In today’s fast-paced digital world, self-publishing has never been easier — and one of the most powerful tools to get started is KDP publishing. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform allows anyone to publish books, journals, planners, and more, with no upfront costs and global reach. But there’s a secret weapon that many beginners overlook: printables.
What is KDP Publishing?
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform that lets you create both eBooks and paperback books and sell them directly on Amazon. You don’t need to worry about inventory, shipping, or printing — Amazon handles it all. You just upload your book files, and they take care of the rest.
This makes KDP one of the most beginner-friendly ways to generate passive income online. You can publish:
- Notebooks
- Journals
- Planners
- Coloring books
- Activity books
- Low-content and no-content books
But where do printables come in?
What Are Printables, and How Can You Use Them with KDP?
Printables are digital files that users can download and print at home — like planners, habit trackers, budget sheets, and more. These are hugely popular on Etsy, Creative Market, and personal blogs. But when repurposed and expanded, printables become the foundation for creating high-quality KDP books.
Here’s how you can use your printable designs to publish on KDP:
1. Turn Your Printables into Full Books
If you already sell printable planners or trackers, you can easily bundle those pages into a full interior for a journal, planner, or workbook on KDP. For example:
- A daily planner printable becomes a 90-day or 365-day planner book.
- A fitness tracker printable turns into a full wellness journal.
- A budget worksheet can become a financial planning workbook.
By repackaging your printables into a cohesive book format, you can sell them on Amazon as physical books — reaching a massive new audience.
2. Expand Your Reach Beyond Etsy
Printables often sell well on platforms like Etsy, but you’re limited to digital files and a smaller audience. With KDP, you get access to millions of global Amazon shoppers who prefer physical products. You don’t need to abandon Etsy — instead, use it alongside KDP to diversify your income.
Pro tip: Use the same designs across platforms — Etsy (digital download), KDP (printed book), and your own website.
3. Create Evergreen Passive Income
The beauty of KDP publishing is that once you upload your book, it’s always available for sale — with no extra work on your end. That’s the definition of passive income. Combine this with trending and evergreen printable niches like:
- Gratitude journals
- ADHD planners
- Meal prep planners
- Self-care journals
- Kids’ activity books
You can build a library of low-content books and generate sales 24/7.
4. No Experience Needed — Just Templates and Creativity
Even if you’re not a designer, you can use tools like:
These platforms offer pre-made templates and design assets to help you build your books fast. Just drag, drop, edit, and upload to KDP.
Final Thoughts
Combining KDP publishing with printables is a smart and scalable way to turn simple digital designs into long-term passive income. Whether you’re a designer, teacher, stay-at-home parent, or side hustler — the tools and platforms are right at your fingertips.
Create once, earn forever. That’s the power of KDP + printables.