Tips & Guides

Amazon KDP for beginners - A complete guide

Everything you need to know to publish your first book on Amazon and start earning royalties.

8 min read · May 17, 2026 · BookBuilderGo Team

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the world's largest platform for self-publishers. Millions of readers search for new books every day. This guide takes you from finished manuscript to live Amazon listing.

What is Amazon KDP?

KDP is Amazon's self-publishing platform. You upload your manuscript and cover, set a price, and Amazon prints on demand or distributes digitally. You keep the rights and can earn up to 70% royalties on ebooks.

Step 1: Create a KDP account (5 minutes)

Go to kdp.amazon.com. Use your existing Amazon account or create a new one. Complete tax information and bank details for payouts.

Step 2: Prepare your manuscript (10 minutes)

LITRA! delivers publish-ready files:

  • DOCX for paperback/hardcover
  • EPUB for Kindle ebook
  • PDF for print interior
  • Make sure page count matches your trim size, for example 6x9 inches.

    Step 3: Upload your cover (5 minutes)

    LITRA! gives you a design brief. Use it in Canva, Adobe, or outsource to a designer. Upload as a PDF with bleed.

    Step 4: Fill in book details (10 minutes)

  • Title and subtitle: Use keywords readers search for
  • Description: Write a benefit-focused blurb
  • Keywords: Choose 7 backend keywords
  • Categories: Choose 2 browse categories
  • Price: Ebooks often work best at $2.99-$9.99 for 70% royalty
  • Step 5: Preview and publish (5 minutes)

    Use KDP's online previewer to check formatting. Click publish. Review usually takes 24-72 hours.

    After publishing: Marketing

  • Run a free book promotion to generate early reviews
  • Use Amazon Ads with a small daily budget
  • Build an email list with BookBuilderGo's Marketing Kit
  • Conclusion

    Amazon KDP is your direct path to readers. With LITRA! as your writing partner and this guide as your map, there is nothing stopping you.

    Tags
    Amazon KDPself-publishingroyaltiesbook marketingKindle