Low content publishing is having a moment.
And while it may have started with journals, this publishing genre has expanded to include a variety of low-content printables.
We bet you could brainstorm a bunch of low-content book ideas yourself.
But if you’re looking for inspiration for your next passive income-generating project, we have 13 creative and customizable options for you to explore.
All they need is your brilliant mind and relentless action-taking to create something your customers will love.
Let’s get to the good stuff.
What Is A Low-Content Book?
Low-content books are books with minimal content added by the creator. The buyer is responsible for helping low-content books reach their full potential.
Low-content books have been with us for decades — from diaries with tiny keys to elaborate planners and workbooks. It’s not a new thing.
What’s relatively new (or newer) is the idea that you can make money selling low-content books on Amazon.
13 Of The Best Low-Content Book Ideas
You might already be sitting on some low-content book ideas that could generate hundreds a month in passive income.
The number and variety of KDP low-content books and other media have only grown since authors started self-publishing their work.
Let’s take a closer look at your options.
1. Journals
If your goal is to earn passive income with low-content books, you need to create something that stands out from the competition.
Slapping a pretty cover on a set of blank pages won’t cut it. Journal buyers can easily find cheap alternatives at a supermarket.
Find a way to give your journal something the competition doesn’t have:
- Quotes from your ideal buyer’s favorite fandom;
- Daily Inspirational quotes or life hacks;
- Writing prompts (for creative writing journals).
2. Bullet Journals
If bullet journaling is your thing, consider designing your own with some extras the competition doesn’t have:
- Illustrated instructions on how to make the best use of it;
- Information on how to access bonus content provided on your website;
- Invitation to free video-based bullet journal training, group, or masterclass;
If you get excited about bullet journaling, you can probably think of other ways to spice yours up.
3. Planners
The best planners are more than just calendars in book form. But the extras depend on what your ideal customer needs or wants to see in a planner.
And much depends on the overriding theme. What is your customer planning for?
- Wedding
- Job search
- Divorce
- Menu
- Family
Once you nail down the theme, there’s plenty you can do to make your planner stand out. It’s much easier when you know what you want to see in this planner that no others have.
4. Workbooks
Workbooks are a fantastic option if you’ve written a book that will only become more valuable when combined with this as its ideal companion.
Or maybe you have ideas for a workbook that would add value to a book you’ve read, whose author is open to collaboration.
Whatever your reasons, take some time to flesh out your idea and research essential workbook features — like space for the user to answer questions or jot down notes.
5. Logbooks
A logbook is for recording your progress toward a specific goal or tracking the use of something. If you’ve ever used a notebook just to record things like workouts and meals, you’ve used it as a logbook.
Here are a few different types to consider:
- Workouts
- Food
- Job Applications & Interviews
- Sites / Events / Attractions Explored
- Dating & Lessons Learned
Think of what your ideal buyer would want to keep track of. Then make it easier for them.
6. Composition Books
These are pretty plain, generally. Most people shopping for composition notebooks will either buy the cheapest one available or the one with the most appealing cover.
That’s where you come in. But an eye-friendly cover isn’t the only way to add value:
- Instruction sheet with ideas and illustrations;
- Information on accessing bonus content;
- Special prize offer to buyers who share their plans for the composition book.
Those shared plans can give you ideas for future product upgrades.
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7. Coloring Books
These are huge, and the options keep growing. If you’ve ever searched in vain for a specific kind of coloring book, this could be just the thing to create on your own and sell to like-minded customers — especially if you’re skilled at drawing.
Think of the kinds of images and/or messages you’d like to see in a coloring book:
- Important questions everyone should ask;
- Transformative morning messages;
- Finding your purpose quotes;
- Mindfulness quotes;
- Favorite fandom scenes and quotes.
8. Guest Books
Special events like weddings and funerals usually have guestbooks with space for names and thoughtful messages. Think of how you might turn an otherwise simple project into something your buyer and their guests will appreciate and remember:
- Option for adding digital images of the couple or deceased to the cover;
- Bonus content like keepsake cards, bookmarks, and small journals;
- Discount offer for a wedding or funeral planner.
The image-adding option could be linked in a Kindle “preview” version of your guestbook, priced low (or free) to make it easier for potential buyers.
9. Ledgers
Ledgers are specifically for recording monetary transactions for personal or business accounting. That said, having a serious purpose doesn’t require them to be boring.
Look up “ledger book” on Amazon to see what others have created and what sets some of them apart from the others:
- Attractive covers (simple or detailed);
- Large print and/or ample space for entries;
- Targeted publisher name.
For example, “Elegant Simple Trackers” ledgers are doing better than even sponsored listings published under an author’s name.
10. Activity Books
These are similar to workbooks but can stand alone. As with workbooks and coloring books, you’ll find a huge variety of them in any online seller of low-content books.
Here are just a few ideas:
- Summer activity book for kids;
- Holiday activity book;
- Mazes, puzzles, and other brainteasers;
- Human body activity book;
- Positive behavior activity book for kids.
Think of activities you wish more adults made time for — or taught their kids.
11. Learning Cards
Like coloring books, these are blowing up on Amazon and other sites. You’ve probably seen at least a few of the following:
- Meditation cards (like Mindful Meditator);
- Affirmation cards;
- Learning cards for babies and toddlers
- Joke, riddle, or fandom trivia cards;
- Date night ideas or conversation cards.
Focus on something that excites you — something you would happily use yourself. Your ideal buyer will pick that right up.
12. Poetry Notebook
If you’re a poet or songwriter and you’d like to create something special for your fellow poets out there, consider designing a low-content book that celebrates what you love.
Think of all the ways you can make your poetry notebook stand out:
- A cover that features faded lines of poetry or a meaningful symbol;
- Poetry prompts on each page — or a list at the front or back;
- Inspirational tips and activities for summoning the muse.
13. Vision Book
Last but not least is the vision book, which is essentially a vision board in book form.
Even as a self-publisher, you can create something you and your fellow vision journalers will love using. This book is all about making your user’s vision for their life something they can see and add to anytime they like.
You can even design vision books to fit specific themes or times of life. For each customer, this will be a labor of love that begins with you.
FAQ About Low Content Books
Now that you’ve looked through our sampling of ideas (the ones that excite us the most), let’s tackle some of the biggest questions regarding low-content books.
What low-content books sell the most?
Here are some of the most popular types of low-content books:
- Coloring books (for kids and adults)
- Homeschool planners
- Visitor guest books
- Birthday and address books
- Blank books: diaries, journals, sketchbooks, etc.
What are considered low-content books?
The name pretty much sums it up. Low-content books are light on text and images — especially compared to your average book for reading.
The reason for that, of course, is to leave plenty of room for the user to add their own content:
- Journal their thoughts and ideas
- Log their progress or activities
- Record income and expenses
Even coloring books count, though the drawings included are, technically, images.
How many pages should a low-content book have?
Page count largely depends on the following:
- The number of pages needed for the type of book you want to create;
- The trim size for your book and its effect on writing space;
- The cost of printing the book compared to the price you want to charge;
The larger the page count, the more it costs to print. Think about how many pages your book needs to have and whether adding to that will make your book more valuable.
Now that your mind is buzzing with ideas for a new low-content book (we know you’ve got ‘em), we hope you take some time to jot those down and play with the possibilities.
A few months from now (or sooner), you could be earning some passive income every month from your new creation.
What will you do today to get closer to that?
