What Does “Independently Published” Mean on Amazon?

Acquainting yourself with the right publishing spectrum is part and parcel of booming as an author.

Thus, if you want to publish with absolute autonomy in your decisions, independent publishing offers you plenty of profit margins and work authorization.

Please stick with us to learn more about independent publishing on Amazon, the tips that facilitate you to understand how independent or self-publishing differs from traditional publishing, and more.

Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing

In traditional publishing, you’re at the mercy of publishing houses for all the editing, formatting, printing, designing, and marketing process.

The downside of the traditional approach is that it requires plenty of time with low-profit margins and a lack of hold over the publishing process. Also, the royalty rate only counts 10% per book.

On the flip side, independent publishing gives you an edge over all the publishing aspects, from editing to launching, in a fast and cheap way with a magnificent payoff.

Since numerous companies in the market can back you on self-publishing, Amazon outstrips them in all facets with 40% to 60% royalties.

Independent Publishing on Amazon

Amazon independent publishing means publishing your e-books or paperbacks for free worldwide with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

The best part is you will have the privilege of leveraging the 70% of royalty rates, retaining all the rights, setting up the list prices, and redeeming the content at any time with KDP.

Furthermore, Amazon’s independent publishing program will never charge you any upfront; thus, you can earn brilliant profits even after paying the printing fees. So, it’s a win-win, even if you’ve just started as an author.

Cost and Royalty Rates

In the first place, Amazon independent publishing is a free ride to publish and sell your books and other content guides; however, other formalities like delivery charges, printing costs, and advertising fees will be taken off your royalty plan.

While working as a self-published author on Amazon, you can hand-pick different royalty options under various territories to foster lucrative income flow.

In the case of e-book royalties, you can imply either a 70% or a 35% plan, depending on your needs.

70% royalty plan works for digital books sold under the listed territories, included in the public domain, and cost between 2.99$ to 9.99$. However, it’s far better to secure fast bucks on each sale. At the same time, the 30% royalty plan allows you to sell in any territory, price, and domain without costing you a delivery price.

Paperback royalties are quite different as they allow you to collect 60% royalty rates for Amazon distribution and 40% for expanded distribution channels.

Steps To Set Up Amazon Independently Publishing Account

Following are the steps to create your Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing account:

1. Firstly, head to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your email address or register via your Amazon account.
2. Then navigate to the “Update” and enter your tax information here. (This step is crucial for publishing, so don’t miss it out).
3. Click the “Finish” button once the above step is completed.
4. Land on to the home page, and BOOM, you’re all set to price and publish.

Benefits of Independently Publishing on Amazon

Here are a few key advantages of using independent publishing:

1. First, it gives you more control over your work.
2. You’re independent in choosing your desired process of publishing.
3. You can set the list price to generate a significant percentage of the royalties without restriction.
4. You’ll have a wider reach to the target audience.
5. Several tools and resources are within your grasp to market and promote your books.

Drawbacks of Independently Publishing on Amazon

Besides many opportunities for Amazon independent publishing, here are a few drawbacks:

1. Amazon will deduct a percentage of your royalties, so you will get less money than expected per book.
2. A 70% royalty rate is only applicable to 2.99$ to 9.99$ books.
3. You will have to pay for marketing, book designs, and printing.
4. You can’t use customer reviews if you don’t want to work on Amazon.

Final Takeaway

Amazon independent publishing is a freebie that is well-founded and approachable regarding managing the publishing process and gearing up your gross income.

You can also reach out to the potential audience without burdening your budget.