI. Tools like ChatGPT allow me to create vast amounts of content without having to spend hours manually writing or researching. My Python program helps me automate the creation of entire books, saving time and increasing efficiency.
With the right tools and mindset, you can create digital products quickly and at scale. AI doesn’t replace creativity, but it definitely enhances it, allowing you to focus on content quality and marketing.
8. Tips for Getting Started 💡
- Start Small: Don’t try to create an entire library of products at once. Start with one or two well-researched, quality products, and grow your portfolio gradually.
- Experiment: Find the right niche for your products. As I learned, it’s essential to focus on a target market with less competition but solid demand.
- Use Ads Wisely: Invest in advertising (especially on KDP) to boost visibility, but track your ROI to make sure you’re not overspending.
- Automate Where Possible: Use tools like Affinity Publisher 2, Python, and AI to save time on content creation and formatting.
Conclusion: A Growing Business 💼📈
After four years of trial, error, and learning, I’m finally seeing real, sustainable growth. My monthly earnings now exceed €800, and I’ve learned invaluable lessons about digital product creation, marketing, and scaling.
