So what confuses me is you talk about holiday and seasonal sales, but KDP is not exclusive to America, there is a whole other world out there that is going back to school when you're not, going on holidays when you're not, etc etc, and with Amazon KDP on the global internet, why aren't the sales even relevantly consistent?
It's good you are looking at your experiences as positive and encouraging. Most people would have been upset if their works were stolen, but you looked at it as a growth experience. Positive video. Loved it thanks.
Aww, thank you, Michael!! I’ve been trying to view everything as a learning experience, and I’ve certainly learned a lot. Glad you enjoyed this video! 😊
Ah, rules. 😂 Yeah, I'm very much the type to launch into my own thing and then learn about any mistakes I made later, but I'm trying to move away from that, haha! Thanks a ton for your support!! 💛
This was so helpful. I am just getting started, and have already made a big mistake. My book was published, and I ordered a copy for myself. I was so disappointed when I opened it up and realized it’s not at all sized correctly; everything is way too small on the page. Since I’m new at this I cannot imagine anyone is going to buy it, however, I would feel horrible if someone did buy it before I get this corrected. I’m not even sure how to correct it. Is it possible to put a stop on a book until you can correct your mistake like this?
Oh no, Brenda!! So sorry to hear that! How did it look in the print previewer? I’d love to help you get it fixed! Also, yes-click on the button with three dots next to the book, and right at the bottom, you’ll find the option to unpublish it!
Echo control tips: that can soak up more noise than it bounces back will help. Fabric wall coverings, soft foam sheets, like mattress pads hung on the walls (you can use Command hooks -no holes in the wall) you can cover the foam with either bed sheets or a nice fabric from a sewing store. You can take the foam down and roll it up to get it out of the way when you aren't recording or streaming. We use a tall office cubicle divider panel as a background, and can attach things to it, like the channel name.
Somebody used my design (copied like 95% of every visual detail and 100% of the text, description, etc) and made a bunch of books. I turned to Amazon, told them what happened, gave them links to everything, gave them the dates that I published first etc. Amazon not only did not remove that seller's books but told me that I was the one that had to prove I had copyright to any element on my cover and text and that my claim was not legitimate. So yeah, those books are still out there and now pretty much 80% of ALL my niches are heavily copied and there's nothing I can do.
Really??? Holy crap, I lucked out, then. I’m so sorry to hear that happened to you!! I thought Amazon was better about that kinda thing, but I guess not always. 😬
Thanks for the info about the book cover calculator. While I am not hesitant to move forward with my project, dealing with the book cover dimensions is a concern. Thanks.
Awesome, Jennifer! I just used my real name when beginning, and then when I wanted a branded author name, I typed it in Amazon to see if there were already any bigger names using my chosen name in the Amazon ring!
I really like your videos, you get straight to the point and I dont feel like I'm being sold too, just straight quality information.. thank you sooooooooooo muchhhhhhhhh for helping me on this journey.
Is it bad to experiment with multiple niches ? Like one journal would be for example, gratitude for black women and another something completely different like a pregnancy planner for young women ? Is it bad to experiment with completely different products and niches ?
Yes, that’s a good observation! Themed notebooks and journals sell especially well at different times of the year, though. And even just general ones can make great stocking stuffers for Christmas! Just keep in mind that notebooks can sometimes be hard to sell, though, just because they’re so easy to create.
@@SarahLarson I know that for sure but I think if you managed to find a low competition niche with good profit diffently go with it also composition notebooks and any one interior kdp book is super easy to do you just change the covers! I am creating around 1000 in bulk it took me 4 days and doing listing in bulk too after that I will go with notebooks and then coloring books and logbooks etc I'm now trying to find the fastest and the best efficient way to find low competition categories I tried publisher rocket and other tools also hand search with competitors I will update you soon!
@@SarahLarson Did you get my email? Just making sure...I may have more to help you with your channel. I know that one I haven't found anything helpful for. 😉
Excellent, thank you. 👍 However the echo is very distracting. Hope you’ve done something about that because it’s putting me off watching more of your videos.
Serious echo. Maybe you need to put some sound absorbing surfaces in the room, like curtains, a fluffy rug.. Treat 3 of the 6 surfaces and you'll be amazed at the improvement. Easy fix for recording in a bedroom - open the closet door. It's an echo-eater.
Great question! It's totally up to you! I'd say the main pro to using your real name as that you come across as more authentic, while a pen name (or publishing name) may make you seem like more of an authority figure depending on the niche!
So I've had a similar situation with copyright. Someone stole my title and overall theme. They have a completely different cover, although it's the same concept. The subtitle and description are different. What are your thoughts on this, do you think I would win a claim.
Interestinggg. Honestly, I’d say it wouldn’t hurt! Your odds are less likely, but if copying is blatant, then you may as well give it a shot. I didn’t think anything would come of my filing, but I got WAY more from it than I originally thought.
Thank you for the great video! I just started to take kdp more serious but am worried about the future of kdp since originally it wasn’t meant for low content books. I read here and there that kdp starts to shut down accounts that pubish too many books (spamming), removes them from search results for stationary stuff etc. just wondering if they will at some point not allow low content books anymore
@@janalux6568 Thanks for watching!! That’s an excellent question. Yes, KDP was definitely not built for low content books from the get-go, but I would not see this as something dying out. Notebooks, journals, and whatnot are totally acceptable on KDP as long as you’re following the rules that are set for all books. I imagine an account could get shut down for spammy behavior, but that would most likely be if you’re publishing multiple of the same book over and over. I say, don’t stress! I actually see KDP adapting in the future to better accommodate the creation of low content books. :) I’ve heard a theory that adding hardcover books could be the start of even more; we’re talking spiral-bound books and such. So get started, and don’t stress! :)
Can you do a video on how to start a Facebook Group for Amazon KDP please? I'm looking to create one, but unsure where to start. I do have other Facebook groups, but not one like this. Thank you so much!
Thank you for this video. Very informative. I just started making books in KDP . Your were very supportive and informative. Stupid question, but how do you know when you make a sale?
Aww, I’m glad to hear that! And haha, not a stupid question. :) Just go to the reports tab, and you’ll see a gray bar shoot up depending on how many sales you make that day!
Thank you so much for this content. It was very helpful, since I am starting with my first book. Can you tell us what the best niches are to sell on Amazon.
Appreciate your video. I have a question for you: how do you get the first review? I felt embarrassed to ask friend to do a review but I have been waiting for the first review and it did not come yet. Many thanks
Great question, Kate! I've heard on average that it takes 100 sales per 1 review, so honestly, it's mostly something that just happens by chance! Something fun you could do to encourage your customers to leave a review could be something in the front or back of your book's interior that tells your customers if they leave a review for your book on Amazon and then send you an email, you'll offer them something for free (likely a simple digital product related to the niche!). But in the meantime, don't be embarrassed to ask your friend for a review! Honestly, what are friends for? ;)
I discovered while trying to make a KDP that I have 0% creativity in my genes. As a kid I could draw a picture from my favourite anime, but I always needed an example. Thank you for the video.
How can you tell when you get a review on a book? Do you just search Amazon for your own books? It'd be nice if it were in the publisher dashboard somewhere.
Good question! Actually, you might want to try out KDP Champ! That’s the only software I’ve found that will inform you when you get a review on one of your books! You can check it out here: sarahproofreads.com/kdp-champ.
It’s been 3 days on my first book and it’s still saying review . Does it normally take this long for the first time ? Thanks for the tips and “rules” 🙄😂
I imagine it's already been accepted by now, but yes, totally normal! It's taken anywhere from a day to over a week for me. Just depends on how backed up KDP is at the time!
Thank you for all your great info! I don’t understand how you get graphics on pages. I have a childrens book in mind. I have the story but need pictures. Are there drawings on lap to pick from?? Help!! 😂
Absolutely! Ooh, Fiverr might be a great place for that! For a children's book, your best bet would probably be to commission someone to create custom graphics for you. I'm sure you could find some pictures online, however, if need be!
Hi Sarah, do i need a copyright for the journals that I am making? I am yet to upload in KDP and want to make sure am doing it right. I see videos about a copyright page but nothing about if it is needed at all. Hope you can help? :)
A copyright page is really only necessary for something like a novel! With your designs, as long as you created them, then they're automatically copyrighted, so don't worry about it! Go ahead and upload. :)
Thank you for this video. I'm new to KDP with low content books. I have uploaded 2 books. All goes through just fine. But when the cover preview comes on, the designs I put on the cover are missing. The background of the cover itself is showing. Do you know why this could be happening? Thanks
Hmm, without seeing it, it’s hard for me to determine what the issue could be. I’d imagine it’s something to do with your images. Make sure for both your cover and manuscript, you have the right dimensions and that they’re in PDF form! Best of luck! ✨
Hello Sarah! I've been a little unsure about joining KDP. It involves the part of entering your social security number or tax identification number. Any suggestions to making this part feel a little less intimidating? Thanks!
Hey!! No worries! I understand it can always be a bit nerve-wracking with that sort of thing. :) Well, for one, to my knowledge, Amazon is very secure, and your info is only needed for the sake of creating with KDP legally! Nothing bad will happen to your info; it's just a necessary prerequisite. :) Haha, I'm entering my info for things all the time, so it's no biggie whatsoever! Hope that helps a little! 💛
Amazon has to have your tax ID number or Social Security number so they can pay you when you sell a book. That is the only reason they require it and it is required by law. Just sayin' 😉
@@ceg2235 Thank you, I've been thinking about going with a tax number, but should I get an LLC? What does everyone do? Going the Social Security number seems easier. Thanks again!
Hi Sarah...thanks for making this video! I'm very new to KDP and trying to figure out the royalties bit. Why is there an option to choose btw 2 royalties? I was thinking its 'obviously best to choose the 70% one but it doesn't seem so straightforward. Can you explain why it's best to.choose one over the other? Thanks!
Good question! That's actually not something you can choose; I think you're looking at the option to include expanded distribution, which sadly isn't a valid choice for low content books. :)
Hi Sarah great channel appreciate the value been watching KDP videos for a while i think its time i start listing did you outsource any of your books at the beginning or designed from the get go yourself
I’d recommend not worrying about contributors (unless you have other people to credit with the design of your book), and just put your name, pseudonym, or book brand in the author section! You can definitely use multiple names for different books as well. :) Just keep in mind that you can only create five author pages!
But can't someone copy your book and put a disclaimer that he or she doesn't own the copyright by clicking the circle that says "this is a public domain work"
I’m just curious.. when you create a journal using Canva for example, won’t there be a lot of others using the same template? How do you say anyone owns a certain design? Or did you create your own logo? Thankyou:) great video. X
Great question! Yes, there definitely could be other people using the same template, but what makes all the difference is what you do to change it. Simply changing the cover's background pattern alone makes a major difference, but you could certainly go further by changing up fonts, colors, and other elements as well. That's why I love Canva!! It's much better than downloading a pre-made PDF and using it as is. Hope that answers your question! :)
Has anybody here ever sold one of their books on their own website and then purchased an authors copy and drop shipped it to that person? Is that breaking any rules?
Hi Sarah, seems like my comment got deleted, but hoping to get your honest answer: with kdp getting more strict about low content publishers and increasingly terminating accounts due to different reasons, where do you see the future for kdp and low content books? Especially since kdp wasn’t originally meant for low content books
@Jana Lux That’s an excellent question. Yes, KDP was definitely not built for low content books from the get-go, but I would not see this as something dying out. Notebooks, journals, and whatnot are totally acceptable on KDP as long as you’re following the rules that are set for all books. I imagine an account could get shut down for spammy behavior, but that would most likely be if you’re publishing multiple of the same book over and over. I say, don’t stress! I actually see KDP adapting in the future to better accommodate the creation of low content books. :) I’ve heard a theory that adding hardcover books could be the start of even more; we’re talking spiral-bound books and such. So get started, and don’t stress! :)
@@SarahLarson thanks so much for the reply! I already got started a few weeks ago and see good results, so that’s why I’m wondering if it makes sense to invest more time into it. But seeing how people’s accounts got terminated from one day to the other for genuine mistakes without any warnings and being able to discuss the matter, is a bit scary 😅 I hope that kdp overall adapts more to low content creators, for example with the correct categories or being able to upload multiple covers for one interior (but it being only one posting). But then I read somewhere that kdp started to hide kdp books from stationary key words, and things like that made me worry if kdp will either adjust to low content creators or try to eliminate them 😬
A very informative video. Thank you. Your audio has a very strong echo. Thats why so many videos like this one include the mike close to them. You look great, and what you have to say is excellent but I felt a little uncomfortable about listening.for very long .....just sayin'.
For making kdp notebooks, do you only have to make the design or do you also have to get the notebook materials physically and asemble the notebook yourself? Btw thanks for the video it was very informative uwu.
Nope nope nope! Amazon does alllll of the fulfilling for you, which is why it's so awesome! You just create them, upload them, and then Amazon will take care of everything once you get a sale. :) Check out this video if you want help getting started: th-cam.com/video/bqTBUi-YVWc/w-d-xo.html. Glad this video could help you!! 💛
120 pages is always double-sided. Pages is referring to pages (there are two pages on a sheet of paper), so technically speaking, there are going to be about 60 sheets in your book if it's 120 pages long! Hope that helps!
To my knowledge, no! It should only be if you want to file for an LLC, which isn't necessary with just a KDP business. However, make sure to look into the laws of your country/state to be positive! Don't want to steer you wrong. :)
Hi Sarah, Really appreciate your videos 😃 I am new to self publishing as well. So can you share you experience during your first few months? Did you have an email list or a social media following to market your books? Also did you run ads to your books from the first month? Can we just sell books in kdp just by targeting profitable keywords? Sorry for asking so many questions 🙂
Hey, thanks so much for your support!! To quickly answer, I didn’t do any ads or marketing, still don’t (though I’ve tested out ads and failed, haha), and yes, you can sell purely organically by only targeting profitable keywords! Best of luck! 🤗
Sorry to hear that, but don't stop creating!! The more you create, the more naturally it'll come for you, and then once you start seeing sales, you can begin to scale and learn from your successes!
you have lots of good info, but it's hard to hear you on video -you need sound buffers or a better mike -sounds like you're in a hollow room. just trying to help. keep up the good work.
That's awesome! Way to go! I'd say worry about making it official later once you see a need. :) And honestly, with KDP books, you probably won't even need to! I don't know about DBAs, but LLCs just transfer your liability, which isn't something that's really necessary given Amazon fulfills all your orders and everything is done online. :)
I think, as soon as you drop COPYRIGHT in a message to AMAZON, they will just CEASE the accused account first and it's up to that seller to prove innocence. Good Luck to the account holder with that one...
The market is definitely more saturated than it used to be, but you can totally still start now! The key to success nowadays is finding gaps in the market and targeting low-competition niches and keywords. :)
Dang, sorry to hear that, Jane! It definitely is a trial-and-error process, which is why I stress the importance of continuing to experiment. I hope you find a niche that you enjoy creating and that works for you!!
What do you wish you'd know before you started KDP? You're the best, guys!! 🤗 As always, thanks so so much for your continued support!! 💛
So what confuses me is you talk about holiday and seasonal sales, but KDP is not exclusive to America, there is a whole other world out there that is going back to school when you're not, going on holidays when you're not, etc etc, and with Amazon KDP on the global internet, why aren't the sales even relevantly consistent?
@@KANGABOYofficial shes probably only advertising in the united states.
Starting today. Thanks.
Awesome video Sarah!! I just published my first daily journal & I’ve sold at least 20 copies within a week! I’m excited to design my next one!!
Woah!! That's literally amazing!! Keep it up, girly! 🤩🤩🤩
Thank you 😊😊😊😊
Awesome. Please send a link to your journal. I would like to check it out. Thanks
Wow ,drop the link , let's review it 🔥
Did you run Ads as well?
It's good you are looking at your experiences as positive and encouraging. Most people would have been upset if their works were stolen, but you looked at it as a growth experience. Positive video. Loved it thanks.
Aww, thank you, Michael!! I’ve been trying to view everything as a learning experience, and I’ve certainly learned a lot. Glad you enjoyed this video! 😊
It mean would be upset you know how long all authors should sell their books here
OH THE RULES. Sometimes you just ave to do and learn from doing! You rock and I'm so glad you didn't quit!
Ah, rules. 😂 Yeah, I'm very much the type to launch into my own thing and then learn about any mistakes I made later, but I'm trying to move away from that, haha! Thanks a ton for your support!! 💛
This was so helpful. I am just getting started, and have already made a big mistake. My book was published, and I ordered a copy for myself. I was so disappointed when I opened it up and realized it’s not at all sized correctly; everything is way too small on the page. Since I’m new at this I cannot imagine anyone is going to buy it, however, I would feel horrible if someone did buy it before I get this corrected. I’m not even sure how to correct it. Is it possible to put a stop on a book until you can correct your mistake like this?
Oh no, Brenda!! So sorry to hear that! How did it look in the print previewer? I’d love to help you get it fixed! Also, yes-click on the button with three dots next to the book, and right at the bottom, you’ll find the option to unpublish it!
Just published a dream journal and I haven’t made any sales yet, can’t wait to start earning
That's so exciting!! Keep publishing! 🤩
Echo control tips: that can soak up more noise than it bounces back will help. Fabric wall coverings, soft foam sheets, like mattress pads hung on the walls (you can use Command hooks -no holes in the wall) you can cover the foam with either bed sheets or a nice fabric from a sewing store. You can take the foam down and roll it up to get it out of the way when you aren't recording or streaming. We use a tall office cubicle divider panel as a background, and can attach things to it, like the channel name.
Excellent ideas, thanks so so much!! I’ve been slowly transforming my office, and getting rid of the echo is my next step!
Love comments like this. See / hear something wrong, encourage and explain how to improve.
Great attitude, thank you sir
Love your channel! You’re a breath of fresh air and always so helpful! Thanks for all the great tidbits of awesome info. 😃😃
Aww, that’s so sweet of you!! Thank you so so much for your support! I really appreciate it! 🥰💛
Thanks sarah for this video
Btw You look beautiful ❤️
Absolutely!! And aww, thank you! 💛
Thank you for sharing your experience Sarah! You have a lovely channel, I watched it in the summer and glad to see how fast it grows ;)
Aww, thank you so much for your support!! You're the sweetest! 💛💛💛
Somebody used my design (copied like 95% of every visual detail and 100% of the text, description, etc) and made a bunch of books. I turned to Amazon, told them what happened, gave them links to everything, gave them the dates that I published first etc. Amazon not only did not remove that seller's books but told me that I was the one that had to prove I had copyright to any element on my cover and text and that my claim was not legitimate. So yeah, those books are still out there and now pretty much 80% of ALL my niches are heavily copied and there's nothing I can do.
Really??? Holy crap, I lucked out, then. I’m so sorry to hear that happened to you!! I thought Amazon was better about that kinda thing, but I guess not always. 😬
Same thing happen to me they just copied my book titles and published it the same day mine published
Thanks for the info about the book cover calculator. While I am not hesitant to move forward with my project, dealing with the book cover dimensions is a concern. Thanks.
So glad it could help you!! It can be such a game changer. :)
Thank you for posting videos! I will definitely publish a journal this week
Absolutely! You’ve got this!! 💛💛💛
Best wishes for your continued success. Thank you for sharing this advice.
Girl spill the tea and tell the whole story! I’d watch a whole Netflix series on kdp drama
Haha will do!! 😂 Thanks for letting me know!
Here for it!!!
Very useful information. Book size calculator I liked the most.
Right?? Massive game-changer!
I want to start on KDP....how did you choose your publishing name? How do you know if it's been used before? Does that make sense?
Awesome, Jennifer! I just used my real name when beginning, and then when I wanted a branded author name, I typed it in Amazon to see if there were already any bigger names using my chosen name in the Amazon ring!
I really like your videos, you get straight to the point
and I dont feel like I'm being sold too, just straight quality information..
thank you sooooooooooo muchhhhhhhhh for helping me on this journey.
Aww, I'm so so happy to hear that!! Thanks so much for your support! 💛
I was able to get a composition book with the exact template I needed. Thank you for that. :)
Yay!! So happy to hear that! 💛
Is it bad to experiment with multiple niches ? Like one journal would be for example, gratitude for black women and another something completely different like a pregnancy planner for young women ? Is it bad to experiment with completely different products and niches ?
I wish I would have known you before I knew kdp . Great video! good luck!
Thank you so much!! 💛💛💛
I really wanted to listen to this but the echo is un-doable. Can you please clean up the sound?
I’ve been looking into getting some acoustic panels for my space.
Yes composition notebooks usually sells in June to August, but I think notebooks and journals sells all over the year, am I right?
Yes, that’s a good observation! Themed notebooks and journals sell especially well at different times of the year, though. And even just general ones can make great stocking stuffers for Christmas! Just keep in mind that notebooks can sometimes be hard to sell, though, just because they’re so easy to create.
@@SarahLarson I know that for sure but I think if you managed to find a low competition niche with good profit diffently go with it also composition notebooks and any one interior kdp book is super easy to do you just change the covers! I am creating around 1000 in bulk it took me 4 days and doing listing in bulk too after that I will go with notebooks and then coloring books and logbooks etc I'm now trying to find the fastest and the best efficient way to find low competition categories I tried publisher rocket and other tools also hand search with competitors I will update you soon!
Hi Sarah , just to clarify [ KDP] an idea is to create a book and sell it on Amazon Am I right?
Correct! :)
Nice video, thanks for the tips.
Absolutely!!
I totally agree about the reviews
I love your 80’s tshirt! Lol
Hehe, I love it too! 🥰 Thank you!!
Just watching now. Ugh, I hate drama! And I'm glad karma came back around. Good to see you again...love your positivity. 😁👍
Me too!! Aww, thanks so much!! Glad to be back! 🤗💛
@@SarahLarson Did you get my email? Just making sure...I may have more to help you with your channel. I know that one I haven't found anything helpful for. 😉
I did! And I emailed you back. 😊
@@SarahLarson That's weird, I haven't gotten it yet. Can you resend?
Resent!
Excellent, thank you. 👍 However the echo is very distracting. Hope you’ve done something about that because it’s putting me off watching more of your videos.
Oh yeah, it’s bad, haha. :) But I have completely fixed it in all my later videos!
@@SarahLarson excellent! I honestly had to stop watching but will come back and see your latest. Thanks so much. 😻
Serious echo. Maybe you need to put some sound absorbing surfaces in the room, like curtains, a fluffy rug.. Treat 3 of the 6 surfaces and you'll be amazed at the improvement. Easy fix for recording in a bedroom - open the closet door. It's an echo-eater.
Ohhhh yeah, you’re totally right about that! Thanks so much for the tips. Fortunately, though, this is something I’ve fixed in my newer videos. :)
I'm wondering if I want to publish under my real name or a pen name... I'm sure there's pros and cons for both.
Great question! It's totally up to you! I'd say the main pro to using your real name as that you come across as more authentic, while a pen name (or publishing name) may make you seem like more of an authority figure depending on the niche!
So helpful. Thanks girl!
So I've had a similar situation with copyright. Someone stole my title and overall theme. They have a completely different cover, although it's the same concept. The subtitle and description are different. What are your thoughts on this, do you think I would win a claim.
Interestinggg. Honestly, I’d say it wouldn’t hurt! Your odds are less likely, but if copying is blatant, then you may as well give it a shot. I didn’t think anything would come of my filing, but I got WAY more from it than I originally thought.
@@SarahLarson They even copied my price, it's pretty ridiculous. But, thanks. Like you said it shouldn't hurt to try.
Dang, that’s so annoying! I’m really sorry to hear that. Let me know what happens!
This is such an encouraging video. Thank you so much!
Yes please to the full story of your work being copied.
Absolutely!! 💛
Thank you for the great video! I just started to take kdp more serious but am worried about the future of kdp since originally it wasn’t meant for low content books. I read here and there that kdp starts to shut down accounts that pubish too many books (spamming), removes them from search results for stationary stuff etc. just wondering if they will at some point not allow low content books anymore
@@janalux6568 Thanks for watching!! That’s an excellent question. Yes, KDP was definitely not built for low content books from the get-go, but I would not see this as something dying out. Notebooks, journals, and whatnot are totally acceptable on KDP as long as you’re following the rules that are set for all books. I imagine an account could get shut down for spammy behavior, but that would most likely be if you’re publishing multiple of the same book over and over. I say, don’t stress! I actually see KDP adapting in the future to better accommodate the creation of low content books. :) I’ve heard a theory that adding hardcover books could be the start of even more; we’re talking spiral-bound books and such. So get started, and don’t stress! :)
Oh another question, can I advertise my books on my business website or is it just for Amazon? Thankyou:)
You can totally advertise wherever you want!! I don't believe there are any restrictions on that. :)
Great video! Very to the point and super helpful! 😘😘
So glad to hear that, Jennifer!! 💛
Can you do a video on how to start a Facebook Group for Amazon KDP please? I'm looking to create one, but unsure where to start. I do have other Facebook groups, but not one like this. Thank you so much!
That could be fun! Haha, make sure to check out my own Facebook Group for some ideas. :) I keep it pretty simple!
@@SarahLarson thank you so much! I am in it already!
Thank you for this video. Very informative. I just started making books in KDP . Your were very supportive and informative. Stupid question, but how do you know when you make a sale?
Aww, I’m glad to hear that! And haha, not a stupid question. :) Just go to the reports tab, and you’ll see a gray bar shoot up depending on how many sales you make that day!
Hi just starting myself what books did you start with low content blank or notebooks
I'm working on my first kids book. So excited. I love illustrating
That's literally awesome!! I'm sure it's going to look amazing! 🤩
Thank you so much for this content. It was very helpful, since I am starting with my first book. Can you tell us what the best niches are to sell on Amazon.
For sure!! Take a peek at this video of mine for niche ideas! th-cam.com/video/v2F_3vf4xUI/w-d-xo.html
Thank you.
Appreciate your video. I have a question for you: how do you get the first review? I felt embarrassed to ask friend to do a review but I have been waiting for the first review and it did not come yet. Many thanks
Great question, Kate! I've heard on average that it takes 100 sales per 1 review, so honestly, it's mostly something that just happens by chance! Something fun you could do to encourage your customers to leave a review could be something in the front or back of your book's interior that tells your customers if they leave a review for your book on Amazon and then send you an email, you'll offer them something for free (likely a simple digital product related to the niche!). But in the meantime, don't be embarrassed to ask your friend for a review! Honestly, what are friends for? ;)
Very informative, thankyou.
Your videos are really Great. Sarah I want to learn how to create books. can you teach me please
Thank you!! Just watch my videos! ;)
I discovered while trying to make a KDP that I have 0% creativity in my genes. As a kid I could draw a picture from my favourite anime, but I always needed an example. Thank you for the video.
Ahhh, I feel that so much!! So glad this could help you. :)
How can you tell when you get a review on a book? Do you just search Amazon for your own books? It'd be nice if it were in the publisher dashboard somewhere.
Good question! Actually, you might want to try out KDP Champ! That’s the only software I’ve found that will inform you when you get a review on one of your books! You can check it out here: sarahproofreads.com/kdp-champ.
Very helpful tutorial! Keep it up 😸
It’s been 3 days on my first book and it’s still saying review . Does it normally take this long for the first time ? Thanks for the tips and “rules” 🙄😂
I imagine it's already been accepted by now, but yes, totally normal! It's taken anywhere from a day to over a week for me. Just depends on how backed up KDP is at the time!
Great advice, thanks!
Would you suggest using Bookbolt or do you prefer Canva? Thank you :)
Psst, I've got a video I'm posting on this topic soon, so stay tuned! But in short, I'd definitely say I much prefer the customizability of Canva. :)
Thank you for all your great info! I don’t understand how you get graphics on pages. I have a childrens book in mind. I have the story but need pictures. Are there drawings on lap to pick from?? Help!!
😂
Absolutely! Ooh, Fiverr might be a great place for that! For a children's book, your best bet would probably be to commission someone to create custom graphics for you. I'm sure you could find some pictures online, however, if need be!
Educative video. Thank u, soHow to use a book dimension calculator
Type in "KDP book dimensions calculator," and it'll pop up! Just input all the info for the book you want to create. :)
Helpful! Thanks!
Hi Sarah, do i need a copyright for the journals that I am making? I am yet to upload in KDP and want to make sure am doing it right. I see videos about a copyright page but nothing about if it is needed at all. Hope you can help? :)
A copyright page is really only necessary for something like a novel! With your designs, as long as you created them, then they're automatically copyrighted, so don't worry about it! Go ahead and upload. :)
Thank you for this video. I'm new to KDP with low content books. I have uploaded 2 books. All goes through just fine. But when the cover preview comes on, the designs I put on the cover are missing. The background of the cover itself is showing. Do you know why this could be happening? Thanks
Hmm, without seeing it, it’s hard for me to determine what the issue could be. I’d imagine it’s something to do with your images. Make sure for both your cover and manuscript, you have the right dimensions and that they’re in PDF form! Best of luck! ✨
@@SarahLarson thanks so much. Have a good day!
Hello Sarah! I've been a little unsure about joining KDP. It involves the part of entering your social security number or tax identification number. Any suggestions to making this part feel a little less intimidating? Thanks!
Hey!! No worries! I understand it can always be a bit nerve-wracking with that sort of thing. :) Well, for one, to my knowledge, Amazon is very secure, and your info is only needed for the sake of creating with KDP legally! Nothing bad will happen to your info; it's just a necessary prerequisite. :) Haha, I'm entering my info for things all the time, so it's no biggie whatsoever! Hope that helps a little! 💛
@@SarahLarson Thanks for the quick reply! I will have to give this a try! Thanks for your videos and all the info!
Amazon has to have your tax ID number or Social Security number so they can pay you when you sell a book. That is the only reason they require it and it is required by law. Just sayin' 😉
@@ceg2235 Thank you, I've been thinking about going with a tax number, but should I get an LLC? What does everyone do? Going the Social Security number seems easier. Thanks again!
@@SarahLarson Does Amazon send you any tax documents?
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Sarah...thanks for making this video! I'm very new to KDP and trying to figure out the royalties bit. Why is there an option to choose btw 2 royalties? I was thinking its 'obviously best to choose the 70% one but it doesn't seem so straightforward. Can you explain why it's best to.choose one over the other? Thanks!
Good question! That's actually not something you can choose; I think you're looking at the option to include expanded distribution, which sadly isn't a valid choice for low content books. :)
@@SarahLarson thanks Sarah. I realised that after☺ Wishing you great success.
You getting prettier Sarah.
do you think its good to use your own artwork for design. Worried about someone coping
Absolutely! And thankfully, any direct copycats can be reported for trademark infringement by you. :)
Hi Sarah great channel appreciate the value been watching KDP videos for a while i think its time i start listing did you outsource any of your books at the beginning or designed from the get go yourself
Aww, thank you!! I’ve only ever designed them myself! Designing is my favorite part. :) I might try outsourcing at some point, though!
could you pleas explain about author and Contributors .
is it ok to use multi names
I’d recommend not worrying about contributors (unless you have other people to credit with the design of your book), and just put your name, pseudonym, or book brand in the author section! You can definitely use multiple names for different books as well. :) Just keep in mind that you can only create five author pages!
@@SarahLarson thank you so much for your information and sharing with us your experience
keep making these awesome videos
greetings from morocco
Hi sarah pls how many days will your book stay before people will start buying your books
There are way too many variables for me to give you a solid answer. Could be a week, could be years, could be never! You just never know!
But can't someone copy your book and put a disclaimer that he or she doesn't own the copyright by clicking the circle that says "this is a public domain work"
No, not quite how it works! Public domain works aren't exempt from copyright issues, and even then, very few books even qualify as public domain.
at 4:40 can you do a video on things that you were doing wrong?
Good idea! I’d love to do a video addressing a lot of the rules I didn’t originally realize and a better way to handle them going forward.
Sarah 🧡
Great tips!
Thank you!! ✨
Thanks!
I’m just curious.. when you create a journal using Canva for example, won’t there be a lot of others using the same template? How do you say anyone owns a certain design? Or did you create your own logo? Thankyou:) great video. X
Great question! Yes, there definitely could be other people using the same template, but what makes all the difference is what you do to change it. Simply changing the cover's background pattern alone makes a major difference, but you could certainly go further by changing up fonts, colors, and other elements as well. That's why I love Canva!! It's much better than downloading a pre-made PDF and using it as is. Hope that answers your question! :)
@@SarahLarson that’s perfect Thankyou:)
Has anybody here ever sold one of their books on their own website and then purchased an authors copy and drop shipped it to that person? Is that breaking any rules?
Thank you Sarah Larson for sharing your experience. You look great
😊
Thank you, thank you!! 💛💛💛
Great video!! Please invest in a better microphone, I had a little difficulty hearing what you were saying. New subscriber.
Thank you!! And really? I’m guessing it’s the echo in my office. I’ll see what I can do to fix it!
Interesting. I didn’t know titles were protected!!
Indeed they are! But I imagine you can contact KDP to get a title changed if you have good reason for it. :)
@@SarahLarson this is great info!! Thanks again Sarah!
Absolutely!! 🤗💛
When designing your books, did you go through a 3rd party platform like book baby or something like that?
I usually use Canva! Book Bolt's great as well. :)
@@SarahLarson thank you :)
Canva Pro subscription for life is available at a symbolic price
Hi Sarah, seems like my comment got deleted, but hoping to get your honest answer: with kdp getting more strict about low content publishers and increasingly terminating accounts due to different reasons, where do you see the future for kdp and low content books? Especially since kdp wasn’t originally meant for low content books
@Jana Lux That’s an excellent question. Yes, KDP was definitely not built for low content books from the get-go, but I would not see this as something dying out. Notebooks, journals, and whatnot are totally acceptable on KDP as long as you’re following the rules that are set for all books. I imagine an account could get shut down for spammy behavior, but that would most likely be if you’re publishing multiple of the same book over and over. I say, don’t stress! I actually see KDP adapting in the future to better accommodate the creation of low content books. :) I’ve heard a theory that adding hardcover books could be the start of even more; we’re talking spiral-bound books and such. So get started, and don’t stress! :)
@@SarahLarson thanks so much for the reply! I already got started a few weeks ago and see good results, so that’s why I’m wondering if it makes sense to invest more time into it. But seeing how people’s accounts got terminated from one day to the other for genuine mistakes without any warnings and being able to discuss the matter, is a bit scary 😅
I hope that kdp overall adapts more to low content creators, for example with the correct categories or being able to upload multiple covers for one interior (but it being only one posting). But then I read somewhere that kdp started to hide kdp books from stationary key words, and things like that made me worry if kdp will either adjust to low content creators or try to eliminate them 😬
A very informative video. Thank you. Your audio has a very strong echo. Thats why so many videos like this one include the mike close to them. You look great, and what you have to say is excellent but I felt a little uncomfortable about listening.for very long .....just sayin'.
Yes, unfortunately, it's because of my rooms with the hard floors, walls, and ceiling, haha! However, I've since learned and remedied this. :)
Hey just wondering how i can design my own pages for the interior? Thanks
Here's the video you want! th-cam.com/video/b5NhviqYSKA/w-d-xo.html
@@SarahLarson Thank you soo much!
Hey I have a question about creating notebooks on kdp
Shoot. :)
@@SarahLarson how can I create tabs in my notebook
@@animeandbeats5355 That's unfortunately not something you can do through KDP. You'd have to have it created by a third party!
hello, i was wondering when they ship do they use their address or would i have to insert mines?
They use theirs! None of your personal info is used during the printing and shipping process. :)
@@SarahLarson alright , thank you for replying!
For making kdp notebooks, do you only have to make the design or do you also have to get the notebook materials physically and asemble the notebook yourself? Btw thanks for the video it was very informative uwu.
Nope nope nope! Amazon does alllll of the fulfilling for you, which is why it's so awesome! You just create them, upload them, and then Amazon will take care of everything once you get a sale. :) Check out this video if you want help getting started: th-cam.com/video/bqTBUi-YVWc/w-d-xo.html. Glad this video could help you!! 💛
@@SarahLarson thank you so much for responding, this helps me a lot 💖 🌹
So... 120-page count. Is that 120 actual pages or 120 pages double-sided, which means it's actually 60 pages?
120 pages is always double-sided. Pages is referring to pages (there are two pages on a sheet of paper), so technically speaking, there are going to be about 60 sheets in your book if it's 120 pages long! Hope that helps!
which app or drawing program do you use to create your product?
Canva!! :) Love it!
Are the designs copyright free just all of a sudden freaked me out well for book bolt
Hey! What do you mean by that? Which designs?
@@SarahLarson the picture that you use when you type cherry tree in the pixabay images
Do you have to register as a small business anywhere before you get started on kdp?
To my knowledge, no! It should only be if you want to file for an LLC, which isn't necessary with just a KDP business. However, make sure to look into the laws of your country/state to be positive! Don't want to steer you wrong. :)
@@SarahLarson Thank you
If you copy things you are weak then...
Never copy; just draw inspiration from! :)
Hi Sarah,
Really appreciate your videos 😃
I am new to self publishing as well. So can you share you experience during your first few months?
Did you have an email list or a social media following to market your books?
Also did you run ads to your books from the first month?
Can we just sell books in kdp just by targeting profitable keywords?
Sorry for asking so many questions 🙂
Hey, thanks so much for your support!! To quickly answer, I didn’t do any ads or marketing, still don’t (though I’ve tested out ads and failed, haha), and yes, you can sell purely organically by only targeting profitable keywords! Best of luck! 🤗
@@SarahLarson Thank you :)
I wish my books would sell more. I only have like 4 low content books and maybe 5 my own content books.
Sorry to hear that, but don't stop creating!! The more you create, the more naturally it'll come for you, and then once you start seeing sales, you can begin to scale and learn from your successes!
you have lots of good info, but it's hard to hear you on video -you need sound buffers or a better mike -sounds like you're in a hollow room. just trying to help. keep up the good work.
I know! I’ve since fixed this issue. :) Thank you!!
I'm just starting, planning on launching 122 books in my category. Would you recommend doing this under an LLC or DBA? Or worry about that later?
That's awesome! Way to go! I'd say worry about making it official later once you see a need. :) And honestly, with KDP books, you probably won't even need to! I don't know about DBAs, but LLCs just transfer your liability, which isn't something that's really necessary given Amazon fulfills all your orders and everything is done online. :)
@@SarahLarson thanks Sarah!! : )
Can u so this from an iPad?
Absolutely!! It may be a bit trickier, but you totally can. :)
oh ok here it is :)
Haha, yep, you found it. ;)
I think, as soon as you drop COPYRIGHT in a message to AMAZON, they will just CEASE the accused account first and it's up to that seller to prove innocence. Good Luck to the account holder with that one...
Might be! I’m not too sure how the whole thing works, but I know they don’t take it lightly, and I’m thankful for that.
You are so beautiful. Thank for share!
Thank you!!
Ty just slow down a little.
Something I'm working on. :) Feel free to tweak the playback speed if you need to!
can I start from now ? or this KDP thing is dying ?
The market is definitely more saturated than it used to be, but you can totally still start now! The key to success nowadays is finding gaps in the market and targeting low-competition niches and keywords. :)
@@SarahLarson thank you!
your voice is echoing. Overall content is good. Kindly do something with audio
Fully aware. :) I’ve fixed this in later videos. Thanks!
I havent sold one book. Kind of thinking this is a waste of my time
Dang, sorry to hear that, Jane! It definitely is a trial-and-error process, which is why I stress the importance of continuing to experiment. I hope you find a niche that you enjoy creating and that works for you!!
Happy their books got removed
The likes are at 111
Always love it when that happens!
you're beautiful ^^