Publishing a book on Amazon used to require agents, contracts, and years of waiting. Now, you can upload your manuscript and start earning royalties within days. Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing lets authors keep control, set their own prices, and reach millions of readers worldwide without paying upfront fees. 

But here's the trap: just because you can publish fast doesn't mean you should. Most authors rush the process, skip critical steps, and end up with books that don't sell. This guide walks you through the right way to publish on Amazon.

How to Publish a Book on Amazon and Make Money: Step-by-Step

This is not the fastest way, but the way that actually builds an income stream. You'll learn how to write, price, and market a book that people actually want to buy. Here is how to get started.

Step 1: Set Up Your Kindle Direct Publishing Account

Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon account. If you don't have one, create it first. Amazon will ask for basic information: your name, email, and tax details.

This takes five minutes. Don't overthink it.

You'll choose whether to publish eBooks, paperbacks, or both. Most authors start with eBooks because they have no printing costs and hit the market faster. Once your account is live, you're ready to move to manuscript prep.

Step 2: Choose Your Book's Niche and Category

Amazon has dozens of categories. Picking the right one matters because readers browse by category, and your ranking within that category affects visibility.

Don't pick based on what sounds impressive. Pick based on where readers actually search. If you're writing a self-help book about productivity, don't put it in "Business & Investing" if "Self-Help" gets more reader traffic in that specific subcategory.

Check Amazon's bestseller lists in your potential categories. Look at the top 10 books. If they're all priced under $3.99 and yours is $12.99, you're fighting an uphill battle. If they're all 200 pages and you have 80, that's a signal that readers in that category expect length.

Step 3: Research Keywords Before Writing

Before you write a single word, find out what readers search for. Use Publisher Rocket to see search volume and competition for keywords.

Look for keywords with 100–500 monthly searches and low competition scores. If a keyword has 10,000 searches but 50,000 books competing, you won't rank. If it has 150 searches and 200 books, you can win.

Write down 10–15 viable keywords. These become your compass during writing. If your keyword is "how to start a dropshipping business," your book's subtitle, chapter titles, and opening paragraphs should naturally include variations of this phrase.

Amazon's algorithm watches for keyword relevance. If your keywords don't match your actual content, the algorithm penalizes you.

Step 4: Write Your Manuscript with Purpose

Open a blank document and commit to a schedule. KDP authors write 200–500 words daily. At that pace, you'll finish a 50,000-word book in 100–250 days.

A rushed, poorly edited manuscript gets bad reviews. Bad reviews kill sales. You can fix typos, but you can't fix a weak structure after publishing.

Write for one person, not an audience. Imagine a specific reader: maybe it's a 35-year-old woman who wants to start a side business, or a 22-year-old learning coding. Write directly to that person. Use "you," not "readers" or "people."

Don't edit while you write. Just write. Editing comes next.

Step 5: Edit Your Manuscript Ruthlessly

Your first draft is rough. That's normal. Most authors need 2–3 editing passes to get something worth publishing:

• First pass: Fix structure. Do your chapters flow? Does the argument make sense? Move paragraphs around if they land in the wrong place.
• Second pass: Cut words. Remove sentences that repeat what you just said. Delete adverbs. Change "very important" to "important." Trim 10–20% of your word count.
• Third pass: Check grammar, spelling, and formatting. Use Grammarly or hire a freelance editor on Upwork. A $300–$500 editor catches errors you'll miss.

Readers notice sloppy writing. It signals low quality. You can self-publish without a traditional publisher—but that doesn't mean low standards.

Step 6: Design a Cover That Converts

Your cover is a sales tool, not an art project. Readers judge books by covers in under one second. If you can afford it, hire a designer on Fiverr. Budget $50–$200. A professional cover increases click-through rates by 30–50%.

If you're on a tight budget, use Canva. Choose a template, customize colors and fonts, and keep it simple. Avoid busy designs. Avoid script fonts. Avoid clipart.

Your cover needs to be readable as a thumbnail (about two inches wide on a phone screen). If readers can't read your title from that distance, redesign it.

Test your cover with people outside your family. Show it to 10 people who haven't seen it before. Ask: "What's this book about?" If they guess wrong, redesign.

Step 7: Write a Book Description That Sells

Amazon gives you 4,000 characters for your book description. This is a sales pitch, not a summary.

• Start with a hook: "Tired of launching products that flop?" or "Most productivity books tell you what to do. This one shows you how."
• Spend the next 2–3 sentences explaining the problem your book solves.
• Then, spend 2–3 sentences on the solution or what readers will gain.
• End with a call to action: "Scroll up and buy now," or "Start your free sample today."

Avoid generic language. Don't write "This book is a must-read." Write "You'll learn the exact system I used to earn $50,000 in my first year." Use bold and italics. Amazon accepts HTML formatting. Bold your most compelling benefit.

Step 8: Choose Your Pricing and Royalty Plan

Amazon offers two royalty options: 35% and 70%.

The 70% option is available for eBooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. It comes with one catch: you can't sell the same eBook cheaper elsewhere.

The 35% option works for any price. You can sell on your own website, other platforms, or even give it away free—and still earn 35% royalties from Amazon sales.

If your book costs $4.99, you earn $3.49 at 70% royalty. If it costs $2.99, you earn $2.09. If you go with 35% at $9.99, you earn $3.49.

New authors often underprice. They think $2.99 equals more sales. Sometimes it does. Often, it signals low quality. Test pricing. Start at $4.99. Track sales for a month. If they're flat, try $3.99. If they're strong, raise it to $5.99.

Step 9: Upload Your Manuscript and Metadata

Log into KDP. Click "Create a New Title." Upload your manuscript file (Word docs, PDFs, or ePub files work). Amazon converts it to Kindle format automatically.

Then fill in metadata: your book title, subtitle, author name, and description. This information helps Amazon's search algorithm rank your book.

You can add a subtitle like "The 7-Step Formula to Earn $1,000+ Monthly." Subtitles help with keyword relevance and click-through rates.

Choose categories. Amazon lets you select up to two. Pick based on your keyword research. If your top keyword lands in "Business & Money" but you picked "Self-Help," you're working against the algorithm.

Add your 7 keywords or keyword phrases. These are different from your categories. Use your research from Step 3. Include variations: "dropshipping for beginners," "how to start dropshipping," "beginner's guide to dropshipping."

Step 10: Decide on KDP Select or Wide Distribution

KDP Select requires your eBook to be exclusive to Amazon for 90 days. In return, you get access to Kindle Unlimited (readers pay a monthly subscription and you get paid per page read) and promotional tools like Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals.

Wide distribution means selling on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, and other platforms. You keep 70% royalties everywhere, but you lose access to Kindle Unlimited.

Here's when to choose each:

• Choose KDP Select if: You're writing fiction, your genre has strong Kindle Unlimited readers (romance, fantasy, sci-fi), or you want to run free promotions to build your email list.
• Choose Wide Distribution if: You're writing nonfiction, you already have an audience outside Amazon, or you want maximum reach across platforms.

Most successful authors start with Select, run a 90-day promotion, then move to wide distribution.

Step 11: Launch Your Book and Run a Promotion

Publish your book. Amazon typically lists it within 24–48 hours.

Once it's live, don't just wait for sales. Run a promotion.

If you chose KDP Select, run a Free Book Promotion (5 free days out of every 90). Drive traffic using:

• Reddit: Post in subreddits related to your book's topic
• Facebook groups: Share in relevant communities (not spammy)
• Email list: If you have subscribers, let them know
• Book blogs: Reach out to bloggers in your niche and offer a free copy for review

Free promotions build reviews and rankings. More reviews signal quality to the algorithm. Higher rankings mean more visibility. Visibility drives paid sales.

If you went wide distribution, offer a discount on other platforms instead.

Track everything. Count how many downloads each traffic source brought. Next month, double down on what worked.

Step 12: Build an Email List for Long-Term Sales

One-time sales are nice. Repeat readers are better.

Create an email list. Offer a free bonus (a chapter, a template, a checklist) in exchange for email addresses. Use a tool like ConvertKit or MailerLite (both have free tiers).

When you launch a new book, email your list first. Your existing readers buy faster and leave reviews faster. These early sales boost your algorithm ranking, which increases visibility to new readers.

Email your list monthly. Don't spam. Share one tip, one new book announcement, or one story. Readers who stay engaged become loyal buyers.

You can build an email list through your book itself. Add a page at the end: "Want a free guide on [related topic]? Go to [your-website.com/bonus]."

Email lists are the difference between a one-time paycheck and ongoing income.

Step 13: Monitor Your Sales and Adjust

KDP gives you a dashboard showing sales, page reads (if you're in Kindle Unlimited), and your book's ranking.

Check it weekly for the first month. Track:

• How many copies sold each day
• Which keywords led readers to your page
• Your ranking in your category
• Your book's click-through rate

If your book isn't selling, something is wrong. Common issues: your cover isn't compelling, your description doesn't clarify benefits, your price is too high, or you lack reviews.

If your cover is weak, redesign it. If your description is vague, rewrite it. If you have under 10 reviews, run another free promotion. Don't guess. Test. Change one variable, wait a week, then check results.

Step 14: Publish Your Next Book and Build a Series

One book is the start. A series is the business.

Readers who love your first book want your second one. A series gives you multiple revenue streams and increases discoverability (Amazon shows all three books to someone reading book one).

Publish your next book within 3–6 months. While you're writing book two, book one is earning passive income. After three books, you're no longer a one-hit author. Algorithms notice. You'll see a bump in sales across all titles.

Most successful KDP authors earn $500–$2,000 monthly from their first book within a year. They earn $2,000–$10,000+ monthly with a five-book series. The income compounds.

Start now. Publish one book. Then another. Compounding wins here.

Conclusion

Publishing on Amazon is no longer a dream reserved for authors with agents and publishing houses. You can do it now. You can earn money from your writing now. But speed doesn't equal success. The authors who make real income are the ones who write with purpose, edit ruthlessly, price strategically, and promote consistently. Your first book won't fund your retirement. But your first book is the foundation. It teaches you what works. It builds your author platform. It sets you up for book two, which earns more, and book three, which earns more still. Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for the perfect conditions. Publish your book this year. Then publish another one. That's how authors build income. If you want to start dropshipping books, use Spocket!