Coloring books have been a popular form of entertainment for generations, but in recent years, they have experienced a resurgence in popularity among people of all ages. As a result, selling coloring books on Amazon has become a lucrative business opportunity for anyone with a passion for art and design.
As dietitians, I want you to think about how you can create coloring books that are specific to your niche and target audience. These books can provide some light education around an important topic while also proving to be a therapeutic activity for consumers.
*Please note that I earn a commission on affiliate links (with an asterisk) below.
Katie Dodd’s The Dietitian Coloring Book* and Jaclyn Allen’s All Foods Fit* are just two examples of dietitians who created coloring books for a specific target audience and sell them on Amazon. Both authors created their books through my Click to Publish program where I teach the ins and outs of becoming a self-published author using Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
In this article, we will explore the various aspects of selling coloring books on Amazon, including:
- researching your niche
- creating quality designs
- setting up your Amazon KDP account
- promoting your products effectively
- providing excellent customer service
Whether you aspire to create a coloring book to help parents of kids with food allergies, patients living with diabetes, or one to encourage self-care in your target audience, keep reading. This blog will provide you with the information and tools you need to build a successful coloring book business on Amazon and connect with customers from around the world.
Why Sell Coloring Books on Amazon?
Coloring books are popular among people of all ages, making them a great product to sell on a platform with a broad customer base like Amazon. Additionally, Amazon offers a user-friendly platform with built-in tools for marketing and promoting your products, making it easier to connect with customers and generate sales.
5 Reasons to Sell Coloring Books on Amazon
- Large and Diverse Customer Base with millions of shoppers worldwide. By selling your coloring books on Amazon, you can reach a broader audience. This can translate into more sales and profits.
- Access to Built-in Marketing Tools to promote your products and connect with potential customers. For example, use Amazon Advertising to create targeted campaigns that reach shoppers interested in coloring books or related products.
- Convenient and Reliable Shipping Options for Amazon sellers. Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service, for instance, allows you to store inventory in Amazon’s warehouses and have them handle the shipping, packing, and customer service on your behalf.
- Minimal Start-Up Costs compared to many other businesses. All you need is a computer, internet access, and high-quality coloring book designs, which you can create yourself or outsource to a professional designer.
- Opportunity for Passive Income requiring minimal ongoing effort once the initial creation and publishing are complete.
Researching Your Niche
Before you start selling coloring books on Amazon, it’s important to research your niche and identify your target audience. Look for popular themes and styles, as well as any gaps in the market that you could fill with your own designs. Consider conducting surveys or focus groups to gather feedback from potential customers and refine your product offerings accordingly.
Check-in and Color* by dietitian Shannon Ebron is a great example of researching your niche, finding a gap in the market, and creating a product to meet this need. Ebron is another student from my Click to Publish program. Her unique coloring book and gratitude journal combination is designed as a self-care tool for school nutrition professionals.
Creating Quality Designs – DIY vs. Hire Out
The success of your coloring book business on Amazon will largely depend on the quality of your designs. From the book cover to the interior pages, make sure your designs are high quality and meet the needs of your target audience. Depending on your artistic abilities, time, and budget, you may choose either the DIY approach or hire a freelance designer.
DIY Approach
One DIY approach for those with strong artistic skills is you can hand draw and then scan your designs to your computer for your coloring book. Another DIY approach is to utilize one or more graphic design tools like:
I used Canva Pro to create the designs in my coloring book for kids, The Food Alphabet Coloring Book For Kids, that I currently sell on Amazon. Canva Pro is also my go-to graphic design tool for creating a professional-looking book cover.
While there is a learning curve to using Canva Pro (and any new tool for that matter), I have found it to be a user-friendly platform that is perfect for those of us who are not professionally-trained graphic designers. I typically recommend Canva Pro to the students in my Click to Publish program.
Hire Out Approach
If you’re looking to outsource the work for your coloring book, Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour are a few sites to look into. Using these sites you can post details about your project. Then, have freelancers send a proposal to apply for the job.
These sites also allow you to search for freelancers who have experience in designing coloring book pages or book covers. Before reaching out to a freelancer to discuss your project, view their profile on the site. Their profile includes important details such as, rate per project, portfolio with work examples, and reviews from previous clients.
For example, below is one of the freelancers you’ll find on Fiverr when you search “coloring book illustrations.” This freelancer focuses on coloring books using motivational quotes and offers three packages on her profile page. It’s worth noting the two higher-priced packages include more coloring pages, a book cover, and the ability to use the designs for commercial use.
When deciding on the right freelancer for your project, compare rates and what you get for the price. Additional questions to ask may be:
- Does this freelancer have experience in the same niche as my book?
- What are the commercial license details for the designs?
- How many revisions can I request?
- What is the turnaround time?
- Does this freelancer have experience with Amazon KDP?
Setting Up Your Amazon KDP Account
Once you have your designs ready, it’s time to set up your Amazon KDP account. You’ll need to create an account, set up your seller profile, and list your products on Amazon. Be sure to optimize your product listings with relevant keywords and descriptions to improve your chances of ranking higher in search results and attracting more customers.
Promoting Your Coloring Books
Once you hit publish and your book is LIVE to the world, it’s time for all things post-release marketing and promotion. One of the biggest advantages of selling on Amazon is the built-in tools for promoting your products.
Use Amazon’s advertising platform to create targeted campaigns and reach a wider audience. Additionally, consider using social media and other online marketing channels such as email marketing to drive traffic to your Amazon listings and build your brand.
Providing Excellent Customer Service
Finally, it’s crucial to provide excellent customer service to build a loyal customer base and maintain a positive reputation on Amazon. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and complaints, offer refunds or exchanges as needed, and make sure to ship your products on time and in good condition.
Selling coloring books on Amazon can be a rewarding and profitable business venture. By researching your niche, creating quality designs, and promoting your products effectively, you can build a successful coloring book business on Amazon and connect with customers from around the world.
(*This blog post was published on 3/25/23, and was updated on 11/13/23.)
Interested in Learning More About Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP?
Are you a dietitian that has self-publishing on your bucket list? Join the Click to Publish course today and make your dream a reality.
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