How Dubai-based YouTuber Amel is earning passive income selling hundreds of eBook copies with Sellfy

Amel Aitouche is a Dubai-based entrepreneur from France with a background in digital marketing and eCommerce. She hosts her own YouTube channel, AmelTalks, where she covers every aspect of life in Dubai. Her informative and insightful videos have attracted over 65K subscribers, making her the go-to source for French speakers around the world interested in living and working in Dubai.

Amel found Sellfy when she was looking for a platform to sell her first eBook, “A practical guide to successfully settling in Dubai”. She chose Sellfy over other alternatives due to its ease of use and top-notch file security like PDF stamping. Launching her eBook with Sellfy has helped her monetize her audience and earn a significant income alongside her YouTube earnings.

Read on to learn more about Amel’s exciting journey and the positive impact Sellfy has had on her business.

Tell us about your background and how you define yourself as a creator.

I’m a content creator with a master’s degree in digital marketing. In 2017, I moved to Dubai from Northern France to get a fresh start and discover a new city. I had lots of misconceptions and stereotypes about Dubai, but then realized I was wrong upon arrival. 

I ended up enjoying the Dubai lifestyle so much that I created a YouTube channel to help others settle here or visit the city as tourists. So, the channel started as a side hustle for me while I was working in international eCommerce companies.

Do you have any other streams of income aside from YouTube?

My videos are monetized, but it’s not enough to make a living yet, especially in Dubai. So, I also do freelancing as a digital marketing consultant. I’m able to do this thanks to YouTube. I get my clients from there as well as my network in Dubai. 

How did you achieve the number of followers you have on Instagram and YouTube?

I think it’s just the consistency, especially on YouTube. So, if you say you’re going to post a video per week, you have to post a video per week and never give up. People forget about you when you stop posting. 

For example, I took a brief break from YouTube this summer, and I noticed that people started forgetting me because there are other content creators out there. 

So, I made sure to be really consistent during my first year. I posted every Sunday and then gained thousands of followers pretty fast. I think it also happened because I was talking about a topic that nobody had talked about before in the same way that I did.

I have a very specific style in my videos: short and straight to the point, giving you all the information that you need. That’s probably why I have reached the number of followers that I currently have.

You’ve been selling a very successful eBook about Dubai. How did you come up with the idea?

When I first started YouTube, I didn’t know where it could lead me.

Dubai wasn’t trending at the time, so nobody thought people would be interested in my channel. But, I gave it a try anyway. And then, all of a sudden, I was gaining followers. So, now, I have over 65,000 subscribers, and many people want to come to Dubai due to the COVID situation and the upcoming Expo 2020.

That’s how I came up with the idea for my eBook. It’s like a summary of everything you need to know about living in Dubai. The eBook also includes tips and testimonials from entrepreneurs, mothers, cabin crew, etc. 

However, as of now, it’s only available in French because my target audience is French-speaking countries like Belgium, Switzerland, France, Canada, Algeria, and Morocco.

How long did it take for you to create this product? 

I had the idea as far back as last December (2020).

It took me three months just to start working on it. And then, writing the eBook took another six months because there was a lot to cover about the laws and everything.

I also had to work on the layout and the images. I had a little help from a graphic designer as well. It took us around two months to work on the eBook design.

How did you prepare for the launch? Did you use any marketing tactics?

To be honest, the plan was just to launch and then see how it goes.

It was a low-risk investment. I knew that people who watch my videos might want to read the eBook when they hear about it. 

So, I just made an announcement video on YouTube and it was a success. People loved it. I reached my sales target in just three days, which was surprising because I thought it might take a month. Now, I’m reinvesting the money that I’ve earned from my eBook sales.

If you don’t mind, could you tell us how you’re reinvesting?

So, what I did was build a WordPress website. I’m still selling my eBook with Sellfy, but now I also have a WordPress site with a blog. 

A lot of people have expressed interest in a paperback version of my eBook, which I’m working on now. I’m going to launch it in two months, but it’s not the same as the digital version because I have to make some adjustments. I will also need a proper marketing plan, which involves influencers, Facebook, retargeting, blog SEO, and more. 

Since you’re selling your eBook with Sellfy, can you tell us what made you pick Sellfy over other alternatives?

I actually came across Sellfy randomly. I had two options: Sellfy or ClickFunnels. I chose the latter at first, but then ended up having so many problems with the platform. The payment gateway didn’t work and people couldn’t buy my eBook. The customer service was slow to respond, so I decided to move on.

I switched to Sellfy and realized that it worked so well. I like that the platform is secure and everything works properly. It’s easy to set up and use, and I’m really happy I found it.

What is your favorite Sellfy feature?

I like the PDF stamping for eBooks because there’s a risk that people can resell them. This feature prevents people from doing that and I think it’s my favorite on the platform.

How much can you actually make from selling an eBook with Sellfy?

I can’t mention the exact numbers, but I reached my target pretty quickly and I was really surprised. But, because life in Dubai is so expensive, it’s still a side hustle for me. I would say it’s good, though. It’s really good. I think it’s possible to scale with the right tools and the right marketing strategy.

Do you have a specific goal in mind for your eBook? Or, do you want to create new products? 

I want it to be a best-seller for sure. I’ve already sold hundreds of books. So, my next goal would be selling thousands of them. But, to do so, I need to make paperback versions as there are a lot of people who prefer a physical book over a digital one.

I also think it’s important for me to try and reach new customers because now I know there’s a market demand for it. So, I want to reinvest and scale, and sell more of them. 

What impact has your Sellfy store had on your life and business?

Sellfy has impacted my life in a very positive way.

I’m making money thanks to Sellfy, and I think it was the best choice for me because I live in Dubai and it isn’t easy with the regulations here. I don’t think any other platforms make it this easy for a content creator to sell digital products. 

I’ve also never had any technical issues with Sellfy, and it’s really affordable compared to ClickFunnels. That one was really expensive.

What has been the biggest challenge for you?

Honestly, I think the biggest challenge is procrastination.

You keep telling yourself you’re going to make a video tomorrow but then you postpone it. And, it’s easy to get stuck in that routine. So, for me, taking that first step to start working on something is the biggest challenge. 

It’s like going to the gym. You want to be fit but then you decide not to go. Or, you plan to go out for drinks, but then change your mind. It’s the same thing with YouTube. The hardest part is taking action.

How do you motivate yourself to get back on track?

For me, it’s the realization that if I don’t do something, then someone else will. And, they will do it better than me. That’s how I motivate myself. 

What’s your favorite part about your lifestyle? What do you enjoy the most?

I think it’s the people and the relationships you can create that I enjoy the most. Thanks to my work, I’ve had so many new opportunities. I’ve met great people and all kinds of entrepreneurs.

When you have a lot of connections, you’ll always have somebody who can help you out with your business. They can assist you in becoming a better content creator or entrepreneur.

What word of advice would you give to another creator? 

Just do it – because that’s the hardest part. Don’t question yourself. It’s okay if your first video or Instagram post isn’t perfect. You’ll become better in time. And then, you can write an eBook to monetize your audience. Writing an eBook is amazing. It takes time and isn’t easy, but it’s a low-risk investment, so just go ahead and do it.

What plans do you have for the future of your business?

Some people have wondered if my eBook will be available in English someday, so I’ve been thinking of translating it. I’m working on the French paperback version right now, but once it’s ready, I might begin translating it so I can start selling an English version. But, there will be some adjustments as the English-speaking community in Dubai doesn’t always hang out at the same spots as the French.