Self-Publishing Made Easy: The Basics of Starting with Amazon KDP

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to begin self-publishing, especially if you're starting with low-content books like journals, notebooks, or planners. Whether you’re looking to earn passive income or build a creative side hustle, KDP gives you the tools to publish and sell your books globally—with no upfront cost.

Step 1: Sign Up and Explore the Platform
Start by creating a free Amazon KDP account. Once you're in, you’ll find a user-friendly dashboard that walks you through each step of the publishing process.

Step 2: Choose a Niche
Before you create anything, take time to brainstorm topics that interest you or reflect your expertise. Are you passionate about mindfulness, goal-setting, or fitness? Explore Amazon to see what’s already selling in that space. This research will help you understand what works—and how you can offer something fresh or improved.

Step 3: Design Your Book
For low-content books, this means two main elements: the cover and the interior. Use design tools like Canva (great for beginners) or Adobe InDesign to create clean, eye-catching layouts. Interiors can be simple—lined pages for journals, grids for planners, prompts for gratitude journals—but make sure they’re well-aligned and formatted for printing.

Step 4: Upload Your Files to KDP
When your cover and interior are ready, upload them to your KDP dashboard. You'll fill in important details like your title, subtitle, book description, and keywords. These help people find your book when searching, so be strategic and clear.

Step 5: Set Your Pricing and Distribution
Decide on your pricing based on Amazon’s printing costs and what similar books are selling for. You’ll also choose where your book will be available—Amazon US, UK, Canada, and more.

Once your book is published, it will be available for purchase on Amazon within 72 hours. From there, you can begin promoting it, learning from your analytics, and creating more books based on what works.

If you're interested in learning the best way to make coloring books—one of the most successful types of low-content books—then KDP in 3 is the perfect course to walk you through the process step by step.

Or, if you’d like an overall view of best practices for starting with Amazon KDP, including niche selection, book creation, and long-term strategy, check out this foundational course: Getting Started with KDP. It’s a great way to start strong and avoid beginner mistakes.