Self-publishing on Amazon is a simple and straightforward option.
So, if you are an indie author looking to publish your book, you should consider publishing it on Amazon. It is a hassle-less way found throughout the publishing industry.
Moreover, it would not cost you anything to publish your masterpiece on KDP. However, if you are planning to sell paperback versions, then you must know one thing. That is – Amazon takes the cost to print your book from your royalties.
There are a number of ways to publish your masterpiece. But if you carelessly follow the technical steps to publish your masterpiece on Amazon, you might end up with a book that you are not happy with.
And all the efforts and time that you put into your book deserve way more than that. Even your masterpiece deserves better.
So, to help you with this matter, we have given the steps to self-publish a free Kindle e-book on Amazon. So, start right now!
6 Steps To Publish A Book On Amazon KDP (Amazon Self-Publishing)
Step No. 1 – Create An Account On Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
First and foremost, you need to set up your KDP account. This is an easy, free, and fast method. So, hop on to KDP and sign up for your Amazon self publishing account. When you log in to your account, you will receive a message saying that your account is incomplete. Prior to uploading your book, you will need to put in some crucial information.
Step No. 2 – Come Up With A New Title And Enter Your Book Description
The dashboard on KDP is categorised into three sections: content, details, and pricing. Firstly, you will be required to give the following information:
- Your book title and/or subtitle
- The language of your book
- Whether it is a new edition of an existing book
- Whether it is standalone or a part of a series
- Your author name (pen names allowed)
- The names of other contributors (e.g. a book illustrator, the editor, etc.)
After providing the information, you have to give a product description. Write a blurb similar to the one on the back of your book. Take your time to craft a well-refined and mesmerising book description, as it will be used to intrigue the audience. So, make sure that the whole blurb, especially the first line is written exceptionally.
Step No. 3 – Choose Appropriate Keywords And Amazon Categories
Categories and keywords are necessary to boost the chances of success of your book. These elements help you make sure that your masterpiece gets found by the right readers, based on what they search for. You can choose two categories and about 7 keywords for your book. Keep in mind that you can always make amendments later, so do not be scared to experiment.
Prior to moving on to the next section, you will be investigated about whether your book is all set up for sale or if you wish to make it available only for pre-order at the moment. Once you answer the question, it will be high time to upload the actual book files.
Step No. 4 – Upload Your Book Cover Files & EPUB
Next up, you will be required to upload your book file to your KDP account. In order to do so, simply tap on the yellow button that says “Upload eBook manuscript”. Choose the final copy of your work and click “OK”
Even though Amazon accepts a huge range of file formats, it strongly suggests having your file formatted as an EPUB. Uploading a Word file and relying on Amazon to do the rest of the job will never work out.
Step No. 5 – Set A Price Between $2.99 & $9.99
You must be aware that Amazon offers a 70 per cent royalty rate on eBooks, priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Moreover, it offers 35 per cent on anything that is outside of that range. You can even seek help from various ebook publishing companies to get an idea about the pricing. We strongly suggest you opt for something that will get you that 70 per cent easily.
Step No. 6 – Publish Your Book
Now comes the moment that you have been so desperately waiting for. Prior to rushing in, take a minute to ensure everything is set up perfectly and in the exact manner that you want. You can do this by tapping “Back to Content” in the left corner.
Even though you can always correct a mistake after publishing your work, however, it would be best to make sure that the information is correct before hitting that button. If you are not ready yet, a “Save as Draft” button will help you come back and finalise your work later. If everything seems great, there is nothing left to do but hit “Publish your Kindle eBook”.
FAQ’s
How to publish free Kindle eBooks on Amazon?
With Amazon KDP, you can easily publish your paperback or eBook for free on Amazon. On this platform, your work will be digitally available to the gazillions of Amazon users who are active on Kindle. With the free print-on-demand service offered by Amazon, you can also provide your audience with a physical paperback of your masterpiece.
Can I promote my eBook for free on Amazon?
Yes, you can! Free book promotion on Amazon permits users to catch the eye of new users and widen their audience. You can offer your Kindle eBook without paying any $$$ for up to 5 days out of every 90-day KDP select enrolment period.
How can I start my KDP account on Amazon?
In order to create your KDP account on Amazon, you need to follow the steps given below:
- Go to KDP and tap “Sign up”
- Tap on “Create a KDP account”
- Put in your name, a secure password, and an email address, and that is it
How much does Amazon KDP pay back?
KDP offers a fixed 70 per cent royalty rate on every paperback sold on Amazon marketplaces. Your royalty is 70 per cent of your list price. We then minus printing costs which are based on page count, trim size, ink type, and a lot more.
Final Thoughts
Self-publishing a book is a great skill on its own, which is wholly separate from writing a book. We agree that it is quite tempting to rush your manuscript to the marketplace, however, it requires you to throw on the scrap heap all of the hard work you put into completing your masterpiece. If you are planning to self-publish your work, you must be aware of one thing. That is: publishing a book that looks unworthy will make you look unprofessional. So, if this is the case, then you would be way better off not self-publishing your work at all. However, if you put in enough time to make things perfect, then self-publishing a book can be the best thing to do.
