How to Make and Sell Coloring Books with NO BUDGET | Create Digital Coloring Books for Sale

Last updated: January 23, 2024

Coloring books have become a popular pastime for people of all ages, providing a creative outlet and a chance to relax and unwind. If you have a passion for art and want to turn it into a profitable venture, creating and selling coloring books can be an excellent opportunity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the step-by-step process of making and selling coloring books, including both physical and digital formats. So, let’s dive in and discover how to bring your artistic visions to life and turn them into successful products.

Why You Should Sell Coloring Books

Coloring books have gained immense popularity in recent years, and the demand for them continues to grow. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider selling coloring books:

• Growing Market Demand for Adults and Children: The coloring book industry has experienced a significant surge in demand, with both children and adults. Coloring books are not just a source of entertainment but also offer educational benefits for children. Coloring helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, color recognition, creativity, and self-expression. In addition, coloring is also increasingly recognized as a therapeutic and stress-relieving activity for adults.

• Creative Outlet: Creating coloring books allows you to express your artistic vision and showcase your unique style. You have the freedom to explore various themes, from intricate mandalas to whimsical illustrations or educational content for children. Selling coloring books enables you to share your creativity with others, fostering a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
• Versatility in Formats: Coloring books can be sold in various formats to cater to different preferences. Traditional paperback coloring books are a popular choice, offering a tangible and tactile experience. Additionally, you can explore digital formats, such as downloadable PDFs or interactive coloring apps, which provide convenience and accessibility to a broader audience.
• Scalability and Passive Income: Selling coloring books can offer scalability and the potential for passive income. Once you have created and published your coloring books, they can be sold repeatedly without requiring significant additional effort. By leveraging online platforms and digital distribution channels, you can reach customers worldwide and generate income while focusing on other creative endeavors.
• Community Engagement: The coloring book community is vibrant and enthusiastic. By selling coloring books, you become part of this supportive community. You can engage with your customers, share their colored creations on social media, and foster a sense of connection and inspiration. Collaborating with other artists, organizing contests, or hosting coloring challenges can further strengthen your community engagement.

4 Simple Steps to Making an Irresistible Coloring Book

Here are the 4 simple steps on how to make a coloring book your customers can’t resist:

1. Research Your Audience and Conceptualize a Theme
2. Design Your Coloring Pages
3. Format Your Book and Design a Book Cover
4. Choose Your Preferred Medium: Paperback Book or Digital Book?

1. Research Your Audience and Conceptualize a Theme

Before you start to create colouring book, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research and define your target audience. Explore popular themes, trends, and interests within the coloring book market. This step will help you identify unique selling points and make a book that caters to a specific niche. Consider age groups, interests, and potential markets to ensure you can sell a coloring book that stands out from the competition.

Here are a few examples of popular coloring book themes to get your creative gears turning:

• Nature’s Wonders: Dive into the enchanting world of nature with a coloring book theme focused on forests, wildlife, flowers, and breathtaking landscapes. From majestic animals to intricate botanical illustrations, this theme brings the beauty of the great outdoors to life on the pages of your coloring book.
• Magical Creatures: Unleash your imagination and embark on a fantastical journey with a coloring book filled with mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns, mermaids, and fairies. Let your artistic strokes give wings to these extraordinary beings and create a world of enchantment and wonder.
• Travel and Adventure: Take your coloring enthusiasts on a globetrotting adventure through a coloring book that showcases iconic landmarks, cultural symbols, and famous cities from around the world. Let them add vibrant hues to famous landmarks, explore diverse cultures, and embark on an artistic journey filled with wanderlust.
• Inspirational Quotes: Combine the power of words with the joy of coloring. Create a coloring book that features uplifting quotes, affirmations, and motivational messages alongside beautifully illustrated designs. This theme adds an extra layer of inspiration and positivity to the coloring experience.
• Retro Nostalgia: Tap into the nostalgia of bygone eras with a coloring book theme inspired by retro designs, vintage patterns, and classic elements. Take a trip down memory lane and let your coloring enthusiasts relive the charm of the past through their artistic interpretations.

Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, it’s time to start creating the content for your coloring book. Begin by brainstorming ideas for your book’s theme, whether it’s animals, nature, mandalas, or a combination of various subjects. Sketch out your designs using traditional mediums or create digital illustrations using graphic design software. Ensure that the drawings are intricate enough to provide an enjoyable coloring experience while being easy to understand.

2. Design Your Coloring Pages

With your theme in mind, it’s time to design your coloring pages. You have several options to bring your designs to life. Here are a few common methods you can explore:

• Create Designs Digitally: If you’re comfortable with digital tools, you can use graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Procreate to create the designs for your coloring pages. If you’re working with a limited budget, consider using free graphic design software like Canva or Inkscape. These programs offer a wide range of tools and features to design intricate and detailed illustrations. You can experiment with different brushes, textures, and colors, and easily make adjustments or edits to your designs.
• Hand-Draw and Scan: If you prefer the tactile experience of traditional art mediums, you can create your coloring pages by hand. Use paper and art supplies like pencils, markers, or watercolors to bring your designs to life. Once completed, you can scan your drawings using a high-quality scanner or a scanning app on your mobile device to convert them into digital files. This method allows you to retain the organic, hand-drawn feel while making it digitally accessible.
• Collaborate with a Designer: If you don’t have the artistic skills or prefer to focus on other aspects of creating coloring books, you can collaborate with a professional designer or illustrator. Hire a freelance artist from Upwork or Fiverr, or work with a design agency to bring your vision to reality. Provide them with a detailed brief and reference materials to ensure they capture your desired style and themes accurately.
• Use Stock Illustrations: Another option is to utilize pre-existing stock illustrations. Various online platforms offer a vast library of ready-made illustrations that you can license and incorporate into your coloring book designs. Ensure that you follow the licensing terms and conditions for using these illustrations in commercial projects.
• Mix and Match Techniques: Feel free to experiment and combine different techniques. For instance, you can start with hand-drawn sketches, then refine and enhance them digitally using software. This hybrid approach allows you to leverage the advantages of both traditional and digital methods.

3. Format Your Book and Design a Book Cover

The layout and design of your coloring book play a vital role in its overall appeal. Organize your illustrations in a logical and engaging manner, considering factors like progression, complexity, and variety.

A visually appealing cover can make or break your success when you sell your book. In a sea of other coloring books, a visually striking cover helps your book stand out and grab the attention of potential buyers. It’s the first impression that potential customers have of your book, and a captivating cover increases the likelihood of them picking it up and exploring further. With that, we recommend investing some time in creating an eye-catching design that represents the essence of your coloring book.

Here are some tips to help you design a captivating coloring book cover:

• Eye-Catching Title: Choose a catchy and descriptive title for your coloring book that instantly conveys its theme or unique selling point. Use bold and legible fonts that are easy to read, and experiment with colors that complement the overall design.
• Engaging Illustration: Create or select an illustration for the cover that represents the essence of your coloring book. It could be a central character, a captivating scene, or a striking image that intrigues potential buyers.
• Vibrant Colors: Coloring books are all about color, so let your cover shine with a vibrant and enticing color scheme. Use a palette that complements your theme and evokes a sense of joy and creativity. Bold and contrasting colors can make your cover visually appealing and grab attention from afar.
• Include Finished Examples: Consider adding a few completed coloring examples on the cover to give potential buyers a glimpse of what they can create inside. Showcase beautifully colored illustrations that demonstrate the possibilities and potential of your coloring book, enticing them to delve into the coloring adventure.
• Professional Layout and Typography: Pay attention to the layout and typography of your cover. Use clean and professional design principles to arrange the elements in a visually pleasing way. Ensure that the text is easy to read and complements the overall aesthetic of the cover.

4. Choose Your Preferred Medium: Paperback Book or Digital Book?

Now comes the decision of whether to create a physical paperback book or a digital version. While physical books have their charm, digital coloring books offer convenience and accessibility. Digital books can be sold and distributed online without incurring any printing or shipping costs. Decide which medium aligns with your target audience’s preferences and your budget limitations.

If you decide to create a physical coloring book, there are various production options available. You can choose to self-publish using print-on-demand services, work with a local printer, or collaborate with a publishing company. Research different printing methods, compare costs, and request samples to ensure the final product meets your expectations. Remember to consider factors such as book size, binding options, and cover finishes during the production process. Additionally, pay attention to the paper quality and consider using thick, acid-free paper to prevent bleed-through and enhance the coloring experience.

For digital products, convert your pages into a PDF format using software like Adobe Acrobat. Ensure that the file size is optimized for easy downloading. Your customers will be able to easily download your PDF coloring book and print them out if they’d like to.

6 Simple Steps to Selling Coloring Books Online for Free

Now that you’ve created your coloring book, it’s time to unleash it upon the world and start generating sales. Fortunately, the online realm provides numerous opportunities to sell your creations without breaking the bank. Here are a few simple steps to get you started on selling your coloring books online for free:

1. Get Your Coloring Book Ready for Sale – Pricing Your Book to Sell
2. Create an Online Store
3. Upload Your Coloring Book as a Product Listing
4. Set Up Your Payment Information
5. (Optional) Design Your Online Store or Website
6. 6. Promote, promote, promote!

1. Get Your Coloring Book Ready for Sale – Pricing Your Book to Sell

Ensure that your coloring book is ready for sale. Review the content, double-check the formatting, and make any necessary adjustments. Test the digital version to ensure it can be easily downloaded and printed by your customers.

Once you’re done, it’s time to set the right price for your coloring book. Take into account the format and medium of your coloring book. Physical books typically have higher production and shipping costs, which may impact pricing. Digital coloring books, on the other hand, often have lower production costs and can be priced more competitively. Consider offering different formats or bundling options to cater to various customer preferences and budgets.

A paperback coloring book typically costs around $8-12 per book. A digital coloring book typically costs around $3-10.

While paperback books can be sold for higher prices, remember that digital coloring books have much higher profit margins as there are no costs associated with printing, warehousing, or shipping the books.

2. Create an Online Store

To sell your coloring book online, create an account on Payhip. Payhip provides a user-friendly interface and a built-in customer base, simplifying the selling process.

Payhip is completely FREE and you can use the platform to sell any digital downloads such as digital coloring books, and printables. You’ll also be able to sell other forms of digital products such as online courses, memberships, coaching, as well as physical products too!

Here are some things that you can look forward to when you use Payhip to sell coloring books:

• Generous free plan: Get unlimited access to the entire Payhip platform’s features for free! Pay only a 5% fee for each order, capped at a maximum of $99 per month.
• Create your own website effortlessly using Payhip’s intuitive website builder. Enjoy the convenience of free website themes to enhance your online presence
• Free fully hosted website/storefront
• Automate the delivery process of your digital products to customers. It’s quick, reliable, and hassle-free
• Receive your earnings instantly and securely through trusted payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe
• Effective Marketing tools: Boost your sales and reach wider audiences with Payhip’s free marketing tools. Utilize discount codes, launch an affiliate program, set up a referral system, cross-sell, upsell, and much more

Feel free to sign up for a free account on Payhip. No payment information is required, allowing you ample time to explore the platform and decide if it suits your needs.

3. Upload Your Coloring Book as a Product Listing

Once your online store is set up, upload your coloring book as a product listing. Include a detailed description, showcasing the unique features and benefits of your coloring book. Add captivating images of sample pages to entice potential buyers.

4. Set Up Your Payment Information

In order to start receiving payments from your customers, you’ll need to set up your payment information. Payhip offers seamless integrations with both Stripe and Paypal, allowing you to connect with either one or even both. If you haven’t created a Stripe or Paypal account yet, there’s no need to worry. You can easily sign up for a free account directly through Payhip’s dashboard.

5. (Optional) Design Your Online Store or Website

To differentiate your business and make a lasting impression, try personalizing your online store with a distinct design or branding. Payhip offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that allows you to build and customize your website effortlessly, without requiring any technical expertise. Best of all, this service is available to you completely free of charge. Showcase your coloring book, provide additional information about your brand, and create a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

6. Promote, promote, promote!

With your coloring book in hand, it’s time to spread the word and start generating sales. Here are some low-budget strategies to promote your coloring books online:

• Social Media Marketing: Utilize popular social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter to showcase your coloring books. Coloring books rely on visual appeal. Consider these types of content that might bring in new customers for your business: create sneak peeks of new coloring pages or designs, showcase your customers’ colored pages or artwork, create time-lapse videos of yourself coloring a page from your coloring book, share tips and tricks for coloring, etc.
• Content Marketing: Create valuable content related to coloring, art, and creativity to attract and engage your target audience. Start a blog or share informative articles, tutorials, and tips on your website or through guest posts on other relevant websites. This helps establish yourself as an authority in the field and drives traffic to your online store.
• Email Marketing: Build an email list by offering exclusive content, discounts, or free coloring pages in exchange for email sign-ups. Regularly send newsletters to your subscribers, showcasing new releases, promotions, and special offers. Personalize your emails and provide value to your subscribers to cultivate a loyal customer base.
• Collaborations and Giveaways: Partner with other artists, influencers, or relevant brands in the creative industry to host collaborations or giveaways. This helps expand your reach to their audience and exposes your coloring books to new potential customers.
• Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and testimonials on your website. Positive reviews build trust and credibility, influencing potential customers to make a purchase. Consider offering incentives or discounts for customers who leave reviews to encourage their participation.
• Influencer Marketing: Collaborate with influencers or bloggers in the coloring book or art niche who have a significant following. They can review your coloring books, create content featuring your products, or host giveaways on their platforms. Influencer recommendations can generate awareness and drive traffic to your online store.
• Cross-Promotion: Look for opportunities to cross-promote your coloring books with other complementary products or brands. This can include partnering with art supply stores, craft communities, or even local businesses that align with your target audience. Offer special promotions or exclusive bundles to encourage cross-promotion and mutually beneficial partnerships.

FAQ

Do coloring books sell well?

Yes, coloring books have been a popular and profitable product in recent years. They have experienced a significant resurgence in popularity, especially among adults seeking stress relief and a creative outlet. While coloring books have traditionally been associated with children, the adult coloring book market has grown rapidly, tapping into the therapeutic benefits and nostalgia of coloring.

How to get ideas and develop a theme for your coloring book

Finding coloring book theme ideas requires a mix of creativity, research, and understanding your target audience. Some strategies to help you find inspiration for your coloring book theme include exploring your personal interests, researching recent trends, researching niche markets, analyzing your target audience, and seeking inspiration from other artists and designers.

Final Thoughts – Make and Sell Coloring Books Online

Designing and selling coloring books can be a rewarding money making endeavor for those with a passion for art and creativity. You can start this venture as a side hustle or even move to become the industry leader in the coloring book industry. Now that you have the knowledge and the tools, it’s time to unleash your creativity, create coloring book that is captivating, and turn your passion into a thriving business. Embrace the digital landscape, leverage online platforms, and start sharing the joy of coloring with the world.

Choosing the right platform to sell your coloring books can make or break your business. When you’re ready to get started, sign up for a free account on Payhip to start selling your coloring books within less than 5 minutes.