Do you want to publish a book but are not sure where to start?
If you don’t already have a novel or nonfiction book simmering, low content books are a simple way to launch a book quickly and begin to generate passive income.
What is a low content book?
The industry definition of a low-content book refers to any book with minimal, repetitive content, like a journal or address book.
The term can also be used loosely to mean any book that the buyer fills out or colors in. This could be crossword puzzles or coloring books.
We’ll use the loose definition of low content for the purpose of this article and to provide more options for you to start your book creation journey.
Since low content books are easy to produce, they are a great way for those new to self-publishing to dip their toes into the world of publishing without getting overwhelmed.
Low content book ideas
- Coloring book – coloring books aren’t just for kids; adults love them too! Whether you draw the pictures yourself or scoop up royalty-free images online, the sky’s the limit when designing one-of-a-kind coloring books for buyers to enjoy.
- Address books – Although address books aren’t as popular as they used to be, there are still people who like the old-school approach to keeping contact information on hand. An address book provides an alphabetical listing of contact information.
- Puzzles – Are you good with words? Crossword puzzles are a good way to put that talent to use. Other puzzles include math puzzles, Sudoku books and more.
- Planners – Who dosn’t love a good planner? Many people don’t start the new year or life events like wedding planning without one.
- Activity books – Low content books can go from minimal input to highly detailed. Activity books are usually created to keep young minds busy. Activities like “spot the difference” or “connect the dots” and others are common.
- Journals/ Diaries – Journals and diaries are especially popular on websites like Amazon. Since the insides are similar—Today’s date and lines to write on—most of the interest is found in the unique covers that express the thoughts, attitudes, and style of the person writing in them.
- Sketchbooks – Artists and non-artists can find the interior blank pages of a sketchbook irresistible. The empty pages are the perfect canvases for self-expression, whether used for doodling or serious artistic pursuits,
- Logbooks – logbooks are used to record data for different purposes like car maintenance, petty cash, exercise logs, etc.
- Word search books – Similar to puzzle books, word searches books are especially popular with bibliophiles and other word lovers.
- Guestbooks – Schools, churches, and various public and private institutions use guestbooks to record who has visited or been in attendance.
- Recipe books – these books are a great way to record family recipes or your favorite recipes to refer to later.
- Quote books – A book of quotations is a great way to stay motivated. Low content books provide the perfect format to record your favorite thoughts from your favorite people.
How to create a low content book?
Low content books can be created in word processing like Google Docs and Microsoft Word or graphic design software like Canva. The steps to creating a low content book are simple.
1. Decide what type of low-content book you want to create. Before you create your book, it’s always a good idea to look for examples on websites like Amazon to see what’s selling well and which categories are saturated.
If you have a unique idea that you believe will sell, then seeing how well other books are doing shouldn’t dissuade you from publishing your version; however, it’s still a good idea to get a feel for the competition and how your book will fit in the market.
2. Decide on the size of the book and the number of pages. Buyers have expectations for certain categories of books, so make sure that your book meets those expectations. For example, the size and number of pages for an activity book will be different than the size and page count of a log book. If you’re not sure what specs your book should have, look for the top-performing low-content books in your category and then check the specs on the product page of the book for the dimensions and page count.
3. Plan your pages. Before you dive into formatting your book decide what you want it to look like, including the colors, typefaces/fonts, images. Also, decide how you want everything to be spaced out on the page. For example, if you’re creating a journal, do you want the lins to go to the end of the page or will they stay within the boundaries of the margins?
4. Format your book. Some word processing and graphic design software come with templates that make formatting simple. If you don’t have a template, ensure that you are using best practices for line spacing and margins.
5. Design your cover. Depending on who you select to print your book, most will offer a book cover template based on your book’s specifications. Use this template when designing your cover to ensure that the interior pages and the cover fit together properly. Don’t forget that your book’s spine. It’s a part of the design, too!
6. Publish your book. Once you’ve designed and formatted your book, save it as a PDF and upload it to your preferred platform for publishing. Every printer is different so check the printing requirements to make sure that your book’s quality is not impacted by low-quality images or other elements that can impact printing quality.
Conclusion
Low content books provide beginning self-publshers and experienced ones a way to create and publish books quickly. If you’re new to self-publishing, low content books offer a way to learn the publishing process without the overwhelm of producing a high content book like nonfiction books and fiction.
Low content books are also a great option for those looking for passive income options with a low barrier to entry and a quick turnaround.
Low content book ideas are everywhere.