Kindle Self-Publishing: Is Publishing on Kindle Worth It?

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It’s impossible to deny that the rise of desktop publishing on Kindle has changed the world of books forever.

the first kindle e-reader device was released in 2007. amazon sold out completely in 6 hours and took almost half a year to offer it for sale again. readers instantly fell in love with the ability to carry a large selection of books with them wherever they went.

You are reading: Publishing books on kindle

To meet this new demand for eBooks, Amazon launched Kindle DirectPublishing alongside the physical Kindle device. It broke the boundaries that authors used to face when trying to get their book out into the world. There has never been an easier way to become an author.

related: amazon self-publish

but, is self-publishing on kindle worth it? Or should you find another place to publish your book?

Here’s everything you need to decide!

this guide to powering desktop publishing covers:

how to publish an ebook on kindle
how to publish a paperback on kindle
how does amazon kindle pay authors?
why should you publish on kindle yourself?
¿ why should you post anywhere else? ?
additional kindle desktop publishing resources
action steps to get started

kindle desktop publishing: basics

so what are the basics you need to know about desktop publishing on kindle?

The platform that Amazon offers is called KDP, which stands for Kindle Direct Publishing. It’s so called because it allows you to directly publish a book to the Amazon Store without the need for intermediaries or gatekeepers.

The process of uploading a book to kdp couldn’t be easier. if you are reading this now, you are capable of doing it. This is part of the reason there are so many unusual and obscure book categories on Amazon. anyone can post almost anything.

how do you publish an e-book on kindle?

To publish an ebook on kindle, just follow these easy steps.

Have a finalized manuscript and book cover that you are happy to use for the final version of your book.
Carefully check Amazon’s rules on content and quality to make sure your book complies. Don’t skip this step as it will slow things down and cause disruption later.
Sign in to Amazon using your existing account or make a brand new one. Standard Amazon accounts work with KDP, so there’s no need to make a separate account for publishing.
Ensure the browser app you are using is up to date as older browsers tend to crash during the upload and publication process.
Head to the KDP bookshelf section of your Amazon account. Choose ‘create a new title’ and select +Kindle eBook.
Input your book title, description, keywords, and categories.
Upload your book manuscript and book cover, using Amazon’s preview service to make sure everything looks the way you intended.
When everything is good to go, hit ‘publish your Kindle eBook’ to start the countdown until your book is live and available for sale.

The interface for uploading and publishing your eBook is simple and easy to understand, making it a painless process to get your book up for sale.

how do you publish a paperback book on kindle?

To publish a paperback on Kindle, simply follow the same steps as above for an e-book. the only difference is during step 5, instead of selecting +kindle ebook, select +paperback instead. Also, during step 6, you can choose the options you want for your paperback in terms of paper type, etc. and request a proof copy of your paperback for kindle.

You also have the option to create a kindle paperback from a kindle ebook. When you go to +Paperback, simply use the details from one of your existing eBooks and modify them as needed.

how long does it take to publish a book on kindle?

after the publishing process is finished, your book will be available in the kindle store within 72 hours. linking a paperback to an e-book takes 48 hours to a week.

which countries have a kindle store?

Currently, 15 amazon stores serve worldwide. Readers with a Kindle device can change their Kindle store location without creating a new Amazon account. this allows them to access books available in other parts of the world.

amazon has dedicated stores at:

usa
uk
australia
japan
france
canada
germany
spain
italy
china
brazil
mexico
singapore
netherlands
india

Isn’t it exciting to imagine all the readers you could reach in these markets?

is it free to publish a book on kindle?

yes, it’s free to publish on kindle. authors do not pay to set up their account or publish a book. The only time Amazon gets paid is when a book is sold. Authors then receive a royalty, depending on the price of their book, and Amazon receives the rest.

how does amazon kindle pay authors?

Royalties you earn from the sale of e-books and Kindle paperbacks through KDP Print are paid at the end of each month. You are paid approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which your royalties were earned. Let’s say, for example, you generate $2,000 in royalties in June. would receive a payment for this amount at the end of August.

There are three payment methods you can use to receive payments from amazon publishing, depending on your location:

direct deposit
bank transfer
check

The minimum threshold you need to earn for a payout is $100 for amazon.com. The rough equivalent applies to stores using other currencies, eg £100 is the minimum for the UK store.

why should you publish yourself on kindle?

So now that you know you can certainly publish a book on Amazon, it’s time to consider whether you should.

in a word, yes! If you’re looking for self-publishing success, there’s absolutely no reason not to make Amazon part of your plan.

The real question is how important amazon will be to your overall publishing plan. There are several levels of involvement with Kindle Direct Publishing and its associated programs, which we’ll explain later.

for now, check out our top five reasons why your book deserves to be sold on the kindle store:

amazon dominates the world of electronic books. It’s no surprise that Amazon is the biggest player in the e-book space. It’s a true example of the Pareto principle in action, with around 80% of all e-book sales in the US. uu. that are made on amazon and 20% elsewhere.

the kindle store is a diverse place. We are more aware than ever of the fact that traditional publishing tends to be dominated by people with privilege and connections. however, the kindle store is equally accessible to people of any race, religion, gender, or sexuality. it’s a great place to read diverse writing that you might not otherwise discover.

You can easily sell your work in different formats. Interested in offering your book in multiple formats, including audiobook and paperback options? Amazon has integrated its audiobook service, ACX, and its print-on-demand option, KDP Print, directly into the Kindle Store. it’s easy to offer your book in a variety of formats to suit every preference, and there’s great content to teach you how to get started with audiobooks.

amazon has powerful free and paid marketing options. Marketing books is a great challenge for many authors. When you choose to publish on Amazon, you can easily take advantage of their free and paid ways of showcasing your book to readers. You can invest in Amazon advertising or use the various promotional programs on offer.

author central powers your platform. every author who publishes on amazon has the option to create a central author profile. This is a hub where you can let readers learn more about you as an author, offer all your books in one place, and also link to other elements of your authoring platform, like your blog.

what special programs does amazon offer to self-published authors?

one of the main attractions of kindle for independent authors is the special programs that are offered.

If you publish yourself on kindle, you can participate in:

select kdp. by offering your ebook exclusively on amazon for periods of 90 days, you can benefit from its special programs such as unlimited kindle.
unlimited kindle. If you participate in Kindle Unlimited, readers have the option to check out your book for free and get paid for every page they read.
kindle countdown deals. Offer your book at a promotional price for a limited time, along with a countdown clock to drive urgency. you still receive the royalty rate you chose, even if the selling price is different than normal.
kindle lending library. If you choose this option, you allow people to lend your book to a limited number of friends and family.

Ultimately, there are too many good things about Kindle desktop publishing to ignore. it’s free and has great potential.

why should i post anywhere else?

Of course, nothing is perfect, and that is certainly the case with self-publishing on Kindle. there are things about it that the authors find frustrating.

Although we believe that the advantages of desktop publishing on kindle far outweigh the disadvantages, you should not ignore them.

ethical objections. Let’s be real. While it can be incredibly convenient to use, there are ethical issues some people have with Amazon. If you have serious issues with the way Amazon does business, think carefully about how much you want to support them.

problems with reviews. The media has paid a lot of attention over the years to the problems that arise with the amazon review system. There are fake reviews, both positive and negative, that often manage to stay one step ahead of Amazon’s attempts to shut them down. There is also the opposite problem where the company is heavy-handed and removes what the authors consider to be valid reviews.

exclusivity exchange. if you want to participate in programs like kdp select, you won’t be able to sell your book anywhere else. You need to weigh the benefits of being exclusive on Amazon versus featuring your book in other stores.

diversify your income. If you put all your eggs in the Amazon basket, you risk a big drop in revenue if things take a turn for the worse. By appearing in multiple stores, you protect yourself against losing almost all of your income should something go wrong with Amazon.

Just to reiterate, we believe all authors should be on amazon to some degree, unless you have very strong ethical objections to the company. the only question is whether you should be exclusive to them or not. that is a choice that only you can make after weighing the pros and cons.

additional resources for better self-publishing on kindle

now you know all the basics of self-publishing on kindle, as well as the main pros and cons to help you evaluate if it is the right option for you.

If you’re ready to go further, we have many more in-depth resources to help you succeed.

Check out our free resources for:

kindle direct publishing. A detailed guide to Kindle Direct Publishing. contains a great section on how to convert your word manuscript into a kindle ready file.
turn on unlimited. Our full review of the Kindle Unlimited program to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your book.
publication of electronic books. Best-selling author Scott Allan shares a detailed, step-by-step approach to eBook publishing.
Amazon Author Central. a comprehensive guide to setting up and getting the most out of your author hub.
box set creation. how to create a box set or series packs on amazon.

With this overview of how to publish on kindle and those detailed guides, you have all the information you need to give your book the best possible chance of success.

steps to follow to get started

If you’re still reading, you’re probably ready to take action! great. here are some practical steps you can use to get a jump start.

decide where you are. do you have a book ready to upload to kindle? Do you need more work to get your manuscript ready? figure out a plan for how to get to the point where you have both a cover and a manuscript you think are worth publishing.
get familiar with direct publishing from kindle. If this is your first time posting to Amazon, you’ve probably never seen the kdp backend before. log in and familiarize yourself with its appearance and operation.
plan your publishing schedule. When do you plan to publish? how will you plan your launch? you should approach publishing intentionally and strategically. it’s not something you should jump right into or you won’t get the best results.
fill any knowledge gaps. If there’s something you feel you need to learn, read on or invest in a full course. but don’t keep studying forever. the best results come from first-hand experience!

For both fiction and non-fiction authors, publishing on kindle is a valuable opportunity that should not be overlooked. the royalty rates are great, it’s easy to do, and you can go beyond books by offering your work in other formats and linking to their broader authoring platform.

If you have any tips for posting on kindle, let us know in the comments! Do you see more pros or cons? feel free to share your opinion.

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