From blank journals to workbooks, you’ve probably seen tons of low content books on the market. They seem like an easy and quick way to make money, especially for beginner writers.
But are they really as simple and beneficial as they’re hyped up to be? And are they a meaningful way to set up your career as a creator?
Low Content Books
Low content books are exactly what they sound like—books with little to no text. Their appeal is more about their formatting and design rather than their content.
They’ve been around for ages but have recently exploded in popularity due to the rise of self-publishing. The recent pandemic might also have had an effect, with people looking for alternative ways to earn money or activities for themselves or their kids.
Examples include journals, planners, ledgers, and notebooks. Almost all of them are repetitive and designed for the user to fill in with their own drawings and writing.
The Appeal of Low Content Books
They’re popular for a reason, especially among beginner creators. They’re easy to create and much faster to publish than traditional books. The idea is that the more you make, the more you can earn through sheer quantity.
That sounds like a dream come true and it’s the aspect that established creators always emphasize. After all, who doesn’t want to make money with minimal effort?
However, that is no longer the case. Anyone can make a low content book and sell it online. That’s led to a market that is hyper-competitive and over-saturated. Creating the product is easy. Marketing them is hard. Selling them is almost impossible.
Those who are successful are typically early adopters, those with an established following, or those profiting from courses and content about low content books.
Common Misconceptions
The ongoing hype around low content books on social media has fueled misconceptions, giving rise to persistent myths.
- It’s easy money—Nothing worth doing is easy. Even if there is, it will quickly become saturated, making it difficult to earn money.
- No skills required—Sure, you don’t need your writing skills when making low content books. But you do need design and marketing skills. The former is to create a sellable product, and the latter is to get your product to your target audience.
- Instant success—Even with an established following, you’ll find it hard to sell low content books. Why do they need to buy when they can find or make them for free?
- Set it and forget it—Your product won’t sell itself. You’ll need to market it constantly to reach your audience and keep selling.
- One design fits all—Just because a particular design works for one niche doesn’t mean it’ll work for other niches.
If you plan on selling low content books, you need to keep these misconceptions in mind. Otherwise, you’ll only disappoint yourself. The market may not be dead, but it’s also far from the easy payout that a lot of people claim it to be.
Should You Create Low Content Books?
Creating, marketing, and selling low content books is an uphill battle. But that doesn’t mean you can’t. However, you do need to shift your mindset. It’s no longer about mass-producing these books but creating high-quality, meaningful ones.
What makes them high-quality and meaningful then? One way is to niche down and create a design that mass producers won’t be able to compete with.
A low content book gains quality in the eyes of a consumer if you give it an identity through a theme or gimmick. A planner is just a planner. A planner aimed at mothers and titled “Mama’s Mayhem Manager” is something more.
Other books also aren’t “low content” though they’re classified as such. They require more work, have more content, and aren’t repetitive. Examples are workbooks, coloring books, and game books. Some people call these “medium content books” and are a much better option to create.
Lastly, make these books unique by tying them to your other works. For example, if you’ve written children’s fiction, create a companion coloring book that will complement the story. It’s a great way to double your potential income while also marketing your original works.
If you haven’t written anything yet, then connect it to your brand. Make a certain style or niche your expertise so people who like them will directly go to you.
Give It A Shot
You could create low content books not just for profit but also for developing your skills. If you’re firm on walking the self-publishing path, creating these types of books can help you learn more about design, publishing, marketing, and sales.
These are all skills necessary for a self-publisher. Even if you plan to outsource some tasks, solid foundational knowledge is invaluable.
But understand that making low content books shouldn’t be your focus if you want to be a successful writer. There’s not much writing involved and people don’t value these books as much as traditional ones. And because they are low content, you might feel limited creatively.
They have to be done right and with purpose. Lose the get-rich-quick mentality. Instead, make these low content books as a way to develop your craft, familiarize yourself with the publishing process, and stand out from others using clever marketing.
What do you think about low content books? Share your thoughts below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
