Amazon KDP Tutorial: Step-By-Step Guide (2024)

Have you ever dreamed of seeing your name on the cover of a book, wanted to share your knowledge, or simply make some extra money?

With many roadblocks along the way, publishing a book can seem unattainable to some. Luckily, there are now many resources to help you fill the gaps in self-publishing, and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) could be the perfect platform to make your publishing dream a reality. 

This Amazon KDP tutorial will walk you through the essentials and show you how to turn your manuscript into a published book.

What is Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing?

Unlike traditional publishing, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, or Amazon KDP, is a game-changer for self-publishers. It’s an online platform that allows self-publishers to print and sell books easily, giving you the power to be your own publisher. With a global network, KDP is a legitimate way to sell books and get in front of millions of readers worldwide. 

Whatever type of book you’re writing, KDP helps to make the process straightforward and accessible. Here's a beginners guide to Amazon KDP if you would like to find out more.

Is Amazon KDP Still Profitable?

Absolutely! Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is very profitable. In fact, it remains one of the most lucrative self-publishing platforms. The key to maximizing your earnings is to follow in the footsteps of those who’ve already found success. Learning from experienced self-publishers who have navigated the KDP waters can give you valuable insights into what works and doesn’t.

Understanding the Amazon KDP Platform

Having the right resources when you start your self-publishing journey can be the difference between success and failure for self-publishers. From knowing the right keywords to choose to what promotional strategies are best for boosting profits, Publishing.com pros have helped thousands on their road to self-publishing. 

With KDP’s ever-expanding marketplace, we are constantly offering a variety of trending tools and updated courses designed specifically to help aspiring self-publishers like you navigate the world of self-publishing with confidence.

AIA Course

Whether you’re just starting or already a seasoned Amazon publisher, we’ve got you covered. Our AIA course walks you through Amazon KDP in a way that any self-publisher can understand. During bite-sized videos, you'll learn how to start publishing and find new ways to add value for your readers, which can help you increase your earnings.

Free Webinar

Not quite ready for the play-by-play our course offers? Watch our free webinar filled with high-level, valuable self-publishing tips and advice. It's a great way to get a taste of what Publishing.com offers. We'll take you by the hand and show you our system that has worked for our students to generate supplemental income.

Student Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it—hear from those who have taken the leap and got real results. Our students have become successful self-publishers, and we couldn't be more proud! Learn more about our publishing course for Kindle Direct Publishing here.

See more student reviews for Publishing.com here.

Step 1: Create Your Account

First, begin by setting up your account. Fortunately, the process is straightforward. All you need is an Amazon account, and you’re halfway there.

Simply sign in to Amazon KDP using your existing Amazon credentials or create a new account if you don't have one.

Once logged in, you’ll be prompted to provide some basic information, such as your tax details and payment preferences, to ensure you can receive your royalty payments.

Once your Amazon KDP account is set up, you’ve taken the first steps to self-publishing.

Step 2: Access The Dashboard

Once your account is set up, you’ll be welcomed by the Amazon KDP dashboard—your central hub for all things publishing. This is where the magic happens. From here, you can start new book projects, manage existing ones, and even tweak your book details post-publication.

Step 3: Explore Analytics and Reporting Tools

One of the most valuable features of Amazon KDP is its robust analytics and reporting tools. These tools give you a real-time view of your books' performance. You can track sales, monitor page reads, and even see how your promotions impact your visibility.

While reports may seem intimidating, they can help you make better marketing decisions and play a huge role in your success.

Book Setup Features

After setting up your account and exploring the dashboard, it’s time to bring your book to life with Amazon KDP’s book setup features. In this stage, your manuscript transforms into a published work, ready to be shared with the world.

Step 4: Upload Your Content

The first step in the book setup process is uploading your content. Whether you're publishing and selling an eBook, a paperback, or both, Amazon KDP simplifies getting your manuscript onto the platform. You can upload your book in various formats, such as DOCX, PDF, or MOBI, and KDP will handle the rest, converting it into the appropriate format for distribution. 

The platform even provides a previewer tool, allowing you to see exactly how your book will look on different devices before hitting publish. This way, you can ensure everything is perfect, from chapter headings to page breaks. Be sure you stay compliant with the Kindle Publishing guidelines.

Step 5: Identify Your eBook and Print Options

Amazon KDP offers a few choices to create and publish your book, including eBooks, which leverage Kindle’s global reach and make your book available to readers on any device.

If you’re more of a print person, Amazon KDP offers a print-on-demand service, meaning your book will only be printed when someone orders it. You’ll never have to worry about maintaining inventory or upfront printing costs. You can also customize your book’s size, paper type, and cover finish, giving you full control over how your book looks and feels.

Step 6: Define Your Book’s Metadata

Metadata sounds technical and, frankly, a bit scary, but it’s simply the information that helps readers discover your book. In Amazon KDP, managing your book’s metadata is vital for visibility and search-ability. This includes selecting the right title, subtitle, writer name, and description and choosing the best relevant keywords for KDP and categories.

As you walk through the setup, Amazon KDP will guide you along the way with helpful tips and resources at every step. Here’s what you can expect:

Choosing the Primary Language

Choosing the correct primary language ensures your book is categorized appropriately and searchable for your target audience.

Adding Your Book Title

The book title and subtitle you add should be the same as what’s on the cover of your book - and be sure to double-check for any errors! You can’t go back and edit this after your book is published.

Confirming If Your Book is Part of a Series

Will your book be the first of many in a series? You will be asked to specify the series name and how many books you intend to publish (the volume). 

By the way, you can skip this section if your book is not part of a series.

Including Your Edition Number

Your edition number tells people if your book is new or a re-release of an older version. This can be helpful to future readers if you’ve made updates or significant changes to your book.

If this is the first release of your book, you can leave this section blank. 

Identifying the Author (You!)

It’s getting real - adding yourself as the author of your book is an exciting step in the process. This is where you will enter the name of the book's primary author (or contributor), and will allow people to find other work published by you.

If you intend to publish your book under a pen name, you will include your pen name instead. The author's name should match what’s on the book cover. 

Adding Book Contributors

Did you have a co-author or other contributors for your book? You will need to add the names of those who helped your book get done, such as editors, illustrators, or translators.

You can skip this section if you do not have a co-author or other contributors.

Defining Your Book’s Description

Your book’s description will appear on the Amazon product page. A well-written description will creatively summarize your book and entice someone to buy it.

This is where you can also incorporate any keywords for your book. Amazon KDP recommends avoiding basic keywords like ‘book’ and ‘new.’ Focus on themes and other key identifiers that make your book unique. 

Remember to end your description with a strong call to action that makes people want to read.

Confirming Your Publishing Rights

Do you hold the rights to publish the book? If you’re a self-publisher, this is where you will confirm you are the original creator of the book and have the legal rights to publish the book. If you are not the original creator, you will confirm the content is available in the public domain, meaning anyone can publish it.

Identifying Your Primary Audience

As you consider your target audience, you’ll need to select if your book has sexually explicit images or titles. This will help readers understand the content rating and ensure your book is marketed to the right audience.

If not, you can skip this section.

Choosing a Primary Marketplace

Where do you want your book to be listed? You will need to select the marketplaces you want your book to appear. Amazon is the default marketplace, but you can select another region.

Listing Your Book’s Categories

Identifying your book’s categories will help place your book into specific genres on Amazon. Adding specific categories can also help your book appear when people search for items.

The categories you select should reflect the theme of your book and be relevant so readers know exactly what your book is about.

Helpful tip: Check to see what other people have as their categories in your genre. 

Adding Keywords

Keywords are short phrases that help readers easily find your book on Amazon. You can choose up to 7 keywords to highlight, and they should differ from those used for your book’s title. Your competitors might use similar keywords, so be sure to be as specific as possible so your book stands out to readers!

Get Ready to Publish or Start Pre-Order Sales

Ready to release your book? Need to give it one final review before you publish it? You can release your book now or give readers the chance to pre-order before your book hits digital shelves.

The more precise your metadata is, the easier it is for potential readers to find your book. Amazon KDP’s interface guides you through this process, helping you optimize your metadata so that your book appears in the most valuable searches and appeals to your target audience. Properly managing your metadata can significantly increase your book’s chances of success on Amazon.

Rights and Pricing

Understanding your rights when publishing your book on Amazon KDP can help you set the right price for your book, which can greatly affect its success.

Step 7: Set up Global Marketplace Access

One of the biggest advantages of publishing with Amazon KDP is reaching a global audience. With Amazon KDP, you can choose which markets to target and set prices for different regions. This gives you more influence over the international success of your book by allowing you to adjust your pricing strategy based on the preferences and spending power of readers in various countries.

Step 8: Understand Royalty Management

Managing your royalties with Amazon KDP is straightforward and transparent. 

KDP offers two royalty options: 35% and 70%, depending on your pricing and distribution choices.

Their payment system also ensures you receive your royalties regularly, so you can focus on writing or relaxing while your income streams in.

Amazon KDP Publishing Cost & Royalties

Publishing on Amazon KDP is free, so you can publish your book without any upfront costs. However, Amazon does take a small percentage of your book’s sales in exchange for the platform’s distribution and publishing services. There are other Amazon self-publishing costs like ads, paid tools, editors, or ghostwriters to help you produce and advertise your book.

Depending on your royalty option, you’ll earn 35% or 70% of your book’s sale price. 

For eBooks, the 70% royalty option is available for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, while books outside this range will earn 35%. 

For paperbacks, the royalty rate is typically 60% of the list price minus printing costs.

How Do Kindle Direct Publishing Royalties Work?

Amazon KDP royalties are calculated based on your book’s sale price, the royalty option you selected, and any applicable taxes or fees. 

For eBooks, if you opt for the 70% royalty rate, you’ll earn 70% of the list price minus delivery costs, which are calculated based on your file size. 

For paperbacks, you’ll earn 60% of the list price minus the cost to print each copy, which varies based on page count and ink type.

Marketing and Promotion Tools

Now that your book is live on Amazon, the next step is getting it in front of as many eyes as possible. There are various marketing and promotion tools at your disposal, all designed to help you increase your book’s visibility and drive more sales.

Step 9: Consider Amazon Advertising

Amazon Advertising is a great way to boost your book’s visibility. This tool makes it easier for readers to discover your book by allowing you to:

• Set your budget
• Choose your target audience
• Track real-time ad performance

With Amazon's KDP Advertising, you can reach a broader audience and increase your chances of making sales, all while staying in control of your marketing spend.

Step 10: Explore KDP Select

Another powerful promotional tool is KDP Select, a program that offers several exclusive benefits to self-publishers who choose to distribute their eBooks ONLY through Amazon. Enrolling in KDP Select makes your book eligible for Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, which can significantly expand your readership. 

KDP Select also offers promotional opportunities such as free book promotions and countdown deals, which can help you generate buzz and increase your book’s sales ranking. While KDP Select does require exclusivity for eBooks, it’s a strategy worth considering if you want to maximize your book’s exposure on Amazon.

Post-Publication Support

Publishing your book is just the beginning. Amazon KDP provides ongoing support to help you manage your book after it goes live.

Step 11: Earn Customer Reviews and Feedback

Customer reviews play a huge part in your book’s success on Amazon. Positive reviews can boost your book’s credibility and attract more readers, while constructive feedback can provide ideas for changes you might want to make in the future. Read our guide to getting book reviews on Amazon.

Amazon KDP makes monitoring and responding to reviews easy, helping you stay engaged with your readers. Encouraging satisfied readers to leave reviews and addressing any concerns raised in negative feedback can help you maintain a strong reputation and improve your book’s overall performance.

Step 12: Consider Revisions and Updates

One of the great advantages of publishing with Amazon KDP is the ability to update your book at any time. Whether you’ve spotted a typo, want to add new content, or need to revise your cover design, Amazon KDP allows you to make revisions quickly and easily. These updates will be reflected in your eBook and print versions of your book, ensuring that new readers always receive the most up-to-date version. 

Note: Keeping your book current and high-quality isn't about maintaining reader satisfaction but ensuring you continue attracting sales over time.

Publishing Tools

Amazon KDP offers a suite of publishing tools to help you fine-tune every aspect of your book and make the process smooth and straightforward.

Kindle Create

One of the standout tools in Amazon KDP’s arsenal is Kindle Create. This free tool is a lifesaver when formatting your manuscript for Kindle. With Kindle Create, you can easily transform your text into a polished, professional-looking eBook with a clickable table of contents, chapter headers, and decorative elements. 

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The tool supports reflowable text, which adjusts to fit different screen sizes and fixed-format content, perfect for image-heavy books like cookbooks or graphic novels. Kindle Create also offers a preview feature to see exactly how your eBook will look on various Kindle devices before you publish.

KDP’s Cover Creator Tool

Your book’s cover is the first thing readers see, and KDP’s Cover Creator tool offers a variety of customizable templates and layouts, so you can easily add your title, writer name, and any other text. Additionally, you can upload images or choose from KDP’s gallery of stock photos to create a book cover design that perfectly captures your book’s essence. 

Financial Tools

Managing your finances well is an important part of any endeavor; luckily, Amazon KDP provides several tools to help you track your earnings and plan for the future.

Earnings Dashboard

Your Amazon KDP earnings dashboard gives you a clear, real-time view of your sales across all markets. It breaks down your earnings by format, region, and time period. You can keep your finances in check by seeing how different factors, such as pricing changes or promotions, impact your sales and income.

Royalty Calculator

The Royalty Calculator is another valuable tool for estimating your earnings before publishing. The calculator provides a detailed breakdown of your expected royalties for eBooks and paperbacks by inputting your book's list price, format, and distribution options. 

See your potential earnings with our helpful KDP royalty calculator!

This tool is especially useful when setting your book’s price, as it helps you balance affordability for readers while maximizing your profits. Whether planning your first book or managing a backlist, the Royalty Calculator is an essential resource for any self-publisher.

Educational Resources

Success often hinges on continuous learning, and this is particularly true in self-publishing. It's crucial to seek resources and tools that provide a wealth of educational content. Hopefully, this Kindle Direct Publishing guide will help you start your search for self-publishing.

Publishing.com

At Publishing.com, we provide comprehensive resources, blog posts, and courses to guide you through every step of your self-publishing journey. We offer Amazon self-publishing tutorials and so much more. From mastering the basics of book creation to advanced marketing strategies, our expert-led content is tailored to help you achieve your publishing goals.

KDP University

Amazon’s KDP University is another excellent resource to help you maximize the platform’s features. Whether you’re looking to refine your skills further or explore new strategies, KDP University is a valuable tool to add to your toolkit.

Community Forums

The self-publishing journey can sometimes feel solitary, but you don’t have to do it alone. Amazon KDP’s Community Forums are a vibrant space where people from around the world connect, share experiences, and offer advice. Learn new perspectives from others, gain new insights, and contribute your knowledge as you become part of something bigger.

Self-publishing is such a rewarding journey. With the right tools, resources, and support, you can navigate the complexities of publishing and be successful. If you’re stuck or need an extra push to get started, we’re here to support you on your publishing journey!