How do I sell an ebook on Amazon?
Updated
The short answer
To sell an ebook on Amazon, you need a Kindle Direct Publishing account. First, write your book and save it as a clean digital file. Next, upload your manuscript, add your book cover, and write a clear description. Finally, choose your sales territories, pick a royalty plan, set your price, and publish your book.
Steps to publish your ebook
Sign in to Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform using your regular Amazon login. Create your author profile and add your tax information. This step is required so Amazon knows where to send your payments when people buy your book.
Next, set up your book details. Type in your title, subtitle, and author name. Paste in a book description that tells readers what they will learn or enjoy. Choose search keywords and browse categories so shoppers can find your book in search results.
Upload your manuscript file and your cover art. Preview the pages on screen to make sure words and images look right. After that, choose your list price and submit the book. Amazon usually reviews and approves new titles within three days.
Things to watch out for
Amazon gives you access to millions of shoppers, but it also comes with big tradeoffs. Amazon takes a large cut of your book sales. You also do not own the customer relationship. Amazon keeps the buyer's email address, so you cannot contact your readers directly to tell them about your future work.
Pricing rules can also limit what you earn. If you want a higher payout share, Amazon requires you to keep your price within strict limits. If you price outside those limits, you earn much less on each sale. You also face competition from millions of other books right on your page.
Selling directly with your own link
If you already have followers on social media, you do not need a giant marketplace to sell your ebook. You can sell digital files directly to your audience on Whop, a platform based in New York. Whop charges a small fee plus payment processing for most products, letting you keep more of your earnings.
To make buying simple, you can install the MKKT app from the Whop App Store. Sellers upload a file, set a price or make it free, and get a store link buyers can use without a Whop account. Buyers pay by card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and some crypto.
Which path should you choose?
If you do not have an existing audience, Amazon is a good starting place because random people can search and discover your book. But if you already have fans, email subscribers, or social followers, selling directly is usually better. You keep more money and build a direct relationship with every reader.
Many creators do both. You can publish on Amazon to reach strangers who browse their store, while sharing your own direct store link with your followers. That way, you get the discovery of a big store without giving away high fees on sales from your loyal fans.