Many of our clients at Whistleslick Design have inquired about selling their self-published books on Amazon and about using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) for their self-publishing needs. We’ve discovered some eye-opening truths from these experiences, and we’d like to share what we’ve learned.
Some of our clients have come to us after using KDP, and the results were startling. The print quality of their books was far from satisfactory—worse than that of a basic home printer. The paper was subpar, and the covers were flimsy. This experience was an eye-opener for both our clients and us. Moreover, our illustrators also avoid Amazon due to frequent issues with inaccurate layouts, leading to books with errors that can only be accepted as is.
Our own experience with selling books on Amazon also revealed several challenges. We did not choose to work directly with Amazon, instead our books were placed on their platform through the vanity printer that we were contracted with. It was a horrible experience all the way around. We faced numerous issues with our Author Page, and resolving these problems through Amazon’s support was a slow and frustrating process. There were times when we found our smaller Belden Boy book being resold for nearly $200, far above our retail price of $12. Despite reaching out to Amazon, we had no control over removing these listings, and Amazon's response was to view it as “free publicity.”
Additionally, our warehouse fees approached $50 per month, while our royalty checks were as low as $0.75. These experiences prompted us to dig deeper into the fine print of selling books through Amazon and KDP:
· High Competition: Standing out on Amazon can be challenging, especially in popular genres. Without a robust marketing strategy, your book might get lost in the crowd, and effective advertising can be costly.
· Pricing and Royalties: Amazon’s royalty structure can be advantageous but comes with pricing constraints. Deviating from their recommended price range can reduce your royalty rates. Additionally, printing through Amazon, which we strongly advise against based on firsthand accounts from clients, results in lower profit margins due to poor print quality.
· Exclusivity: For eBooks, Amazon requires a 90-day exclusivity period. This restriction limits your ability to sell through other platforms, and we’re unsure if this applies to print books, but it’s concerning to have such limitations.
· Customer Relationship: Selling through Amazon means you won’t have direct access to your customers’ contact information, which is crucial for building relationships and future marketing. Personal websites allow you to gather email addresses for ongoing engagement.
· Branding Control: Amazon controls the layout of your sales page, restricting how you can present your book and brand. This lack of control makes it harder to differentiate your book from others.
· Algorithm Changes: Amazon’s search algorithms and recommendation engines can change, impacting how your book is discovered. Changes in their terms, service, or royalty structures can also affect your earnings and book management.
· Review Management: Amazon’s strict review guidelines mean that positive reviews can be removed, and managing negative reviews can be challenging. Negative reviews can significantly impact your sales and reputation.
· Print Quality: Amazon offers limited options for print quality, such as paper types and cover finishes. International printing costs can also be high, potentially deterring overseas buyers.
· Platform Dependence: If your Amazon platform is suspended or altered, you risk losing a major sales channel. Any changes in Amazon’s algorithms, policies, or marketing conditions can directly affect your income.
· Costly Visibility: Increasing visibility on Amazon can be expensive. Mismanagement of promotional efforts or fulfillment services (storage, packing, shipping) can eat into your profit margins.
This is why Whistleslick Press, led by our dedicated mother-daughter team, are committed to helping authors self-publish their books with the best quality and support. We work closely with you every step of the way, creating beautiful custom layouts, contracting with talented illustrators, and having the best printer to ensure a smooth process. This allows you to focus on writing and creating more books, putting the control of your books back into your hands as the author!
The article above reflects the author's personal experiences and opinions regarding selling on Amazon. The insights shared are based on individual encounters and may not be universally applicable. Readers should conduct their own research and seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances before making any decisions related to selling on Amazon.
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