How to Publish a Book on Amazon and Make Money

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your First Book on Amazon KDP

By George McKeon

In 2010, Amanda Hocking uploaded her books to Amazon KDP with a simple goal—to make a few hundred dollars for a trip. She couldn’t have imagined that this small step would transform her life. Within a year, her stories had captured a devoted audience, and she sold over a million copies, turning self-publishing into a full-time career and a thriving source of income. If she could do it, so can you—your book could be the next success story on Amazon.

Publishing on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the fastest way to get your book into readers’ hands—and start earning royalties. Putting your book in front of millions of daily customers is the first step. This article gives you a simplified step-by-step breakdown, but if you’d like a deeper dive into the full process, check out our detailed guide here.

1. Write and Edit Your Book

Finish your manuscript. Don’t rush. A polished book earns reviews and repeat readers. A few more days (or even weeks) is worth it. Your book will hopefully be around for years to come.
Editing tools. Use tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid for self-editing, but consider hiring a professional editor if budget allows. Reedsy and the Editorial Freelance Association (EFA) are excellent resources that feature professional editors for every budget.
Formatting software. For ebooks, Kindle Create (free) or Vellum (Mac) make formatting easier. For print, professional book designers (or InDesign) give the best results. Affinity Publisher is a more affordable option.
Pro tip: Use beta readers: They’re not editors; they’re your target audience. Beta readers can offer constructive criticism from the perspective of a typical reader. If you need beta readers other than friends and family, there are resources available to get unbiased feedback.

2. Create a Professional Book Cover

Why it matters. A professionally designed book cover is your book’s most important marketing tool. A beautiful cover is a critical investment that reinforces the author’s brand, increasing your odds of being discovered and purchased.
DIY tools. Canva Pro or BookBrush are user-friendly.
Professional design. Fiverr, 99designs, or hiring a publishing service ensures your book stands out.

✅ Pro tip: Study the top 20 covers in your category—your cover should “fit in” while still catching the eye. Consider using a unique color palette that helps your book stand out.

3. Set Up Your Amazon KDP Account

Go to amazon.com.
Fill in your author information, bank details, and tax info.
Once approved, you’re ready to upload your first book.

4. Upload Your Book to KDP

Uploading your book to Amazon KDP is a fairly straightforward process. You’ll fill in three sections:

1 Book Details – Title, subtitle, series name, author name, description.

Use storytelling and persuasive copy in your description.
Example: Instead of “A book about healthy eating for men,” try: “Discover the simple nutrition secrets every man needs to boost energy, build muscle, and stay fit—without complicated diets.”

2 Content Upload – Upload your manuscript file and cover.

- KDP accepts DOCX, EPUB, or PDF for manuscripts.
- Use the previewer tool to check formatting.

3 Rights & Pricing – Choose worldwide rights (unless restricted) and set your price.

✅ Pro tip: If you have purchased your own ISBN and plan to use both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, do not select “Expanded Distribution” on Amazon. Enabling this option will cause IngramSpark to reject your ISBN with an “already in use” error. While this can be fixed, it is a difficult and time-consuming process. If you’d like a deeper dive into the differences between the Amazon and IngramSpark platforms, check out our detailed guide here.

5. Metadata That Drives Discovery

Metadata is absolutely critical to your book’s success because it determines whether readers ever find your book on Amazon in the first place. Keywords, categories, and your description act like signposts for Amazon’s search engine, helping your book show up when readers type in what they’re looking for.

Use tools like Publisher Rocket, Amazon Search Bar autocomplete, or Google Trends to find keywords readers are actively typing.
- Example: Instead of “self-help,” a better keyword might be “how to stop procrastinating” (more specific, higher buying intent).
KDP lets you pick 2 categories, but you can request more (up to 10) via Amazon Support. Use Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR) research to find categories with manageable competition.
Description formatting. Use bold, italics, and bullet points in HTML to make your description stand out.

✅ Pro tip: Incorporating top-ranking keywords into your book’s title, subtitle, and description can significantly boost visibility on Amazon, helping more readers discover your work. However, use them naturally—forced or cluttered keyword stuffing can make your book look unprofessional and turn readers away.

6. Price Your Book Strategically

Pricing your book strategically is one of the most important decisions for making money on Amazon. It’s not just about covering costs—it’s about finding the sweet spot where readers feel your book is worth buying and you still earn strong royalties.

If you price too high, new readers may hesitate. Too low, and you might undervalue your work. The goal is to strike a balance that maximizes both sales volume and profit.

Ebooks:

$2.99–$9.99 → 70% royalty rate. This is the most profitable range for most authors.
Below $2.99 or above $9.99 → 35% royalty rate. These price points are harder to sustain profitably.

Paperbacks:

Royalties are about 60% of list price minus printing costs.
Example: If your book is $9.99 and costs $2.50 to print, you earn $3.49 per sale.

How to maximize earnings through pricing:

Research competitors. Look at the top 20 books in your category. Are they clustered around $3.99, $6.99, or $14.99? Pricing close to that range signals value and keeps you competitive.
Use psychological pricing. $9.99 feels more affordable than $10.00, while $4.99 can outperform $5.00 because it reduces buying hesitation.
Think long-term. Lower prices at launch can build reviews and ranking, but your long-term pricing should reflect your book’s value and profitability goals.
Bundle formats. Offer Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions. Many readers will choose the mid-tier paperback when multiple options are available, increasing your average earnings.

✅Pro Tip: Start with a launch price of $0.99–$2.99 for ebooks to attract early readers and reviews. Once momentum builds, raise your price to your target range—often $3.99–$6.99 for ebooks and $9.99–$14.99 for paperbacks. This lets you maximize both visibility and income.

7. Launch and Market Your Book

A great book won’t sell itself—marketing is where you make money. By investing both time (and some money) you can give your book the best chance to reach readers and earn royalties.

Amazon Ads.
- Start with Sponsored Products targeting keywords your audience searches.
- Example: If you wrote a book on investing, target “how to invest for beginners.”
Email list. Build a simple author website and offer a freebie (like a checklist or short guide) to collect emails. This helps you promote future books too.
Social media. Share snippets, behind-the-scenes writing updates, or reader testimonials.
Early reviews. Give out Advance Review Copies (ARCs) to beta readers, launch team members, or friends to gather reviews quickly.

✅ Pro tip: Build buzz once your book launches by creating a small “team” of early readers who will leave 5-star reviews and share your book on launch day. Amazon’s algorithm loves positive reviews.

8. Keep Selling and Scaling

Many authors dream of earning passive income through Amazon KDP—and it can happen. But the truth is, the highest royalties don’t come automatically. To turn your book into a reliable income stream, you need smart strategies for pricing, marketing, and promotion that actively connect your book with readers.

Promotions: Use Kindle Countdown Deals or free promotions if enrolled in KDP Select.
Series strategy: Authors who publish multiple books earn more—readers who finish one often buy the next.
Keep tweaking keywords, categories, and ad campaigns. Watch which brings the best ROI.

✅ Bottom line: To publish a book on Amazon and make money, treat it like both a creative project and a small business. Professional quality + smart marketing = sustainable royalties.

Conclusion

Publishing a book on Amazon and making money isn’t luck—it’s a system. Validate the idea, deliver a polished manuscript and cover, format cleanly, obey the specs, set smart prices, and present your book with metadata and visuals that match reader intent.

Yes, you can do this on your own—but you don’t have to. Sprig Publishing Solutions exists to help first-time authors design, publish, and market beautiful books without the overwhelm.

FAQs?

1) When will I get paid?

Amazon KDP pays out royalties monthly, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which sales were reported. For example, royalties earned in March are paid out by the end of May. For Expanded Distribution sales, this payout window is extended to about 90 days after the end of the sales month.

2) Do I need an ISBN to publish on KDP?

eBooks don’t need one; paperbacks/hardcovers do. KDP offers a free ISBN or you can use your own. However, if you choose to use Amazon’s free ISBN, you can only sell your book with Amazon. Purchasing your own ISBN allows you the flexibility to sell your book on multiple platforms, including Amazon.

3) What royalty will I earn on a $2.99 eBook?

If eligible, the 70% option typically applies (minus delivery costs).

4) Why did my expected paperback royalty change?

In June 2025, KDP introduced a 50% royalty for certain list prices/marketplaces (others remain 60%).

5) Should I enroll in KDP Select?

Pros: access to Kindle Unlimited and promo tools. Cons: exclusivity for 90 days. Decide based on your audience.

6) What are the correct eBook cover dimensions?

KDP recommends 2,560 × 1,600 px (1.6:1 ratio), JPEG/TIFF, under 50MB.

7) Should I self-publish on my own or use a self-publishing service?

Self-publishing on your own is certainly possible—Amazon KDP and various digital tools make the process more accessible than ever. On the other hand, a self-publishing service can save you countless hours and ensure your book is polished and market-ready from day one. Professional guidance helps you avoid common pitfalls, stand out in a crowded marketplace, and feel confident that your book will meet industry standards. Many authors choose this route so they can focus on writing and promotion, while experts handle the technical details.

If you’d like expert support through the process, Sprig Publishing Solutions specializes in helping first-time authors publish with confidence and bring their book to life.

George McKeon is a self-publishing expert with three decades of experience at top-tier publishing houses including Random House, HarperCollins, and Macmillan. Today, he shares that expertise with first-time authors, guiding them through the self-publishing process and helping turn their dream of becoming a published author into reality.