How to Self-Publish with Amazon Kindle in South Africa
Amazon Kindle Publishing, How to publish with Amazon in South Africa. Have you ever wanted to make your book available to a global audience of readers? But did not know how? Amazon Kindle offers writers this opportunity.
In today’s digital age, self-publishing has become a viable and popular option for many authors around the world. For South African writers, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform offers an accessible and efficient way to publish and distribute their work to a global audience. This guide will walk you through the steps to successfully self-publish your book with Amazon from South Africa. The process is simple, but there may be parts where first-time writers may struggle to navigate.
Step 1: Prepare Your Manuscript for Amazon Kindle Publishing
Before you begin the self-publishing process, ensure your manuscript is polished and ready for publication. This includes:
- Editing: Hire a professional editor to help you refine all the parts of your book that you may have missed. Having professional editors who understand your genre is crucial because they know what to look out for and they know what readers in that genre look for in books. It is very important to have the right editor for your book, especially if you are a first-time writer. You can edit your book yourself, but do you really want to take that chance with something so sacred and something that will exist long after you are gone? Even the best writers have editors…even this blog will be edited.
- Formatting & Layout: Format your manuscript according to Amazon’s guidelines. This ensures your book looks professional on all devices. You can use tools like Kindle Create or hire a professional formatter. If your book does not have any images or complex diagrams, Kindle Create will help you get the job done should you have a tight budget. The Kindle Create app is not complex. However, I have found that Kindle Create also has limitations, especially when it comes to ebooks. You can opt to use Microsoft Word to format your book, then convert it to epub.
- Cover Design: Create an eye-catching cover that represents your book’s content. You can use design tools like Canva or Photoshop or hire a professional designer. For writers without a design background, it is best to hire a professional designer, as the process of designing the book cover yourself can be excruciating, especially when dealing with size specifications. Suppose you plan to do an ebook and a paperback or hardcover book on Amazon. It is best to use a professional designer for your book cover and layout because there will be a lot of back and forth with getting the designs to fit Amazon standards. Amazon uses different printing guidelines to the South African printers; their sizes are slightly larger, and using a professional designer will save you the heartache.
Step 2: Create an Amazon KDP Account
To publish on Amazon, you need a Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account. If you don’t already have one, follow these steps:
- Sign Up: Go to the Amazon KDP website and sign up using your Amazon account credentials.
- Complete Your Profile: Fill in your personal details, including your tax information. As a South African, you’ll need to provide your tax identification number.
- Bank account: South African bank accounts can now be used on Amazon, so you no longer need an international bank account like Payoneer or Paypal, Yeyyy!!!
Step 3: Set Up Your Book on KDP
Once your KDP account is set up, you can start the process of publishing your book:
- Create a New Title: On your KDP dashboard, click on “Create a New Title” and select whether you’re publishing an eBook or a paperback.
- Enter Your Book Details:
- Title and Subtitle: Provide the title and subtitle of your book.
- Author: Enter the author’s name.
- Description: Write a compelling book description to attract potential readers.
- Keywords: Add relevant keywords to help readers find your book.
- Categories: Select the appropriate categories for your book.
- Upload Your Manuscript: Upload your formatted manuscript file. KDP accepts various file formats, including .docx and .pdf. After uploading your manuscript, preview it to see if everything is in order and alignment.
- Upload Your Cover: Upload your book cover file or use the Cover Creator tool on KDP. For book covers made for South African book printing, you may need to resize your book cover in order to abide by Amazon guidelines.
Step 4: Set Your Pricing and Royalties
Amazon KDP offers two royalty plans: 35% and 70%. The plan you choose will depend on the price you set for your book and the regions you want to sell in. Here’s how to set your pricing:
- Select Your Royalty Plan: Choose between the 35% or 70% royalty plan.
- Set Your Price: Enter your book’s price. Consider researching similar books in your genre to determine a competitive price.
- Expanded Distribution: Decide if you want to enroll your book in Amazon’s Expanded Distribution, which makes your book available to bookstores and libraries.
Step 5: Publish Your Book
After completing all the necessary steps, you’re ready for the last stage of Amazon Kindle Publishing:
- Preview Your Book: Use the KDP previewer tool to see how your book will look on different devices.
- Submit for Publishing: Once you’re satisfied with the preview, click the “Publish Your Kindle eBook” or “Publish Your Paperback Book” button.
- It takes upto 72 hours for your book to be reviewed and be available for purchase.
- Create your author central page. This is optional, but serves as a good portfolio for your books.
Step 6: Promote Your Book
Publishing your book is just the beginning. Effective promotion is key to reaching a wider audience:
- Leverage Social Media: Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote your book. Engage with readers and join writing communities.
- Author Website: Create an author website to showcase your work and connect with your audience; creating an e-commerce website that enables book purchases will be ideal.
- Amazon Author Central: Set up your Amazon Author Central profile to manage your author page and track your book sales.
- Book Reviews: Encourage readers to leave reviews on Amazon. Positive reviews can significantly impact your book’s visibility and sales, although it might not be everyone who buys your book on Amazon who is able to review it because they must have spent a certain amount on Amazon before they are able to review your book
Conclusion
Self-publishing with Amazon KDP from South Africa is a straightforward process that opens up a world of possibilities for independent authors. By following these steps and leveraging the tools available, you can bring your literary dreams to life and share your stories with readers around the globe.
Every story shapes the world—your story matters too.
Happy publishing!
For your publishing needs, contact us at info@afrocentricmedia.co.za
