Changes with Amazon’s KDP

Changes with Amazon’s KDP

In recent months there have been a number of changes with Amazon’s KDP which affect the way you publish your book on the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform.

These changes have to do with

  • Increased publishing costs
  • Categories
  • AI disclosure, and
  • Limiting the number of books you can publish in a day.

Increased publishing costs 

Publishing costsPublishing on Amazon is free. There is no cost to joining Amazon and there are no up-front fees when publishing your book.

But when Amazon publishes your book there has been an increased cost to the publishing process which means when you sell your book you will either have to accept lower royalties or you will need to increase the price of your book.

Categories

At the end of May 2023, Amazon’s KDP made a change to the way you selected categories.

What are categories? Categories are the sections of the Amazon website just like when you go into a bookshop you see the sections of the bookstore where customers can go to find a book. For example: fiction, history, cooking, reference, adventure, and children’s books.

Categories are the big broad terms that describe your book. If you put it in the wrong section readers won’t be able to find your book; in which case you won’t make a sale.

Categories help readers find your book on Amazon, they help to make sales and help your book become a Best Seller.

In the past when listing your book you selected just 2 categories. These were 2 BISAC categories. But then once your book was published you could write to KDP Support and request your book be put into 10 categories.  

Now you select 3 categories and not 10. This change has made it easier for self-publishers as you just have to do the research for 3 categories and not have to do all the painstaking research to find the best 10.

Dave Chesson, a self-publishing expert, highlights the point that you must select keywords that reinforce the categories you pick in KDP and that you need to make sure that you’re selecting the right categories to start with.

To assist self-publishers he developed the Publisher Rocket software that helps you to see which keywords and categories are the best for your book, so you can rank higher and get more people to see your book.

AI disclosure

Artificial intelligence

The other major change when publishing on Amazon’z KDP is that you must declare if you’ve used artificial intelligence in your books and this applies to both text and illustrations.

Given the huge impact of AI in the publishing world Amazon is making authors declare if the text, images, or translations have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI). This applies to new books and to existing books that are being republished.

Limiting the number of books per day

Amazon has created a new rule limiting the number of books authors can self-publish on its site to three a day. This three-book limit announcement came shortly after the AI-generated announcement.

This is a good move to put off those spamming the system.

With the popularity of publishing low-content books with some authors publishing numerous books in the space of one day (even as many as 100 books), Amazon has tightened this up with the rule of only 3 per day.

Remember, that with the Amazon business model of book publishing

  • you can get started for free
  • there is no cost to publishing
  • storage fees are non-existent, and you
  • don’t have to worry yourself with customer service

Amazon’s KDP business model is a business about lifestyle. It will attract those who want to work from home or travel wherever they want.

To learn more about self-publishing and The Self-Publishing Genius register for my free, live masterclass. Get your ticket now by clicking the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

The Use of Artificial Intelligence on Amazon

The Use of Artificial Intelligence on Amazon

 

Artificial intelligence

 

In recent months Amazon has been inundated with books that have been created using AI-generated content. As a result of this Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) announced that all account holders must declare the use of artificial intelligence on Amazon. 

New content guidelines

When listing your book for publication on KDP be aware of the new content guidelines.

This is a MASSIVE change to the publishing process. 

When you list your book on KDP there is a section devoted to artificial intelligence. You must declare if you’ve used artificial intelligence to generate your content.

In Amazon’s KDP Forum, they state:

We are actively monitoring the rapid evolution of generative AI and the impact it is having on reading, writing, and publishing, and we remain committed to providing the best possible shopping, reading, and publishing experience for our authors and customers. To that end, beginning today, when you publish a new title or make edits to and re-publish an existing title through KDP, you will be asked whether your content is AI-generated.

Artificial intelligence

AI-generated content

Amazon says that you need to declare if the text, images, or translations have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI). This applies to new books and to existing books that are being republished.

Amazon says it includes AI-generated images for the cover and interior images and artwork. 

AI-assisted content

But with AI-assisted content the situation is different.

If you created the content yourself and used AI-based tools to edit and refine  your manuscript then it is considered “AI-assisted” and not “AI-generated.”

Similarly, if you used an AI-based tool to brainstorm and generate ideas, but ultimately created the text or images yourself, this is also considered “AI-assisted” and not “AI-generated.” It is not necessary to inform Amazon of the use of such tools or processes.

Amazon states that you are responsible for verifying that all AI-generated and/or AI-assisted content adheres to the content guidelines.

KDP Content Guidelines

As always, whether publishers make use of AI technologies or not, all books in the Amazon store must adhere to their KDP Content Guidelines.This includes the requirement that you accurately inform them when content is AI-generated.

Self-publishing expert, Dale Roberts, believes this new directive is probably a PR move by Amazon since so much AI content has been hitting the market and a lot of it is considered “garbage”.

Full disclosure

So Amazon wants full disclosure. For instance, in the drop-down boxes you have to indicate the degree to which you have used AI.

There is currently a vigorous debate going on as to whether this directive is a positive move or a negative one.

But it is creating transparency between the publisher and the marketplace and is getting the author to be truthful.

The bottom line is that AI can be great for providing assistance to authors. It can help with the self-publishing process such as with editing, grammar, and refining the text.

While AI can be leveraged to assist you, it may be prudent to exercise caution if using it to generate content.

To learn more about self-publishing your book register for my free, online, live class. Get your ticket now by clicking the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

 

 

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Business Model

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Business Model

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) business model allows authors to reach a global audience. 

Authors can publish their books in digital format (Kindle eBooks) and with the KDP print-on-demand technology they can produce paperback and hardcover books. With Amazon, it is also possible to publish audiobooks through services like Audible. 

The KDP interface is straightforward and user-friendly making it easy for authors to format and upload their books to the publishing platform.

9 Benefits

The digital aspect of Amazon publishing is an appealing business model. Here are nine benefits:

  • You can work from anywhere in the world and travel at the same time so long as you have an internet connection
  • You can earn a passive income
  • There is no need to hold inventory
  • There is no need to physically ship books to customers
  • You do not have to worry about customer service
  • The entire business model is online
  • Profit margins are high and you can earn up to 70% in royalties
  • There are no start-up costs. You publish your book for free and then you earn royalties based on sales
  • You control the pricing of your book.  

Paperbacks

Print on demand

In addition to publishing digital products KDP provides a print-on-demand service. Copies of books are printed as they are ordered so you don’t need to invest in large print runs and hold inventory.  

Authors can upload their print book files, set the pricing, and make their books available in all the various Amazon marketplaces around the world.

Reviews

When starting out with Amazon sales may be slow but as you get reviews you are likely to get more sales. And more sales can mean more reviews. 

Positive reviews can significantly enhance your book’s credibility and visibility, potentially leading to more sales. 

There are many benefits to publishing on Amazon but while there are many benefits, competition in such a giant marketplace can be fierce.

Authors must develop an effective marketing strategy in addition to just publishing on the platform. 

The Amazon KDP business model is second to none and will appeal to many who desire a lifestyle of freedom in which you can work from home or travel the world.

To learn more about self-publishing your book register for my free, live class. Get your ticket now by clicking the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

 

How To Write A Book In 30 Days

How To Write A Book In 30 Days

Writing a book within a month’s timeframe is a challenging but achievable goal. Here are some tips on how to write a book in 30 days but it will take strict time management and a lot of discipline.

Research

Do your research before taking on the 30-day challenge. Have your research information at your finger tips.

As you do your research take note of your source material and document this. You will need to acknowledge the sources and then list them in your Bibliography at the end of your manuscript. 

If your book requires further research, set aside a specific time to do this. Avoid getting caught up in excessive research during your actual writing sessions.

Word count

Decide on the total word count for your book. Then work out how many words you need to write each day.

Make a decision on how long your book is going to be. If crafting a book for the first time consider writing a straightforward, short book. It could be just 10,000 words.

If typically a non-fiction book is 60,000 to 80,000 words and you want to write a book in 30 days then make it a short book.

An A4 page can easily fit 200 words so a 10,000-word book is 50 pages.

But if you factor in the size of the font, the physical size of the book – the trim size – adding illustrative matter, and the book’s layout it is possible that a 10,000-word book can be as long as 100 pages.

Set milestones

Decide when you plan to complete your manuscript and make a commitment to have it finished within a 30-day timeframe.

To help you reach that deadline decide the length of your book and then a daily word count. It could be 500 or 1000 words a day.

For a 10,000 word manuscript if you produced 500 words a day your first draft could be completed in 20 days. By increasing your daily word count to 1000 words your first draft would be done in much less time.

Outline

Preparing book for publication

A non-fiction book consists of an introduction, a number of chapters and a conclusion, so create an outline for your book. 

Create chapter headings. Think in terms of 10 chapter headings and allow 1000 words for each chapter. Break the manuscript down into even smaller units with sub-headings under each chapter heading.

Once you have a rough outline, set out the book’s content in the form of bullet points. Estimate the number of words you will need for each bullet point. 

So if you have 5 sub-headings in the form of bullet points each sub-heading could be 200 words. That will give you a 1000-word chapter.

Spend time outlining the content of your book. This will give you a clear structure and a direction to follow during the writing process. 

Writing Schedule 

Establish a daily writing schedule.  Decide the best time of day for you to write and stick to that time.

Consistency is key to completing your book on time so aim to write your quota of words each day. If you write approximately 1000 to 1500 words a day you should complete a first draft within a couple of weeks.

When I’m writing a book I write every morning seven days a week. Each writing session is about 3 hours and I do this each day before breakfast.

It is simply amazing how if you consistently do a quota of writing each day, how you can move forward exponentially. My daily word count goal was approximately 1500 words.

Writing

Once the planning has been done start writing the first draft. This first draft can be very rough.  

Embrace imperfection. Give yourself permission to write badly and trust that you can refine your work later. Refrain from editing your writing; that comes later.

Consider doing timed writing sprints. Set up a timer for a specific amount of time. This could be  25 minutes. Write as much as you can during that time and take short breaks between each sprint to recharge.

Minimise distractions. Put your phone away, and focus solely on your writing during your scheduled writing times. 

Writing

Next draft

Once you’ve created that first very rough draft plan some time for editing, revising, and refining your manuscript. You have a couple of weeks to do this.

Writing a book in 30 days is an ambitious endeavour, so be kind to yourself and celebrate your progress along the way. 

The key is to stay focused, motivated and committed to the process.  

By maintaining a strict schedule there is then time each month for the rewriting and reworking of the manuscript.

These steps may seem very mechanical, even mathematical, but as an author who has produced many non-fiction books I find it an excellent method to achieve productivity. It is far less overwhelming to do your planning and then chunk the contents of your manuscript down into small bits.

Will this method work perfectly for you? Maybe, maybe not? 

The important take on this is to have a plan of action that will help you focus and provide you with direction. 

Sure, you may not be perfect and you may deviate at times from the plan. But this gives you a course to follow, and like a sailing boat, the sails can always be adjusted.

To learn more about writing and publishing your book access my free, live class. Get your free ticket by clicking the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

 

Avoid Self-Publishing Scams

Avoid Self-Publishing Scams

Self-publishing is a marvellous way to share your writing with the world and maintain creative control over what you write. But avoid self-publishing scams and don’t get conned.

Victims

 

New and inexperienced authors are the victims.  Sometimes they are at the mercy of an exploitative vanity publisher which is a publishing house where authors pay to have a book published.

Some of these companies prey on authors who are desperate to publish. They will publish anything for anyone who pays them. There are no editorial or creative standards.

They publish for an exorbitant fee and they do everything that an author could arrange themselves — editing, cover design, formatting and then publishing on an online platform. Many will even control the royalties.

First-time authors often take this path. They understand very little about the publishing process.

The problem is new authors don’t want to spend time learning and doing it themselves; they can’t be bothered to learn the publishing process.

Become knowledgeable

Avoid being conned

To avoid getting conned aspiring authors need to become knowledgeable about the self-publishing industry. There’s a clear distinction between vanity publishing and getting legitimate self-publishing help.

Authors who want to self-publish need to understand the self-publishing process, learn the common pitfalls, and become knowledgeable about legitimate platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark.   

By staying informed, doing their research, and exercising caution, first-time authors can avoid falling victim to scams or to being conned.

Self-publishing is a business, and like any other enterprise, it requires diligence and awareness to protect your interests.

DIY

Self-publishing doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. With the concept of outsourcing tasks you cannot do yourself or tasks you don’t know how to do, can be farmed out to those who do know.

You can hire professional editors, cover designers, typesetters and any other services you may need. This work can be done inexpensively without breaking the bank. 

Free Service

For those who want to dip their toes into the water, I offer a free service in my Facebook group Fast Self-Publishing Online. Here you can explore self-publishing for free with tips, ideas, free weekly training and other activities.

Membership Program

The next level up is the How To Become a Self-Published Author a membership site which leverages the exploding trend of doing things your own way with a home study program. It helps you to kickstart your writing and self-publishing career.

It’s available at the heavily discounted price of just $47 a month. So you can check out the program to see if it suits the first month is free.

This “lite” program consists of short, online lessons drip-fed over 28 weeks. You are guided along the self-publishing pathway and you are helped to take those first steps to assist with self-publishing your book.

You will learn the fundamentals for self-publishing on Amazon and be set up with a foundation for your career as a self-publisher.

Premium program

The Self-Publishing Genius is my premium program consisting of  8 modules with more than 70 video lessons. This is designed for those who want to manage the entire publishing process themselves and who want to dive deep into self-publishing.

In addition, you have your hand held with personal step-by-step guidance to help you navigate your way through the cyberspace maze of book publishing and move forward to becoming the CEO of your own self-publishing house. 

Access to this program is by application only. To learn more, register for the free, live masterclass by clicking the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

 

Empower Your Words

Empower Your Words

 

Empower your words

 

In the past, if you were an aspiring author you faced numerous challenges if you wanted to empower your words and bring your creations to the world. 

Here are the advantages of self-publishing in our digital age.

Traditional publishing houses acted like gatekeepers. They controlled which manuscripts would be published. 

However, with the advent of the digital age, the publishing landscape has been transformed. Self-publishing has emerged as a powerful and accessible alternative, empowering authors to take control of their own destinies. 

Self-publishing in the digital age has many advantages and has become an increasingly popular avenue for writers worldwide.

Control

Authors can empower their words because self-publishing puts the control and power back into the hands of the creators. It allows them to retain complete creative control over their work.

With traditional publishing, decisions about cover design, editing, and marketing are made by the publishing houses, not by the authors.

With self-publishing, authors have the final say on every aspect of their book’s production. This level of autonomy enables writers to maintain their artistic vision and ensures that their unique voice remains intact.

Self-publishing is fast

With self-publishing, authors get their works into the hands of their readers fast.

With traditional publishing, however, the publishing process can be lengthy. Manuscripts have to be submitted, then you wait for acceptance, and finally you have to make the contractual arrangements. 

With self-publishing, the process is streamlined, and authors can release their work quickly and efficiently. 

Global reach

Empower your words

With self-publishing authors can reach their readers on a global scale. Through platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital, authors can distribute their books worldwide in both digital and print formats.

Royalties

With traditional publishing, authors get a small percentage of the book’s sales price. In contrast, self-publishing provides more favourable royalties and authors get up to 70% royalty. 

Experimentation

With self-publishing authors empower their words because they can experiment with various genres, styles, and formats without the constraints imposed by traditional publishing houses. 

The digital landscape allows writers to explore different niches, test new ideas, and refine their craft.

Additionally, authors can adapt their works in response to reader feedback or market trends, updating and re-releasing their books as needed. This adaptability and flexibility foster creativity and innovation, enhancing the overall publishing experience.

Engagement with readers

Digital self-publishing platforms give authors the opportunity for direct engagement with their readers. 

By promoting on social media, author websites, and email lists authors can engage with their followers. This direct connection with their readers can help establish a personal brand and cultivate a supportive network. This interaction not only enhances the writing experience but also facilitates the growth of a dedicated fan base.

Publishing revolution

The digital age has revolutionised the publishing industry. Authors take control of their literary careers.

Empower your words

Self-publishing means a newfound freedom. This liberation allows for creative control and the potential for greater financial rewards. With a faster time-to-market, global reach, and opportunities for experimentation, authors now have the tools and resources to unleash their creativity, empower their words, and share their stories with the world. 

ARE YOU AN ASPIRING AUTHOR?

If so, then learn the exact steps you need to take to self-publish your book.

Join me in my FREE live webinar. Get your free ticket now. To register click the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

Join Facebook Group: Fast Self-Publishing Online

No Book Sales?

No Book Sales?

No book sales?

 

Is this what you are experiencing? No book sales?

It can be so disappointing to write and publish a book and then find out that no one will buy it.

When you publish a book on Amazon allow a few weeks to make sales. But take note, not every book you publish is going to sell.

You do need to publish several books because some books will sell and others won’t.

7 tips for making sales

Here are seven (7) tips for making book sales.

1. Research & validate your idea.

Do some basic research to validate your idea before you even start writing. You want some guarantee that readers are actively looking for books on your theme and that there is a paying market.

In the Amazon Best Sellers lists check that your subject matter is in a profitable niche.

Look to see if there are other books with similar themes that are selling. A Best Sellers Rank (BSR) of 100,000 or less will indicate that the niche is profitable and that there is a market for your book’s genre or topic. 

Not only do you need a profitable niche you will want to write on a theme with low competition.

2. Optimise your book’s listing

Increase your book’s visibility in Amazon’s crowded marketplace because competition for visibility is intense.

Your book may struggle to get enough exposure, making it difficult for potential readers to discover it.

Optimise book's metadata

Optimise your book’s metadata – the title, description, keywords, and categories – to increase its chances of being found by relevant audiences. And don’t forget to include A+ content to highlight and showcase your book’s interior.

3. Cover and presentation

The cover and overall presentation of your book play a significant role in attracting readers. If your book’s cover is unappealing or doesn’t accurately represent your book’s genre or content, it may deter potential buyers.

Make sure you have a professional-looking cover and that your book is visually appealing and inviting. It must appeal to your target audience

4. Book Reviews and ratings

Positive reviews of your book provide social proof and credibility.   Having few or no reviews could discourage potential readers from buying your book.

Encourage readers to leave reviews by contacting your existing audience, offering advance reader copies, or running promotional campaigns.

5. Marketing and Promotion

sell to bookstores

 

Simply publishing a book on Amazon does not guarantee sales.

Effective marketing and promotion are crucial for generating awareness and driving sales. Leverage social media platforms, author websites, book blogs, and online communities to create buzz around your book.

Then there are paid advertising options like Amazon and Facebook ads that will also help to increase visibility.

6. Pricing

The price of your book may influence sales performance. Check that your book is priced competitively in the marketplace.

If your book is priced too high or too low it may deter potential buyers. Experimenting with pricing strategies such as limited-time discounts or promotional offers may help to attract more readers.

7. Quality and Content

Assess the quality of your book and analyse its writing, editing, and overall quality of the content. Poorly edited or formatted books can lead to negative reviews and a lack of customer satisfaction which ultimately impacts sales.

Generating book sales on Amazon requires patience, persistence, and continuous effort.

Evaluate your book’s performance regularly. If need be, adapt your strategies based on feedback and market trends, and continue to engage with your target audience to increase your chances of success.

FREE, LIVE MASTERCLASS

If you are an aspiring author who wants to learn about self-publishing  your book then secure your free ticket to my live masterclass. To register click the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

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Harnessing the Power of a Facebook Group

Harnessing the Power of a Facebook Group

 

Harnessing the power of a Facebook group can transform the self-publishing experience for aspiring authors.

Facebook group

The digital age has revolutionised the world of publishing. Gone are the days when aspiring authors had to rely solely on traditional publishing houses to bring their work to the world.

With the advent of self-publishing platforms, authors now have the ability to take control of their own destinies and reach readers directly.

A supportive community

With a Facebook group like Fast Self-Publishing Online, authors can connect with like-minded individuals who share a similar journey. 

This group provides a supportive and encouraging environment.  Members can share their experiences, ask questions, and seek advice.

Being part of a community that understands the unique challenges of self-publishing can make a world of difference in staying motivated and overcoming obstacles.

Learn from peers

The great advantage of a self-publishing Facebook group like Fast Self-Publishing Online is the wealth of knowledge and expertise that authors can access.

Facebook group

Within this community, you’ll find others who have successfully self-published their books and who are willing to share their strategies, tips, and insights. 

Whether it’s guidance on book cover design, marketing techniques, or navigating various self-publishing platforms, Fast Self-Publishing Online is a treasure trove of practical wisdom. By tapping into this collective wisdom aspiring authors can learn from their successes and avoid common pitfalls.

Opportunities

Fast Self-Publishing Online is the perfect platform for connecting with potential collaborators. 

Authors can find beta readers, editors, illustrators, cover designers, and people who do book formatting. By networking with others who share similar goals, authors can enhance their work through constructive feedback and associating with talented professionals.

Marketing and promotion

While self-publishing provides authors with freedom, it also places the responsibility of marketing and promotion squarely on their shoulders. Fast Self-Publishing Online offers an ideal avenue for authors to showcase their work, gain exposure, and receive feedback from a targeted audience. 

Authors can share book releases and promotions.

This group often has dedicated posts for book recommendations, author spotlights, and promotional opportunities, providing valuable visibility for aspiring authors.

Networking

Facebook group

In the ever-evolving world of publishing, Fast Self-Publishing Online has emerged as a powerful resource for aspiring authors. 

From fostering a supportive community to providing valuable knowledge, collaborative opportunities, and marketing avenues, this group offers a comprehensive platform for writers to thrive in their self-publishing journey. 

By harnessing the collective power of this community, authors can take control of their creative destinies, reach their target audience, and turn their writing dreams into a tangible reality.

Marji Hill

Author and Coach

Join Facebook Group: Fast Self-Publishing Online

 

KDP Announces a Big Change

KDP Announces a Big Change

Categories

 

Amazon KDP announces a big change in connection with listing your book on its platform. The change affects the selection of categories.

Categories 

Categories are the sections of the Amazon Store where customers can find your book. Just think of a physical bookstore and how books are divided up into sections: science-fiction, history, war stories, biographies, children’s books and so on.

Prior to 30 May 2023 when you listed a book on the Kindle Direct Publishing platform (KDP), you selected 2 categories. These were BISAC categories. These two categories would indicate to KDP where your book should be placed in the Amazon store. 

Once the book was published you would then contact KDP and request that your book be put into 10 browse categories – categories that you would choose. But this has now all changed. 

The change

This is the change. You now select just three Amazon categories. Once you’ve selected your primary marketplace you choose your three categories.  

Since you can now choose your own 3 categories, KDP is no longer accepting requests to add categories.

The available categories will depend on your primary audience and marketplace (for example, amazon.com or amazon.com.au). 

So the new way of doing things is to select 3 categories. No longer can you request 10 categories. 

Here are 5 tips to choosing the three categories:

  1. Choose 3 accurate categories very carefully
  2. Less is more keeps the algorithm happy so its 3 and not 10 categories
  3. Focus on selecting the best 3 sub-categories; you wouldn’t choose History but you would select a history sub-category
  4. Make sure your categories line up with keywords
  5. Give the categories time to work. Don’t rush into changing them.

Update existing categories

So what do you do now if you already have listed a book? You need to update your categories.

  • Go to Bookshelf
  • Go to the title of the book and click on the 3 ellipsis buttons
  • click edit details
  • select your primary marketplace

If you want help with selecting categories Publisher Rocket is a great resource. What I really love about Publisher Rocket is the way it can help with research into categories.  

There you have it in a nutshell – the major change to category selection when listing your book on KDP.

FREE, LIVE MASTERCLASS

If you want to dive deep into learning how to self-publish your book then learn about the Self-Publishing Genius in a free, live masterclass. To register click the green button below.

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Marji Hill

Author and Coach

Join Facebook Group: Fast Self-Publishing Online

 

Make Money Self-Publishing

Make Money Self-Publishing  

A common question from aspiring authors is how to make money self-publishing.

“Yes” –  you can make money self-publishing. Many authors have found success and have generated income from self-publishing their books.

Self-publishing has several advantages. Authors control the publishing process; royalties are high; and, there is the opportunity to reach a global audience.

Here are 10 ways to make money self-publishing your books:

1. Royalties

royalties

When you self-publish a book, you earn royalties from the sale of each book. Platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark allow you to set the price of your book and earn a royalty percentage.

 

2. Multiple formats & different platforms

Publishing your book in multiple formats and on different platforms widens your reach. This gives you the potential to make more sales and more revenue.  Not only are you appealing to different markets you are accessing markets throughout the world. 

3. eBooks

eBooks are a popular because they are easy to distribute, and readers can purchase and download them instantly. Authors can generate income from eBook sales by pricing them competitively and marketing them effectively.

4. Print-on-demand

Self-publishing platforms offer options to create print-on-demand (POD) versions of your book in both paperback and hardback formats. This means that when a reader orders a printed copy, it is printed and shipped on demand. You earn royalties from the sale of each printed book.

5. Audiobooks

Audiobooks

Audiobooks have gained popularity in recent years. This is another market authors can tap into.

Platforms like Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) and Findaway Voices allow authors to produce and sell audiobooks, earning more royalties based on sales.

Publishing an audiobook gives you an additional income stream. They help you build authority in your space, and they create an entirely new experience around the content you’re sharing with the world.

6. Expanded distribution

In addition to online platforms, there are expanded distribution options. Think about making your book available in bookstores, schools, libraries, and other retail channels.

With IngramSpark and its distribution base of over 40,000 outlets, you can get your books into bookstores, schools and libraries. This broadens your reach and increases your earning potential.

7. PLR and ELR

Once you get your books into schools and libraries you can be eligible to receive income from the government’s Public Lending Right (PLR) and Education Lending Right(ELR).

In addition, for registered users, the Copyright Agency collects and distributes copyright fees for the copying and sharing of text and images.

8. Build a list of raving fans

Self-publishing provides an opportunity to connect directly with your readers. Build a loyal fan base.

By engaging with your audience through social media, email newsletters, email broadcasts, and author blogs, you can cultivate a following that supports your work and leads to increased book sales.

9. Market research

The self-publishing adventure really starts when you first decide to write a book. Before you even put pen to paper an author needs to do their market research. You need to discover whether or not you are writing in a profitable niche.

If you write a book and it has no market this could result in zero sales. You don’t want to become a very disappointed author, do you?

If you want to earn an income do your market research and write in a profitable niche.

10. Become an Author Entrepreneur

Once you have published your book and become an authority or established your author platform there are more ways then for growing your income.

The backend of self-publishing is to leverage multiple sources of income by scaling up your book business. Become an Author Entrepreneur.

There are multiple ways for growing your income:

  • affiliate sales,
  • eCommerce
  • freelance writing,
  • speaking engagements,
  • creating and selling online courses,
  • content writing for businesses,
  • organising writing retreats,
  • editing,
  • having your book adapted into a film or TV show,
  • merchandising, and
  • much more.

It’s important to note that while self-publishing offers great potential for income, success is not guaranteed.

Building an audience, marketing your book effectively, and producing high-quality content are crucial factors for achieving financial success as a self-published author.

The Self-Publishing Genius

Have you thought about becoming a self-published author?

The Self-Publishing Genius, my online program of 8 modules containing more than 70 video lessons is for aspiring authors who want to manage the entire publishing process themselves, who want to dive deep into self-publishing, and who want to generate multiple streams of income.

The program is designed for those who want their hand held with personal step-by-step guidance to help them navigate their way through the cyberspace maze of book publishing.

Find out more by getting your FREE ticket to my live masterclass.  Press the green button below.

Register Now

Marji Hill

Author and Coach

Join Facebook Group: Fast Self-Publishing Online

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