How to Earn Money from Amazon KDP: A 6 Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Discover how to earn money from Amazon KDP by publishing and selling your own ebooks and low-content books. Learn proven strategies, tools, and tips to build passive income with Kindle Direct Publishing.

Monika Ralte
6 Min Read

In today’s digital age, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) has opened doors for writers, designers, and entrepreneurs to earn passive income by self-publishing books online. Whether you’re a creative soul, a savvy marketer, or simply someone looking to make money online, Amazon KDP offers an incredible opportunity to turn ideas into income.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll cover how to earn money from Amazon KDP, including what to publish, how to create your content, upload your books, and market them effectively.


📅 What is Amazon KDP?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a self-publishing platform that lets anyone publish eBooks and paperback books for free. Once published, your book becomes available on Amazon’s global marketplaces, giving you access to millions of potential readers and buyers.

You earn money every time your book is sold, and you can choose between 35% and 70% royalties depending on the pricing and region.


💰 Why Amazon KDP is a Great Way to Make Money

  • No upfront cost
  • Global reach
  • Full creative control
  • Multiple types of books allowed (fiction, nonfiction, low-content, etc.)
  • Passive income potential

🎓 Step 1: Choose What Type of Book to Publish

There are multiple ways to start, depending on your interests and skills:

  1. Low-Content Books: Journals, notebooks, logbooks, planners
  2. Children’s Books: Simple stories with engaging illustrations
  3. Activity Books: Puzzles, coloring books, word searches
  4. Nonfiction eBooks: Guides, tutorials, tips, or case studies
  5. Fiction: Novels, short stories, poetry
Earn Money from Amazon KDP
Ai Generated Image

📈 Image Prompt: A visual of different book types like journals, planners, children’s books, and coloring books on a shelf.


✍️ Step 2: Create the Content

📚 For Written Books

  • Use tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Scrivener to draft your content.
  • Use Grammarly to proofread and polish your writing.
  • Format your manuscript using KDP templates.

🎨 For Low-Content Books

  • Use Canva or Book Bolt to create interior pages (like dotted pages, planners, or to-do lists).
  • Stick to a niche (e.g., gratitude journal, budget planner, fitness tracker).

🌐 Image Prompt: A person designing a planner page in Canva on a laptop.


🖼️ Step 3: Design an Attractive Cover

Your book cover is the first thing people notice. You can:

  • Design using Canva (with KDP dimensions)
  • Hire a freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork
  • Use free tools like Adobe Express or Snappa

Make sure your title is readable and the design fits your niche.


📅 Step 4: Set Up Your KDP Account

  1. Go to https://kdp.amazon.com
  2. Sign in with your Amazon account
  3. Fill in:
  • Author/Publisher Name
  • Bank Account Details
  • Tax Information

Once your account is verified, you can start publishing!


📈 Step 5: Upload Your Book

  1. Choose whether you’re publishing an eBook or Paperback
  2. Enter the details:
    • Book title
    • Subtitle
    • Author name
    • Keywords and categories
  3. Upload your manuscript and cover
  4. Preview your book using the Kindle previewer
  5. Set pricing and royalty
Earn Money from Amazon KDP


📣 Step 6: Market Your Book

Publishing is just step one. Marketing is key to making money.

Free Promotion Ideas:

  • Share your book on LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter
  • Write helpful blog posts around your book topic
  • Join Facebook groups and subreddits in your niche

Paid Promotion:

  • Use Amazon Ads to target specific keywords
  • Run promotions using BookBub or Freebooksy

Other Tactics:

  • Get reviews by offering free copies to friends or influencers
  • Start a YouTube channel or Medium blog about your niche


🌟 Bonus Tips for Success

  • Research what’s trending on Amazon before choosing a niche
  • Use tools like Publisher Rocket, Helium10, or Book Bolt for keyword research
  • Start with low-content books to learn the platform, then expand to eBooks
  • Create a brand or series to keep readers coming back

🌟 How Much Can You Earn on Amazon KDP?

It depends on your niche, quality, and marketing efforts. Here’s a rough idea:

  • Low-content books: ₹100–500 per month per book
  • Well-marketed eBooks: ₹500–5,000+ per month
  • Consistent publishing: Can build a portfolio that generates income for years

Some creators earn $100/month while others scale to $5,000+/month.


🚀 Ready to Launch Your First Book?

Here’s a quick checklist:

  1. Choose your niche and book type
  2. Create interior pages and covers
  3. Sign up on KDP
  4. Upload your files
  5. Set a price and publish
  6. Promote your book online

💸 Conclusion: Is Amazon KDP Worth It?

Absolutely. If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly way to earn passive income, Amazon KDP offers all the tools you need. With minimal upfront investment, creative freedom, and a massive customer base, it’s one of the best platforms to launch your digital product journey.

So, whether you want to create a simple notebook or write a best-selling guide, KDP is your gateway to publishing and profit.

Start today. Create once. Earn forever.


Need help designing your first book? Or want templates and tools to make it faster? Just ask, and I’ll guide you step-by-step!

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Monika Ralte is a talented news editor with a strong background in journalism. She excels in producing accurate, engaging content while maintaining high editorial standards. Monika is known for her attention to detail and her ability to lead editorial teams in delivering impactful news.
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