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Your Guide to Passive Income with Amazon KDP
What if a simple journal—a book with mostly empty pages—could become a source of serious passive income? Some of the top-selling journals on Amazon generate hundreds of dollars daily, with the potential for over $10,000 a month from a single design. The best part? You create the journal once, upload it to Amazon for free, and they handle everything: printing, packing, and shipping. You don’t purchase inventory, you never touch packing tape, and you collect a royalty every time one sells.
But if you’re a beginner, figuring out where to start can feel impossible. You have an idea, but then you hear technical terms like “bleed,” “margins,” “CMYK,” and “keywords,” and your fun side hustle suddenly sounds complicated. It’s enough to make you quit before you even begin.
That’s about to change. This guide provides a complete, step-by-step roadmap to break down the entire process, from a spark of an idea to a published journal on Amazon. You’ll learn how to do it all for free, with tools anyone can use. By the end, you’ll have the exact blueprint and confidence you need to publish your first book and kickstart your passive income stream.
What is Amazon KDP and How Does Print-on-Demand Work?
Before we get into design, it’s crucial to understand why this is such a golden opportunity. The magic behind it is a service from Amazon called KDP, or Kindle Direct Publishing. It began as a platform for ebooks but has evolved into a massive print-on-demand service for physical books.
Print-on-demand is exactly what it sounds like. When a customer buys your journal on Amazon, one of Amazon’s facilities prints a single copy, packs it, and ships it directly to them. For the creator, it is a completely hands-off process. This model eliminates traditional risks. You don’t have to guess how many to order, invest thousands in inventory, or store boxes in your garage. You’re a publisher, not a shipping clerk.
The Power of Low-Content Books for Passive Income
The products we’re focusing on are called “low-content books.” These are books designed to be filled in by the user, not read. The interior pages are simple, often repetitive, and serve a clear purpose. Examples include:
- Simple lined notebooks for daily thoughts.
- Gratitude journals with daily prompts.
- Planners for habits, workouts, or budgets.
- Log books for hobbies like reading, gardening, or fishing.
- Sketchbooks or blank sheet music books.
Journals are the perfect starting point for beginners because they are incredibly simple to create. You can design one or two pages and repeat them 100 times to make a whole book. This makes the creation process fast, allowing you to focus on what truly drives sales: great research and an amazing cover.
While the term “passive income” is often misused, KDP is one of its truest forms. All the work is upfront. You conduct research, design the interior, create a compelling cover, and upload it. Once that journal is live on Amazon, it can sell for months or even years with no additional effort. This is a digital asset that works for you 24/7.
However, it’s important to set realistic expectations. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. The popularity of KDP means it’s competitive. You can’t just upload a generic, poorly designed notebook and expect to make thousands. Success in 2026 is about being strategic. It requires treating this like a real business, identifying a specific customer need, and creating a high-quality product to meet it. The most common point of failure is skipping the single most important step: niche research.
Why Niche Research is the Key to KDP Success
If you remember only one thing from this guide, let it be this: do not skip niche research. The success of your journal is decided long before you open any design software. Creating a journal for a specific, targeted audience is the only way to get noticed and make sales on a platform as vast as Amazon.
Think of it this way: a “Blank Lined Journal” competes with hundreds of thousands of others. You’re a tiny fish in a massive ocean. But a “Knitting Project Journal for Frog Lovers” is in a small, specific pond. People searching for that exact item will find you, and you’ll have a much better chance of making a sale as one of only a few options. The formula for profit is high demand plus low competition.
How to Find Profitable Niches on Amazon (Step-by-Step)
So, how do we find these profitable niches? We’ll use the best free research tool available: the Amazon search bar.
First, brainstorm ideas from what you already know—your hobbies, job, or passions. Are you a nurse, teacher, programmer, gardener, new mom, or avid reader? Start there and jot down a list.
Next, consider specific groups of people:
- Professions: Journals for dentists, lawyers, electricians.
- Hobbies: Journals for beekeepers, rock climbers, board game fans.
- Life Events: Journals for wedding planning, a baby’s first year, moving.
- Wellness: Journals for anxiety, mindfulness, Stoicism, or dream logging.
Let’s test the “Book Reading Journal” idea.
Step 1: The Initial Amazon Search
Go to Amazon and start typing “book reading journal.” The autocomplete suggestions are what real people are searching for. Phrases like “book reading journal for kids” or “book reading journal with prompts” are potential sub-niches.
After searching, check the number of results. “Book reading journal” might show “over 3,000 results,” indicating a market that is also crowded. The goal is to “niche down” to a smaller number, ideally under 1,000, to give a new book a chance.
Step 2: Niche Down to Find Your “Pond”
Let’s try one of the suggestions: “book reading journal for kids.” The results may drop to 1,000. Better. Now, let’s go deeper. What about “book reading journal for teen girls”? Perhaps now we’re down to 600 results. This is a great sign. We’ve found a smaller pond.
Step 3: Check the Best Seller Rank (BSR) for Demand
Now, examine the first page of results for your new niche to see if people are buying these books. For this, you need the Best Seller Rank (BSR). Click on a book listing and scroll down to the “Product details” section to find the “Amazon Best Sellers Rank” number.
A lower BSR is better. A BSR of #1 is the best-selling book on Amazon. For our purposes, seeing a few books on the first page with a BSR under 300,000 is a fantastic sign of active buyers. If the top books have BSRs over a million, it’s likely a dead niche. In our “teen girls” niche, we might find BSRs of 80,000, 150,000, and 250,000. This niche has proven demand.
Step 4: Read Reviews to Find Gaps in the Market
This is a pro-tip most beginners skip. Click on the best-sellers in your niche and read the 3 and 4-star reviews. These customers provide honest feedback about what was missing.
You might find comments like:
- “I just wish it had a ‘to-be-read’ list.”
- “The cover is cute, but the inside is just boring lines.”
- “I wish there was a spot to write my favorite quotes from the book.”
This feedback is your product development roadmap. You now know which features to include in your journal to make it better. For our “Book Reading Journal for Teen Girls,” we’ll add a “To Be Read” list, pages with prompts for characters and themes, and a “Favorite Quotes” section. We are not copying; we are improving based on customer feedback.
Step 5: How to Find Your Top 7 KDP Keywords
The final research step is to gather your top 7 keywords. These are the search terms you’ll use in your title, subtitle, and keyword slots to help Amazon’s algorithm connect you with buyers.
Your main keyword is “Book Reading Journal.” For the others, use the “alphabet soup” method. Go to the Amazon search bar and type your main keyword followed by “a,” then “b,” and so on, to see what Amazon suggests.
- “book reading journal a…” might suggest “book reading journal and log”
- “book reading journal f…” might suggest “book reading journal for teens”
- “book reading journal g…” might suggest “book reading journal gift”
Gather a solid list of 7 of these. Yours might look like:
- Teen reading log
- Book review journal for girls
- Gift for book lovers
- Book club journal
- Reading tracker notebook
- My literary journey
- Bookshelf tracker
Save this list for the upload process. With this data-backed approach, you’ve moved from a vague idea to a product people are actively looking for. Now, we can start designing.
How to Design Your Journal Interior for Free with Canva
With a profitable niche selected, it’s time to create the inside of your journal. We’ll use the easy and free tool, Canva.
Step 1: Choosing Your Book Specifications (Trim Size, Page Count, Bleed)
Before heading to Canva, you must decide on your book’s specifications.
- Trim Size: This is the final book size. For journals, 6×9 inches (portable) and 8.5×11 inches (notebook-sized) are popular. A 6×9 is perfect for our “Book Reading Journal for Teen Girls.”
- Page Count: This affects the book’s thickness and printing cost. A good starting point is 100 to 120 pages. Let’s choose 120 pages.
- Bleed or No-Bleed: “Bleed” is when designs extend to the page’s edge. “No-Bleed” means all content stays within a white margin. For a simple journal, No-Bleed is the easiest option.
Our specs are: 6×9 inches, 120 pages, No-Bleed.
Step 2: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Interior in Canva
- Set Up Your Custom Document: On Canva.com, click “Create a design” > “Custom size.” It is critical to change the unit from pixels (px) to inches (in). Enter your trim size: Width 6, Height 9. Click “Create new design.”
- Set Your Margins: For a “No-Bleed” design, content must stay away from the edge. A 0.5-inch margin is safe. In Canva, go to “File” > “View settings” and enable “Show rulers and guides.” Drag guides from the side rulers to the 0.5″ and 5.5″ marks, and from the top ruler to the 0.5″ and 8.5″ marks. This creates a safety box for your content.
- Design Your Main Page: Based on our research, let’s design a value-packed review page.
- Add Text: Go to “Text,” add a heading like “Book Title:”, and place it in the top left.
- Add Lines: Press ‘L’ to create a line. Adjust its color and thickness. Duplicate it (Ctrl+D) for “Author:”, “Start Date:”, and “Finish Date:”.
- Add a Rating System: In “Elements,” search for “star,” and add five stars next to a “Rating:” text box.
- Add Prompt Sections: Add a heading like “My Thoughts & Review.” Underneath, add about 15 lines. To space them evenly, create the first and last lines, select them all, go to “Position,” and click “Tidy up.”
- Create Supporting Pages: Your first page should be a “This Journal Belongs To:” page. Add text and simple decorative elements. You can also create dedicated pages for the “My Future Reads List” and “My Favorite Quotes” sections we identified during research.
- Duplicate and Build Your Book: You have your “Belongs To” page and your main journal page. Duplicate the main journal page until you have 120 pages total (e.g., 1 “Belongs To” page + 119 review pages, with a few modified for your special sections).
Step 3: How to Download Your Manuscript as a Print-Ready PDF
This is the final, crucial step in Canva.
- Click “Share,” then “Download.”
- For “File type,” you MUST choose “PDF Print.”
- For “Color Profile,” select “CMYK” for accurate print colors.
- Ensure “All pages” is selected.
- Click “Download.”
You now have a print-ready PDF of your entire interior. Next, we’ll create the cover that sells it.
How to Design a High-Converting KDP Cover
The cover is the single most important factor for getting sales. It must grab attention, communicate the journal’s purpose, and look professional, even as a tiny thumbnail. A common mistake is guessing the cover size. You can only design your cover after the interior is finalized because the page count determines the spine width.
Step 1: Getting Your Free KDP Cover Template
Google “KDP Cover Calculator” to find Amazon’s free tool. Fill out the form with your book’s exact specs:
- Binding type: Paperback
- Interior type: Black & white
- Paper type: White Paper
- Page-turn direction: Left-to-Right
- Measurement units: Inches
- Interior trim size: 6 x 9 in
- Page count: 120
Click “Calculate dimensions” and download the template file.
Step 2: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Cover in Canva
- Set Up Your Cover Document: Go back to Canva. Find the “Overall Dimensions” in the template PDF (e.g., 12.52 x 9.25 inches). Create a new custom size design in Canva using these exact dimensions, set to inches.
- Use the Template as Your Guide: Upload the PNG template image to your new canvas. Stretch it to fill the space, lower its transparency to around 50%, and lock the layer. This blueprint shows the front cover (right), back cover (left), spine (middle), and the pink “danger zone” that may be trimmed. All important elements must stay inside the white area.
- Design the Front Cover: This is your billboard.
- Background: Find a background in Canva’s “Elements” that fits your niche, like an “aesthetic pattern” or a pastel color.
- Title: Make it big, bold, and readable. Use a font pair that fits the teen vibe—perhaps a fun cursive and a clean modern font.
- Graphics: Add a few simple, supportive graphics like a “book icon” or “cute sparkle.” Simplicity is key.
- Design the Spine and Back:
- Spine: For books over 100 pages, you can add spine text. Add a text box with the title, rotate it 90 degrees, and size it to fit the spine area.
- Back Cover: Never leave it blank. Add a small graphic from the front or your brand name at the bottom. Leave the bottom-right corner empty for Amazon’s barcode.
Step 3: Finalize and Download Your Cover PDF
This is critical. Before downloading, you MUST delete the transparent template layer. If you forget, the guide lines will be printed on your cover.
Now, download your cover file:
- “Share” -> “Download.”
- File type: PDF Print.
- Color Profile: CMYK.
- Click “Download.”
Congratulations! You have your two master files: the interior PDF and the cover PDF.
The Complete Guide to Uploading Your Journal to Amazon KDP
This is the final step. Go to kdp.amazon.com, sign in, click “+ Create,” and select “Create paperback.”
Filling Out Your Paperback Details (Page 1)
- Language: English.
- Book Title: This MUST match your cover’s title exactly (e.g., “My Reading Journal”).
- Subtitle: Use your keywords here. A great subtitle would be: “A Book Lover’s Log to Track, Rate, and Review Your Favorite Reads | Perfect Gift for Bibliophiles and Teen Girls.”
- Author: Enter your name or a brand name (e.g., “Peachy Keen Press”).
- Description: Write a sales pitch describing who the journal is for and its special features (TBR list, quotes section).
- Publishing Rights: Select “I own the copyright…”
- Keywords: Paste your 7 researched keywords into the seven boxes. Use phrases not already in your title/subtitle, like “reading tracker notebook.”
- Categories: Choose two relevant categories, like “Juvenile Nonfiction -> Language Arts -> Journal Writing.”
- Low-content book: You MUST check this box for a journal.
- Adult Content: Select “No.”
Click “Save and Continue.”
Uploading Your Paperback Content (Page 2)
- Print ISBN: Since you checked “low-content book,” you can select “Publish without an ISBN.”
- Print Options: Confirm your specs: “Black & white interior with white paper,” “6 x 9 in,” “No Bleed,” and a “Matte” cover finish.
- Manuscript: Upload your interior PDF.
- Book Cover: Upload your cover PDF.
- Launch Previewer: DO NOT SKIP THIS. Click the previewer button. Carefully check every page of the digital proof for errors. If it looks good, click “Approve.”
Click “Save and Continue.”
Setting Your Paperback Rights & Pricing (Page 3)
- Territories: Choose “All territories” to sell worldwide.
- Pricing & Royalty:
- Research your competitors. If similar journals are $6.99-$8.99, price within that range. Let’s choose $7.99.
- Enter $7.99 for the Amazon.com marketplace. The royalty is calculated based on the formula: (List Price x Royalty Rate) – Printing Cost = Your Profit.
- KDP will auto-fill prices for other global marketplaces.
Finally, scroll to the bottom and click “Publish Your Paperback Book.”
Your journal will now be reviewed by KDP, which typically takes a few days. Once approved, it will go live on Amazon stores worldwide.
You’ve Published! What’s Next?
Let’s recap. We started with smart niche research, designed a professional interior and a scroll-stopping cover using Canva, and walked through the entire KDP upload process. You now have the exact blueprint successful publishers use.
What seemed overwhelming is now a simple series of steps. The only thing left is to take action. Your first journal won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. The goal for your first book isn’t perfection; it’s completion. Your second will be better, and your tenth will be amazing. The key is simply to start and learn with each new book you publish.
