Selling low-content books on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) has become one of the most beginner-friendly ways to make money online. Unlike traditional book publishing, you don’t need to be an author, a professional writer, or even have prior design experience.
Instead, these books focus on structure, templates, and niche targeting, allowing anyone with a laptop and free design tools to get started.
The exciting part? If you choose the right niche, create a high-quality product, and market it smartly, you can build a steady stream of passive income that grows month after month.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover:
-
What low-content books are (with real examples)
-
Why they’re profitable in 2025
-
A step-by-step system for creating your first book
-
Tools & resources for beginners
-
Common mistakes to avoid
-
How much you can realistically earn
-
Bonus strategies to market and scale your business
Let’s dive in.
What Is a Low-Content Book?
A low-content book is a type of book that contains little to no written content. Instead, it relies on templates, prompts, or structured layouts that readers fill in themselves.
Think of it as selling “organized empty space” in a useful way.
Popular Examples of Low-Content Books
-
Journals: Daily reflection journals, prayer journals, gratitude journals
-
Planners: Weekly planners, goal-setting planners, fitness trackers
-
Coloring Books: Simple line art for relaxation or kids’ coloring books
-
Notebooks: Themed notebooks for students, professionals, or hobbies
-
Logbooks: Expense trackers, mileage logs, food logs
-
Puzzle & Activity Books: Sudoku, word searches, brain teasers
For more niche-specific inspiration, check out our future post on Best Amazon KDP Niches for Beginners.
Unlike traditional books, you don’t need chapters, stories, or research-heavy writing. Once designed and uploaded, Amazon takes care of printing, shipping, and delivering your book to customers worldwide.
Why Sell Low-Content Books on Amazon KDP?
With so many online business models available, why are low-content books one of the fastest-growing side hustles in 2025?
Here are the biggest advantages:
1. Easy to Create
You don’t need to be a professional writer or designer. Free platforms like Canva or Book Bolt offer ready-to-use templates.
2. Low Start-Up Cost
You can create and publish books with $0 upfront investment. The only cost is your time and creativity.
3. Global Reach
Amazon handles printing, distribution, and customer service. Your book is instantly available to millions of buyers worldwide.
4. Evergreen Passive Income
Once uploaded, your book can sell for years without additional work. Each sale earns you royalties.
If you’re curious about other passive income ideas, read our guide on Faceless Content Business Ideas.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Low-Content Book That Actually Sells
Now let’s break down the process into seven beginner-friendly steps.
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Niche
Your niche determines whether your book gets lost in the crowd or becomes a best-seller.
How to Find a Profitable Niche
-
Search Amazon: Type in keywords like “journal,” “planner,” or “logbook.” Look at Amazon’s auto-suggestions for trending niches.
-
Check Best Sellers Rank (BSR): A BSR under 300,000 usually means consistent sales.
-
Target Specific Audiences: Instead of making a generic “Daily Planner,” niche down to “Daily Planner for Busy Moms” or “Fitness Journal for Women Over 40.”
Example Niches That Work in 2025
-
Keto Diet Meal Planners
-
Mindfulness Journals for Teens
-
Budget Planners for College Students
-
Wedding Guest Books
-
Kids Activity & Coloring Books
For more detailed niche research, see our future guide on KDP Niches That Are Still Profitable in 2025.
Step 2: Choose the Type of Book
Once you have a niche, choose the type of low-content book that fits it.
Best-Selling Low-Content Book Types
-
Daily Planners: Organizers for professionals, teachers, or entrepreneurs
-
Gratitude Journals: Perfect for personal development niches
-
Budget Trackers: Money management is always in demand
-
Kids Activity Books: Puzzles, mazes, word searches, coloring
-
Password Logbooks: Simple but high-demand books for digital users
Tip: Start with just one book type so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
Step 3: Design Your Interior Pages
Your interior design is the main product customers will use daily.
Tools for Beginners
-
Canva (Free): Ready-made templates you can customize.
-
Book Bolt (Paid): Offers niche research and drag-and-drop book creation.
-
Creative Fabrica (Paid/Free): Download pre-made interiors you can edit.
Design Tips
-
Keep it clean and simple, don’t overload with graphics.
-
Use clear fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Montserrat.
-
Provide enough white space for writing or coloring.
Want a free step-by-step tutorial? Check out our guide on How to Design a Low-Content Book Interior in Canva.
Step 4: Create a Professional Cover
Your book cover is the first thing customers see. A weak cover means lost sales.
Cover Design Best Practices
-
Use bold, readable fonts
-
Stick to niche-appropriate colors (e.g., pastel tones for baby journals, bold colors for fitness planners)
-
Add icons, illustrations, or patterns that match your book’s theme
You can create covers with Canva or use Amazon’s free Cover Creator.
Step 5: Format Your Book for KDP
Amazon requires proper formatting for smooth printing.
-
Use standard book sizes (6x9 inches is the most popular).
-
Ensure correct margins and bleed settings (KDP provides free templates).
-
Export your interior and cover as PDF files under 650MB.
For step-by-step formatting guidance, see our detailed tutorial on Amazon KDP Book Formatting for Beginners.
Step 6: Upload to Amazon KDP
Head over to kdp.amazon.com and sign up for a free account.
Upload Process
-
Click Create Paperback.
-
Enter your book title, subtitle, and description.
-
Add keywords people are searching for.
-
Upload your PDF interior and cover.
-
Choose a price and royalty plan (most authors start at $6.99 – $9.99).
Step 7: Promote Your Book
Even though Amazon has millions of buyers, promotion helps you stand out.
Free Promotion Ideas
-
Share your book on Pinterest (great for planners, journals, and coloring books).
-
Post on Instagram or TikTok showcasing the book’s features.
-
Write a blog article around your niche and link to your KDP listing.
-
Offer discounts during launch week.
Paid Promotion Ideas
-
Amazon Ads: Appear directly in front of Amazon buyers.
-
Facebook Ads: Target specific demographics (e.g., moms, students, teachers).
Check out our upcoming post on How to Market Low-Content Books for Free.
Mistakes to Avoid When Publishing Low-Content Books
-
Copying Other Designs: This can lead to copyright claims. Always create unique designs.
-
Poor Quality Interiors: Customers will leave bad reviews if your design is sloppy.
-
Being Too Generic: Niches like “Notebook” are too broad. Specific niches sell better.
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings vary depending on niche, quality, and marketing.
-
A well-designed low-content book can earn $50 – $500+ per month.
-
Authors with 50–100 books often generate a full-time passive income.
Example: If your journal sells 5 copies a day at $7.99 with a $2 royalty, that’s $300/month from just one book.
Conclusion
Low-content books are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to start earning passive income online in 2025.
By focusing on the right niche, professional design, and smart marketing, you can build a self-publishing business that consistently generates sales.
The key is research + quality: Don’t just upload random journals. Instead, solve a specific problem for a specific audience.
If you’re serious about starting today, read our future guide on Beginner-Friendly KDP Tools You Can Use for Free.
Take action, publish your first book, and watch how quickly that first sale comes in.
