I published 150 (low content) books on Amazon KDP and what have I got to show for it...?

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on their journey with Amazon KDP after publishing 150 books. They share insights into their earnings, which have reached about £1,234 ($1,548), and discuss how the passive income from KDP has contributed to their finances. Despite slow progress, they highlight the valuable skills they've gained in design, marketing, and research, along with the potential for growth. The creator also mentions upcoming plans, including launching a KDP mini-course for beginners and expanding their business ventures, all while balancing other income streams and lifestyle goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 The creator uploaded 150 books to Amazon KDP over a few years, starting with notebooks and expanding to other types of books.
• 😀 In the early stages, the creator made a small but encouraging income (around £150 in Q4 2021) from the books uploaded to KDP.
• 😀 By 2023, the creator was earning approximately £100–125 each month from the catalog of books, contributing to household expenses.
• 😀 KDP has become a passive income stream, requiring minimal maintenance compared to other income sources like running an Etsy shop.
• 😀 The creator enjoys the creative aspects of KDP, such as designing book covers and researching new book ideas.
• 😀 Learning KDP skills, like keyword research and marketing, has benefited other business ventures, including a vintage shop on Etsy.
• 😀 Confidence in art and design skills has grown, especially with the success of scrapbook paper pads and notebooks.
• 😀 The creator is excited about the future potential of KDP, with goals to increase monthly income to £250, covering a larger portion of living expenses.
• 😀 There are plans to expand into other business ventures, including creating courses for KDP beginners and starting an online education business.
• 😀 The creator is considering offering a mini-course specifically for scrapbook paper creators on KDP, based on demand from followers.
• 😀 Viewers are encouraged to share their own KDP journeys and engage with upcoming course ideas by signing up through provided links.

Q & A

How did you first get started with Amazon KDP?

I started with Amazon KDP in 2021 after seeing videos online, particularly about uploading notebooks. I opened my KDP account but didn't do much initially. It wasn't until a couple of months later, during the summer, that I uploaded my first notebook, and then walked away from it without much expectation.

When did you first realize KDP could make you money?

I realized KDP could make me money when I received a royalties payment email, which confirmed that I had sold a few copies of my notebook. This encouraged me to continue and upload more books.

How much did you make in your first few months on KDP?

In my first few months of KDP, by the end of 2021, I made about £150 (around $180) mostly from notebooks and a few other books like dated diaries and coloring books.

What types of books did you initially upload to KDP?

I initially uploaded notebooks, followed by some dated diaries and a coloring book. These were my starting products as I learned the ropes of KDP.

What has been your monthly income from KDP as of now?

As of now, I make approximately £100 to £125 ($125 to $150) every month passively from my catalog of 150 books.

How much time do you spend managing your KDP account and books?

Managing my KDP account has been very low maintenance. Most of the time, I only make small adjustments to keywords, descriptions, and occasionally run ads with a small budget, but I spend minimal time on it compared to other income streams.

What’s the significance of the £100-£125 monthly income from KDP?

This income covers half of my household’s grocery budget, which helps reduce the financial burden. It's passive income, which means I don’t have to actively work for it every month.

How do the skills you’ve developed with KDP benefit your other businesses?

The skills I’ve developed with KDP, such as researching book trends and learning how to design attractive covers and interiors, have helped me in my other business ventures, like my vintage shop on Etsy. The research skills, in particular, are transferable across different platforms.

What’s your vision for expanding your KDP income in the future?

I’m aiming to increase my monthly KDP income to £250, which would cover a more significant portion of my living expenses. I plan to release more books, experiment with different niches, and possibly scale up my KDP business by using pen names.

What plans do you have for creating educational content related to KDP?

I’m planning to create a mini-course for beginners titled 'Get Off the Ground with KDP'. The course will be designed for people who are just starting out and might feel overwhelmed. It will cover the basics of creating books, finding profitable niches, and making the first sale.

How can people interested in your KDP mini-course get involved?

People can sign up for the course using the link in the description of my video. Before signing up, I recommend checking out my previous KDP videos and work-from-home vlogs to get a better understanding of my approach and whether we’re a good match for learning together.