Looking to learn how to publish a book on Amazon KDP? This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process, from setting up your account to hitting the publish button. Follow along with the video tutorial below or continue reading for a comprehensive breakdown of the Amazon KDP publishing process.

Today I’m showing you exactly how to publish your book on Amazon KDP. By the end of this video, you’ll understand every step of the publishing process, from setting up your account to hitting that publish button. 

And make sure to stay until the end because I’ll highlight five common mistakes that many new authors overlook and can hurt your book’s success. 

Setting Up Your Amazon KDP Account

Alright, so before you can publish, you’ll need to set up your KDP account at kdp.amazon.com. This requires three key things: your personal information, tax details, and payment information. So make sure you fill out everything completely – missing information will prevent you from publishing.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of account creation, let’s move to the next step of how to publish a book on Amazon KDP – navigating the dashboard and creating your title.

Understanding the KDP Dashboard

Once you’ve created your account head over to your KDP dashboard. This is where you’ll manage all your books. To start publishing, click the yellow button with the plus sign next to ‘Create a New Title.’ You’ll then choose between eBook, paperback, or hardcover. 

For the sake of this video, we’ll choose the ebook option. However, whether you choose ebook, paperback, or hardcover, the process is basically the same.

Entering Your Book Details on Amazon KDP

For your book details, start with your title and subtitle. Make sure they match exactly what appears on your cover. If your book is part of a series, you can indicate that here along with the edition number which is optional.

Next, you’ll input the primary author – that’s you – and any contributors like editors or illustrators. 

Next is your book description which is a crucial marketing tool. Think of it as your back cover – it needs to grab attention and make readers want more. So let me share how to make it effective.

First, start with a strong opening paragraph that hooks readers. Then, break down your key points into short, scannable paragraphs – this makes it easier to read on Amazon’s website and mobile app.

And here’s a pro tip: You can use basic HTML to make your description stand out. Adding bold text for important points, italics for emphasis, and bullet points for key features helps readers quickly understand your book’s value. If you need a second set of eyes on your book’s description, check out my book description review service – link is in the description below.

Alright, so next up is copyright. If you own all rights to this book, which most self-published authors do, select ‘I own the copyright.’ Choose your primary audience and select your primary marketplace – this is typically Amazon.com for most authors in the U.S.

Getting your book details right is a crucial part of how to publish a book on Amazon KDP effectively. Proper categorization and keywords are equally important for discoverability.

Optimizing Categories and Keywords for Discoverability

Next is the Category section. Amazon now lets you choose three categories for your book – this is a major opportunity for visibility. 

And here’s a pro tip: New authors often make the mistake of choosing broad categories like ‘Self-Help.’ Instead, drill down into specific subcategories where there’s less competition. This gives your book a better chance of ranking well and being discovered by your target readers.

For example, instead of just ‘Self-Help,’ navigate through the subcategories to find more specific placements where your book can stand out. The more specific your subcategories, the better chance you have of reaching the right readers.

Now with that said, if you select categories that aren’t relevant, you’ll create a poor shopping experience for readers. So balance popularity and relevance and aim for categories that are popular enough to have reader interest, but not so broad (or specific) that your book gets lost.

Okay so categories are just one way readers find your book. 

Next, let’s look at keywords, which are equally crucial for helping the right readers discover your book. 

In this section, you get seven keyword slots, but here’s what many authors miss – each slot can hold multiple words. Instead of just single words like ‘business’ or ‘success,’ use specific phrases readers might search for.

And here’s a pro tip: If you want to really understand what keywords readers are using, check out my video ‘5 Strategies to Write & Sell a Bestseller BEFORE You Finish Writing!’ where I show you how to use Answer The Public to research exactly what readers are searching for on Amazon.

Okay now that you’ve set up your book’s discoverability, let’s talk about pre-orders – a strategy that can help build buzz before your book launches. 

Setting Up Pre-Orders on Amazon KDP

Amazon lets you set up your book for pre-order up to 12 months before your release date. This can be a powerful marketing tool, giving you time to promote your book and build anticipation. Just remember – you’ll need to have your final file uploaded at least 72 hours before your release date.

And here’s a pro-tip a lot of first time authors miss. You can also promote your eBook’s pre-order page on Author Central, Goodreads, your own site, and elsewhere. And this is valuable because pre-orders will contribute toward sales rank even before your eBook’s released, which can help more readers discover your book.

Uploading Your Manuscript and Cover

Okay let’s move on to the Kindle eBook Content page. This is where you’ll upload your manuscript. Click ‘Upload eBook manuscript’ and select your file. Amazon accepts Word (DOC/DOCX) files, but they also accept KPF, MOBI, and EPUB files. And make sure to check out my Kindle Create or Reedsy formatting tutorials if you need help with formatting.

Next is Digital Rights Management, or DRM. This is Amazon’s copy protection – and an important decision, because once you choose to enable or disable it, you can’t change your mind later. With that said, a lot of authors choose ‘No DRM’ to make it easier for readers to access their book on multiple devices.

Now onto your book cover. You can either upload your own cover image or use Amazon’s Cover Creator. For a professional look, I recommend having a custom cover designed. Your cover needs to be at least 1600 pixels on the longest side and the maximum file size is 50MB. Keep in mind that your cover is often the first thing potential readers see – so I highly recommend investing in professional design to stand out in Amazon’s search results.

And a pro tip is to make sure your book cover also looks good as a thumbnail because that’s how potential readers will most often see it.

For AI-Generated Content, you’ll need to indicate if any part of your book was created using AI tools. And be honest here – Amazon has specific policies about AI content.

Okay now this is important… before moving forward, use the preview tool to check how your book looks on different devices. Pay special attention to your table of contents, images, and chapter headings. Take your time here – what you see in the previewer is exactly what your readers will see.

After uploading your manuscript and cover, you’re moving closer to completing the process of how to publish a book on Amazon KDP. Next, you’ll need to make important decisions about distribution.

ISBN Options for Your Amazon KDP Book

Lastly, you’ll need to decide about your ISBN. Amazon will provide a free one for your eBook. While Bowker sells ISBNs for around $125, for most self-published authors, Amazon’s free option works perfectly fine. The main benefit of owning your ISBN is if you plan to distribute your eBook through multiple platforms or if you’re starting your own publishing company. Otherwise, Amazon’s free ISBN will serve your needs.

Now for some important decisions about your book’s distribution. 

Distribution and KDP Select Decisions

KDP Select is Amazon’s exclusive program. Here’s what you need to know: When your book is enrolled in KDP Select you can’t sell your eBook anywhere else for 90 days, but you get valuable benefits like promotional tools, Kindle Unlimited royalties, and the ability to run free book promotions. For new authors, this exclusivity can help you focus your marketing efforts and potentially reach more readers through Kindle Unlimited. However, you’re limiting yourself to just Amazon – so consider your long-term distribution strategy before enrolling.

In my experience, for most first-time authors, the benefits of KDP Select outweigh the limitations for at least the first 90 days while you get established.

For territories, most authors choose worldwide rights – this lets you sell your book in all Amazon marketplaces. Your primary marketplace is typically where you expect most sales. For most authors within the U.S., that’s Amazon.com.

Pricing Your Book on Amazon KDP

Now, pricing. For eBooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99, you’ll earn a 70% royalty. Price outside this range, and it drops to 35%. So make sure to consider your market and book length when setting your price and look at similar books in your category for guidance.

When setting international prices, don’t just use the auto-conversion tool. Consider market differences – for example, books are typically priced higher in Australia but lower in India. Taking time to strategically price for each market can increase your global sales.

And here’s a pro tip: Look at successful books in your category that are similar in length and content quality. So for example a full-length non-fiction eBook (200+ pages), most authors find success in the $7.99 to $9.99 range. Shorter books or guides might do well at $4.99 to $6.99. And remember – pricing too low can actually hurt sales by suggesting lower value.

Finally, make sure to review the Terms & Conditions. Take a moment to understand what you’re agreeing to, especially regarding your rights as an author. And then click accept.

Understanding these pricing and distribution options is essential when learning how to publish a book on Amazon KDP. Now, let’s look at five common mistakes to avoid during the publishing process.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Publishing on Amazon KDP

Ok so now that you understand the publishing process, let me share those five crucial mistakes I promised – these can make the difference between a successful launch and a frustrating experience.

1. Not completing your author central profile after publishing
2. Publishing without having your book description professionally proofread
3. Launching without any reader reviews lined up
4. Choosing a release date without a marketing plan
5. Not testing your book’s download on different devices

Taking time to avoid these mistakes will help ensure a smoother publishing process and better sales potential.

Ok so now that you have everything set up and you know the common mistakes to avoid, you’re now ready to publish your first book on Amazon! Remember to double-check all your details before hitting that publish button. And your book should go live within 72 hours. You’ll receive an email confirmation when it’s available.

By following this guide on how to publish a book on Amazon KDP, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the self-publishing process and avoid common pitfalls that many first-time authors face.

If you need a complete guide to the entire self-publishing process, from writing to marketing your book, check out my video ‘Self-Publishing Your Book: A Step-by-Step Guide‘ where I walk you through everything you need to know to become a successfully published author.

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