Publishing on KDP: Guide

Congratulations on reaching this stage with your book! Selling your book through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Sign Up for KDP:

   • If you haven’t already, sign up for a KDP account at KDP's website. You'll need an Amazon account to do so.

2. Prepare Your Book:

   • InDesign allows you to export your book in various formats. For an eBook on KDP, you'll want to export it as an EPUB file.
   • Alternatively, if you’re planning to create a print version via KDP (previously CreateSpace), you can export your file from InDesign as a PDF. Make sure you adhere to KDP’s print guidelines for interior and cover specifications.

3. Create a New Kindle eBook or Paperback:

   • Once you've logged in to KDP, go to your Bookshelf.
   • Click the "+ Create a new Kindle eBook" or "+ Create a new Paperback" button, depending on your preference.

4. Enter Book Details:

   • Title and Subtitle: Fill in the title of your book and a subtitle if you have one.
   • Series: If your book is part of a series, input series information.
   • Edition Number: If this is a subsequent edition of your book, enter the edition number.
   • Author: Your name or pen name.
   • Contributors: Anyone else who contributed to the book.
   • Description: Write an engaging description for your book to attract readers.
   • Publishing Rights: State whether the book is copyrighted or public domain.
   • Categories: Select the appropriate genre or category for your book.
   • Age Range & U.S. Grade Range: Optional, but useful if your book is for children or young adults.
   • Keywords: Use relevant keywords that potential readers might use to find your book.
   • ISBN: If you have one. If not, KDP can assign a free ISBN for paperbacks.

5. Upload or Design Book Cover:

   • If you have a pre-made cover, upload it. For print, ensure it includes the front, spine, and back. For an eBook, you only need the front.
   • Alternatively, you can use KDP's Cover Creator to design a cover.

6. Upload Book Content:

   • Click “Upload eBook manuscript” or the equivalent for paperback.
   • Find and select your EPUB or PDF file.
   • Wait for the upload to complete and for KDP to process the file.

7. Preview Your Book:

   • Use the online previewer to see how your book will look to readers. Check for formatting issues and ensure everything appears correctly.

8. Determine Book Pricing:

   • Set your desired price. Consider your audience, book length, and comparable titles in your genre.
   • Enroll in KDP Select if you want to give Amazon exclusive distribution rights in exchange for benefits like being part of Kindle Unlimited.

9. Set up Paperback Details (if applicable):

   • Choose the trim size, paper color, and binding type.
   • Set distribution rights and territories.
   • Determine your book's price and distribution channels.

10. Publish:

    • Once everything is set and you’re satisfied, hit the “Publish Your Kindle eBook” or “Publish Your Paperback Book” button.

11. Promotion:

    • After publishing, consider promotional strategies like Kindle Countdown Deals or Free Book Promotions if you've enrolled in KDP Select.

Remember, it might take up to 72 hours for your book to become available in the Kindle Store. Once it’s live, spread the word! Use social media, your website, email lists, and other marketing methods to promote your book.

Lastly, keep an eye on reviews, sales, and any reader feedback. This information can be invaluable for marketing, future revisions, or your next book project. Good luck with your publishing journey!

When you publish an eBook on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), you have the opportunity to choose between two different royalty plans for your book sales. Here's a breakdown:

1. Royalty Plans:

• 70% Royalty Option:
  • You earn 70% of the list price of your eBook minus delivery costs.
  • Delivery costs are based on the file size of your eBook. For example, a larger file with many images will have a higher delivery fee than a smaller text-only file.
  • There are certain requirements and territorial restrictions for this option. For example, to qualify for the 70% royalty rate, your book's list price must be between $2.99 and $9.99 in the U.S.
• 35% Royalty Option:
  • You earn 35% of the list price without any deductions for delivery costs.
  • This option doesn't have the pricing restrictions of the 70% royalty option, so you can price your book outside the $2.99 to $9.99 range.

2. Setting Kindle eBook List Prices:

• List Price: This is the price at which your eBook will be sold on Amazon. When you set the list price, you should consider factors like the length of your book, the genre, comparable titles, and your desired royalty rate.

• Minimum and Maximum Price: Depending on which royalty plan you choose, there will be a minimum and maximum price you can set for your eBook. For instance, if you choose the 70% royalty option, there's typically a minimum price of $2.99 (in the U.S.).

• KDP Pricing Support: Amazon offers a tool called KDP Pricing Support that can suggest a list price for your eBook based on factors like historical data and comparable book prices. It's an optional tool, but it can give you some guidance if you're unsure about pricing.

Recommendations:

• Consider your book's content, length, and target audience. If you believe that your content is of high value and there's a demand for it, you might opt for a higher price point within the 70% royalty bracket.
• If you're a new author, some opt to price their book on the lower side to attract initial readers and reviews. As you build a readership, you can consider adjusting the price.
• Keep in mind that Amazon sometimes changes its policies or offerings. Always refer to KDP's official guidelines and terms when setting prices and choosing a royalty plan.

Once you've selected a royalty plan and set your list price, you can move forward with publishing your eBook on Amazon!

It appears you're presented with a breakdown of how royalties would be calculated for your Kindle eBook based on the two different royalty options provided by KDP: the 35% plan and the 70% plan.

Let's break down what's shown:

1. Book File Size: Your book's size after conversion is 0.79 MB. This size will factor into the delivery costs if you choose the 70% royalty option.

2. List Price for Amazon.com: You've set it at $40.00. This is the price at which customers will purchase your eBook on Amazon.com.

3. Delivery Cost: It's showing $0.00, which means there's no additional cost for delivering the book to customers based on its current size.

4. Royalty Options:

   • 35% Option: If you choose this, you'll earn 35% of the list price, with no deductions for delivery costs. For your $40.00 book, that would be $14.00.
   • 70% Option: This isn't available at your current list price of $40.00. The 70% royalty rate typically requires the book to be priced between $2.99 and $9.99 in the U.S. If you were within that range, you'd earn 70% of the list price minus any delivery costs (which are $0 in this case). However, because of the price you've set, this option is currently not applicable ("n/a").

In summary:

• At the $40.00 price point, you're eligible only for the 35% royalty rate, meaning you'd earn $14.00 for each sale on Amazon.com.
• If you want to avail the 70% royalty rate, you'd need to adjust your book's price to fit within the allowable range for that rate (typically $2.99 to $9.99 in the U.S., but always check KDP's guidelines as this can change).

The choice depends on your strategy. Some authors price their books higher with the 35% rate when they believe the content justifies it, while others aim for the 70% rate to potentially earn more per sale within the allowed price range.

Your question about royalty optimization is essentially a matter of math and strategy. Let's break down the numbers first:

1. 70% Royalty on $9.99:
   • 70% of $9.99 = $6.993 (approximately $7.00)
2. 35% Royalty: To determine the price point at which the 35% royalty would equal the $7.00 you'd earn from the 70% royalty on $9.99:
   • $7.00 is 35% of what number?
   • Price \times 0.35 = $7.00
   • Price = $7.00 ÷ 0.35
   • Price = $20.00

So, if you price your book at $20.00 with a 35% royalty, you'd earn the same amount per sale as you would by pricing your book at $9.99 with a 70% royalty.

Strategy Considerations:

1. Price Sensitivity: Higher prices can deter potential buyers. A $9.99 eBook may sell significantly more copies than one priced at $20.00, especially if you're a new or lesser-known author.

2. Perceived Value: Conversely, some content or specialized topics might warrant a higher price point. If your book offers unique value or is in a niche category with few competitors, you might be able to justify a higher price.

3. Volume vs. Margin: The question to ask yourself is whether you want to prioritize volume (more sales at a lower price point) or margin (higher earnings per sale, but potentially fewer sales).

4. Promotions & Kindle Unlimited: With the 70% royalty option and by enrolling in KDP Select, you can also access promotional tools like Kindle Countdown Deals or Free Book Promotions, and your book can be included in Kindle Unlimited. This can increase visibility and potentially lead to more readers, but it also requires giving Amazon exclusive distribution rights for the eBook.

5. Long-Term Strategy: Some authors start with a lower price to attract initial readers and gain reviews, and then they adjust the price as their readership grows. Others may use the first book as a loss leader (even pricing it very low or free) to attract readers to subsequent books in a series.

Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It's a good idea to experiment with different prices and monitor how they affect your sales volume. Over time, you'll get a better sense of the optimal pricing strategy for your specific book and audience.