What are eBooks and how do they work?

They are simply electronic, or digital, copies of books that you can read using any electronic device with an e-Reader installed in it. Over the years, the popularity of eBooks has soared high, as a lot of readers find it more convenient and accessible compared to printed books. Also, buying or downloading eBooks online is so much easier!

The Internet is the 21st century’s manna from heaven. One undeniable benefit is its convenience. Just a couple of taps on the keyboard or a few clicks on the mouse and you can do just about anything. Publishing your book is no exception. While there are a number of sites that will allow you to publish your eBooks, one dominating force in the electronic publishing industry is Amazon.

With Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing service, publishing and eBook is free. This isn’t only light on the author’s budget. The service will expose the published books to millions of readers. Random internet users might just come across your book if it’s positioned strategically. Sit tight and pay attention!

Here are five easy steps to get your book up and ready:

1. Finish your book

   Ask yourself if your book is ready for publishing. If you think it’s at its finest, then go for it! If it’s not, then consider the following:

   • When you’re done writing your masterpiece, let someone read it for feedback.

     Give it to someone whose critique you value most, preferably someone with a keen eye on grammar, structure, plot development, characterization and continuity.

   • Your book must have a mind-blowing cover.

     Remember that your book is just one of the millions of books that get published every year. When people browse Amazon or when it is marketed, to the first thing they will see is its cover image. If the looks don’t pass, they might not even bother to read the synopsis. You have to be able to get those readers on the spot. It’s now or never.

   • Format your book for Kindle.

     Although KDP supports a number of formats, these types of eBook file produce consistent results when your book gets converted for Kindle devices and apps:

     • HTML
     • Word doc/docx
     • Mobi
     • ePub

2. Read Kindle Direct Publishing’s terms of service

   Read those terms and conditions so you’ll know what you’re signing up for. For instance, when you sign up for their service called KDP Select, you’ll be giving Amazon exclusive rights to market and promote your book for at least 90 days. This means that you will not be allowed to sell your e-books on other services on the Internet or even on your blog. However, you can continue to distribute your books if it is available in other formats, like print.

3. Publish

   Go to amazon.com and log in, or sign up if you don’t have an account yet. Once you’ve registered to the program, you will then have to fill in a couple of details. Your book’s metadata is one thing you need to complete. This is the set of information that allows people to find your book. These keywords determine whether or not your book is searchable and discoverable.

   After that, you will be asked to upload your book. Amazon will then provide you with the option of previewing your book. You will get to see how it looks like on Kindle and other devices such as the iPhone and iPad. If you use the “Downloadable Previewer” option, you will be able to view your book on various other devices and browsers.

4. Set your price

   Amazon will let you choose between 35% and 70% royalties. The 70% option, however, is not available for all countries. Amazon only offers 70% royalties to countries with larger markets like USA or UK. If your book costs less than $2.99, you only get 35% of the royalties. If you choose 70% royalties, whenever you get a book sold, they will deduct delivery fees. For the 35% royalties option, they will not.

   Do e-books have delivery fees? Yes, they charge you for distributing your work via the Internet, and the charge is based on the file size. In the US, they deduct 15 cents per megabyte.

5. Promote

   It takes about two days for your book to get published. Once it is, you will need to get as much people as you can to read and purchase it. You can create an author page to reach more readers and track your sales, or you could even get some advice from their staff or from your co-authors. Reviews are also important. Before deciding to read a book, most readers would want to know what other people think about it.

   Moreover, Amazon allows you to promote through third party promotional sites. However, they do encourage you to be cautious in doing so.

Kindle is one of the best e-readers today, so publishing your eBook through Amazon’s KDP will surely be worth it. With a few tips and tricks and these easy steps, your masterpiece will have a great chance of topping the bestseller list!

References:

https://michaelhyatt.com/kindle-publishing-success/
https://kdp.amazon.com/
http://readwrite.com/2013/07/22/10-simple-steps-to-self-publishing-your-book-on-amazon