KDP: 7 Pieces of Advice to Step Foot Into Self-Publishing
May 14, 2025
Are you an author who has just finished writing a manuscript? Finding a literary agent to represent your work and drafting a query letter both take time. If you want to get your book out now, consider self-publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing. Instead of going through the hassle of finding a traditional publisher that takes months to get back to you on the status of your manuscript, consider going through the process of doing it on your own—through Amazon!
There are many aspects of self-publishing through KDP that are so rewarding, including maintaining 70% of royalties on E-Books and 60% on print books. You are also able to publish multiple formats of your book without struggle. This transition into the publishing world couldn’t go smoother. With self-publishing, you should be aware of the steps it takes to fully prepare your book and market it to millions of people across the world. Without further ado, we give you seven pieces of advice on stepping foot into publishing with KDP.
Start Looking to Build an Editorial Team That Consists of Copy and Line Editors
Building a good editorial team is important for self-published authors. You will want copy and line editors to go through the process of proofreading and editing your manuscript proof. Once this is done, they will let you know that it is set to be published through KDP.
Joining job platforms such as LinkedIn or Indeed will help you narrow your search for copy and line editors. Some editors put up posts offering editing services for a fee per word, others may charge in time increments. Make sure to check out their website and set up a consultation with them!
Set a Schedule For Publishing Your Book
Always set a publishing schedule for your book. It’s better to create a list of to-dos: from first draft, second draft, to building an editorial team, and then final draft after the editorial team finishes their part. Setting this schedule for publishing helps you balance next steps for promotional content and marketing strategies. This takes a great weight off your chest when you have goals set for publishing your first book through KDP.
Part of that schedule should also involve connecting with valuable resources in KDP that include Kindle Select to connect with more of your reading audience, and Kindle Community to speak with other experts and authors in the writing community (we will talk about this further)! Setting yourself up for success through setting a publishing schedule is a must for all new and current published authors.
Ensure You Have a Top-Notch Proof of Your Manuscript
Schedule meetings with your editorial team after they have finished several rounds of copy and line edits. It’s important to ensure that the proof of your manuscript has the correct layout and format to publish through KDP. KDP can be very finicky with layout and formatting features unless you set them in a way that allows the text to flow well across the pages. For this reason, make sure you check your margins, page orientation, indentations, and breaks between text to ensure a more flawless transition into KDP.
Set Important Details Such as List Prices, ISBN, Categories, and Keywords for Your Book
It’s important to have your list prices for your books in mind. Make sure you look at where other KDP-published books are listed, and consider how page length and the format of the book factor into that decision. You might have two or three book formats in mind, so consider list prices for those, along with the Audiobook Creation Exchange feature if you would like an audiobook feature added to your other book formats!
Make sure to get an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for your book. For self-published authors like yourself, you will need an assigned ISBN from the International ISBN Agency to print on your copyright page. You also need an ISBN barcode (with the same number) for the back of the book. ISBNs are so important because they help other retailers find your book so that they can sell it on their shelves! You can reach out to Bowker MyIdentifiers in the United States. For authors outside of the United States, there are ISBN agencies in different countries that you can reach out to. KDP Print gives a free, but specific to KDP only, ISBN to authors who use this service, but it cannot be printed anywhere else. You can choose “get a free KDP ISBN” in the “edit print book content” area before publishing your book through KDP. Look into legitimate ISBN services like Bowker or ISBNco that provide discounted options so that you can manifest those next books!
Ensure that when you are setting other important details for KDP, you use niche keywords for your book, and consider the categories where your book would fall in the Amazon algorithm. This is important to direct traffic towards your book. Not only does it direct traffic but also entices readers to buy your book and start reading!
Create An Interactive Author Website for Readers
Making an aesthetically pleasing author website is wonderful for new authors. You can create websites through platforms such as Wix, WordPress, and many others! If you are working to save money in your budget, then you can also create websites for free on these platforms. Let readers get to know you on your “About” page, such as answering prompts. With the Amazon Author Platform, you can create an author page on Amazon that includes your books, a short biography, new releases, and options for pre-ordering books that will be released!
Make sure that formatting with color coordination, text, and images flow well across your “About” page. Make sure to include tabs that focus on other books, an online store (it’s always great to build an online store for your books and other bookish merchandise), and your newsletter to increase readership! Building a website is vital for self-published authors because it shows readers how they can get involved with your journey. It would also be great to add a portfolio of your work, future event plans, and a tab dedicated to chapters/excerpts of a new book that was just published! Indie authors such as Ashley Howard included the first four chapters of her book, Landing on Mars.
This social engagement is extremely useful when you are working to promote your book and to offer other bookish services to readers!
Build Networking Strategies to Promote and Market Your Book: Book Launch, Podcasts, Book-Signings, Comic-Cons, Getting Expert Reviews, and More!
Networking is the bulk of marketing your book. One of the quickest ways to expand your book’s readership is to work on building a successful book launch that might contain book merchandise, a book trailer, and activities related to the themes in your book. You also want to consider where your reading audience travels the most: will they be more likely to go to comic-cons, or will they go to a cafe? Either way, it’s always great to have book events for book signings at Barnes & Noble or any local bookstore where you can provide signed copies of your book. This is a great way to interact with your readers and to learn how to curate future book content for your reading audience.
Not only do you want to consider where reading traffic flows, but you also want to seek expert reviews. These can consist of other authors in the same genre or other publishers, such as Kirkus Reviews. You want these reviews to help push your book into the readers’ hands that your book is meant for. Expert reviews also help cultivate reader traffic so that they flock to your book. Many readers know that if the experts say that the book is well done, they are more likely to buy the book from Amazon.
It doesn’t have to stop with expert reviews, though—you can launch a podcast talking about your book’s themes, writing goals, and promotional content (including giveaways) that you want your reading audience to know about! This keeps interest high, and also connects to a diverse audience that has grown to love audiobooks and podcasts.
Hold Collaborations with Other KDP-Published Authors for More Reach!
Don’t keep to yourself—reach out to other authors who have published their books through KDP! It might take some research, but it’s very useful to build lasting relationships through the publishing industry. Include them as collaborators on podcasts to teach your cojoined reading audiences about self-publishing while comparing and contrasting themes from your books. Hold Zoom meetings with other authors to talk about progression as a self-published author and share tools that have worked for you. Hold free and paid webinars, and make sure to promote the events consistently on social media.
Self-publishing through KDP is very rewarding. With a delightful mix of free and paid tools to choose from, you are always guaranteed a smooth transition into the publishing industry with that first book in hand! While promotions and marketing can be daunting to authors, it can be made easier by building collaborations with other KDP authors and having a great editorial team to help guide you. In writing, you will learn that a book is raised by a village through the right resources and publishing professionals that care about your mission as much as you do.
If you want to learn more about the resources and tools that KDP has to offer, read more here!
To learn more about the process for buying an ISBN code, click here.
For more information on Wix and WordPress website building, read more here and here.
If you would like to see independent author Ashley Howard’s author website, click here.
To learn more about Wildebeest Publishing’s services, read more here.

Kinsey Krachinski is an English graduate student who will be starting at Indiana University South Bend this year! She has extensive publishing experience that ranges from articles to children's books, essays, and poetry. Kinsey's dedication to mental health support initiatives, non-profit organizations, and community outreach allows her to reach several diverse communities. Just like the wolf, her spirit animal, she leads with fierce passion in her journey to support marginalized voices in publishing.