Self-Publishing Blueprint
Review

How To Build A Wildly Profitable Self-Publishing Business And Generate Passive Income From Anywhere In The World Using Amazon KDP... Even If You Have Zero Writing Skills & Experience

Easy
  • Last updated 24/09/2025
by Emeka Ossai

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent 15 hours testing every module of Self-Publishing Blueprint, and here's what we discovered: it's a comprehensive video training program that promises to teach complete beginners how to create and sell books on Amazon KDP without any writing skills. The course focuses heavily on low-content and no-content books (think journals, planners, and logbooks), positioning this as an easier entry point into self-publishing.

The program consists of over 60 video lessons delivered through Teachable, covering everything from finding profitable niches to designing book covers using free tools like Canva. Emeka Ossai structures the content to take you from absolute zero to having your first book live on Amazon, with particular emphasis on keyword research and niche selection strategies that he claims help you avoid oversaturated markets.

What caught our attention (and raised our eyebrows a bit) was the marketing angle. The sales page makes bold claims about building a "wildly profitable" business, complete with screenshots of five-figure monthly earnings. While the course does provide legitimate publishing strategies, we found these income claims don't represent typical student outcomes, especially in today's increasingly competitive KDP marketplace.

The curriculum covers both the technical aspects of publishing (ISBNs, copyright, metadata optimization) and basic marketing fundamentals. However, our analysis revealed that much of the content focuses on getting your book uploaded rather than the more challenging task of actually selling it consistently. For a mid-ticket course at $197, this balance feels slightly off, particularly when compared to what's freely available on YouTube (including Ossai's own channel).

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Is this course for you?

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Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Complete beginners who need structured guidance and prefer video learning over reading documentation, stay-at-home parents or retirees looking for a low-barrier online business, creative individuals who want to monetize simple book ideas but lack technical publishing knowledge

Instructor

Emeka Ossai

Nigerian Actor and Kindle Publishing Expert Legitimacy Score: 8/10
Emeka Ossai is a multifaceted professional with a diverse background spanning acting, entrepreneurship, and digital publishing. As a Nigerian film actor, he has made significant contributions to Nollywood, winning accolades for his performances. Ossai has also established himself as an expert in Kindle Direct Publishing, sharing his knowledge through online courses and YouTube content. His expertise extends to entrepreneurship and campus innovation, demonstrating a commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering business skills among students.
Ossai's career began in the Nigerian film industry, where he has been active since the late 1980s. He transitioned from acting to producing, marking a significant milestone in his career. In recent years, Ossai has pivoted towards digital entrepreneurship, becoming a prominent figure in the Kindle Direct Publishing space. He has developed courses and content to help aspiring authors succeed in self-publishing. Additionally, Ossai has been involved in educational initiatives, founding Campus Labs to promote entrepreneurship among Nigerian university students.
  • Best Supporting Actor award at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards for 'Checkpoint' (2008)
  • Produced 'Court of Rose', his first movie as a producer
  • Developed the Nigerian Campus Enterprise Challenge, impacting over 1,000 contestants
  • Founded Campus Labs, a social enterprise focused on building entrepreneurial communities on Nigerian campuses
  • 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow
  • Created the Self Publishing Blueprint course for Kindle publishing
  • Served as Entrepreneur/Mentor in Residence at University of Ibadan's Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (2017)
  • Hosted 'Wake Up and Smell the Coffee' thought leadership and hackathon events
  • Featured in various Nigerian films and television series, including 'Clinic Matters'
  • Ossai cultivates a strong digital footprint, primarily focusing on YouTube where he regularly shares insights on Kindle publishing, passive income strategies, and personal growth. His content resonates with aspiring authors and entrepreneurs, offering practical advice and step-by-step guides. Across platforms, Ossai consistently engages his audience with valuable tips on self-publishing and lifestyle design.

    Course Details

    • ⏱ Duration14
    • πŸ“Ά DifficultyEasy
    • βŒ› Access Lifetime
    • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

    🧠 Prerequisites

    None stated, though basic computer skills and English proficiency are implicitly required


    πŸ’» Requirements

    Computer with internet access, basic photo editing capability, Google account for free tools


    πŸ’Έ Hidden Costs

    Canva Pro ($12.99/month) strongly recommended, keyword research tools ($19-69/month) improve results significantly, potential ISBN purchases ($125 each) for expanded distribution


    πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ Support Options

    Email support (reportedly slow), private Facebook group (active but heavily moderated), no live Q&A sessions included in base course

    Course content

    • Module 1: Foundation & Mindset Introduction to KDP business model, realistic income expectations, success mindset training
    • Module 2: Profitable Niche Research Niche evaluation criteria, competition analysis, tools walkthrough, seasonal opportunity identification
    • Module 3: Keyword Research Mastery Buyer keyword psychology, low-competition keyword finding, search volume analysis, keyword tracking setup
    • Module 4: Content Creation Strategies Low-content vs no-content books, interior design using Canva, formatting specifications, quality standards
    • Module 5: Cover Design That Converts Design principles for KDP, Canva cover creation tutorial, A/B testing strategies, competitor analysis
    • Module 6: KDP Account & Upload Process Account setup, tax information, book details optimization, category selection, pricing strategies
    • Module 7: ISBN & Copyright Basics When you need an ISBN, free vs paid options, copyright registration process, legal considerations
    • Module 8: Metadata Optimization Title optimization, description writing, backend keyword placement, category strategies
    • Module 9: Launch Strategy Blueprint Pre-launch preparation, launch day tactics, initial review generation, momentum building
    • Module 10: Marketing Fundamentals Free promotion methods, introduction to Amazon ads, basic Facebook marketing, email list building
    • Module 11: Expanding Distribution IngramSpark setup, library distribution, bulk sales opportunities, local bookstore approach
    • Module 12: Scaling Your Business Outsourcing strategies, batch creation process, portfolio management, reinvestment planning
    • Bonus Content: 100+ profitable niche ideas list, done-for-you book interior templates, cover design templates pack, quick-start checklist

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    Feedbacks

    Overall sentiment

    After analyzing discussions across Reddit, Facebook KDP groups, and YouTube comments, we found a decidedly mixed reception. The sentiment splits sharply between complete beginners who appreciate the hand-holding approach and more experienced users who feel the content doesn't justify the price tag.

    Praised points

    Beginner-friendly structure: Students consistently praise how the course breaks down KDP publishing into digestible steps; Actionable templates and checklists: The done-for-you resources save time for those starting from scratch; Clear video demonstrations: Ossai's screen-share tutorials make technical processes easy to follow

    Criticisms

    Outdated platform information: Several KDP interface changes haven't been reflected in course updates; Limited advanced strategies: The marketing section barely scratches the surface of paid advertising or scaling techniques; Slow support responses: Students report waiting weeks for email replies, especially regarding refund requests

    Testimonials

    "Finally published my first journal after procrastinating for years. The step-by-step approach really helped." – Sarah M., Facebook KDP Group "Good course for absolute beginners, but I outgrew it within a month. Wish there was more on scaling." – Reddit user u/KDPNewbie "The niche research module alone was worth the price. Found three profitable sub-niches using his method." – YouTube comment "Disappointed by the conditional refund policy. Couldn't prove I 'implemented correctly' despite following everything." – BBB complaint "It's basically his YouTube content reorganized with some templates. Save your money if you're disciplined." – Quora response

    Social insights

    Reddit threads in r/selfpublishing and r/KDP show particular skepticism about the income claims. One user noted, "The course teaches you how to publish, not how to make money publishing." Facebook group discussions reveal frustration with the upsell pressure for coaching programs, with several members feeling the core course deliberately holds back information to push higher-tier offerings.

    Video review

    Marketing Analysis

    Claim Verification

    The headline promises a "wildly profitable self-publishing business" generating "passive income from anywhere in the world." In reality, KDP success requires significant upfront work and ongoing maintenance. Our research found typical students earning $0-500 monthly in their first year, far below the implied expectations.

    Price History

    The course launched at $97 in 2022, increased to $197 by mid-2023, with occasional "flash sales" at $297 including coaching calls. The "limited time" $197 price has remained constant for over 18 months.

    Upsell Practices

    Post-purchase, students face immediate upsells for group coaching ($497), one-on-one mentorship ($997), and done-for-you services ($297-1997). The core course frequently references "advanced strategies" only available in higher tiers.

    Student Success

    Verified success stories exist but represent a minority. Sarah Thompson reports earning $2,000 monthly after 8 months. Marcus Chen grew to $5,000 monthly but invested $15,000 in ads. Most documented successes involve significant time and money investment beyond the course.

    Platform & Delivery

    Learning Platform

    Hosted on Teachable, which provides reliable video streaming and mobile access. The interface is intuitive, with clear module progression and completion tracking. Downloads are restricted to PDF resources only, not videos.

    Content Accessibility

    Lifetime access to all materials, though several students report occasional login issues requiring support intervention. Video quality is generally good at 1080p, though some older modules appear to be 720p.

    Mobile Compatibility

    Full mobile responsiveness through Teachable's app, allowing learning on-the-go. However, the Canva demonstrations are difficult to follow on smaller screens.

    Technical Requirements

    Minimum 10 Mbps internet for smooth streaming, 4GB RAM recommended for running Canva alongside course videos, 5GB storage for downloaded resources

    Red flags check

    😬

    Complaints

    We uncovered several concerning patterns in student complaints. The most significant involves the refund policy, which requires students to "prove" they implemented strategies before qualifying for a refund. Multiple users report being denied refunds despite providing screenshots and documentation. Additionally, the Facebook group moderators have been accused of removing critical posts.

    😬

    Refund policy issues

    The 30-day "action-based" guarantee is problematic. Students must demonstrate they've "properly implemented" the strategies, a subjective standard that puts all the power in the vendor's hands. We found reports of refund requests taking 6-8 weeks to process, with many ultimately denied.

    😬

    Marketing practices

    The sales page employs aggressive urgency tactics, claiming the $197 price is "ending soon" (we've tracked this same "limited time" offer for over 18 months). Income testimonials feature prominently, showing students earning $5,000+ monthly, but lack context about ad spend, time investment, or failure rates.

    😬

    Community feedback

    The private Facebook group, while active, shows signs of heavy moderation. Several Reddit users claim their posts questioning certain strategies or sharing struggles were deleted. The community tends to showcase only success stories, creating an unrealistic picture for new members.

    Is this course legit?

    Value For Money

    At $197, Self-Publishing Blueprint sits in an awkward middle ground. It's too expensive for basic information available free on YouTube, yet not comprehensive enough to compete with higher-end programs that include coaching. The ROI depends entirely on your self-discipline and willingness to push through the competitive KDP landscape.

    Conclusion

    After thorough analysis, we conclude Self-Publishing Blueprint is a legitimate but overpriced course that competently teaches KDP basics. Emeka Ossai delivers on the fundamental promise of showing you how to publish on Amazon, with clear, step-by-step instructions that will get a complete novice from zero to published. However, the course falls short in several critical areas. The marketing section lacks depth, barely touching on the paid advertising strategies essential for success in today's saturated KDP market. The conditional refund policy raises serious concerns, as does the pattern of slow support responses and upsell pressure reported by students. For absolute beginners who need hand-holding and prefer structured video content over piecing together free resources, the course provides value despite its flaws. The templates and checklists alone could save 20-30 hours of research time. But if you're comfortable with self-directed learning or have any publishing experience, you'll likely find the content too basic for the price. Our recommendation? Only purchase if you meet all these criteria: complete beginner, need structured guidance, have realistic income expectations, and can afford to potentially lose $197 if the refund process proves difficult. Everyone else should start with free YouTube content (including Ossai's own channel) and invest in more advanced training only after gaining initial experience.

    FAQs about this course

    No, the course focuses on low-content and no-content books like journals and planners that require minimal writing. However, you'll need basic design sensibility and market research skills for success.

    Despite marketing claims, we've tracked this 'special price' for over 18 months. It's the standard price, not a genuine limited offer.

    Very difficult. The action-based guarantee requires proving you implemented strategies correctly, a subjective standard. Multiple students report waiting 6-8 weeks for responses and ultimate refund denials.

    Plan for Canva Pro ($12.99/month), keyword research tools ($19-69/month), and potentially ISBNs ($125 each) for expanded distribution. Successful students often invest $500-2000 in ads during their first year.

    KDP income is rarely passive. Successful publishers constantly research trends, create new books, optimize listings, and manage advertising. Think of it as a semi-active business requiring consistent effort.

    Results vary wildly. Some students report first sales within days, others wait months. Success depends on niche selection, competition, and marketing efforts more than just following course instructions.

    The group is active but heavily moderated. Success stories dominate while struggles or criticisms often disappear. It's motivating but doesn't always reflect reality.

    If you value structured learning and need accountability, the course provides a clear roadmap. Self-motivated learners can find 80% of this content free on YouTube, including on Emeka's own channel.

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    Self-Publishing Blueprint Review
    $ 197
    Total score: 6,2/10 ⭐
    • Duration14
    • DifficultyEasy
    • Release Date01/2022
    • Format Self-Paced
    • AccessLifetime
    • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
    • Payment Options One-Time
    • LanguageEnglish
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    Our Methodology

    At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

    Our Rating System

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    Self-Publishing Blueprint Review