Ultimate Guide to Publishing Books on Amazon
Dreaming of your name printed on the cover of books, and available to readers all around the world? The Ultimate Guide to Publishing Books on Amazon will show you exactly how you can turn this dream into a reality.
If you’ve ever dreamed of sharing your stories, creative ideas, or knowledge with the world, Amazon KDP is your ticket to making it happen.
Amazon KDP is a self-publishing platform that allows aspiring authors like you to share your literary creations with the world, whether they’re simple journals, fun coloring books, lovely children’s stories, exciting non-fiction, or anything in between, KDP let’s you turn your ideas into real books that people can read.
From simple journals to colorful coloring books, charming children’s stories, insightful non-fiction, and everything else in between, KDP lets you bring your ideas to life and get them out there for readers to enjoy.
How to Publish Books on Amazon
Publishing books on Amazon is a fairly simple and straightforward process. To make this process a smooth as possible, we will walk you through the steps to make your book available to readers all over the world.
Set Up An Amazon KDP Account
Before you can begin publishing books on Amazon KDP, you must have an account. Setting up an Amazon KDP account is a quick and easy process.
If you would like a step-by-step tutorial on setting up your Amazon KDP account, we have a blog post
KDP Niche Research
One crucial step of publishing books on Amazon that a lot of new self-publish authors skip is KDP niche research.
The last thing you want to do is spend a ton of time writing or creating a book that no one will ever buy. KDP niche research will ensure that there is actually a market for your book topic.
Prepare Your Manuscript File
After validating your book idea, you will need to create or write your manuscript. If you are creating a low content book or a medium content book, you can use Canva, which I have tutorials that will walk you through the steps of creating notebooks, journals, and more.
For novels, you will want to use a word processor to prepare your manuscript files.
Design Your Book Cover File
Design a book cover that will resonate with your target audience, and stand out from all of the other books on the Amazon marketplace.
If you are not a skilled designer, you can hire a cover designer from platforms like Fiverr. Even if you are not a designer, using software like Canva (which also has a free plan) can make designing a book cover a breeze.
Create your Books Listing
Now that you have your manuscript and cover file, it is time to create your listing by navigating to the KDP dashboard. Once you are in the dashboard, you will need to click the “Create” button at the top of the page.
Choose which type of book you will be creating. For this example, we will be selecting paperback from the selection that is listed.
You will need to enter all of the following information for your book:
Language
Enter the primary language that your book is written in. Amazon has a long list of languages that they support, and they are continuously adding new languages.
Book Title and Subtitle
You need to enter the book title exactly as it appears on the cover of your book. Before publishing your book, be sure that your title is spelled correctly because it cannot be edited after your book is published.
Adding a subtitle to your book is not required, but you can include one if you choose.
Book Series
If you are publishing a book on Amazon that will be apart of a series, you will create a new series in this section. Don’t worry, you can always add a series by using the options in your Bookshelf.
Books that are apart of a series will have a product detail page that showcases all of the books that are included in that book series.
Edition Number
The edition number shows if a book is original or updated, and it can’t be changed after publishing.
A new edition is when big things in the book change, like the author’s name, cover, title, ISBN, size, or type of paper and ink. Fixing small things like typos or capital letters doesn’t count as a new edition.
Author and Contributors
Your book must have at least one author or primary contributor listed, but you can also include other contributors like editors or illustrators. Make sure the names are spelled correctly because it can’t be changed after you hit that publish button.
The author’s name is crucial because it’s how readers will search for your book, so it needs to be consistent across all your works.
If your author name or any of the contributor’s names are similar to a famous author’s name, you might want to use a pen name, middle name to avoid confusion.
Book Description
Writing an engaging book description is essential for catching the eye of potential readers and persuading them to purchase your book. Here are seven tips to help you create an irresistible description on Amazon KDP:
- Grab Attention: Start with a hook that instantly grabs readers’ interest, like a captivating opening sentence.
- Keep It Simple: Make sure that your book description is clear, descriptive, and professional.
- Clear Format: Use clear language and short paragraphs with plenty of space to make your description easy to read and appealing.
- No Spoilers: Avoid revealing anything that adds to the excitement or mystery of your book.
- Use Keywords: Include relevant keywords to boost your book’s visibility in search results.
- Highlight Uniqueness: Showcase what sets your book apart, whether it’s the story, characters, writing style, or genre.
- End Strong: Finish with a clear call-to-action that encourages readers to take the next step, whether it’s buying the book, staying updated, or sharing it with friends.
Implementing these 7 tips will make your book description clearer and more engaging, increasing its appeal to potential readers.
Publishing Rights
Amazon needs to know that your book is protected by copyright, and that you have permission to publish it. If you have these rights, you’ll click on this option.
If your book is in the public domain, choose this option. Keep in mind that copyright laws vary by location, so be sure to understand the rights for each region where your book will be sold.
Primary Audience
The primary audience section addresses whether your book contains sexually explicit images on the cover or inside, or if the title includes sexually explicit language.
Additionally, you have the option to specify the age range of readers who may enjoy your book, from the youngest to the oldest.”
Primary Marketplace
Select the main marketplace where you expect most of your sales to come from. Changing this selection after publishing your book could affect your list price, so double-check it before publishing.
Categories
Choose up to three categories that best describe your book. These categories help readers find your book when browsing online. Select categories that closely match the genre and topic of your book to increase its visibility and reach.
Amazon also would like for you to inform them if your book falls under the following categories:
- It is a low content book (journal, planner, or notebook)
- Your book is large print that contains a font size of 16 point or greater.
Keywords
Adding keywords to your book listing is optional, but highly recommended. Keywords are short phrases, up to 50 characters, that help readers discover your book when they search on Amazon. You can choose up to 7 keywords that highlight the unique aspects of your book.
These keywords are the terms customers use to find books like yours. They can be general or specific, depending on your target audience. To choose effective keywords, think about how potential readers would describe your book and use those phrases.
It’s important that all keywords relate directly to your book and adhere to Amazon’s guidelines. By including relevant keywords, you increase the chances of your book being seen by the right audience.
Publication Date
The publication date indicates when your book was first released to the public. If your book is being published for the first time, simply select the first option provided.
Release Date
You have the option to release your book immediately, or you can add a specific date to launch your book on Amazon.
When choosing the date of your book launch, keep in mind that it may take Amazon up to 72 hours to approve your book.
ISBN
When publishing books on Amazon, you have the option of using a free ISBN that is provided by Amazon, or you can purchase your own to use.
The ISBN that Amazon assigns can only be used on the Amazon marketplace. If you plan on distributing your book on additional marketplaces, you will want to purchase an ISBN.
Print Options
It is time to decide how you would like your book to be printed. First you will need to choose the ink and paper type of your book.
Next, you will need to enter your trim size, and then choose your bleed settings. If your book has lines, illustrations, or graphics that go to the edge of your interior page, you will need to select “bleed.”
Decide between matte or glossy finish for your cover. Matte is less reflective and gives a natural look, while glossy has a shine and enhances color vibrancy, especially for dark tones.
Upload Manuscript
You are finally read to upload your manuscript file. To upload your manuscript, which is the interior content of your book, make sure the file matches the trim size and bleed settings you chose earlier. You can upload files in PDF, DOC/X, HTML, or RTF formats.
Upload Cover
For your book cover, you can either design it using Cover Creator or upload a single PDF file with the back cover, spine, and front cover merged into one image. If you’re using your own design, ensure it matches the dimensions provided by our Cover Calculator.
To have text on the spine of your book, it needs to contain at least 79 pages. If your book includes a barcode, remember to check the corresponding box in this section.
AI Generated Content
Amazon permits the use of AI tools to aid in creating your book content, but you need to check the designated box to indicate your use of such tools.
Book Preview
Now, you will review your file to ensure there are no formatting or print quality issues before publishing your book on Amazon.
Territories
When choosing territories, decide whether to publish worldwide or target specific regions based on your audience. Your selections can impact pricing and distribution options.
Confirm Primary Marketplace
Confirming the primary marketplace determines the pricing displayed. You can change this selection on the Details tab. Remember, altering the primary marketplace requires you to double-check your list price before publishing.
Pricing, Royalties, and Distribution
Determine your book’s list price according to the primary marketplace selected. Ensure your pricing strategy aligns with your objectives and meets your audience’s expectations to optimize sales potential.
By strategically setting your prices, you can effectively reach your target market while maximizing your earnings through royalties.
Request a Book Proof
To ensure that your book book meets your standards and does not contain any printing errors. , you may want to consider requesting a book proof. This step ensures that the final product you offer to your audience is of the highest quality.
Keep in mind that proof copies are not eligible for resale, but once your book is live, you can order author copies that can be sold to readers.
Publish Your Book on Amazon
As long as you agree and are in compliance with the KDP terms and conditions, you can click the yellow “Publish Your Paperback Book” button that is at the bottom of the page.
Your book can take up to 72 hours to go live on the Amazon marketplace.
What to Do After Publishing Books on Amazon?
Congratulations, publishing a book on Amazon is a huge milestone. To set your book up for success, there are a few critical steps that you will want to take after publishing books on Amazon.
Create Your Author Page
Once your book is live on Amazon, you should create an Author Page by setting up a Author Central Account.
An Author Page will allow you to add a biography, link to your other books, and more. Your Amazon Author Page is a great way to market your books for free!
Add A + Content
After your book gets approved on Amazon KDP, adding A+ content can boost its visibility and sales. A+ content lets you enhance your product detail pages with multimedia and additional product information, providing readers with more compelling reasons to buy.
This feature allows you to showcase your book’s unique selling points through images, videos, and enhanced text, making it stand out among competitors and attract more readers.
Promote on Social Media
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn allows you to promote your book so that you can reach new readers for free.
Share engaging content related to your book, such as quotes, behind-the-scenes photos, and author insights, to grow your brand awareness and connect with your audience.
Don’t forget to engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages, and consider running giveaways or hosting virtual events to generate excitement and interest in your book.
Get Book Reviews
Book reviewshelp your book stand out in a sea of other books on Amazon. When someone sees a lot of positive reviews, they’re more likely to want to read your book too. So, getting as many reviews as you can will help set your book up for success.
Run Amazon Ads
Amazon ads are a powerful tool for connecting with readers who might not have stumbled upon your book otherwise. By running ads, you can increase your book’s visibility and attract more potential readers. This can ultimately lead to higher sales and a larger following for your book.
Publish Your Books on Amazon & Make Money
It’s time to start publishing your book’s on Amazon and become a successful author! Just follow the steps we’ve outlined in this guide, and you’ll be sharing your stories or creative ideas in no time.
Don’t forget to run Amazon ads, gather book reviews, and set up your author page to make your books stand out. With dedication and focus, you can attract loyal readers.
So, let’s get started and make your dreams of becoming a published author a reality!
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