So, you came across a few YouTube videos that claim you can make x-amount of money with Amazon KDP and its completely passive, right? Well, while the “guru” you came across may have just been blowing smoke, we can say with certainty that the self publishing business model does in fact work. Keep reading to find out how.
In this blog post, we will discuss the following topics:
What is Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP is a self-publishing platform that allows authors to publish eBooks and print books for free. KDP is a great way to reach millions of readers on Amazon and earn a passive income.
When you self-publish with KDP, you have full control over your book’s content, pricing, and promotion. You can also set your own royalty rate, which can be up to 70% for sales in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, India, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and more.
How does Amazon KDP work?
In simple terms, you just upload your book and let it sell. It will either sell organically or via PPC campaigns. As long as your book is listed on Amazon and selling, you will continue to earn royalties in perpetuity. The best part about it is, you just need to do the work one time, correctly, and then just let the magic happen.
What are the benefits of self-publishing with Amazon KDP?
There are many benefits to self-publishing with Amazon KDP. Here are a few of the most notable benefits:
No upfront costs to publish your book: You can self-publish with KDP for free. This means that you don’t have to pay any fees to publish your book. Keep in mind that while you can publish a book with absolutely no costs, you still have to create the book and that may have some costs depending on how you create the book
Reach a global audience: Your book will be available for sale on Amazon in over 190 countries. This means that your book has the potential to reach millions of readers around the world.
Earn a passive income: Once your book is published, you will earn a royalty on each sale. This means that you can earn money even while you sleep and it truly can become completely passive.
Full control: When you self-publish with KDP, you have full control over your book’s content, pricing, and promotion. This means that you can make sure that your book is exactly the way you want it to be.
How to get started with Amazon KDP
To get started with Amazon KDP, you first need to create an account. You can do this by visiting the KDP website and clicking on the “Create Account” button.
Once you have an account, you can upload your book’s manuscript, book cover, and add all of the product listing information. Make sure everything is how you want it, set the price, and publish your book.
Tips for getting started with Amazon KDP
Choose the right niche: When you’re choosing a niche for your book, it’s important to choose one that is proven to be profitable. Otherwise you will without a doubt just waste your time and efforts creating a book that no one wants. Always remember that competition is a good thing.
Do your research: Before you publish your book, it’s important to do some research on the market. This will help you determine the right price for your book and the best way to promote it.
Figure out how you will create your book: Will you do everything yourself? Will you outsource it all? If you have the funding, we would recommend you outsource most of the work so you can focus your efforts on niche research and marketing. However, this is all about personal preference.
Tips for Amazon KDP self-publishing success
Here are some tips for self-publishing success:
Produce a great book: This is the most important factor in long term self-publishing success. If your book LOOKS good, people will buy it. And if the content of the book is as good as it looks then people will leave a good review. The reviews overtime will be a huge factor in your books profitability.
Price your book competitively: You don’t want to price your book too high, or no one will buy it. But you also don’t want to price your book too low, or you won’t earn much money. Price according to your competition, but always strive to have the most premium product that dominates your niche.
Promote your book effectively: Once your book is published, you need to promote it. This can be done through social media, email marketing, and paid advertising. That being said, 80% of your marketing efforts should be via Amazon ads and the other 20% should be through your email list. Yes, through your email list, be sure to build one up alongside your books.
Most importantly, with any online business, you must be patient: This is not a get rich quick scheme business. You might hit gold with your first book, but its extremely rare. This is a long term game that takes quite a bit of time to build momentum and really get going. Just keep learning, producing great books and promoting them effectively, and you will eventually achieve success.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, much like with every business, you just need to keep going. Amazon KDP is a great business model that can become 100% passive once you get it going, but it will take time and effort. Always remember to just keep publishing. If you want more information about Amazon KDP, check out some of these books. And for more information about other online business models, check out these articles.