How to Sell Coloring Books on Amazon: Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Selling coloring books on Amazon can be a fantastic way to turn your creativity into income by reaching millions worldwide. Thanks to Amazon’s print-on-demand system, you can sell without worrying about inventory or shipping.

Whether you already have a coloring book or need to create one, this guide will teach you how to get your book discovered, priced competitively, and marketed effectively to increase sales.

Getting Ready: What You Need Before Selling

Before you start selling your coloring book on Amazon, make sure you have everything ready to maximize success:

Coloring book files in PDF format, including interior pages and cover, formatted properly for print.
A verified Amazon KDP account with all tax and payment info set up.
A clear target audience — are you selling for kids, adults, stress relief, or holidays? Knowing this guides your keywords and marketing.
Original content rights for all images and text in your book.
High-quality files with 300 DPI resolution, proper margins, and crisp line work for clear printing.

Pro Tip: Check our guide How to Create Coloring Books with AI to create professional coloring books already optimized for Amazon formatting, saving time on file setup and design preparation.

Having these basics in place will help your coloring book meet Amazon’s requirements and appeal to buyers.

Competitive Research: Understanding Your Amazon Market

Knowing your competition on Amazon is crucial before launching.

Start by exploring Amazon’s Best Sellers in Coloring Books section. Look closely at the top-selling books to analyze:

Cover designs that grab attention on Amazon thumbnails
How titles use keywords effectively
Price points that attract buyers
Page counts of successful books
What customers praise or complain about in reviews

This research reveals market gaps and opportunities to position your coloring book uniquely.

You can use free tools like Amazon’s search autocomplete or paid options such as Publisher Rocket and Helium 10 for detailed keyword and market analysis.

For more on researching your niche, see our article on Profitable Coloring Book Ideas.

How to Make Your Coloring Book Easy to Find on Amazon

Amazon is crowded, so optimizing your listing is key to standing out.

Start by brainstorming keywords your audience uses like “adult coloring book,” “mindfulness coloring,” or “holiday coloring book for kids.” Use Amazon’s autocomplete to find popular search terms, and study competitors’ titles, subtitles, descriptions, and categories.

Long-tail keywords such as “flower coloring book for relaxation” or “Christmas coloring pages for children ages 4-8” help capture more specific, less competitive searches.

Place your keywords thoughtfully:

Title: Main keywords should be prominent
Subtitle: Use additional descriptive keywords
Description: Naturally integrate keywords with clear, engaging text
Categories: Choose up to two relevant ones (e.g., Crafts & Hobbies > Coloring Books for Grown-Ups)

Keyword fields: Amazon allows 7 keyword phrases — use a mix of popular and niche phrases

Setting the Right Price to Sell More and Earn More

Pricing affects both sales volume and profits. Start by calculating your minimum price, covering:

Amazon printing costs (about $3.50 for a 50-page 8.5”x11” book)
Amazon’s commission (varies, typically 40-60%)
Desired profit margin

Research market pricing: basic coloring books usually sell between $5.99 and $7.99, while premium or niche books can go up to $14.99.

Begin with a competitive mid-range price, monitor sales for a few weeks, then adjust accordingly.

Advanced tactics include:

Seasonal pricing (increase prices during holidays, offer discounts post-season)
Bundle deals for series or collections
Psychological pricing like $6.99 instead of $7.00

Test pricing with small increments and promotional discounts to find your sweet spot.

Amazon Marketing: Getting Your Coloring Book Sold

Publishing on Amazon is only the first step — you must actively market your book.

Amazon Advertising: Use Sponsored Products campaigns targeting your researched keywords. Start small ($5-$10/day) and optimize bids as data comes in.

Review Strategy: Include a polite note inside your book asking for honest reviews and use Amazon’s “Request a Review” feature. Genuine reviews boost sales and ranking.

External Marketing: Share your book on social media like Facebook groups, Instagram (#coloringbook, #stressrelief), Pinterest boards, and Reddit (r/ColoringBooks). Share behind-the-scenes content and engage with communities.

Combine these efforts for best results. If you want to simplify production and focus on marketing, try the Colorin Book Generator — it creates print-ready coloring books optimized for sales.

Advanced Amazon Strategies

To scale, understand Amazon’s A9 algorithm, which prioritizes:

Sales velocity
Conversion rate
Click-through rate
Customer satisfaction (reviews and returns)

Choose less competitive subcategories, monitor bestseller badge thresholds, and develop series to build brand loyalty.

Optimize PPC campaigns by adding negative keywords, adjusting bids, and targeting high-converting phrases.

Amazon Performance Analytics: Tracking Your Success

Track daily/monthly sales, ranking, keyword positions, and ad performance via Amazon KDP dashboard and tools like Book Beam or Helium 10.

Interpreting these metrics helps optimize price, description, and advertising strategy for better profits.

Amazon Troubleshooting Guide

If sales stall:

Check your cover and listing quality
Adjust price temporarily
Refresh keywords
Increase marketing efforts

Manage negative reviews professionally and focus on generating authentic positive reviews.

For technical issues, use Amazon KDP’s templates and guidelines for file formatting and payments.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling on Amazon

Avoid:

Poor quality images or formatting
Ignoring keyword research and pricing strategy
Launching without marketing plans or audience
Neglecting customer feedback and brand building

Frequently Asked Questions

How long before my coloring book is live on Amazon?
Typically 1 to 3 days after submission.

Do I need to pay upfront to sell on Amazon?
No upfront fees; you pay only printing costs when sales occur.

Can I update my book after publishing?
Yes, updates can be uploaded anytime.

What if I don’t have a coloring book yet?
Use Colorin Book Generator → to create your book easily.

How can I increase sales quickly?
Optimize listings, run Amazon ads, encourage reviews, and adjust pricing competitively.

Conclusion: Take Action and Start Selling!

Selling coloring books on Amazon is achievable with research, preparation, listing optimization, pricing strategy, and effective marketing.

Your Next Steps:

Research your Amazon niche and competitors
Create or improve your coloring book with Colorin Book Generator →
Optimize your listing with strategic keywords
Launch with a clear marketing plan
Track performance and optimize continuously

Success requires effort, but with persistence, your coloring books can reach happy customers worldwide.