Make Money Publishing Books On Amazon KDP Without Writing: 4 Ways To Earn Extra Cash With Books In 2023

July 25, 2023

You can make money publishing books on Amazon KDP without writing by publishing low and medium-content books or reading and reviewing eBooks. Amazon sells 68% of all online retail books and 75% of eBooks. Kindle Unlimited platform has approximately 3 million subscribers, but you need to research and find best sellers to make money. Then decide how you can make your book different from the competition.

What can you offer that will drive sales? Selling on Amazon KDP is competitive. Plus, specific genres and categories have become saturated because the barrier to entry is low. However, unlike the local lead generation business model, which is a learned skill set, the barrier is higher. In this article, we'll discuss what the average seller makes on Amazon KDP and how you can increase your sales. We also share 4 ways to earn extra cash with books in 2023 without writing. 

4 Ways To Earn Extra Cash With Books In 2023

Amazon KDP is an online business model that can generate a cash flow of $10-$ 1000's a month. The average title sells 200 copies in a year and 1,000 over its lifetime. We'll uncover 4 ways to earn extra cash with books in 2023. Plus, how to publish books on Amazon KDP without being a writer:

1. Get Paid To Read & Review eBooks On KDP

You can get paid to read and review Amazon eBooks with sites like ACX.com. A platform for voice-over actors that work with Kindle Direct, Audible, and iTunes and pays $10-$350/hour. You become a narrator and turn eBooks on Amazon KDP into audiobooks, and projects range from .5 hours -10+ hours.

But you're only compensated for 'per finished hour.' So if you read the book before recording or need multiple tries to correct the narrative, it's on your dime. (The average project on Kindle is around $300 per finished hour of audio). You receive payments from KDP authors through PayPal upon completion.

2. Create & Publish Low-Content Books To Sell On Kindle

Create and publish low-content books on Kindle without writing. Books like journals, calendars, notebooks, or sketchbooks that appeal to a specific target market (like affirmation or gratitude journals). Of course, you need to do some research to determine the best sellers.

  • What's selling? 
  • What keywords are trending? 

Use tools like Kindle to source hot sellers and Google Trends to define popular search queries. Then you can use this data to help create your book and make money by self publishing books. Low content books are the type of eBook that sells best on Amazon.

You can sell books with no words on Kindle Direct Publishing, but because it's so easy, everybody's doing it. And the only thing setting these books apart is the book cover. As a result, Amazon is now discouraging sellers from publishing low-content books on KDP. (They are no longer distributing ISBNs for low-content books).

Of course, you can still list your book. But you will have limited access to an audience of buyers. However, if you have a solid social media following or create a buzz on social platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram. You can still make money self-publishing on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing with low-content books.

Why Is My Low Content Book Not Selling On Amazon?

Your low content book is not selling on Amazon because you've picked a saturated niche, priced too high, or neglected to market your publication. It's easy to copy, paste, and list your book in the Kindle store. The secret to making money with the business model is being the better marketer. So you need to get as many eyeballs on your book as possible.

You need to create a buzz around your product and a reason why people should buy what you're selling. Just listing a book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing won't get you many book sales, so you need to go social. Create a YouTube video, and post it on channels like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Test different campaigns and know as much about your target market as possible.

  • Where do your potential readers spend their time online? 
  • How do they consume content? 

Promote your work, and you'll get better sales for your low content book.

Can You Really Make Money With Low-Content Books?

You can make money with low-content books as an Amazon self publishing author, but you need to be realistic. For example, the intermediate indie author sells between 250-300 books per year. 

Average low-content books sell on Amazon for $4-$7/book. But the amount of money you can make with low-content books depends on a few factors that include things like:

  • Price point
  • Niche/genre or category
  • Amazon KDP royalty position

Again, the only way to make money with Kindle Direct Publishing is to be a killer marketer and gain traction online to drive traffic to your low-content book. Then, find a unique angle for a specific sub-niche that is proven to be profitable.

Publish multiple books to scale your online business. But Direct publishing is a much more cost-effective option than traditional publishing. So you don’t need to sell your Kindle eBook as often to earn a profit. 

3. Hire A Ghostwriter To Write Your KDP eBook

Hire a ghostwriter to write your KDP eBook and make money without writing. You can sell eBooks you didn't write by hiring a ghostwriter to write your Kindle eBook for you. If you have an idea that can fill a gap in the market or caters to a specific target audience and the potential to be profitable, ghostwriters can do the writing for you.

Ghostwriters are a sub-niche of freelance writers specializing in creative writing under someone else's byline. Their job is writing books, but they're not responsible for the publication process. But you need to pay for their services. The average rate is based on the word count of your self published book title. Costs for eBooks are between .50-$5/per word. You can hire ghostwriters on Upwork, Fiverr, or Ghost Book Writers.

You can also outsource direct publishing tasks to other professionals, including:

  • Cover design
  • Illustrations
  • Marketing

But for every freelancer you use, you cut into your profit margins, so do your research and be sure that your idea will be profitable. Check out sites like KDP to see:  

  • What's selling well now?
  • What are people reading?
  • Who is your ideal reader?
  • Do you have an idea that differs from the norm?

Of course, if you're going to pay for a ghostwriter, you want to land a bestseller. But ghostwriters are perfect if you want to sell an eBook you didn't write in 2023.

4. Publish Medium-Content Books For Customers On Kindle

Publish medium-content books for customers on Kindle, like activity books, puzzle books, and brain teasers. Medium-content books take more effort than low-content books, but the market isn't as saturated.

The key is to niche down and get specific on what you offer. Then take the time to research and be sure that the topic/idea you choose for your book will be profitable. For example:

  • Is there a demand in the market?
  • What is the competition?
  • What are the potential royalties?
  • How much will it cost to leverage Amazon advertising?

You can use a tool like Canva to create your cover, author page, and internal pages. And a platform like KDP Interior Margins Templates to format and avoid bleeding issues. (The standard size for color and activity books is 8.5X11 inches).

To make more sales or to have a better chance of your Kindle book ranking higher in the search engines, you need to know how to do competitor research for Amazon Kindle Publishing. To do competitor research for Amazon Kindle Publishing, start by using the top keywords in your title.

First, go to Amazon or sites like Book Bolt and check out the top competitors to see their list of keywords. Then use software like Mangools or ahrefs to see what terms are ranking for the most. Next, use those keywords in your title or subtitle. (Print the best one on the book or the spine). 

You can also use the competition's keywords as a guide to writing your book description. Then list your medium-content book in the correct categories in the Kindle store:

  • What top two types make the most sense?
  • Where are your competitors listing their KDP books?

(Publishing your book in the correct category will help increase sales).

How Can Beginners Make Money With Amazon KPD? 

Beginners can make money with Amazon KDP if they can find a winning niche with market demand. The key is to develop an unusual slant on a popular sub-niche to set yourself apart. You want to target a sub-category with a sales rank of 10K or better, so you know there's demand.

Then check out the top 3 star ratings to know what you need to include in your book. See where the competition is lacking or how you can do better. For example;

  • Could you offer harder/easier puzzles?
  • Can you create more intricate artwork or a better design?

Your most prominent selling feature for low and medium-content books is your cover. Therefore, you need to create a cover with a WOW factor. Something that grabs your audience's attention (you can tweak or make changes as often as necessary, depending on sales).

Then develop your marketing strategy. Focus on you as an author. Share your story, get personal, and include a descriptive author page. As a result, your potential customer will feel a connection with you and be more inclined to purchase your product.

How To Improve Your KDP Income

You can improve your KDP income with a few marketing strategies that include things like:

  • Create an email list
  • Develop a solid online presence
  • Increase your number of followers
  • Promote your book on channels where your target audience spends their time online
  • Publish YouTube videos and let your audience get to know you on a personal level

The average self-publishing author makes about $100. Of course, it's not a one-size-fits-all, and some authors earn thousands of dollars. But there are just as many (or more) who make nothing. There's no cost to create a low-content book through Amazon KDP. So, what you make in sales is profit. (Or it covers your ad and other expenses).

But you can improve your income by publishing a book that people want to buy and pricing it to benefit from the highest royalty level on the platform. (You get royalties from 35%-70% from publishing a book on Amazon each month). But if people buy your book at a discounted price, it doesn't affect your royalties. 

What Is The Best Way To Advertise Your eBook?

The best way to advertise your eBook is to promote it on as many channels as possible. The idea is to provoke conversation. Of course, you want to develop excitement around your new publication. But you have to rise above the noise.

Make yourself and your eBook capture the attention of your ideal audience with things like:

  • Promote on sites like LinkedIn and local outlets
  • Leverage social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram
  • Create a funnel and landing page to drive online traffic to your KDP link
  • Hyper target your reach with paid ads on Amazon
  • Develop an email campaign

You need to have a clear call to action. Build social proof with testimonials. Ask friends and family to read and leave reviews wherever you promote your book. The more people know about you and your eBook, the more interest you'll generate.

Is It Hard To Sell A Book On Amazon KDP?

It can be hard to sell a book on Amazon KDP if you're a beginner because the competition has increased, and specific niches are saturated. In addition, new titles are listed on the platform daily. (In the last five years, the platform has grown by 264%). 

As a result, selling books on Amazon is more challenging than it used to be, and you may benefit from an Amazon KDP course. It takes practice to correctly format and download your book on KDP and find an unserved segment in the market. You also need to develop a marketing strategy to sell your Amazon KDP book.

Plus, the Amazon KDP royalty system isn't for everyone. To get the best payouts, you need to know how to leverage the platform with things like:

  • Pricing
  • Amazon PPC strategy

To succeed on KDP, you need to niche down and use the best keywords to stand out from the competition. Then, leverage marketing and SEO tactics like getting reviews, posting on social media, or hosting giveaways. But KDP is the cheapest way to write a book in 2023, and if you can appeal to a specific market and drive sales, you can make money.

Why Local Lead Generation Is A Better Option For You In 2023

You can outsource any aspect of KDP and make money with this business model. In fact, if you've looked up how to make money with Chat GPT, you may even know that people are using artificial intelligence to write KDP books these days. But the barrier to entry is so low that anyone can do it. So you have a saturated market, and everyone is vying for the same audience. On the other hand, the local lead generation business model is a learned skill set resulting in a higher barrier to entry and less market saturation. Overall, Amazon KDP might not be worth it at all.

Plus, natural obstacles like location and population size help control the competition. The key is to find high search volume rank and rent niches with enough competition and population. Then, build and rank generic websites that get to the top of Google. Then you're in front of an audience of people actively searching for your product or service.

Local lead generation

When your lead gen site is producing, find a local business owner and sell your leads for profit. Building your site costs around $500 and takes 10-15 hours. But once it's at the top of the SERPs, you own prime real estate. (And you rarely need to do any ongoing maintenance). Take this site above, for example, I built this website in 2015, and it's been making me $2000/month for over seven years.

The best part is that this is only one of over 80 lead gen properties I own and rent. You can build as many sites as you want and create more than one at a time to scale fast and secure a steady cash flow on autopilot. With lead generation, you control every aspect of your business. You don't need to worry about third-party platform rules or getting issued ISBNs. 

Conclusion

You can make money self publishing books on Kindle without writing. But the barrier to entry is super low, and there's a ton of competition. Plus, specific niches and genres are saturated. So your niche might not make sales, or you'll need to spend a ton of money on Amazon advertising. But this will cut your profit margins, which are already thin, unlike the lead gen model that produces profits of 85%-90%.

You need to research and develop a unique angle for a specific sub-niche to make sales. (One that is profitable with a low level of competition). Be a better marketer than the top-selling authors. And leverage social media platforms or paid ads to generate excitement around your product. But if you can create a buzz and have a best seller publication that stands out. Then you can make money with KDP in 2023

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Ippei.com is for digital hustlers, industry leaders and online business owners.

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