Making Money by Publishing Books on Amazon: KDP Guide for Beginners

Another option for people who want to make money online is to publish their own books in digital or print format. One of the platforms that enables book publishing without having to make an agreement with traditional publishing houses, Amazonoffered byKindle Direct Publishing (KDP) service.

E-books and print-on-demand books can be published through KDP. Printed books are produced when orders arrive; Therefore, it is not necessary to print and store a large number of books initially. However, preparing a book, marketing it and generating sales still requires effort.

Which books can be published?

It makes more sense to initially focus on the needs of a specific reader group.

For example:

• Practical guides that teach a specific skill
• Original short stories and novels
• Professional information books
• Language learning materials
• Original workbooks
• Comprehensive reference sources prepared on a specific subject

It is important to focus on the quality of the content rather than just increasing the number of books. Books that do not offer sufficient value to the reader, are full of errors, or are advertised in a misleading manner can lead to negative reviews and platform issues.

How to get started?

1. Determine the readership.
Determine for whom the book will be written, what problem it will solve, and how it will differ from similar books.

2. Research competing books.
Check out descriptions, prices, content structures and reader reviews of similar books. Instead of copying competitors' texts, try to identify deficiencies in the market.

3. Prepare the book.
Write, edit and language check the text. Also prepare the cover, layout, table of contents and book description.

4. Create the KDP account.
Identity, payment and tax information may be requested at time of publication. It is important to use real information on the account and check the payment terms in advance.

5. Make pricing.
Take into account the book's length, target audience, competitors, production costs and the platform's copyright terms.

How much can you earn in KDP?

KDP e-books have two basic copyright options: 35% and 70% for qualifying sales. The 70% option is not valid in all countries and sales conditions; Price conditions must be met in suitable markets. Additionally, delivery cost and applicable taxes may affect the calculation for this option.

For printed books, a 50% or 60% royalty rate can be applied for standard distribution. The printing cost of the book is deducted from the calculation. Therefore, the entire sales price of the printed book does not remain with the author.

For example, let's assume that royalties are earned from the sale of a qualifying e-book. The price of the book, the market in which it is sold, the royalty option and the cost of delivery will change the net amount. It is not possible to know in advance how many sales will be made per month.

Important: Publishing a book on KDP does not mean that the book will automatically sell. Some books may not generate any sales at all. There is no income guarantee.

Initial cost

If you are creating your own book, the start-up cost can be kept low. Free or paid tools are available for writing, editing, and cover design. Since print books are produced on demand, it is not necessary to purchase stock in advance; printing cost is reflected in the royalty account per sale.

However, professional editing, cover design, advertising and the use of paid software may create costs.

Is it allowed to use artificial intelligence?

KDP wants an explanation if text, visuals or translation created by artificial intelligence are used in the published book. It separately evaluates cases where artificial intelligence is used only for idea development, correction or improvement. The accuracy of the content, copyrights and compliance with the platform rules are the responsibility of the publisher.

Taxes and risks

• Evaluate the tax status of income from book sales in Türkiye.
• Do not use texts or images whose copyright does not belong to you without permission.
• Avoid copying other books and publishing them with minor changes.
• Do not use book descriptions that do not reflect actual content.
• Be cautious of expensive consultancy packages that guarantee sales of the book.

Who is it not suitable for? It may not be suitable for people who do not want to spend time on research, writing, editing and promotional activities or who expect a sure income in a short time.

Official sources: Amazon KDP e-book royalty rates · KDP printed book copyrights · KDP artificial intelligence content rules