I've paid for them, I've downloaded the free ones, I've stayed up watching the clock as my favorite online marketers released theirs and I've even written a few myself.
These days just about everyone with an online business is turning to creating e-books as a way to catch and keep their audience's attention. While some people love the scent of books aging in their homes, there are those who'd much rather scroll through their reads than flip through them. E-book sales are said to have drastically increased over the past few years with more and more people downloading their favorite reads into their Kindle and mobile devices.
And I can attest to that. I recently published my second e-book #PitchSayWhat?! and watching the online sales gives me goosebumps, in a good way. The book features my five-step guide for all freelancers and creatives who dream of working with the magazines, talent agencies, restaurants, or corporations they admire and outlines how I was able to successfully pitch my work as a writer, get picked, published, and paid.
Honestly, I wish I had tapped into this side hustle much sooner than I did, but timing is everything, right? There are literally millions of e-books available to you right now, and some I'm sure are still in the works (like my third, fourth, and fifth!).
Here are five reasons you should get to working on your very own e-book.
Make money while you sleep.
E-books are an easy way to add some meat to your monthly salary…and you really don't have to do anything. Outside of some great online and in-person marketing, e-book sales can easily fatten that bank account. Once it's published, you let people know about it and if it's attractive, your e-book could literally make you money forever (in my Cardi B voice). You never know when someone is seeking out the information you've written about; it could be months or even years after you first publish your e-book that a new reader finds (and pays) you.
Solidify yourself as an authority.
Every time I've written an e-book, I've gotten messages from my readers who say I educated them, sparked a thought, or even prompted them to start a business; that's because I was able to either answer a question, solve a problem or bring clarity to an issue. Doing the proper research on your e-book topic and carefully executing that will no doubt identify you as a solid and credible source in that field.
Perfectly package your thoughts.
I run my MiniSkirts and Microphones travel and lifestyle blog and sometimes I have this urge to flesh out a topic in more space than a blog post would allow…and my readers would care to scroll through. I've found that writing e-books is great for beautifully packaging the information I want to share. Working with a graphic artist, choosing the colors, fonts, and styles, and coming up with catchy chapter topics and e-book titles really elevate the experience. It quickly turned into a project I couldn't wait to see come to life. I even threw a party for my first e-book launch to bring more life to the brand and give people something to talk about and post about.
Grow your numbers/following.
My first e-book Create. Post. Push is available as a free download on my website. The reason I wrote it was really to increase my email subscriptions and get more people on my list, and it worked! I saw my subscription numbers grow from just under 100 to well over 500 in just a few short days. The book was beautifully done. I had promo fliers made up and some of my followers were even talking about it. So, naturally the people who didn't know about it, wanted in and my social media tribe grew exponentially. Making my e-book available for free as a download caught the eyes and ears of many who wanted to get all the gems I was spilling in the book on ways to stay consistent with your online content. To this day, I'm still collecting emails because of that e-book.
Your e-book can be about anything.
There are no rules to this; you can literally write an e-book on any topic you like. Just like blogs have their niches and never-ending topics, so do e-books. As long as you're able to flesh out your ideas on a particular topic, and provide some well-rounded chapters and points, then you're in. Your e-book can also be as long or as short as you'd like, too. My first e-book was about 15 pages and the second one was a 30-pager. That's it.
E-books are the perfect projects to take on if you're looking to increase your online presence and voice while increasing your coins.
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The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
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Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
Meanwhile, frankincense and myrrh originate from the Middle East and Africa (you know, like the Bible does — some folks need to be reminded of that—eh hem — Trumpers) and ginger? It too helps with indigestion (which can definitely creep up at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables); plus, it’s a key ingredient for ginger snaps and gingerbread houses. So, as you can see, holiday-themed scents have a rhyme and reason to them.
Tying this all in together — several years ago, I penned an article for the platform entitled, “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry ‘Christmas Sex’?” Well, in the spirit of revisiting some of that content, with a bit of a twist, I decided to broach some traditional holiday scents from the perspective of which ones will do your libido a ton of good from now through New Year’s Eve (check out “Make This Your Best NYE. For Sex. EVER.”).
Are you ready to check some of them out, so that, whether it’s via a candle, a diffuser, some essential oil, or some DIY body cream (check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever”), you can bring some extra festive ambiance into your own boudoir? Excellent.
1. Vanilla
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When it comes to holiday desserts, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find recipes that don’t include vanilla — and that alone explains why it is considered to be a traditional holiday scent. As far as your libido goes, vanilla is absolutely considered to be an aphrodisiac — partly because its sweet scent is considered to be very sensual. Some studies even reveal that vanillin (the active ingredient in vanilla) is able to increase sexual arousal and improve erectile dysfunction in men. So, if you adore the smell, here is more incentive to use it.
2. Frankincense
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Although, typically, when people think about frankincense (and myrrh), it’s in the context of the gifts that the wise men brought Christ after he was born; it’s a part of the biblical Christmas story. However, frankincense goes much deeper than that. Sexually, since it has an earthy and spicy scent, some people like to use it to meditate (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”). Also, since it has the ability to put you in a better mood, soothe and soften your skin and maintain your oral health — with the help of frankincense, every touch and kiss can be that much…sexier.
3. Cinnamon
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I already gave cinnamon a shout-out in the intro. Personally, I’ve been a fan of it, in the sex department, for a long time now (check out “12 ‘Sex Condiments’ That Can Make Coitus Even More...Delicious”). When it’s in oil form, it can be very sweet to the taste while sending a warm sensation throughout the body — which is why the giver and receiver of oral sex can benefit from its usage. Beyond that, cinnamon helps to increase blood flow to your genital region, elevate sexual desire and, some studies say that it can even help improve fertility. Beautiful.
4. Peppermint
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If there’s a signature candy for the holiday season, it’s probably a candy cane — which automatically puts peppermint in the running for being an official holiday scent. Pretty much, in any form, it’s got your sex life’s back because it’s hailed as being a sexual stimulant; in part, because its smell is so invigorating. Plus, it helps to (eh hem) ease headaches, it gives you more energy and it can definitely help to freshen your breath. Also, that minty sensation? The same thing that I said about cinnamon can apply to peppermint too (if you catch my drift).
5. Ginger
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Whether it’s in a meal or in your bedroom, ginger is going to produce results that are hella spicy. On the sex tip, science has praised ginger for being able to increase sexual arousal, improve blood circulation (which intensifies orgasms) and strengthen fertility for many years. Scent-wise, I find it to be one that both men and women enjoy because it is both woodsy and sweet. So, if you’ve got some massage oil in mind, adding some ginger is a way to please you both.
6. Pomegranate
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September through December is the time of year when pomegranates are considered to be in season. And, as someone who is a Rosh Hashanah observer, I have a personal adoration for them because I am aware of the various things that they symbolize in Hebrew culture including the fact that they are a fruit that represents love and fertility. So yeah, they would absolutely be an aphrodisiac — one that is perfect for this time of the year. While consuming it helps to boost testosterone levels in both men and women, the floral bittersweet smell that it produces can help to reduce stress while promoting relaxation (like most floral scents do) — and the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to climax.
7. Nutmeg
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Another signature seasoning during the holiday season is nutmeg. It’s perfect in Thanksgiving sweet potato (or pumpkin) pie and Christmas morning French toast. And yes, it can also make your sex life better. If you consume it, it can intensify your libido and, overall, its warm-meets-spicy-meets-sweet smell is so inviting that it is considered to be a pretty seductive scent.
8. Cloves
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I ain’t got not one lie to tell you — if you’ve got a toothache, put some clove oil on that bad boy and send me a Christmas present for putting you on game. Aside from that, as I round all of this out, cloves are another holiday scent that can do wonders for your sex life. For men, it has the ability to significantly increase sexual arousal and improve stamina and endurance. For men and women alike, it also has a reputation for strengthening sexual desire. And for women solely? Well, if you want an all-natural way to increase natural lubrication down below — the scent and and feel (in DILUTED oil form) can make that happen. It can make the holidays especially special…if you know what I mean.
Ah yes — the atmosphere of the holidays and what it can do.
Take it all in! Scent ‘n whatever stimulating that comes with it! #wink
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