How to Upload, Sell and Earn on Amazon KDP

You have a manuscript and a cover. This is the exact path from files on your laptop to a live Amazon listing that pays royalties every month.

1. Prepare the right files

• eBook manuscript: EPUB is preferred; DOCX also works. Include a linked table of contents and let Amazon handle page breaks.
• Paperback interior: print‑ready PDF at your chosen trim size (6×9" is the safe default) with correct margins and bleed.
• Cover: eBook cover 1600×2560 px JPG (1.6:1 ratio). Paperback needs a full wrap PDF sized to page count.

VibeBooky exports all three formats plus a KDP-sized cover, so you can skip formatting tools entirely.

2. Start a new title on your Bookshelf

Click Create → Kindle eBook (or Paperback). KDP walks you through three screens: Details, Content, Pricing.

3. Fill in details that actually drive discovery

1. Title & subtitle. Put the main search phrase in the title; use the subtitle for the promise ("... in 30 Days for Complete Beginners").
2. Author / pen name. Locked after publishing, so decide now.
3. Description. 4,000 characters, light HTML allowed. Lead with the reader's problem, then the outcome, then what's inside.
4. 7 keywords. Not single words — use buyer phrases: "sourdough for beginners no starter", "ADHD planner for adults". Never repeat words already in your title, and never use competitor brand names.
5. 2 categories. Pick the most specific subcategories you legitimately fit; you can email KDP support to be added to more.

4. Upload content and preview

Upload manuscript and cover, then always open the Kindle Previewer. Check the first page, chapter starts, the table of contents, and any tables or images on both phone and tablet views.

5. Set price and royalty

• 70% royalty: list price $2.99–$9.99, minus a small per‑MB delivery fee. Best for most non-fiction and fiction.
• 35% royalty: any price, no delivery fee. Used for very cheap or very expensive titles.
• KDP Select: 90 days of Amazon exclusivity in exchange for Kindle Unlimited page reads and promo tools.

Rule of thumb: $2.99–$4.99 for a short guide, $6.99–$9.99 for a substantial non-fiction book, $9.99+ for print.

6. Publish and wait for review

Amazon reviews the file, usually within 24–72 hours. You'll get an email when it's live, and the listing appears on your dashboard with an ASIN.

7. How you actually earn

• Royalties accrue per marketplace and are paid ~60 days after month end by bank transfer.
• Kindle Unlimited pays per page read from a monthly global fund (typically around $0.004–$0.005 per page).
• Paperback royalty = list price × 60% − printing cost.

8. What to do after launch

1. Watch click-through. Lots of impressions, few clicks = cover problem. Refresh it.
2. Watch conversion. Clicks but no sales = description or price problem.
3. Ask for honest reviews from real readers — never buy reviews; it risks the account.
4. Publish again. Series and consistent output beat one perfect book almost every time.

Doing keywords, categories, blurbs and exports in one place is the point of the VibeBooky KDP workspace.