How to Create & Sell Coloring Books on Amazon KDP [2023]

Should you find pleasure in drawing and coloring, the idea of making your own coloring books may have crossed your mind.

It’s worth noting that coloring books are more than just a hobby for many people – it’s a growing market with profitable business opportunities.

In 2021 alone, the global coloring book industry was valued at $3.5 billion, and it’s expected to reach a massive $5.5 mark billion by 2027.

So where can you sell your coloring books? Amazon is a great choice.

It has a lot of visitors and allows you to self-publish your work through its Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) service, which is free and pretty straightforward to use. This makes it easier for people like you to get their work out there without having to go through traditional publishing routes.

But before you start, there are important things to consider like choosing the right keywords that people will use to find your book on Amazon. A good cover is also key – it’s the first thing people will see and can influence whether or not they decide to buy your book.

This guide will walk you through the best tricks, strategies, and tips for creating, selling, and marketing coloring books on Amazon.

Some Quick Resources:

• Book Bolt – Best All-In-One KDP Tool
• Publisher Rocket – Best Advanced KDP Keyword Research Tool
• Creative Fabrica – Best KDP Interiors & Graphics

Understanding the Coloring Book Market:

Before creating coloring books, let’s understand coloring books and their market.

What Are Coloring Books?

Let’s start with the basics. Coloring books are a type of low-content book that features line art for people to color in. They come in various themes and styles, catering to different age groups, from kids to adults.

Nowadays, you’ll find coloring books that focus on anything from intricate mandalas to popular superheroes. With the increasing need for stress relief and creative outlets, coloring books are more popular than ever.

Researching the Market:

Before you go off designing, spend some time researching. Amazon’s bestseller lists are a good place to start. Check out what kinds of coloring books are selling and for how much.

Pay attention to customer reviews to see what people like or don’t like. Market research helps you figure out what’s already out there and where you can carve out a space for yourself.

Choosing Your Niche:

Once you’ve done your research it will be time to decide on a niche. Don’t aim to please everyone. Focus on a specific target audience that aligns with your interests and market demand.

For example, if you’re into mindfulness, you might decide to create mandala coloring books for adults. The goal is to merge your passion with what people are looking to buy. It’s a balance between what you love to create and what will actually sell.

Here are some examples of coloring book niches:

• Adult coloring books
• Mandala coloring books
• Animal coloring books
• Nature coloring books
• Cityscapes coloring books
• Food coloring books
• Vehicle coloring books
• Abstract coloring books
• Fashion coloring books
• Anti-stress coloring books

If you want to make your Amazon low-content book niche research more efficient, consider using the following tools:

• Titans PRO: This is a Chrome extension that helps you with niche and keyword research for Amazon low-content books. It provides data on average BSR (Best Seller Rank), prices, reviews, results, how many independently published books, and a Niche score that will tell you how good a niche might be for you.
• BookBolt: This is a paid tool that provides a variety of tools to help you create and publish low-content books on Amazon. These tools include a keyword research tool, a book design tool, and a publishing tool. (Pricing starts from $9.99 a month)
• Publisher Rocket: This is another paid tool that provides keyword research and product research tools for Amazon. It can help you find profitable keywords for your low-content books, as well as track the sales and ranking of other books in your niche. (Pricing is $97 one-time payment)

Creating Coloring Books:

In this section, we’ll delve into the nuts and bolts of creating a successful coloring book. From crafting high-quality designs to deciding the ideal number of pages, these tips will help ensure that your book is not only engaging but also market-ready.

Creating Quality Designs:

Quality matters a lot when you’re making a coloring book. Shoddy designs won’t just lead to bad reviews; they’ll also lower your chances of making good sales.

So, invest in software that can help you create crisp, clean designs. Adobe Illustrator is a professional choice, but you can also get by with simpler tools like Canva or Book Bolt if you’re just starting out.

Tools like Canva, especially are really good for low-content book cover design. Canva is free to use and it has hundreds of pre-designed templates for this purpose.

However, the book cover design is just an easy part – the hard work lies in the book’s interior pages.

If you feel too lazy creating interior page designs by yourself, there’s a smart shortcut for that. You can purchase ready-made coloring book pages and use them for your coloring book designs without any problems.

Here are the best places to buy EDITABLE coloring book pages for low price:

• Book Bird
• Creative Fabrica

Alternatively, you can use BookBolt keyword research and cover design software, that includes a variety of done-for-you interiors.

How Many Pages Should a Coloring Book Have?

The number of pages in your coloring book can vary, but a good starting point is at least 20 pages. You don’t want to disappoint your customers with a book that feels too thin.

However, the optimal page count can differ based on your target audience and niche. For example, a detailed adult coloring book could easily run up to 50 pages, while a simpler children’s book might be closer to the 20-page mark.

Designing Illustrations:

If you decide to create coloring books by hand on paper, this part is for you.

While drawing your designs keep in mind that they should be clear and engaging. If your illustrations are too cluttered or complicated, people won’t enjoy coloring them.

Also, don’t go overboard with text – remember, this is a coloring book, not a novel. You’re aiming to create a space for creativity and relaxation, so keep your target audience in mind as you design.

Translating Your Illustrations to a Digital Format:

After you’ve created your masterpieces on paper, it’s time to digitize them. There are mainly two ways to do this: the raw method and the clean method.

The raw method is straightforward. Just scan or photograph your drawings, and you’re good to go. On the other hand, the clean method involves a bit more work.

You’ll need to remove any background clutter and may need to touch up the lines for a cleaner finish. This can usually be done with the same design software you used earlier. The extra effort here makes a difference in the finished product, giving it a more professional look.

Listing Your Coloring Books For Sale:

In this section, we’ll guide you through the practical steps of getting your coloring book up for sale on Amazon. You’ll learn how to create your KDP account, upload your book, and understand the role of ISBNs.

Create An Amazon Kindle Account:

First things first, you’ll need an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account to sell your coloring book. Head to the Amazon KDP website and hit the ‘Sign Up’ button.

You’ll be asked for some basic info like your name, email, and bank details. Once you fill those out, you’re ready to start selling.

Upload Your Coloring Books:

Alright, you’ve got your KDP account up and running. Now it’s time to upload your book. Go to your KDP dashboard, find the ‘Create a New Kindle eBook’ button, and click it.

Here you’ll upload your book files. The most common format for coloring books is PDF, but JPG and PNG work too. Just make sure your files are high-quality so that your book looks as good on screen as it does in your design software.

Assign an ISBN to Your Book:

You might be wondering, “What’s an ISBN?” Well, ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, and it’s a unique identifier for books. While it’s not a requirement to have one, it’s a good idea.

Having an ISBN makes your book easier to find and could help with sales. You can buy an ISBN from places like Bowker or other ISBN registration agencies. Once you have it, you’ll enter it into the appropriate field when you’re setting up your book on Amazon KDP.

However, if you are just getting into low content publishing world, don’t worry about these things yet.

Pricing your book:

So, you’ve got your book all set up and ready to go. Now comes another big decision: pricing.

You might be tempted to set a high price to maximize profit or go super low to attract more buyers. But the key here is to find a balance.

Take a look at similar books in your niche to get an idea of the going rate. Remember, your price should reflect not just the cost of production, but also the value you’re offering to your audience.

Price your book too high and you might turn off potential buyers; price it too low and people might question its quality. Keep these factors in mind as you find that pricing sweet spot.

Marketing and Sales Strategies for Your Coloring Books:

In this section, you’ll discover various marketing and sales strategies to give your coloring books the attention they deserve.

From leveraging Amazon tools to engaging with your community, these practical tips will guide you through the entire process of effectively promoting your work.

Using Amazon Tools

Amazon Advertising is a tool you shouldn’t overlook when it comes to marketing your coloring books. It lets you target people who are actively looking for coloring books or related items.

While paid ads cost money and aren’t necessary as you start, they can be a great tactic to build social proof for your products and get the momentum of sales.

In addition, optimizing your Amazon listing can act like a storefront for your books. Insert relevant keywords in your title and description to make your books easily searchable.

And don’t forget the importance of images. Make sure you use high-quality, clear pictures of your coloring books to attract potential buyers.

Leveraging Social Media

Social media contests and giveaways can be exciting and engaging. Host these on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, offering your coloring book as a prize to attract a wider audience.

Partnering with influencers can also be a great tactic. Look for people who already have a following that would be interested in coloring or related arts and crafts; a simple shoutout from them can bring a lot of attention to your books.

You can also take advantage of targeted ads on social media platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to reach specific groups of people who would be interested in your products.

Selling on Your Own Platform

Having your own blog or website provides a controlled space where you can interact directly with your audience.

Use this platform to share valuable content such as coloring tips, showcasing pages from your book, and updating your audience on upcoming projects or releases.

Community Engagement

Joining online forums and participating in workshops related to coloring can offer valuable insights into what potential buyers are interested in.

Physical presence also matters; attending trade shows and conventions can be just as beneficial. Here you can network, showcase your coloring books, and even make direct sales.

Be Consistent and Keep Learning

The journey to marketing your coloring books is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and stay committed to your project. Keep an eye on what tactics are working and what aren’t.

Consider other creative ways to promote your books, like starting a YouTube channel where you offer live coloring sessions or tutorials. Guest blogging on related websites and reaching out to bloggers for reviews can also be effective ways to gain attention.

Don’t forget about email marketing campaigns; they can be a good way to keep your audience engaged and informed about new releases or special offers.

Keep pushing forward and trying new things. The more effort and enthusiasm you put into marketing your coloring books, the more likely you are to see success.

Final Words:

In summary, the thriving market of coloring books offers an exciting opportunity for creators looking to merge their passion for art with a profitable business.

Navigating this landscape involves thorough market research, identifying a niche, crafting quality designs, and leveraging the power of Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing.

Equally important are your pricing and marketing strategies, which can significantly influence your success rate. Utilizing digital tools for market research, design, and publishing can streamline the process while engaging with your audience through social media, your own platform, and community events can give your books the visibility they need.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a newcomer, the coloring book industry provides a canvas for your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Frequently Asked Questions: