Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to self-publish eBooks and paperbacks, earning royalties from sales worldwide. Whether you’re an experienced writer or a beginner, KDP offers a great opportunity to generate passive income.
Step 1: Choose a Profitable Book Niche
Selecting the right niche increases your chances of success. Popular categories include:
- Fiction: Romance, mystery, fantasy, thriller, sci-fi
- Non-Fiction: Self-help, personal finance, productivity, business, health & wellness
- Children’s Books: Illustrated stories, educational books
- Low-Content & No-Content Books: Journals, planners, coloring books, workbooks
Tip: Use Amazon Best Sellers Rank (BSR) and tools like Publisher Rocket to find high-demand, low-competition niches.
Step 2: Write or Outsource Your Book
If you love writing, you can create the book yourself. Otherwise, consider outsourcing to professional writers on platforms like:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Reedsy
For non-fiction books, outline key topics and structure chapters logically. Fiction books need strong characters, a compelling plot, and engaging storytelling.
Step 3: Format Your Book for KDP
Amazon requires properly formatted books. You can use:
- Kindle Create (Free Tool from Amazon)
- Scrivener (Professional Writing Software)
- Vellum (For Mac Users)
Save your book in .docx (Word) or .KPF (Kindle format) before uploading to KDP.
Step 4: Design a Professional Book Cover
Your book cover plays a huge role in attracting buyers. You can:
- Design it yourself using Canva or BookBrush
- Hire a professional on Fiverr or 99designs
Ensure your cover follows Amazon’s size requirements (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) and stands out in your category.
Step 5: Publish Your Book on KDP
- Create a KDP account at kdp.amazon.com
- Upload your book title, description, and keywords
- Set your book price & royalty options (35% or 70%)
- Choose between KDP Select (exclusive to Amazon) or Wide Distribution
Step 6: Set the Right Price & Earn Royalties
Amazon pays 35% to 70% royalties depending on your book price:
- $2.99 – $9.99 → 70% royalties
- Below $2.99 or above $9.99 → 35% royalties
Tip: Start at $2.99–$4.99 for eBooks and $9.99–$15.99 for paperbacks to maximize earnings.
Step 7: Market Your Book for More Sales
Optimize for Amazon SEO:
- Use relevant keywords in the title & description
- Choose the right categories to rank better
Leverage Amazon Ads:
- Run Amazon KDP Ads for more visibility
Promote on Social Media:
- Share your book on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
- Post excerpts, testimonials, and book teasers
Build an Email List:
- Offer a free chapter in exchange for emails
- Use email marketing to drive sales
Join Facebook Groups & Reddit Communities:
- Engage in self-publishing groups
- Offer value & promote subtly
Step 8: Scale Your KDP Business
- Write multiple books to increase passive income
- Create a book series for more repeat buyers
- Convert books into audiobooks using ACX (Audible)
- Repurpose content into paperbacks & workbooks