To Publishing Your First Low-Content Book: - in Less Than A Day

» 3 STE PS «
To Publishing Your
First Low-Content Book
—in Less Than a Day
R ACHEL HARRISON -SUND
©2019 R ACHEL HARRISON-SUND | ALL RIG HTS RESERVED | RachelHarrisonSund .com

Welcome!
Thanks for downloading Three Steps to Publishing Your

First Low-Content Book—in Less Than a Day, your step-
by-step guide to publishing your very first low-content book
on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform!
I’m Rachel Harrison-Sund, and after successfully creating my own 6-figure passive
income stream through self-publishing low-content books, I’m here to get you
started on your own self-publishing for passive income journey.
As a quick reminder, low-content books are books that contain little to no text or
images and are mainly repetitive in nature, such as:
• Journals
• Notebooks
• Diaries
• Daily Planners
• Guest Books
• Bullet Journals
And they’re a great way to start generating passive income because:
• They’re quick to produce. You can go from idea generation to sales within just
a few days or less.
• They require no special technical knowledge, writing or design expertise
to create. You don’t need a website or an email list, there’s no writing
involved, and you can easily create your books without learning any
complicated software.
• They require little to no upfront investment. It’s possible to create low-
content books at zero cost, and even if you decide to outsource their creation
it’s incredibly cheap to do so .
• There’s no paid advertising, marketing efforts or major upkeep required.
After publishing your book, the income you generate is completely passive.
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• You don’t need to carry any inventory. Your low-content books will be printed
on demand and shipped straight to the customer, meaning you won’t have
to store piles of books in the corner of your living room or deal with shipping
hassles or customer service.
What You’ll Get Out of This Guide

This guide is going to walk you through the entire step-by-step process of publishing
your very first low-content book. It also includes a ready-to-use manuscript file (the
interior pages) for a 6” x 9” lined journal.
Lined journals, diaries, and notebooks are by far the simplest type of low-content
book to create because they contain nothing but page after page of blank lines.
That’s why they’re the type of low-content book I recommend everyone get started
with, and why I chose to focus on a lined journal for this guide.
Before we get cracking...
Before we dive straight in, I want to make clear that this guide is not to help you
create an instant bestseller that will allow you to quit your job tomorrow. It’s to get
you nice and familiar with the process so that you have a solid foundation on which
to build a real passive income business over time.
With that in mind, don’t spend any time over-thinking any step of the process for this
fist run-through, or worrying about if the book you create will sell any copies right out
of the gate. Just get that first book published so that you can prove to yourself that
you can do this.
Because you CAN!
3
3 Steps to Publishing Your
First Low-Content Book
Idea Generation
1.NICHE RESEARCH
Idea Validation
Interior File
2.BOOK CREATION
Cover File
Paperback Details
Paperback Content
3.PUBLISH
Paperback Rights and Pricing
Publish!
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» STE P 1 «
Niche Research
The niche research stage can be divided into two distinct parts that go hand-in-hand:
Idea Generation and Idea Validation.
Idea Generation
Once you’ve decided on a low-content book type—in this case a lined journal—take
a few minutes to brainstorm some ideas, thinking as broadly as possible. How many
different variations on a lined journal can you come up with?
Here are several ideas to get you going:
General Themes Profession or General Styles

Hobby-Specific
• Puppies • Minimal
• Horses • Photographers • Patterned
• Flowers • Teachers • Illustrated
• Music • Accountants • Photographic
• Nature • Bird-watchers
• Weight lifters
After you’ve come up with at least 5 possible ideas for lined journals, you’ll then
validate each of your ideas to ensure they’re worthy of pursuit.
Idea Validation
The reason you want to validate your ideas is to avoid spending time creating a book
that no one will buy.
How do you do that?
Firstly, you’re going to generate a list of keywords surrounding your book idea. This is
a list of words or short phrases that a real customer would type into Amazon’s search
bar if they were looking for your book. Think of as many as possible.
Let’s use a nature-themed journal as an example.
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» STE P 1 «
If I were a customer searching Amazon for a nature-themed journal, here are a few
keywords that I might type onto Amazon’s search bar:
• nature journal • outdoors lined journal • waterfall journal

• nature lined journal • outdoors notebook • landscape journals
• nature notebook • outdoors diary • nature scene journals
• nature diary • tree journal
• outdoors journal • forest journal
As you can see, I’ve also used the words notebook and diary, as journals, notebooks
and diaries are similar, and the words are oftentimes used interchangeably.
Once you have a list of at least 15-20 possible keywords, begin validating each one
separately by asking the following questions:
1. Are people already actively searching for this type of book?

To find this out, type your first keyword into Amazon’s search bar while in the
Books department. As you begin typing in your keyword, a drop-down will
appear. Do you see your keyword in the drop-down? If so, that means that
other people have actually searched for that specific type of book using that
exact keyword. This is a good first sign. If you don’t see the keyword, it means
that no one has searched for a book like yours with that particular keyword,
and you can cross it off your list.
Do you see any other related keywords in the drop-down? If so, jot those
down too, so they can also be validated and potentially used.
your keyword in the drop-down
related keyword
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» STE P 1 «
2. Do any similar books already exist?
Once you’ve entered your keyword, what results do you get? Seeing similar
books can be further validation that a market exists for your idea. If you don’t
see any similar books, but you know that people have typed in your search
keyword from the previous step, then you might have found an untapped
market that is ripe for a book like yours.
books similar
to your idea
3. Are customers buying similar books?

If similar books are making sales, you know that there is an actual market for
your book idea. Click on one of the books in your search results and scroll
down to the Amazon Best Sellers Rank. If you see a number it means that the
book has made at least 1 sale. No number means that no one has bought
that book. Generally speaking, you ideally want to see a number that is lower
than #100,000—the closer to #1 the better. But even a number of #200,000-
#300,000 means that the book is selling a few copies a month, and the idea
might still be worthy of pursuing.
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» STE P 1 «
A Best Sellers Rank of #40,000 means

this book is making decent sales—and
yours could too.
4. Can you beat the competition?

When you typed in your keyword, do all of the results have several dozen
4-5-star reviews? If so, this is a highly competitive keyword that probably isn’t
worth competing against. Alternatively, do many of the results seem lower in
quality and like something that you could improve upon? Can you think of a
unique twist on an idea that would set your book apart?
paperback results don’t have

too many reviews; competition
isn’t too strong
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» STE P 2 «
Use these four questions to validate each of the keywords on your list, as well as
any other related keywords you discovered in the drop-down menu. Scrap the more
competitive keywords and keep the more promising ones for later.
What to do if none of the keywords surrounding your nature-themed journal are

successfully validated? This means that a nature-themed lined journal most likely
will not be a profitable low-content book to create, and it’s time to scrap that
particular idea and move onto the next idea on your list.
Once you’ve gone through the process of generating and validating a set of
keywords for each of the initial 5 ideas you came up with, pick the one that you think
has the most potential and move onto the book creation step.
Don’t over-think things or spend hours in this first stage. Remember: this is your
very first book and your main goal is to get familiar with the process without
worrying about the outcome.
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» STE P 3 «
Book Creation
Your finished book requires two separate files: the manuscript—the interior of your
book—and the cover. Both of these files can easily be created in the program of your
choice, as long as you have the option to export the files to PDF.
Manuscript File
For the interior of your first book you can create your own or use the standard-sized
6” x 9” lined journal template included with this guide.
Cover File
This is probably the most intimidating step for anyone who’s not a professional
designer, but you’re going to make it a cinch by using a few amazing and totally free
resources.
First, you want to decide on a title for your book. The title you choose must appear
on the front cover of your book. Choosing a subtitle is optional, and you don’t have to
include that on your cover.
Staying with our example, you might choose Nature Diary, Nature Lover’s Journal, or
some variation of one of your keywords.
After choosing a title, find some attractive imagery for your cover by browsing the
free stock image resources that I’ve listed at the back of this guide. Be sure to read
the license for each image so you’re not violating anyone’s copyright. If the image
requires attribution, you can include this in small letters on the back cover of your
book.
Once you’ve downloaded the images you’d like to use, you can then download a free
cover template from KDP, entering the following details:
• Trim Size: 6” x 9”
• Page Count: 200
• Paper Color: white (cream is used mostly for novels).
If you’re already comfortable with a particular design software, you can now open
your cover template in the program of your choice and begin creating your cover,
working within the guidelines of the template.
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» STE P 3 «
If you’re a complete newb, I highly recommend using Canva, a free online design
software, to create your cover. It’s incredibly simple to use, and produces beautiful,
high-quality designs in minutes. Click here to check out my video tutorial How to
Make Your Own Book Cover in Under 10 Minutes, Using Canva.
Once you’ve created your book cover, be sure to download your finished design as a
PDF.
As a final cover-creation option, you instead can use KDP’s Cover Creator, which is
available to you from within your KDP account. If you go this route, you won’t need
to download a cover template because Cover Creator will provide a template once
you’re inside, based on the trim size you entered.
To access Cover Creator, you’ll need to create and then login to your KDP account,
click on +Paperback, and then find it under the Paperback Content tab.
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» STE P 3 «
Publish
Congratulations! The work is done and you’re now ready to publish your first low-
content book!
If you haven’t already, head over to KDP to create your account. Once you’ve done
that you can move onto the publishing step.
Paperback Details
Login to your KDP account and then click the +Paperback button.
These are the mandatory fields to fill out; all others are optional:
• Book Title: The title you enter here must be exactly as it appears on your book
cover.
• Author: You can use your own name or choose a pen name.
• Description: Create a description that attempts to draw in potential customers.
• Publishing Rights: check I own the copyright and I hold all necessary publishing
rights.
• Categories: Choose up to two categories that you think will help customers
find your book on Amazon. Read more about category selection here.
• Adult Content: Check No, unless your book does contain adult content.
Adding keywords is optional, but it’s one of the most important ways for your book to
gain visibility in the Amazon store, so I recommend using all 7 slots.
Fortunately, you already came up with a list of keywords pertaining to your book
topic during the Niche Research step, so you can use those now to boost your book’s
visibility. Try to use keywords that you didn’t use in your title, as those are already
used to help customers find your book.
KDP does have several rules surrounding use of keywords, so be sure to read them
here.
If you require additional help, check out KDPs Help Center.
Once all necessary fields have been entered, hit Save and Continue.
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» STE P 3 «
Paperback Content
Print ISBN: click Get a Free KDP ISBN. (This is the unique number used to identify
your book.)
Print Options:
• Interior & Paper Type: black & white interior with white paper
• Trim Size: 6” x 9”
• Bleed Settings: no bleed
• Paperback Cover Finish: choose either matte or glossy finish
Manuscript: Upload the Lined-Journal-Template.pdf that was included in this guide.
Book Cover: Upload the PDF of your cover. If you are using Cover Creator to create
your book cover, do so now.
Book Previewer: Click Launch Previewer to view a digital proof of your book. Follow
the Quality Check instructions on the left, and then click Approve. If you’ve made any
mistakes, click Exit Print Preview to go back and fix them.
Click Save and Continue.
Paperback Rights & Pricing

Territories: Click All territories (worldwide rights) unless otherwise.
Pricing & Royalty:

• Primary Marketplace: I recommend choosing US, as it’s the largest Amazon
marketplace.
• Pricing: Choose a reasonable price based on what similar books are priced at,
but don’t be afraid to experiment. You can always change the price at any time.
The far right Royalty column shows you how much money you will make from
each sale of your book.
• Expanded Distribution: check this if you’d like to make your book available to
bookstores, online retailers, libraries, and academic institutions.
• Other marketplaces: Set the price for all other available Amazon markets. You
can leave the preselected amounts, or adjust as necessary.
• Terms & Conditions: click to confirm. Make sure you have actually read them
first.
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Click Publish Your Paperback Book.
Congratulations! You’ve now published your first low-content book and are well
on your way to making your very first sale!
Don’t Forget...
Your goal with this first book isn’t to earn $1,000—or even $10. It’s to familiarize
yourself with the process and realize that this is something you CAN do.
Remember, if you can learn how to make just $1 online, you can learn how to
make $10, $100, $1,000, $10,000, or even $100,000 and beyond!
14
YOU’RE NOW READY TO
TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Feeling pumped about publishing your first low-content book, and ready to find
out how to turn your new skill into a passive income-generating machine?
I’ve got a brand new course that’s going to pull back the curtain on my self-
publishing business and show you the exact methods I used to skyrocket to
6-figures in just over a year—so that you can do the exact same thing.
INSIDE, YOU’LL FIND OUT:
• How to supercharge your Idea Generation stage to discover

completely untapped niches
• The keyword research technique I use to dramatically increase my
books’ visibility—and sales—in the Amazon store
• How to attract repeat customers that keep coming back for more
• How to significantly boost your odds of creating a bestseller
• How to avoid the common mistakes that keep some self-publishers
from making a dime on the KDP platform
• How to scale your business quickly so you can start reaping the
financial rewards much sooner
INTERESTED?
Visit RachelHarrisonSund.com/yes
15
Resources
Top 10 Low-Content Niches

• Journals (Blank, Gratitude, One Line a Day)
• Composition Notebooks
• Diaries
• Daily Planners
• Guest Books
• Bullet Journals
• Manuscript Paper
• Coloring Books
• Log Books (fitness, shooting, etc.)
• Activity Books
Book Cover Creation

• Paperback Cover Templates
• Canva Tutorial
• Canva.com
Free Stock Imagery

• Vecteezy.com
• Freepik.com
• Unsplash.com
• PixelScrapper.com
• Pixabay.com
KDP
• Create a KDP Account
• Terms of Service
• Terms and Conditions
• KDP Help Center
Low-Content Publishing Tips

• RachelHarrisonSund.com
16

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» 3 STE PS «

R ACHEL HARRISON -SUND

©2019 R ACHEL HARRISON-SUND | ALL RIG HTS RESERVED | RachelHarrisonSund .com

Thanks for downloading Three Steps to Publishing Your

And they’re a great way to start generating passive income because:

What You’ll Get Out of This Guide

Before we get cracking...

Because you CAN!

Paperback Rights and Pricing

Here are several ideas to get you going:

General Themes Profession or General Styles

How do you do that?

Let’s use a nature-themed journal as an example.

• nature journal • outdoors lined journal • waterfall journal

1. Are people already actively searching for this type of book?

your keyword in the drop-down

3. Are customers buying similar books?

A Best Sellers Rank of #40,000 means

4. Can you beat the competition?

paperback results don’t have

What to do if none of the keywords surrounding your nature-themed journal are

If you require additional help, check out KDPs Help Center.

Manuscript: Upload the Lined-Journal-Template.pdf that was included in this guide.

Click Save and Continue.

Paperback Rights & Pricing

Pricing & Royalty:

INSIDE, YOU’LL FIND OUT:

• How to supercharge your Idea Generation stage to discover

Top 10 Low-Content Niches

Book Cover Creation

Free Stock Imagery

Low-Content Publishing Tips

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