Overview

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform enables creators to upload e‑books and paperback titles directly to Amazon’s storefront, reaching a worldwide audience without upfront inventory costs. The service has evolved to include global distribution, tiered royalty options, and built‑in promotional tools, making it a viable low‑risk revenue stream for sellers looking to diversify beyond physical merchandise.

Key Points

• No upfront printing expense — A 250‑page novel can be listed without paying for paper, ink, or storage; the author only shares a percentage of each sale.
• Tiered royalty structure — E‑books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 earn a 70 % royalty, while prices outside that range drop to a 35 % rate.
• Print‑on‑demand model — A 300‑page cookbook sold for $24.99 generates roughly 60 % royalty after Amazon deducts the per‑copy printing cost, removing the need for bulk runs.
• Automatic global exposure — A children’s picture book uploaded in English appears on Amazon sites in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan and dozens of other locales, instantly tapping millions of potential buyers.
• KDP Select benefits — Enrolling in the exclusive 90‑day program unlocks Kindle Unlimited readership and limited‑time promotions, which can lift a new thriller’s visibility by up to 40 % in its launch month.
• Real‑time analytics — The KDP dashboard shows sales, royalty earnings, and customer reviews as they happen, allowing authors to tweak pricing or keywords within hours of publishing.

How Amazon KDP Works

1. Open a KDP account — Use an existing Amazon seller login or create a fresh Amazon credential; the registration typically finishes in under five minutes. For instance, Maya, a first‑time author, signed up, linked her bank account, and received a verification email within an hour.
2. Upload manuscript and cover art — Prepare a properly formatted file (e.g., a 150‑page romance novel saved as a MOBI or EPUB) and a high‑resolution cover that meets the minimum 2,560 × 1,600 px requirement. Maya dragged her manuscript and JPEG cover onto the upload screen, selecting “Kindle e‑book” as the format.