Her First Amazon Book Sale Was $8 — She's Since Made Over $160,000 Publishing Journals and Planners
3 min read · RealCase summary
Kim George first tried Amazon KDP low-content publishing in 2015 without success, then returned to it in 2021 while still working a full-time job, starting with journals and notebooks. Her first sale brought in $8; she has since generated more than $160,000 in total royalties from over 500 published low- and medium-content books.
The turning point was shifting from publishing random titles to building focused "book brands" around specific niches -- researching profitable niches with tools like Publisher Rocket and BookBeam, investing in stronger cover and interior design, using strategic keyword placement, running Amazon Ads, and using AI to speed up brainstorming and design. Her catalog spans gratitude journals, planners, puzzle books, activity books, and niche logbooks.
"One strong book brand can outperform 100 random books," she says of the shift. She estimates consistent publishers can reach $1,000 a month within 3-6 months of focused publishing, after an initial 30-60 day period before first sales typically appear.
Key takeaways
- ›Started self-publishing low-content books (journals, planners, puzzle books) on Amazon KDP in 2015, beginning with an $8 first sale
- ›Pivoted in 2021 from publishing random titles to building focused 'book brands' around specific niches
- ›Has since published more than 500 low- and medium-content books, earning over $160,000 in total royalties
Original source
Read the original (YourChicGeek)
Next story →
He turned $5,000 in online poker winnings into a fast-food chain worth over $20 million
More Side Hustle stories
A Chef Borrowed a Camera and Learned From YouTube — His Food Photography Brought In $133,900 Last Year
Winnipeg chef Sean Audet started food photography in 2018 with a borrowed camera and Fiverr gigs, earning $8,403 that year and $133,900 (USD) in 2022, now charging $1,000 to $17,500 per shoot.
A Ford Mechanic Started Answering Car Questions Online for $500 a Month — Now He Makes $170,500 a Year
Transmission technician Chris Pyle began answering repair questions on JustAnswer in 2006, quit his $75,000 Ford job in 2012 when the side income passed his salary, and made $170,500 on the platform in 2023.
On a $40,000 Salary, Dog Walking and Freelance Writing Helped Her Pay Off $102,170 in Six Years
Mandy Velez graduated in 2013 with $75,591 in student loans; by stacking dog walking, cat sitting, babysitting and freelance writing on a $40,000 starting salary, she paid off $102,170 including interest by 2019.