How to Earn with Coloring Books on Amazon KDP

Today, I want to share the story of one of my subscribers who decided to try creating coloring books for Amazon KDP. He generously shared his experience, tools, and lessons to inspire those looking for a new source of income. Let’s dive in.

Subscriber’s Story: “How I Started Making Money with Coloring Books on Amazon KDP”

Hi! My name is Alex, and about a year ago, I got interested in the idea of creating coloring books for Amazon KDP. It all began in November of last year when I heard about how promising this niche could be. I decided to give it a shot, not expecting much. But thanks to the holiday season and a well-chosen theme, my first book turned out to be an unexpected hit. Today, I want to tell you how I started, what tools I used, and what results I achieved.

How It All Started

I first learned about Amazon KDP and the concept of creating coloring books through social media. Inspired, I decided to publish my first book—a sci-fi-themed coloring book for adults called "Cosmic Dinosaurs". My goal was simple: create something high-quality and figure out how the platform worked.

I published my first book at the end of November, just in time for the Christmas rush. This timing was critical—during December, the book sold 123 copies, giving me the motivation to keep going.

Tools I Used

1. MidJourney — An AI tool I used to create the coloring pages. This powerful tool generates high-quality images based on text prompts. The subscription costs $30/month.
2. Canva — A user-friendly platform I used to design the book covers. It’s great for editing images and adding text.
3. Creative Fabrica — A website offering graphic elements and fonts. I used it to find resources for creating standout covers.
4. Amazon Ads — A tool for promoting books. Most of my sales came through paid ads.

Steps to Success

1. Choosing a Niche

I wanted to create something unique. My first book, "Cosmic Dinosaurs", was aimed at adults interested in sci-fi. I did some research on Amazon and found that such coloring books were popular but had relatively low competition.

2. Creating Content

Using MidJourney, I generated the coloring pages: dinosaurs in spacesuits, cosmic landscapes, and futuristic elements. The process took about a week. Each page was original and highly detailed.

3. Designing the Cover

A great cover is key to attracting buyers. I used Canva and elements from Creative Fabrica to create a bright, eye-catching design.

4. Publishing the Book

Once everything was ready, I uploaded the book to Amazon KDP, carefully filling out the description and adding relevant keywords for adult coloring books.

5. Running Ads

I launched ad campaigns via Amazon Ads, which helped my book rank higher for keywords and gain visibility.

Results

Over the first seven months, my 20 books sold 534 copies. Here's the breakdown:

1. Most successful book — "Cosmic Dinosaurs". It sold 223 copies, earning $740.
2. Second-best performer — A retro wrestling-themed coloring book. It sold 93 copies, earning $310.
3. Other books had modest results, earning between $10 and $100. About 20% of them didn’t sell at all.

Financial Overview

1. Revenue from sales: $1,670.
2. Expenses:
   • Advertising: $870.
   • MidJourney subscription: $200.
3. Net profit: $600.
4. After taxes: $360.

Lessons and Recommendations

1. Publish early. Seasonal books (e.g., Christmas-themed) should be published 1.5–2 months before the holiday.
2. Advertising is essential. Without ads, books get lost among thousands of competitors.
3. Find your niche. The more unique your idea, the higher your chances of success.
4. Scale up. To earn $1,000 per month, you’ll need to create around 200 books.

My Plans

I’m now creating books faster and have improved my ad strategies. My goal is to publish 200 books and achieve a stable monthly income. This journey requires time and effort, but I believe that over time, my coloring books will bring me consistent passive income.

This story shows that building a profitable project on Amazon KDP is possible with the right approach. If you’re willing to experiment and work on your projects, you might achieve success as well. Good luck!