Booklist Get Paid to Read: How to Use a Booklist Online to Earn Money in 2025

In a world where passive income and digital side hustles are becoming more popular than ever, the ability to earn money by sharing book recommendations online is both a surprising and rewarding opportunity. Whether you’re an avid reader, a book blogger, or just someone who loves sharing what you read, you can use curated booklists to build a reliable income stream.

This step-by-step guide will teach you exactly how to use a booklist online to earn money using modern tools, platforms, and monetization strategies. If you’re new to affiliate marketing, content creation, or book curation, don’t worry—this guide is designed to help you start with zero technical knowledge.

🔍 What Is a Booklist?

A booklist is simply a curated list of books organized around a specific theme, interest, or audience. These lists offer value to readers by helping them quickly find books suited to their needs—whether it’s personal development, fantasy novels, business reads, or parenting advice.

You’ve probably seen booklists like:

• “10 Books That Changed My Life”
• “Top 5 Productivity Books of 2025”
• “Must-Read Books for First-Time Entrepreneurs”

These lists are more than just content—they can become digital assets that generate ongoing income. And as search trends grow for phrases like what company pays 200 for every novel you read, it’s clear the demand for paid reading and book recommendations is on the rise.

💡 Why Monetizing Booklists Is a Smart Strategy

There are countless ways to earn money online, but few are as simple and low-risk as monetizing your love for reading. Here’s why booklists are such a powerful tool in the creator economy:

Evergreen Value

Unlike social media trends or time-sensitive content, booklists stay relevant for years. A well-crafted list like “Best Finance Books for Beginners” can generate traffic and income long after it’s published.

No Inventory Needed

There’s no need to invest in physical products or complex logistics. With just a few tools (often free), you can create and publish booklists from anywhere.

Build Trust Easily

Book recommendations come from a place of trust. If your readers value your insights and find your suggestions helpful, they’re more likely to return—and to click your links or join your newsletter.

Scalability

Once a single booklist performs well, you can repurpose it across platforms: blogs, TikToks, YouTube videos, Instagram carousels, and email newsletters. This multiplies your content’s earning potential.

🧭 Booklist Get Paid to Read: Step-by-Step Strategy to Earn from Curated Lists

Let’s break down the process into clear, actionable steps.

✅ Step 1: Choose a Specific Niche

The more focused your booklist is, the more helpful and discoverable it becomes. Broad topics like “Books I Love” rarely perform well, because they don’t solve a clear reader problem.

Instead, go niche. Think:

• “Best Books for Female Entrepreneurs”
• “Books Every Remote Worker Should Read”
• “Introvert-Friendly Self-Help Books”

This makes your list more searchable and shareable.

🎯 Use tools like Google Trends, Answer the Public, or Ubersuggest to research what your audience is already searching for.

✅ Step 2: Build a High-Quality Booklist

Your booklist should offer real value. Include personal context, book summaries, and actionable recommendations—not just titles.

For each book, add:

• The title and author
• A short summary (2–3 sentences)
• Why you’re recommending it
• Who would benefit most from reading it

Think of your booklist as a mini-guide, not just a collection of names. The more thought you put into each entry, the more trust you build—and trust is what drives clicks and purchases.

✅ Step 3: Add Affiliate Links to Monetize

Now that your list is ready, it’s time to add affiliate links. When someone clicks your link and buys the book (or signs up for a free trial), you earn a commission.

Top affiliate programs:

• Amazon Associates – Most accessible for beginners
• Bookshop.org – 10% commission + supports local bookstores
• Audible – Great for audio readers, pay-per-signup
• IndieBound – Focused on indie stores
• ShareASale / CJ Affiliate – For book boxes, publishers, or niche bookstores

💡 Be sure to disclose your affiliate relationship clearly using a short disclaimer like:

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you.

You can add your links below each book or use a centralized “Where to Buy” section.

✅ Step 4: Choose the Right Platform to Publish

Where you publish your booklist can affect your visibility and earnings. Each platform has unique strengths:

If you’re just starting, Medium and Substack are great low-effort entry points. Over time, building your own website offers the most freedom and SEO value.

✅ Step 5: Promote and Grow Your Audience

A booklist without traffic won’t earn. So, once it’s published, promote it strategically.

Ways to drive traffic:

• Share your list on Reddit or Quora in relevant threads
• Join Facebook book groups and participate before dropping links
• Create teaser videos on TikTok or Instagram Reels
• Send your list to your email subscribers
• Pin your list on Pinterest for evergreen exposure

Additionally, focus on SEO by using long-tail keywords like “best books for teen anxiety” or “productivity books for ADHD professionals.” Don’t forget to include your primary keyword—booklist online earn money—in your title, meta description, and subheadings.

✅ Step 6: Expand Into Digital Products

Once your content performs well, expand into premium offers. For example:

• Bundle several booklists into an eBook guide
• Create a downloadable PDF for lead generation
• Sell exclusive monthly picks or bonus commentary
• Launch a premium Substack for curated deep-dive reviews

Tools for selling digital content:

• Gumroad
• Payhip
• Podia
• Etsy (digital downloads)

This helps you build passive income beyond one-time clicks.

✅ Step 7: Start a Book Club or Membership

Take your booklist even further by turning it into a community. Launch a paid book club, discussion group, or member space where readers can interact.

Platforms like:

• Patreon
• Discord
• Mighty Networks

allow you to build a recurring income model through monthly fees while deepening reader engagement.

✅ Step 8: Track, Test, and Optimize

Use analytics to refine your strategy:

• Google Analytics – Track visitors and behavior on your site
• Affiliate dashboards – Review your clicks and conversions
• Bitly or Pretty Links – Shorten and monitor link performance
• Email stats – Monitor open and click rates

Test:

• Different list formats (top 5 vs. top 10)
• Affiliate placement
• Headline variations
• Content upgrades (free vs. paid)

Optimization turns passive content into consistent revenue generators.

🧠 Real-Life Examples

📌 Ali Abdaal

A productivity YouTuber whose booklists earn via affiliate links and newsletter sponsors. His Amazon links are a consistent income stream.

📌 BookTok Creators

Thousands of TikTok creators go viral sharing quick book recaps or themed lists. Many monetize using affiliate platforms and Substack.

📌 Ryan Holiday

The author of The Obstacle Is the Way runs a high-converting book recommendation newsletter supported by affiliate links and brand partnerships.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even great content can fail to earn if you avoid these mistakes:

• Being too broad – Niche wins every time
• Not disclosing affiliate links – Always stay transparent
• Overloading with ads – Keep user experience front and center
• Not reusing content – Turn each booklist into multiple formats (video, PDF, newsletter)
• Skipping consistency – One list isn’t enough. Build a habit.

🛠 Recommended Tools to Get Started

🏁 Final Thoughts

Monetizing a booklist isn’t about getting rich overnight—but it is about building a reliable, scalable income stream based on something you already love: reading and sharing great books. Whether you’re publishing on Medium, filming a YouTube book haul, or crafting themed guides on your blog, there’s a path to profit with every list you publish.

If you’re wondering how to use a booklist online to earn money, the answer is simpler than it seems: start small, stay consistent, and provide value.

📚 Next Steps

1. Choose a niche you care about
2. Write and publish your first booklist
3. Add affiliate links and disclosures
4. Share it with your community
5. Track performance and keep improving

Your next chapter as a book-based creator begins now. Ready to turn your bookshelf into a business?