AMAZON KDP - How To Promote Your Self-Published Book (so they sell like crazy) | Molly Ann Luna
As an author, you must do everything possible to promote your book. Amazon KDP makes it easy for you to get the word out there.
This post will cover tips on making the most of Amazon KDP's marketing tools so your self-published book can start selling like crazy!
Plus, I'm going to share my #1 go-to FREE book promotion strategy that has allowed me to generate more book sales FASTER!!
Amazon KDP Expanded Distribution - Paperback
To help you reach more readers through online retailers, bookstores, libraries, and schools, KDP offers expanded distribution.
Note: Hardcover books are not eligible for this feature.
How Expanded Distribution Works
Paperbacks are purchased from large distributors and dispersed through bookstores and libraries. By enrolling your paperback book in KDPs free Expanded Distribution, your book will be available to distributors so that they can find and order copies of your book.
Make Note! Choosing to enroll your paperback in Amazon KDP’s Expanded Distribution doesn't guarantee it will be accepted or sold by distributors. Info on which booksellers and libraries purchased your book is not available.
Requirements
To enroll your paperback in Expanded Distribution, your book must be available on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk and meet specific distributor requirements (not Amazon KDP).
You can find all of the details here: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GQTT4W3T5AYK7L45#how_it_works.
Royalties
Your royalty rate while enrolled in the Amazon KDP Expanded Distribution is 40% of the book's list price, minus printing costs, taxes, and any necessary withholdings.
Enroll your paperback
Go to your KDP Bookshelf.
Find the paperback you want to enroll in.
Under the Paperback Actions menu, click the ellipsis button ("…").
Choose Edit paperback rights & pricing. For published paperbacks, choose Edit print book pricing.
In the "Royalty and Pricing" section, check the Expanded Distribution box for each available marketplace.
When you finish setting your price, click Publish Your Paperback Book.
Click the publish button selected, and the status is Live; the enrollment process has begun.
Expanded Distribution - EBook
KDP Select
KDP Select is a free 90-day Kindle eBook program that allows your ebook to reach more readers through automated Amazon and Kindle promotions.
All authors are eligible, but there are pros and cons to using this feature, so do your research first before you enroll.
Why Enroll in KDP Select?
Potential to earn higher royalties
Maximize your book sales potential
Reach a broader audience
Potential Cons of KDP Select include that you're committing your digital works to be published through KDP exclusively and that they cannot be distributed digitally elsewhere, including your website.
However, if you're only planning to publish with KDP, this is an excellent feature to activate.
To enroll in KDP Select, all you need to do is...
1. Go to your Bookshelf.
2. Click on the ellipsis button ("…") under the KINDLE EBOOK ACTIONS menu next to your enrolled eBook.
3. Choose KDP Select
Book Promotion Strategies
Create An Author Central Account on Amazon KDP
What is An Amazon Author Page?
An Amazon Author Page is a free tool that allows potential buyers to discover more about you, see (and buy) all your published works, and connect to your blog, social media accounts, etc.
Get started
Head to the Marketing page.
Create your Author Page from the drop-down menu.
Click the Manage author page.
Click Join for free and use your KDP account information to sign up.
Amazon Ads
Running paid ads has its pros and cons.
If you're starting your authorship career and don't have a dedicated marketing fund, this might not be for you. I’ll share a free resource with you down below.
But if you're looking for an easy-low-cost way to boost your initial book promo, using the Amazon Advertising option could be the way to go, as Amazon ads can improve your book visibility and build brand awareness.
This paid feature is a pay-per-click (PPC) model, meaning you won't be charged until someone clicks on your ad.
For more info on how to use Advertising KDP to run Amazon Ads, click here: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201499010
​​Buying and Gifting eBooks to Others
You might consider running a proper book launch campaign.
Initially, buying or gift your book to others won't necessarily give you a quick cash influx, but it will boost your brand awareness and help set you up for future (money-generating) book launching.
Consider running a social media challenge or giveaway, live event, or forwarding the first chapter of your email newsletter subscribers to get them excited to want to read more.
Or you could consider offering a special launch discount by pre-scheduling your book promotion.
Scheduling a Book Promotion:
Head to the Marketing tab.
In the Run a Price Promotion, select Free Book Promotion.
Click Create a Free Book Promotion.
Select your book and click Continue.
Enter the desired start and end date. *Avoid ending on the final day of your KDP Select term.
Click Save Changes.
You can schedule book promotions, edit or delete a planned promotion, or stop an ongoing free promotion anytime.
Lending for Kindle
The Kindle Book Lending feature is an interesting one that allows Kindle users to lend digital books they have purchased to their circle of influence.
If you've selected to maximize your royalties gain, your KDP title will auto-enroll into the lending feature. This could be an excellent strategy to gain brand awareness, as word of mouth is one of the most brand-boosting and affordable marketing options.
Each book may be lent from a Kindle book purchase on Amazon once for 14 days.
Note: *loaned books are not eligible to receive royalties
For titles in the 35% royalty option, you may opt out of lending by deselecting the checkbox under "Book Lending" in the book pricing & promotion section of the title setup process.
For more information, see the Amazon Kindle Book Lending help page.
Guest Podcasting
And finally, my favorite (and free way) to promote your book is to appear as a guest on podcasts.
Now that you're a published author, you have the credibility that is more likely to pique the interest of show hosts.
Put together a simple author promo page and begin reaching out to show hosts with an audience who'd likely be interested in buying your book.
Once on the show, provide massive value and casually invite them to explore your work further by mentioning where they can purchase your book.
For more details on how to get booked as a podcast guest so you can sell your book like crazy, be sure to tune into the next episode.