Amazon KDP for Nigerians: Publishing Books without Writing

Earning passive income from Amazon KDP is not hard, however, what you don’t know will seem like a mystery to you untill you are exposed to the right information.

As a student, you need to be honest with yourself, with the way the Naira is dancing currently, earning in your local currency alone is playing a dangerous game.

Whether you are a student affected by the endless ASUU strikes, a fresh graduate looking for a job, or just someone tired of “Sapa,” the goal is the same, we all want the “soft life.”

We all want to earn in a currency that holds its value. We want to sell books in dollars, even without writing anything.

You’ve probably heard whispers about it on Twitter or TikTok. Young Nigerians buying cars and funding their “Japa” plans through something called Amazon KDP Nigeria.

But then you think, “Ah, I’m not a writer. I failed English in WAEC. How can I write a book?”

Here is the good news: You don’t need to be Chimamanda Adichie or Wole Soyinka to make money on Amazon. In fact, some of the highest earners on the platform don’t write a single sentence.

Welcome to the world of Low Content Publishing. In this guide, we will break down exactly how you can generate passive income Amazon pays directly to your account, right here from Nigeria.

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What is Amazon KDP?

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform. It allows anyone to publish a book for free and reach millions of readers worldwide.

Here is the magic part: Print on Demand.

In the old days, if you wanted to sell a book in Nigeria, you had to pay a printer in Shomolu to print 1,000 copies, store them in your house, and beg people to buy them. With Amazon KDP, you upload a digital file.

When a customer in the USA or UK buys your book, Amazon prints it, ships it to the customer, and sends you your royalty (profit).

You do the work once; you get paid forever. That is the definition of passive income Amazon offers.

Introducing the “Low Content” Books

This is where the “Publishing Without Writing” comes in. The prompt mentioned “flow content books,” but in the industry, these are known as Low Content Books.

These are books that have little to no text inside. The value is in the formatting and the utility. Examples include:

• Notebooks: Simple lined paper for school or work.
• Journals: Gratitude journals, prayer journals, or travel diaries.
• Logbooks: Password trackers, mileage logs, or gym workout trackers.
• Sketchbooks: Blank pages for artists.
• Coloring Books: Designs for kids or adults to color.

You are essentially selling the design and the structure, not a story. A customer buys your book because they need a place to write their own thoughts.

READ ALSO: How to Become a Virtual Assistant (VA) from Nigeria

Step-by-Step Guide on how to Starting Amazon KDP in Nigeria as a Student

Ready to start earning? Follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Account Creation

Visit the Kindle Direct Publishing website and sign up. You can use your existing Amazon account if you have one.

• Important: Ensure your tax information is filled out correctly. As a Nigerian, you can claim a tax treaty benefit (0% or reduced withholding tax) if you have a TIN (Tax Identification Number), but usually, filling out the form as a Non-US citizen is straightforward.

Step 2: Getting a US Bank Account

Amazon cannot pay dollars directly into your GTBank or Zenith Savings account. You need a “virtual” foreign account.

• Geegpay
• Wise These platforms give you a US routing and account number. Amazon pays them, and you swap the dollars to Naira at the black market rate (which is great for you!) and transfer to your local bank.

Step 3: Niche Research (Don’t Skip This!)

Do not just design a “Notebook.” There are millions of notebooks. You need to be specific.

• Bad Niche: “Notebook”
• Good Niche: “Unicorn Composition Notebook for Nigerian Girls” or “Daily Prayer Journal for Christian Mothers.” Use the Amazon search bar to see what people are looking for. If you see terms popping up in the auto-suggest, that is a profitable keyword.

Step 4: Creating the Book (Canva is Your Friend)

You don’t need Photoshop. You can use Canva (even the free version) to design your cover and the interior.

• The Interior: Create a PDF file with lined pages or your logbook structure.
• The Cover: Create a catchy cover design. Remember, people judge a book by its cover!
• KDP Formatting: This is crucial. Ensure your dimensions are correct (e.g., 6×9 inches) and you have respected the “bleed” areas so Amazon doesn’t reject your file.

Step 5: Uploading and Keywords

Upload your two files (Interior and Cover).

• Title: Make it catchy.
• Description: clearly explain what the book is.
• 7 Backend Keywords: This is where SEO matters. Use terms like “gift for mom,” “office supplies,” or “school notebook” to help customers find you.

Step 6: Hit Publish

Once you click publish, Amazon reviews your book (usually takes 24-72 hours). Once approved, it goes live, and you can officially sell books in dollars.

Pro Tip: Quantity matters in Low Content publishing. Since you aren’t writing novels, try to upload consistently. A portfolio of 50-100 quality journals will earn more than just 1 or 2.

ALSO: Check out other Online Jobs for Students Here

Essential Tools for the Nigerian KDP Publisher

To make your life easier for you, consider using these tools:

1. Canva: For all your design needs.
2. Amazon Keyword Suggestion Expander: A Chrome extension that helps you see what people are searching for.
3. Book Bolt: A paid tool specifically for kdp formatting and research, but you can start without it.
4. Grammarly: Even though there is little writing, your Title and Description must be grammatically correct to build trust.

Important Disclaimer

This is NOT a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme. Please, shine your eyes. Amazon KDP Nigeria is a real business. It requires work, research, and patience. You might upload 10 books and sell nothing for the first month. That is normal. Do not fall for “gurus” selling courses for ₦50,000 promising you will make $1,000 in your first week.

• Copyright Warning: Do not use Disney characters, Marvel heroes, or famous lyrics on your covers. Amazon will ban your account permanently. Stay original.

In Summary

Starting Amazon KDP Nigeria is one of the smartest moves you can make as a student or job seeker. It democratizes the ability to earn.

You don’t need a godfather, you don’t need a visa, and you certainly don’t need to be a professional writer to tap into this market.

You just need consistency, a little creativity, and the willingness to learn. Imagine waking up to an email saying, “You received a royalty payment” while you slept. That is the power of the internet economy.

Next Step: Head over to Canva today and try designing a simple 6×9 inch book cover just for fun. Once you see how easy it is, you won’t want to stop.

Have you tried publishing online before, or is this your first time hearing about KDP? Let us know in the comments below!

READ ALSO: How to Become a Virtual Assistant (VA) from Nigeria

FAQs About Amazon KDP Business

Can I do Amazon KDP with my Smartphone?

Yes, absolutely. While a laptop makes the design process faster, thousands of Nigerians run their KDP businesses entirely using a smartphone and the Canva App. You just need a good internet connection.

How much does it cost to start Amazon KDP in Nigeria?

Technically, it costs Zero Naira. Account creation is free, Canva has a free version, and publishing is free. Your only investment is your time and data.

How do I get paid from Amazon in Nigeria?

You cannot use a Nigerian bank account directly. You must open a foreign currency account using platforms like Geegpay, or Wise. These platforms give you US bank details to put into Amazon. Once Amazon pays you, you withdraw to your Naira account at the current exchange rate.