How do I sell an ebook on Amazon?
Updated
The short answer
To sell an ebook on Amazon, you use Kindle Direct Publishing. You create an account, upload your written manuscript, and add a cover image. Next, you set your title, description, and price. Once you publish, your book goes live in the Kindle store within a few days, and Amazon pays you monthly royalties.
Prepare your ebook files
You need two main files before you start. The first file is your manuscript. You can write your book in a regular word processor and save it as a document or EPUB file. Make sure your text is clean, easy to read, and free of typos.
The second file is your book cover. It must be an image file like a JPEG. Readers see the cover first in search results, so make the title clear and easy to read even on a small phone screen.
Upload and publish on Kindle Direct Publishing
Go to the Kindle Direct Publishing website and sign in with your regular Amazon account. You will need to enter your tax details and bank account so you can receive payments when your book sells.
Click the button to create a new Kindle ebook. Enter your book title, author name, and a short description that tells readers what the book is about. Choose the best categories and keywords so people can find your topic.
Upload your manuscript and cover file. Use the online preview tool to check every page. If everything looks good, set your price and click publish. Amazon reviews the book and usually makes it live within 72 hours.
Things to keep in mind
Amazon gives you access to millions of readers, but it also takes a cut of your sales and keeps buyer data. You do not get the email addresses of the people who buy your book, which makes it hard to talk to them directly later.
Amazon also has strict pricing rules. Depending on the price you choose, Amazon takes a share of each sale. If you enroll in their lending program, you also cannot sell that digital file anywhere else.
Selling directly to your audience
If you already have followers on social media or an email list, you might not want to give up a big cut of your sales. Many creators prefer to sell their ebooks directly from their own link so they keep more profit and own their customer list.
For example, you can set up on Whop and use the MKKT app from the Whop App Store. You upload your ebook file, set a price or make it free, and get a store link your audience can use to buy without needing an account.