In this article, you will learn how to use the Kindle platform in selling your books. Kindle is one of the hottest publishing platforms for all types of books. If you want to publish your own books using this great platform, read on.
Prepare the File
This is the first part of publishing your work. Here, you need to make sure that you have the right file format. Amazon supports a wide range of formats, but these are the best ones:
· Mobi – This format supports indexing, compression, navigation controls, and other complex features.
· HTML – This format relies on HTML (i.e. hypertext markup language).
· DOC/DOCX – This is the standard format for MS Word.
· ePub – This format is compatible with almost all types of e-book readers.
Important Note: Amazon supports illustration-dependent materials such as children’s books. To learn more about the tools you’ll need for this format, visit the Amazon KDP help page.
Uploading
You may upload your file as is using the “Upload” button on your Kindle Dashboard webpage. However, this is not your best option if your book has a complex structure. If you need some help in formatting your work, you may take advantage of the conversion services offered by professionals.
Some of the best service providers are:
Lapiz
Formax
Amnet
Newgen
CreateSpace
Publish the Book
Now that your file is ready, it is time to provide the details of your book. Enter the book’s title, the name of the author, the categories, the keywords, and other pieces of information that the Amazon system might require.
Cover Creator
Use the tool called “Cover Creator” to create a cover for your book. This option is great if you know a thing or two about designing. If you already have a cover image, just upload it to the system.
Important Note: Don’t worry if you lack designing skills. There are many people out there who can create book covers for you. For instance, you can visit http://www.upwork.com and/or http://www.fiverr.com to get affordable cover designs.
The Price
Set the price of your book and choose a royalty percentage. The percentage you’ll select will affect how much money you’ll get from each sale. The 70% royalty option offers higher income per transaction, but you will have to pay a “distribution fee”. Also, this royalty option is not available to everyone. The 30% option (i.e. the default one), on the other hand, prevents additional fees.
Your dashboard will show you detailed information regarding the performance of your e-book. Use those reports to monitor the book’s performance and count the royalties you have earned.
Promote your Book
Amazon.com will market your book as soon as you publish it. Your book will appear on the computer screen of potential customers. However, you can’t rely on this “automated marketing” alone. You also need to do certain things.
For instance, you need to upload trailers for your book. You can create one or more videos to introduce your new book then upload the videos to the Author Pages section of your Amazon account.
You also need to ask your readers to give reviews. Positive reviews attract more readers. Lastly, choose an attractive cover for your book. The cover serves as a powerful marketing tool. It can attract or repel potential readers, so make sure to choose the most relevant one.
