If you’ve ever thought about creating a side hustle but felt overwhelmed by the idea of starting a business, low-content publishing might be your perfect match (I have a blog post on how to make money in 2025 here). It’s a simple, flexible way to create passive income—and you don’t need to be a writer or a designer to get started! In this beginner’s guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about low-content publishing, including what it is, why it’s so popular, and how you can start creating your first low-content product today.
What Is Low-Content Publishing?
Low-content publishing refers to creating books or printable products that require little to no written content. Instead of relying on pages of text, these products focus on functionality, creativity, or design. For example:
- Planners (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Journals (gratitude, mindfulness, travel)
- Coloring books (I find a lot of art here with all the licenses to be used in low content publishing)
- Logbooks (expense trackers, meal planners)
- Activity books (puzzles, games, word searches)
These products solve specific problems or meet niche needs, making them valuable to buyers while being simple to create.
Why Is Low-Content Publishing So Popular?
Low-content publishing has gained traction for several reasons:
- Low Barrier to Entry: You don’t need a background in writing or graphic design. With free or affordable tools, anyone can create a professional-looking product.
- Minimal Upfront Costs: Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allow you to publish for free, only taking a cut when you make a sale.
- Scalability: Once your product is created, it can generate income for years with little maintenance.
- Creative Flexibility: You can cater to almost any niche or interest, from dog lovers to gardeners to busy moms.
I know what you are thinking: “If it’s free and no specific skills are needed, how isn’t everyone doing this?” Or better yet: “How can I learn more about low content publishing to differentiate myself from everyone else?”. I hear you and I got you, keep reading.
How to Get Started with Low-Content Publishing?
1. Find Your Niche
The key to success is creating products for a specific audience. Ask yourself:
- What hobbies or interests am I passionate about?
- What problems do I see people facing that a simple product could solve?
For example, a fitness tracker might appeal to health-conscious individuals, while a gratitude journal could attract people interested in mindfulness.
2. Choose a Platform
Amazon KDP is the most popular platform for low-content publishing. It’s free to use, has a massive audience, and handles printing, shipping, and customer service for you. Other options include:
- Etsy (for printable versions of your products)
- Lulu or IngramSpark (for more advanced publishing needs)
3. Create Your Product
You can use tools like:
- Canva: An easy-to-use design tool perfect for beginners.
- Book Bolt: Specifically designed for creating low-content books for KDP.
- Adobe InDesign (if you’re experienced with design software).
Keep your design clean and functional. For example:
- A daily planner might include simple boxes for scheduling and to-do lists.
- A travel journal could have prompts like “Where did I go today?” or “Best moment of the trip.”
4. Upload to Your Platform
On Amazon KDP, you’ll need:
- A PDF file of your interior (the actual pages of your book).
- A book cover (design one using Canva or hire a freelancer on Fiverr, my favorite options).
- A description and keywords to help people find your book.
5. Market Your Product
Once your book is live, it’s time to promote it. Share your product on:
- Pinterest: Create eye-catching pins linking to your product page (my favorite!).
- Social Media: Highlight how your product solves problems or brings joy.
- Your Blog or Website: Write about your product and the inspiration behind it. (kind of like this one!!)
Want to take this Low-content publishing a step further?
Here are my best tips:
- Start Small: Create one or two products, and learn from the process before scaling up.
- Focus on Quality: A well-designed product will stand out and attract more buyers. Remember this is not about you, you have to create covers that appeal to your target client.
- Optimize Keywords: Use tools like Publisher Rocket (my favorite) to find the best keywords for your book’s niche.
- Enroll in Publish & Profit, Rachel Harrison-Sunds course on how to Cash in on Your Creativity While Generating Passive Income with “Low-Content” Books. This is what made a difference for me as I learned to really take advantage of all the marketing tools available.
- Stay Consistent: Regularly create and upload new products to grow your catalog.
Why I Love Low-Content Publishing
For me, low-content publishing is more than just a side hustle. It’s a creative outlet that allows me to share useful tools with the world while earning passive income. It’s also flexible—perfect for busy women looking to start something new without overwhelming themselves.
If you’ve ever dreamed of earning extra income or creating something meaningful, now is the best time to give low-content publishing a try.
Ready to get started? Share your first idea in the comments or let me know what questions you have—I’d love to help you on your journey!
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe in and think will be valuable to my readers. Thank you for your support!
