Amazon KDP For Beginners – A FREE Step By Step Guide

Are you new to Amazon KDP and looking for a step-by-step guide to publishing your first book on Amazon? You may have already published a couple of books and want to learn more about the self-publishing model.

In either case, you are in the right place because in this Amazon KDP for beginners, I have shared the complete process of creating, publishing, and promoting your first book on Amazon KDP.

What is Amazon KDP?

Before we move forward, let’s take a look at Amazon KDP and how it works. As the name suggests, KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is an Amazon platform for self-publishers. It allows authors and publishers from all over the world to self-publish eBooks, Paperbacks, and Hardcover books for free and reach a wider audience.

KDP was Launched in 2007¹ along with the first Amazon Kindle device. It allows users to upload their content in various formats and set prices ranging from $0.99 to $200.00.

The beauty of Amazon KDP is it removes the need for a traditional publisher and lets your books reach millions of customers worldwide within the minimum time frame.

Why Should You Use Amazon KDP?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) offers several compelling reasons for authors and self-publishers to consider using the platform.

Key Benefits of Amazon KDP

Below are some key benefits of publishing books on Amazon KDP. These benefits make Amazon KDP an attractive platform for authors looking to publish and distribute their books independently.

KDP also provides tools like Kindle Create, which helps you convert Word and PDF files into Kindle-compatible formats.

Overall, Amazon KDP offers a user-friendly and cost-effective solution for publishers and indie authors looking to publish their work independently.

How Does Amazon KDP Work?

The way Amazon KDP works is very simple and straightforward. Below is an overview of the whole process involved in self-publishing books on KDP;

Overview of KDP

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a revolutionary platform that has transformed the landscape of self-publishing, enabling authors, writers, and even non-writers to publish their work effortlessly.

As mentioned before, KDP allows creators to publish and sell ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers directly to Amazon’s vast global audience without upfront costs. The platform operates on a print-on-demand model for physical books, eliminating the need for inventory management and offering an accessible way for self-publishers to monetize their content.

With user-friendly tools for formatting, uploading, and publishing, KDP ensures that authors retain full rights to their work while earning royalties based on their book sales.

How Do KDP eBooks Work?

For ebooks, authors can choose between two royalty structures – 35% or 70% depending on factors like pricing, file size, and distribution territories. Paperbacks have a fixed 60% royalty rate, minus printing costs, calculated based on factors such as page count and ink type.

The platform also integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s ecosystem, leveraging its search engine and recommendation algorithms to match books with readers.

What Content Can You Publish on KDP?

KDP’s versatility extends to the variety of content it supports, including novels, journals, children’s books, cookbooks, and more. Its straightforward publishing process ensures that authors can list their books quickly, while buyers benefit from flexible formats like ebooks, audiobooks, and print editions.

How Does KDP Paperback Work?

KDP allows authors to publish physical books through print-on-demand, ensuring copies are printed only when ordered, eliminating the need for inventory. Authors upload formatted print files and can sell these books directly from their KDP accounts, with Amazon handling printing and shipping.

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Amazon KDP For Beginners: Getting Started

Getting started with Amazon KDP is quite simple. All you need is to create a free account on their official website and input your personal, bank account, and tax information. Then start uploading your very first book, it can be an eBook, a paperback, or a hardcover book.

Create Your KDP Account

First of all visit kdp.amazon.com on your PC, Laptop, or mobile phone. Then click on the Join KDP button as shown below;

On the next screen, you can start creating a new account by entering your name, email and password or sign in using your existing Amazon account.

KDP Account Details

Under the KDP account details section you need to enter your legal name or business name. You will also need to add your business address. Make sure your information exactly matches with your Govt. issued ID, otherwise, your account will be rejected.

Getting Paid (Bank Account Details)

Next, you can add your bank account for getting paid from Amazon KDP. Again make sure the account details exactly match your personal or business details.

Tax Information

Finally, you can add your tax information by filling out the relevant tax form for US or non-US citizens. If you are a non-US resident, KDP will withhold up to 30% of your royalties as per US Tax law.

However, if you are from a country that has a tax treaty with the US you may avail of reduced withholding rates, like publishers from India will pay 15% withholding, and publishers from Austria, Canada, Pakistan, France, Germany, Italy, and a couple of other countries will pay 0% on their royalties.

Step-by-Step Guide to Listing Your First Book

By now you should have set up your KDP account. Next, you can start uploading your very first book by following the step-by-step process shared below.

Before starting the book listing process, you need two things;

Once you have, your book interior and book cover ready you can follow the below steps to list your book on Amazon.

Select The Type of Book

First of all, you need to select the type of book you want to sell on Amazon. In my case, I’m going to upload a paperback book. First, you need to log in to your KDP account and from the bookshelf click on the Create button.

On the next screen, click on the paperback as shown below.

This will take you to the book details page where you can add a book title, subtitle, book description, backend keywords, book categories, and more.

Enter Your Book Title and Subtitle

On top of the book details page, you will see separate boxes for the book title and subtitle. Though the book sub-title is optional, however, you should use this for describing your book and adding more relevant keywords.

As you can see, I have added a very descriptive book title and subtitle for my paperback book. Your title should ideally be no more than 60 characters, however, if you want to make it a bit longer then you can keep it between 80 to 100 characters.

Enter Author & Contributors Name

Next, you can add an author name, in most cases, it would be your first and last name. However, you can also use a pen name. Make sure you are not using any keyword phrase as the author’s name. Also don’t use famous brands’ names, or copyrighted and trademark words, as this violates KDP’s guidelines.

Add Book Description and Verify Your Publishing Rights

Next, scroll a bit down, and you will see a big box to enter your book description. Your book description should include the keyword benefits and features of your book. You can optimize your book description by adding bullet points, headings, and a call to action.

Just below the book description, you will see an option to confirm the publishing rights. Essentially, KDP wants you to confirm that you hold the copyright and necessary publishing rights to make your book live on Amazon.

Choose Relevant Keywords and Categories

KDP allows you to add up to three relevant book categories. While choosing categories for your books, make sure they are closely related to the type of your books. Adding books to wrong/irrelevant categories violates KDP’s guidelines and can result in account suspension or termination.

First, choose a broad category, then a sub-category, and finally, select the most relevant sub-subcategory. See the following screenshot;

Publication Date

Below the book categories, you will see options for publication dates. You can either release your book now or set a future date.

Lastly, double-check your book details and click the Save and Continue button at the bottom of the page. This will take you to the book content page.

Book ISBN & Printing Options

At the book content page, you will see ISBN options. KDP gives you a free ISBN for medium-content books like puzzle books, coloring books, activity books, and other high-content books.

On the other hand, if you publish a low-content book like a journal, notebook, sketchbook, or similar you can publish it without an ISBN.

Just below the ISBN, you can select the print option. KDP offers the following four printing options;

• Black & white interior with cream paper
• Black & white interior with white paper
• Standard color interior with white paper
• Premium color interior with white paper

Black & white interior with white paper is the most common option for both paperback and hardcover books.

Trim Size, Bleed & Cover Finish

Below the print options, you can select the trim size for your paperback book. It could be 8.5×11, 6×9, 7×10, 8×10 or 5×8 inches.

Then you can set the bleed option, your book can be no bleed or with bleed. Mine has no bleed, therefore, I have selected the relevant option.

When it comes to cover finish, you can choose from Matte or Glossy. The matte finish gives your book a natural look as it is less reflective. Where the glossy finish is shiny which is suitable for covers with dark tones.

Upload Your Manuscript and Cover

Next comes the most exciting part of the process. Here you will upload your book manuscript (book interior) and book cover. First, click on the Upload Manuscript button and select the book interior file from your PC/Laptop.

KDP will first process your book interior file, meanwhile you can start uploading your book cover by clicking on the Upload your cover file button.

KDP will process your cover file as well. Once processing completes, you will see a preview button, just click on it and preview both our interior and cover files. If KDP finds any error with any of your files, you can also see them on the preview page.

On the other hand, if your uploaded files meet the KDP requirements, you can click on the Approve button. It will take you back to the book content page.

AI Content Confirmation

Toward the end of the book content page, you will need to confirm whether your book has any AI-generated content or not. Choose the relevant option and click on the Save and Continue button.

Select Your Pricing and Royalty Options

On the Paperback Right & Pricing page, you can first choose the territories and primary marketplace. If you want to sell your book worldwide on all Amazon marketplaces, select All territories (worldwide rights).

And if you want to publish your book in a specific marketplace click on the 2nd option (Individual territories)

Next, you can set the price for your book in different marketplaces. Once you add your book price in the US marketplace, KDP automatically adds the price for all marketplace based on the price in the US marketplace.

If you wish to add a different pricing in any given marketplace, you can add it manually.

Submitting Your Book for Review

Finally, you can scroll down and click on the Publish Your Paperback Book button. This will submit your book for a review process which can take up to 72 hours or more.

Review process can take less time for some books and it can take up to 1 or 2 weeks for others.

How to Write and Format a Book for Amazon KDP

In this section of Amazon KDP for beginners, I will guide you through the process of writing and formatting your book for Amazon KDP. This is crucial to get your book accepted by KDP and then the end users!

Pick a Niche

Picking a niche (a specific market area) is one of the most important steps in self-publishing a book on Amazon KDP. There are tools like Titans Pro or Amz Suggestion Expander that can help you choose a niche with a good demand but low competition.

Use Book Creation Software

There are many softwares which you can use to write and format your book for Amazon KDP. You can pick a book creation software based on the type of book you are going to create. For eBooks and other long-form books, you can use MS Word or Google Docs.

For low-content books, you can use MS PowerPoint, Canva, Affinity Publisher, or Google Slides.

Tips for Writing Your First Book

If you writing your very first book, make sure it’s about something you are interested in and have a decent knowledge of the topic. For example, if you like some sports, in that case, you will have some knowledge about the game, the players and rules, etc.

To write an eBook, first of all, do proper research and create a comprehensive outline including chapters, headings, and sub-headings. You can even use AI tools like ChatGPT to create the outline.

Formatting Your Book for KDP

Using the right book formatting is crucial not only to pass the review process but also to provide a good customer experience to the end user. Below are some tips about formatting your book for Amazon KDP

Trim Size and Bleed

KDP supports a wide range of trim sizes mainly for a paperback book and most popular include 6″ x 9″, 7″ x 10″, and 8.5″ x 11″. Your selection of trim size depends upon the type of book and the target audience (people you are writing a book for).

If you are writing a text-heavy book, you can select the most popular trim size 6″ x 9″. On the other hand, if you are creating a children’s book like a coloring book, a puzzle book, or any educational workbook, go for a larger trim size like 7″ x 10″ or 8.5″ x 11″.

Make sure your book interior includes bleed if you want the content to extend to the edges of the page. Learn about bleed vs no bleed here.

For eBooks KDP doesn’t require any specific trim size, that’s why can go with 6″ x 9″ or 8.5″ x 11″.

Cover Design Requirements

For eBook covers, KDP’s recommended dimensions are 2560 x 1600 pixels (height x width) with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. It’s important to create a high-quality book cover to attract the right customers.

For paperback books, you will have to create a full paperback cover consisting of a front cover, back cover, and book spine. The size of your paperback book cover will depend on the following things;

KDP has a book cover calculator that allows you to generate a book cover template based on your book details.

File Size and Uploading

Keep your file size within KDP’s limits (up to 650MB for paperbacks) and ensure it’s properly formatted before uploading.

Amazon KDP Royalties and Costs

Now let’s talk about the most exiting part e.g., getting paid for your time efforts. Amazon KDP offers a straightforward royalty system that ensures you earn for every sale, whether it’s an eBook or a paperback. Here’s how the royalties and costs work.

How Amazon KDP Royalties Work

KDP offers two royalty rates: 70% and 35% for eBooks and up to 60% for paperbacks. For eBooks, the 70% royalty is available for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 in eligible regions, while books outside this range or region earn 35%.

For paperbacks, authors earn 60% of the list price minus printing costs, which vary based on page count, ink type, and trim size.

How Much Does KDP Pay Authors?

For eBooks, KDP calculates royalties on the book’s sale price after delivery costs (e.g., $0.15/MB for the 70% royalty option). For paperbacks, KDP deducts printing costs before calculating royalties. For example, a 100-page paperback priced at $10 with a $2.15 printing cost will yield a $4.85 royalty.

Costs Associated with KDP

Publishing on KDP is free, but optional costs may arise for editing, cover design, or formatting. For paperbacks, printing costs are deducted per sale and depend on factors like page count and ink type. No upfront costs make KDP a budget-friendly option for authors.

How to Promote Your KDP Books

Promoting your KDP books is super-important, especially during the first few weeks of the book launch. Below are some of the most effective ways to promote your books on and off Amazon.

KDP Select

KDP has a special book promotion program for eBooks known as KDP Select. There are many benefits of enrolling your eBook in the KDP Select program;

Running Amazon Ads for KDP Books

Amazon ads/KDP ads are one of the best ways to promote your KDP books. KDP allows you to run both auto and manual ad campaigns for your eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcover books.

Read more about Amazon ads here;

Using Social Media and Email Marketing

In addition to Amazon ads, you can also promote your books on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. Email marketing is yet another way to promote your self-published books; all you need is a landing page and a freebie (e.g., a checklist or sample chapter) to offer in exchange for the customer’s email address.

To grow your email list, you can add a QR code to your landing page either on the first or the last page of your books. Over time, you can build a database of customers who are interested in your books. Once you have a list of customers, you can easily promote your newly released book to them.

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How Long Does it Take to Publish a Book on KDP?

Publishing a book on Amazon KDP is quick and straightforward. Once you upload your manuscript and cover design, KDP typically reviews your submission within 24 to 72 hours. After approval, your book becomes available for purchase on Amazon’s platform.

Can I Publish Low Content Books on KDP?

Yes, KDP allows the publication of low-content books like journals, planners, logbooks, and sketchbooks. However, you must ensure that your content adheres to KDP’s content guidelines, and you cannot use KDP’s free ISBN for low-content books. Instead, select the “Publish without an ISBN” option during setup.

Do I Need an ISBN for KDP?

For eBooks, an ISBN is not required—KDP assigns a unique ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) for free. For paperbacks, you can either use KDP’s free ISBN or provide your own. Keep in mind that if you use a KDP-provided ISBN, Amazon will be listed as the publisher, whereas using your own ISBN allows you to list your name or publishing company as the publisher.

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Conclusion

I hope you have learned a lot from this Amazon KDP for beginners guide. Let’s quickly recap everything: Amazon KDP is a fantastic platform for authors and self-publishers to share their work with a global audience. Whether you’re publishing an eBook, paperback, or low-content book, KDP provides the tools and resources needed to succeed without any upfront costs.

From understanding royalties and formatting your book to leveraging social media and email marketing for promotion, the opportunities are endless.

By following the steps and tips outlined on this page, you’ll be well-equipped to start your self-publishing journey and turn your passion into profit. Happy publishing!

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Sources: 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindle_Direct_Publishing