Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform makes it easier than ever to get a book in front of readers — but "easy to use" doesn't mean "easy to do well." Before you hit publish, here are five things every first-time author should know.
1. Trim Size and Formatting Decisions Happen Early
Your book's trim size (the physical dimensions of a print book) affects everything from page count to printing cost to how your cover design needs to be laid out. Changing trim size after your interior is formatted often means reformatting from scratch. Decide on trim size, margins, and font early — ideally before formatting begins.
2. Your Categories and Keywords Determine Discoverability
KDP allows you to select two categories and seven backend keywords for your book listing. Most first-time authors either pick categories that are too broad (where you'll be buried under bestsellers) or too generic keywords that don't match how readers actually search. Research what's working in your genre's bestseller lists, and choose specific, less-crowded categories where your book can realistically rank.
3. Pricing Affects Your Royalty Percentage — Not Just Your Revenue
KDP's royalty structure changes based on your price point (the 70% royalty tier for ebooks only applies within a specific price range, for example) and whether readers are in "Matchbook" or KDP Select programs. Price too low and you may earn a smaller royalty percentage on top of a smaller number; price too high and you risk pricing out impulse buyers.
4. A Professional Cover Isn't Optional
On Amazon, your cover thumbnail is often the only thing standing between a reader and a click. Covers that look "self-published" — generic stock photography, mismatched fonts, low contrast — signal lower quality before a reader reads a single word, regardless of how good your writing is. This is one area where investing in a designer who understands genre conventions pays for itself.
5. Your Book Description and "Look Inside" Sample Do the Selling
Most readers will read your description and sample the first few pages before buying. A description that simply summarizes the plot misses the opportunity to sell — it should hook readers the way the back cover of a bookstore paperback does. And because your sample pages are often the deciding factor, your opening chapter needs to be as polished as the rest of the book — sometimes more so.
Final Thought
None of these five things are individually complicated — but together, they're the difference between a book that quietly sits at the bottom of Amazon's catalog and one that actually finds its readers.