How to Self-Publish an E-Book Through the Kindle Platform

Source by Rob Hillman

You know how to write beautiful stories and/or detailed instructions. You have many legends to share or topics to discuss. You have written books that you will be proud to share with others. Now, it is time to publish your work. Self-publishing serves as one of the major options for people who want to succeed in the world of writing.

In this article, you’ll know how to use the Kindle platform in publishing your books.

1. Create an account – Sign up for an account at Amazon, so you can publish Kindle e-books. Visit the KDP Amazon sign up page.

2. Sign up for a “publishing account” – Use your regular Amazon account to get a publishing account. The system might ask you to provide more information based on the data you entered previously. You have to provide bank details for you to receive the royalties.

3. Set the title – Once your publishing account is ready, you will be forwarded to a webpage called “Kindle Dashboard”. That webpage lets you upload your e-books and check sales reports. Hit “Add Title” to publish a book.

4. Specify the details of your book – You need to give Amazon some detailed information regarding your book (e.g. authorship, pricing, title, etc.). Don’t worry if you don’t have any ISBN code. That is not necessary in the Kindle platform.

5. Assign the book’s categories and keywords – Amazon divides books into different categories. Choose one or two categories that best describe your work. In addition, assign keywords for your book. Use keywords that potential readers might enter to find your product.

6. Choose a book cover – Amazon doesn’t require you to set a cover for your e-book. However, a book with a cover is generally more attractive than one without. The Kindle platform has guidelines regarding the book covers that you can use. Read the guidelines thoroughly before designing the cover of your work.

7. Upload your book – This is a simple process, thanks to Amazon’s intuitive interface. You will see two check boxes on the screen, saying some things about DRM (e.g. digital rights management). It is unlikely that you will lose money because of disabled DRM, thus, you may leave it disabled and just hit the “Browse for book” button. The Kindle platform accepts these formats:

a. PDF

b. ePub

c. HTML

d. Text

e. DOC/DOCX

8. Format and preview your work – You won’t have to worry much about formatting if your work has a basic structure (e.g. typical novels or how-to eBooks). The default formatting system of Amazon is enough to maintain the book’s structure. However, you should review your e-book carefully if it has a complex structure (e.g. if it has a lot of images).

9. Choose a price – The Amazon system is tolerant when it comes to book prices. Set the price that is appropriate for your work then choose either 35% or 70% royalty. Note that the 70% royalty option is not available for e-books priced $2.99 or lower. Additionally, the 70% option is applicable to large markets only (e.g. U.K., U.S., Canada, etc.).

With these guidelines, it will be easier for you to take full advantage of Amazon’s Kindle platform.