Why self-publish on Amazon?
Amazon is the world's largest online retailer and a must for self-published authors. With millions of users, Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a top choice for authors looking to distribute their books.
However, one thing that many self-published authors don't realize is that just because you choose to self-publish and broaden your reach on their platform doesn't mean you have to specifically limit yourself to using just their services.
What are your publishing options on Amazon?
Publishing your book on Amazon means you have to choose two distinctive routes. Both have their pros and cons and it's important to understand the full picture of how both services work so that you can make the best choice for your book based on your needs and goals.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the platform that self-published authors use to publish their eBooks on the Amazon Kindle eBook reader. Millions of users read eBooks on Amazon's Kindle, which in itself enables you to reach a very large audience.
Pros:
- Reach millions of Amazon Kindle users and sell on other platforms besides Amazon
- Enjoy full control over the price and availability of your book
Cons:
- Royalties vary from 35%-70% of your book depending on the price
- No access to free book promotions through Amazon Kindle
- No access to Kindle Unlimited (a monthly subscription service that lets Amazon Kindle users access a variety of ebooks and digital magazines)
Amazon KDP Select
Amazon's KDP Select gives self-published authors several additional promotional tools, including the opportunity to participate in Kindle Unlimited. Unfortunately, it also means that Amazon retains exclusivity to your eBook, meaning you can't distribute it on other platforms.
Pros:
- You can make your book available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers
- You can take advantage of free promotions by offering your book for free for up to five days in a 90-day period
- You can offer your book at a discount through Kindle Countdown Deals, and readers will see a countdown clock showing how much time is left before the price goes up
Cons:
- As long as you're enrolled in KDP Select, you cannot distribute your eBook on other platforms like Apple Books or Barnes & Noble
- Amazon may limit your control over how you price your book
Explore self-publishing on Amazon
Should you use Amazon's KDP Select?
If you're a new or little-known author, being on KDP select can help give you the boost you need to be discovered by readers. Tools like Kindle countdown deals and free book promotion and placement on Kindle Unlimited can help you build an initial audience and get reviews for your book.
If you write for a popular genre like romance, mystery, thriller, sci-fi, or fantasy, these types of books tend to perform well on KDP Select. If you write and release books regularly (such as a series), you might also benefit more from KDP Select because each new release reignites interest in the series as a whole. Kindle Unlimited users in particular are well-known for binge-reading books by the same author, which means more page reads and more royalties for you.
There are, however, instances where KDP Select isn't the best option. Most importantly, if you want to distribute your book widely to as large of an audience as possible, the exclusivity constraints of KDP Select can hurt your exposure. KDP Select requires 90 days of exclusivity for your eBook. If you're planning to distribute your eBook through other platforms like Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo and Barnes & Noble, KDP Select isn't a good option.
If you're a niche author or you have a very specialized topic or audience, you may have better luck casting a wider net with more distribution options.
A word about earnings on KDP Select
When using KDP Select, the royalties you earn from Kindle Unlimited subscription users are calculated by the number of pages read instead of the price of the book. For some authors, this means lower earnings compared to full eBook sales. If making the most per sale is your goal, which is common for shorter books or higher-priced books, KDP may not be the best place for it.
Should you choose Print On Demand for physical books?
Some readers simply enjoy having a printed and bound book to hold over using an eReader. For those users, Amazon's Print On Demand (using KDP) is an option. However, just because Amazon offers Print On Demand (POD) through its Kindle Direct Publishing platform doesn't mean you have to use their Print On Demand service.
In fact, there are several reasons why you'll want to look elsewhere.
Print On Demand with Amazon
- Royalties from your printed book sales are around 60-70% depending on the price you set, and whether the book is sold in the U.S. or internationally. This is a big chunk of your sales, and as a self-published author, if this is your sole income, you need to keep as much of your money as possible in your own pocket.
- Unless you choose Expanded Distribution (more on that in a moment), you're limited in distribution to Amazon.com and Amazon's global marketplaces (like Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de). Expanded distribution does give your book some limited additional exposure at other retailers and libraries, but by and large the focus is on Amazon.com and its properties.
- When publishing through KDP, Amazon has control over your pricing and terms, particularly if you choose KDP Select.
If you're planning to work directly on and within Amazon and are happy to use their tools, Amazon's Print On Demand option may be the right choice for you. Keep in mind, however, that you'll be paid lower royalties and you'll have less distribution reach due to being limited by the Amazon ecosystem.
Should you use Amazon's expanded distribution program?
Amazon's Expanded Distribution program gets your book into the hands of retailers and libraries outside of Amazon.com. It can sound like an exciting option for authors who want to reach a wider audience, but like all of Amazon's self-publishing tools and channels, there are trade-offs.
Pros:
- Your book becomes available to bookstores, online retailers, and libraries via major book wholesalers
- You have the opportunity to sell your book in physical bookstores, although keep in mind that most retailers prefer traditionally published books as they have better profit margins
Cons:
- Amazon only pays 40% of the retail price for books that are sold through the Expanded Distribution option, which leaves you with a smaller royalty
- You have less control over pricing, and your book may not be as competitively priced in non-Amazon stores.
Get the best of both worlds with Amazon + BookBaby
Rather than having to rely solely on Amazon to print and promote your book, you can get the best of both worlds by self publishing with Amazon and BookBaby. Here's how it works:
Print On Demand + eBook Distribution
When you Print On Demand with BookBaby, your physical book will be available on Amazon.com right alongside your eBook. Your book will also be listed on other major book retailers, including Barnes & Noble and specialty retailers and libraries. With BookBaby's Print On Demand service, you don't need to hold inventory; when a reader orders a book, it's printed and shipped directly to them.
One of the best reasons to choose BookBaby for self-publishing is that you pay zero commissions from your Amazon book sales. You get to keep all of the revenue from your sales, which is a major advantage that using BookBaby's Print In Demand service over using Amazon's POD and paying royalties on every book you sell.
Boost your eBook sales with maximum exposure
Thanks to BookBaby's eBook distribution, your eBook will be available on Amazon Kindle and other devices, like the Kindle Fire. Your eBook will also be distributed to platforms like Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and other eBook retailers. That means even if your readers don't use the Amazon Kindle, you still have access to a large, expansive network.
Here again, you always keep 100% of your royalties, in sharp contrast to Amazon's 35-70% revenue split.
Take advantage of a vast global distribution network
Rather than truncating your potential sales by only using Amazon, BookBaby's global distribution network lets you sell your eBook on a variety of platforms, including:
- Apple Books
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Google Play
- Libraries and academic networks like Libby and Hoopla
Explore eBook distribution
You're in complete control
Another major reason many self-published authors choose to work with BookBaby to publish on Amazon is that you enjoy complete control and flexibility over your pricing and distribution channels. You keep full ownership of your book, with no exclusivity and the ability to keep 100% of your royalties from the sales you make.
You can still take advantage of Amazon's tools when using BookBaby
Many self-published authors believe that they need to choose one platform or the other when it comes to getting their book into print, and getting their eBook into the hands of readers. The truth is, you can still take advantage of many of Amazon's tools when using BookBaby. Here are a few options:
What if I've already published my eBook on Amazon KDP?
If you've already published your Bbook on Amazon KDP, you can use BookBaby's distribution services for your printed book. BookBaby can distribute your print version or your eBook through other platforms, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and more.
Remember that if you're enrolled in KDP Select, you need your eBook to remain exclusive to Amazon for 90 days. This type of hybrid approach lets you tap into Amazon's marketplace as well as reach readers who use other platforms.
Can I still use Amazon Author Central if I publish with BookBaby?
You as an author, can create and manage your own Amazon Author Central account even if you're using BookBaby for your distribution. You can personalize your author page by adding a biography and a list of all your published books. Plus, you can share blog posts and updates with your followers.
This is a great way to create a stronger connection with your readers while giving them easy access to your whole book catalog. Amazon Author Central also gives you analytical details about your sales, customer reviews, and where your readers are located geographically. A well-maintained author profile also improves your book's discoverability on Amazon and in search engines like Google.
How do I choose the right keywords to get my book found on Amazon?
Choosing the right keywords is important to make sure that readers can find your book when they search on Amazon. When you work with BookBaby, our self-publishing professionals can help you choose the best keywords to help optimize your book listing, but there are also some tips that you can follow in general that will improve your book's visibility:
- Think about the terms your target audience would use when searching for books like yours. You can go broad, for example “science fiction” or “romantic comedy” and you can (and should) also go niche, like “time travel thriller” or “post-apocalyptic romance”.
- Use the popularity of other books in your genre: You can also use keywords similar to popular books in your genre. Look for books that have similar plotlines, themes or audiences to see if you can apply some of their keywords. For example, if your post-apocalyptic romance has elements similar to The Hunger Games, you could use terms like “dystopian young adult” or “survival competition.”
- Amazon will even help you by suggesting keywords: Amazon has an auto-suggest feature. Type a keyword related to your book in the search bar and it will suggest related keywords.
Learn more about metadata optimization
Your self-publishing action plan using Amazon and BookBaby
There's a way to self-publish your eBook or print book and use the features of both BookBaby and Amazon to get the best possible results. Here is your comprehensive “next steps” plan of action.
1. Start with BookBaby for the largest distribution
Use BookBaby for global distribution to retailers outside of Amazon, including Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and more. BookBaby also distributes your book to libraries and specialty book retailers, giving you a far wider reach than Amazon alone.
2. Avoid storing inventory with Print On Demand
Rather than having to store and manage your own physical inventory of books, rely on BookBaby's Print on Demand service that prints and ships your book whenever a reader places an order. BookBaby's POD service also allows your book to be found on Barnes & Noble and other major outlets, as well as Amazon.com, but without the major chunk taken out of your royalties by using Amazon's POD services.
3. Let BookBaby handle formatting your eBook and printed book
BookBaby is more than just a Print On Demand service and global distributor. We can handle the cover design, formatting and even editing of your book to make sure it meets the standards for print and digital versions. Once your book is formatted, it's ready for sale on Amazon and beyond.
4. Publish on Amazon via KDP for maximum exposure
The Kindle-reading audience is not one you'll want to miss. Given that Amazon is one of the largest platforms for eBook sales, you'll want to take advantage of its massive reach. Publishing through KDP also lets you tap into Amazon's powerful sales algorithms and recommendations, which can boost your book's visibility.
You can also use Amazon's Print On Demand, but given that BookBaby also distributes to Amazon among many others, getting your print copies published through BookBaby is the simpler option, as you'll have your book distribution handled through a single platform.
5. Decide whether you want to enroll in KDP Select
KDP Select lets you access exclusive tools like Kindle Countdown Deals and Kindle Unlimited (KU) but it requires that your book be exclusive to Amazon for 90 days. You can always enroll in KDP Select for 90 days after launching your eBook to take advantage of Amazon's tools, then choose not to renew and continue distributing your eBook through BookBaby.
6. Take advantage of BookBaby's marketing services
BookBaby offers various marketing services that go well beyond Amazon's tools, including digital advertising, social media marketing, author websites, and direct-to-reader sales through BookBaby Bookshop. Use these tools to reach readers outside of Amazon, including libraries and bookstores.
7. Manage your royalties and commissions
Remember that by using BookBaby for print books on Amazon, you'll enjoy zero commissions taken from your Amazon sales. That means you keep 100% of the royalties from your physical book sales while having BookBaby handle the printing and distribution.
8. Set consistent prices
You'll want to make sure that once your book is published, that you have competitive, consistent pricing across all of the platforms your book is found on. By using BookBaby, you keep full control over your pricing across non-Amazon platforms. On Amazon, you can set your own prices through the KDP program, keeping in mind that depending on your price range, their royalty structure will take 35-70%.
9. Monitor your sales and performance
Both Amazon.com's KDP Dashboard and BookBaby's distribution reports will track the sales performance of your books. This will show you how your book is doing across different platforms.
10. Take advantage of author tools
We've already discussed Amazon's Author Central in detail as a way to connect with your readers, but you can also benefit from BookBaby Bookshop. Bookshop allows readers to purchase your book directly and lets you keep a larger portion of the sales price — up to 85% of the retail price. This is an ideal option to drive additional sales, particularly if you're handling your own marketing through social media or your custom website.
After following the steps in this plan, keep updating your promotional strategies, including offering special discounts, bundling your eBook with other options, and using social media to connect with your readers.
Explore book marketing
Your next steps: Self-publishing on Amazon and beyond
Whether you're an aspiring author or you've already established a following of readers, self-publishing on Amazon requires you to make some concrete decisions. Amazon's sheer reach and popularity give you some great options, but using BookBaby's detailed
self-publishing services
will help you get the most out of that exposure.
Starting with Amazon KDP for your eBook is a great way to tap into the world's largest eBook marketplace. Deciding to give Amazon 90 days of exclusivity through KDP Select opens up your book to extra promotion through Kindle Countdown Deals, Kindle Unlimited, and more. This is a great way for unknown or little-known authors to quickly build up reviews and attract new fans.
However, relying solely on Amazon can limit your reach, which is why you'll want to leverage BookBaby's distribution services alongside BookBaby's Print On Demand service. This lets you offer physical copies of your book across a global network of popular retailers while keeping 100% of your royalties.
Using Amazon's distribution platform to boost your visibility means playing by their rules and requirements. That means choosing the right kind of keywords, updating your Author Central page, and more. Adding to those features, you can use BookBaby's marketing services further help broaden your reach and drive traffic (and readers) to your book well beyond what Amazon itself is capable of.
The best self-publishing strategy combines the reach and popularity of Amazon with the global distribution and print on demand capabilities of BookBaby. This hybrid approach lets you build a solid foundation for your book and ebook's success, making sure it reaches the widest audience possible — and that's something traditional publishing simply can't match.
Talk to a Publishing Specialist