Kindle Direct Publishing 101
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
If you’ve decided to pursue self-publishing for your book project, you might be curious about Kindle Direct Publishing, otherwise known as KDP, or Amazon’s self-publishing platform. Let’s talk about it.
What Is Kindle Direct Publishing?
Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform is a great option for self-published authors looking to get their work out into the world. Kindle Direct Publishing allows authors to create and sell ebooks and print paperback and hardcover books without any upfront costs or bulk inventory orders. Authors can also choose to enroll their book in Kindle Unlimited, which gives them additional marketing options such as Kindle countdown deals, free promotions, and other benefits.
When publishing on KDP, authors will need to create a Kindle Direct Publishing profile connected to their Amazon account and upload a PDF or EPUB file of their book. They will also need to choose their territories, royalty and pricing, ISBN and publisher, and other details. It is important to note that an ISBN and publisher are not necessary for a Kindle eBook, and authors should choose “All territories (worldwide rights)” unless they have a good reason not to. There are also extended distribution options that you can select, and you can see which royalty rates you’ll qualify for as you set your pricing.
What’s Next After Publishing with Kindle Direct Publishing?
Once the book is published, authors will need to promote it in order to make book sales and attract readers. This can be done by creating a professional website, getting Amazon reviews, running a niche outreach campaign, joining Facebook groups in their niche, trying Amazon ads , creating a Goodreads strategy, recording video interviews, and more.
It is important to remember that self-publishing is a skill in its own right, separate from writing. It is tempting to rush a manuscript to market, but authors should take their time and do it right in order to look professional. DIY publishing is possible, but authors should consider getting help if they want to compete in the very crowded Kindle Direct Publishing marketplace.
Overall, Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform is a great option for self-publishing authors looking to get their work out into the world. With the right book marketing strategy and techniques, authors can successfully promote their book(s) and make sales on the platform. While it’s very easy to upload a book to KDP, having one stand out among all the noise is a different story. That’s where book marketing comes in, and is a skillset in and of itself.
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