How to publish your book on Amazon? Learn Self-Publishing

Listing book on Amazon is every Author’s goal. This blog will help you to publish your book on Amazon KDP.

KDP Publishing is easy if you follow the step-by-step process. Let’s start the process:

Step 1. Create your KDP account.

The first step is to create your KDP account. You can log in to KDP with your regular Amazon account as well. But, keep in mind that you can only have ONE KDP account. A second account could get you banned.

During the account creation process, you’ll need to provide your bank information (to get paid!).

Step 2. Enter your book details

You’ll have to provide your book information, like book description, keywords, and categories, because it will get your book in front of the right readers and convince them to buy it.

Your book description, categories, and keywords are significant factors in deciding how well your book does on Amazon. Don’t rush through these.

• Description: Consider this as the sales copy that will persuade a potential reader to take a chance on your book. What would they want to know? What would entice them to buy? Hook your readers in around 250-word count.
• Keywords: What keywords someone will use to find a book like yours? You get seven keyword slots with 50 characters each, so plan out and use your seven keywords smartly!
• Categories: Amazon allows you to select the BEST two categories for your book manually. Imagine you’re in a bookstore—where would someone look for your book? Make sure your main two categories represent your book.

Step 3. Upload your manuscript

For an ebook, you can upload .doc(x), .epub, and .mobi. Yes, Amazon will accept an .epub; it will convert it for you.

You must have the book formatted as a print-ready .pdf file for paperback.

Step 4. Upload your cover

A book cover is a vital element for uploading your book on Amazon. Amazon does have a cover creator, but I don’t recommend you use it. The cover is the first thing potential buyers will see, so make sure it’s:

1. Attractive
2. Genre-appropriate
3. Legible at thumbnail size

For the best result, have a professional cover designer create your cover. Though you can create your book cover using a tool called Canva. Make sure you give your best shot at this, as the cover is your book’s first impression. For an ebook, you can upload a .jpg file.

For a paperback, you must also upload a .pdf for the cover. You cannot upload an image file (.jpg, png, etc.).

Step 5. Hit publish button!

It usually takes around 48-72 hours for Amazon to approve your book and

make it live on the site for sale. You shouldn’t have any problems getting approved if you’ve followed Amazon’s formatting, cover, and content guidelines.

KDP Publishing Details Checklist

Amazon will ask you for the following details, so be ready with the following information: 

• Book Language
• Book title
• Book subtitle (optional)
• Series information: (optional) If the book is part of a series, you’ll need to provide the name and the number.
• Edition number: (optional)
•  Leave this blank if it’s not applicable.
• Author information: Your name or if you are using any pen name
• Contributor information: In the case of co-author of the book, you can enter them here (optional)
• Description: This is important! Book description is your sales page for attracting potential readers.
• Publishing rights information: If you are self-publishing your book, you need to declare that you own the copyright of your book. 
• Keywords: 7 keyword slots with 50 characters each.
• Categories: 2 BEST categories.
• Age and Grade information: This applies to erotica or children’s books.
• Pre-order selection: (optional) If you are putting your book on pre-order, you’ll enter the date here.
• Digital Rights Management choice: Decide whether you want to put a DRM on your ebook or not. You cannot change this after publishing.
• ISBN: If you’re using your ISBN, have it ready; Amazon will assign you an ASIN instead if you don’t have ISBN.
• KDP Select Enrollment: If you choose to be exclusive to Amazon, you can opt into KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited).
• Territories: Where do you want to sell your book? You must hold the rights to all territories.
• Royalty & Pricing: You can set the price for your book, and Amazon will tell you exactly what royalty to expect for each sale.
• Book Lending: Do you want to list your book in the Kindle Lending Library or not. This choice is automatic if you are enrolled in KDP Select.
• Matchbook: If you have both paperback and an ebook, you can offer your ebook at a reduced price to those who buy the paperback.
• Terms & Conditions: This is Amazon’s T&C checkbox.

About the Author