Amazon KDP is operational in Nigeria, where Nigerians regularly publish and purchase books on Amazon Kindle.
You can buy numerous books using Kindle devices or the Kindle app on iPad, and you may also access borrowable books through the Kindle Lending Library.
Amazon in Nigeria accepts payments via credit and debit cards supported by Visa and Mastercard international networks.
Whether your card is denominated in Naira or US dollars, as long as it’s supported by the same global brands accepted by Amazon, it will be recognized.
With a vast catalog of over 4 million publications accessible worldwide, Amazon Kindle stands as one of the most widely used self-publishing platforms.
In this guide, you will discover how to register, receive payments, publish, sell books online, and commence earning royalties through Amazon Kindle in Nigeria.
Let’s get started…
What is Amazon KDP?
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) was introduced by Amazon in November 2007, coinciding with the launch of the inaugural Amazon Kindle device.
KDP empowers authors and publishers by providing them with the means to independently release their literary creations directly onto the Kindle Store.
Through the KDP platform, authors have the flexibility to submit their content in various formats, with pricing options spanning from $0.99 to $200 for their literary works.
This expansive platform accommodates manuscripts composed in 44 different languages.
In 2016, Amazon expanded its offerings to include a paperback publishing feature, leveraging print-on-demand technology to facilitate both digital and print publication for self-publishers.
Amazon has actively encouraged authors to embrace the convenience of publishing both e-books and paperbacks seamlessly via a single platform.
Engaging in Amazon Kindle Publishing presents a pathway to generate passive income: you craft your book and subsequently release it on Amazon.
Once your book is available to the public, it has the potential to generate revenue for you continuously and without active effort on your part.
The beauty of this endeavor lies in its accessibility, as publishing your book on Amazon is entirely free, with the only investment being your time and effort dedicated to writing and publishing your work.
Requirements for Starting Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
Below are the criteria that must be met to qualify for Amazon KDP:
- Copyright Ownership: You must possess the copyright for the book and hold exclusive rights for its publication in all available formats.
- Bank Account: A valid bank account is essential, as royalties earned will be deposited into this account.
- KDP Listing: You will be required to create a book listing on the Amazon KDP dashboard, with the primary format being a Kindle e-book.
- Device and Internet Access: Access to an Android phone or laptop, along with a reliable internet connection, is necessary for using the platform.
- Basic Writing Skills: Proficiency in basic writing skills is also recommended to effectively create and publish your content.
Is selling on Amazon worth it as a Nigerian?
Addressing the question at hand lacks a straightforward response.
On one side of the spectrum, engaging in Amazon KDP sales can yield substantial profits, provided you have the requisite time and financial resources to invest in the endeavor.
The profitability of this venture hinges significantly on your willingness to exert effort and commitment.
Ultimately, whether the pursuit of Amazon KDP sales proves worthwhile for Nigerians hinges on multiple variables.
Should you be prepared to allocate the necessary time and resources to foster the success of your enterprise, then undoubtedly, it merits exploration.
However, if you harbor doubts about your commitment or capabilities, it may be prudent to explore alternative avenues.
Amazon Kindle Publishing Registration
Setting up your Kindle account is a straightforward process. You simply need to supply accurate information since it will undergo verification.
Here are the steps for registering on Amazon KDP:
- Visit the online site.
- If you already have an Amazon account, use those login credentials. If not, create a new account.
- Upon signing up, you will receive a one-time password (OTP) for identity verification.
- Sign in to your Amazon account and access your KDP dashboard, where you’ll complete the account registration process.
- Once logged in, click on the “update now” link for OTP verification.
- Enter the correct OTP (one-time password) to confirm your account.
- Provide your tax information, such as your passport number or national ID number, and await
- verification of your account.
- Typically, your account will be verified and approved. If any issues arise during the registration, you will receive guidance on what needs correction.
Steps to Starting Amazon Kindle Publishing in Nigeria
Below are the steps to initiate a profitable Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing venture in Nigeria:
1. Set up a KDP Account
Establishing a KDP account is the initial step to commence publishing on Amazon.
To accomplish this, you must furnish your complete legal name, address, and contact number.
Subsequently, with your account in place, you can proceed to input essential author, payment, and tax details, a crucial step if you intend to publish Kindle books on the Amazon platform.
2. Create a New Title
o publish your book on Amazon’s Kindle platform, follow these steps:
Access your dashboard and go to the “Titles” section.
Click on the “Create New Title” button.
You will be directed to a form where you can input all the necessary information for your new book.
The form is divided into three tabs: “Details,” “Excerpt,” and “Pricing.”
Start by filling out the “Details” tab. Provide your book’s title, author information, and a brief description. You can also choose to enroll your book in KDP Select, which offers various benefits.
Move on to the “Excerpt” tab and upload your manuscript and eBook cover. Don’t forget to include any relevant copyright information. You can also decide whether readers can preview up to 10% of your book before making a purchase.
Finally, set the price for your book on the “Pricing” tab and decide whether you want it to be enrolled in KDP Select. Amazon will display the royalty rate based on your chosen list price.
Once you’re satisfied with these settings, simply click the “Publish” button, and your book will be available for purchase on Amazon’s Kindle store!
3. Enter your Book Description
Think of your Amazon Kindle book description as the digital equivalent of a paperback cover – it should strike a balance between providing information and avoiding excessive promotion.
You have the flexibility to employ formatting tools such as bold and italics to enhance its visual appeal. In your book description, make sure to incorporate the following elements:
In your Amazon Kindle book description, ensure you include:
- The book’s title
- The author’s name
- The book’s genre
- A concise summary of the plot or storyline
- Indicate whether it’s part of a series or a standalone publication
- Specify the target age range for the book’s audience
Additionally, you can showcase any awards or honors your book has earned, provide links to your social media profiles, and include a website URL.
4. Select your Keywords and Categories
Once you’ve browsed the Amazon Kindle store, compile a list of keywords and categories that align with your manuscript’s content. Conduct this research manually, as it’s challenging to discern the most successful books without examining their pre-publishing details.
Ensure that your chosen category and keywords consist of a minimum of nine words. Having more words in your category and keyword selection can improve your discoverability. However, it’s crucial to maintain accuracy and relevance to your book’s content throughout.
5. Upload an ePub file of your book
The following step involves uploading your manuscript in the ePub file format, which is compatible with all Kindle devices and applications.
After the manuscript upload, keep an eye out for a reassuring green confirmation message indicating the successful upload.
Important note: Please refrain from refreshing the page or navigating away until you receive this confirmation message. Doing so prematurely may trigger a restart of the process, potentially resulting in the loss of your progress.
6. Upload a jpeg or tiff version of your cover
To add your cover to Amazon, follow these steps:
Navigate to the “Bookshelf” section.
Select the “Cover” option.
You’ll encounter two choices: “Create New Cover” and “Upload Existing.”
If you already have a cover file, opt for the second choice and locate the file on your computer.
Once the upload is complete, you’ll receive a notification with a reassuring green message that reads, “Your book’s cover has been successfully uploaded.”
7. Set a price between $2.99 and $9.99
When determining the price for your book, it’s crucial to take into account the following factors:
Amazon provides an estimated royalty calculation even before your book is available for sale on the platform. This estimate should guide you in setting your price, aiming for the desirable range between $2.99 and $9.99 to secure a generous 70% royalty rate.
8. Enroll in KDP Select
When it comes to publishing a book, authors face a pivotal choice: they can either opt for KDP Select enrollment or decide against it.
Opting for enrollment in KDP Select unlocks several promotional advantages, including heightened exposure and an additional 5% royalty.
The initial step to embark on this journey is logging into your account and selecting “Enroll a new title.”
From there, a range of enrollment plans awaits your consideration.
Once you’ve chosen “KDP Select,” the next step involves furnishing basic book information before hitting the “Continue” button.
By enrolling your title in KDP Select, you ensure its presence in both Kindle Unlimited (KU) and Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL).
This means that anyone with a Kindle subscription can borrow and read it for free, and it will prominently feature in the KOLL section on Amazon.com.
Your earnings are calculated on a per-borrow basis in accordance with each program’s payout structure. For instance, under the prevailing KDP Select payout plan, authors earn $2.00 USD for every US-based borrow from Kindle Unlimited, with an additional $0.50 USD bonus if the reader completes the book.
KDP Select proves invaluable in garnering reviews and attracting readers, especially in markets with limited competition.
Enrolling your book also places it within the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, significantly expanding its reach among readers.
You have the option to run time-limited free book promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals to generate further interest in your title.
In terms of promotional perks, KDP Select offers enhanced visibility and an extra 5% royalty.
However, it’s important to note that books not enrolled in KDP Select may experience reduced visibility on Amazon.com, and customers cannot borrow them through the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
9. Hit that Publish Button
So, you’ve meticulously crafted your masterpiece, ensured proper formatting, and selected the ideal cover.
Now, you might be thinking it’s as simple as hitting the Publish button and watching the royalties pour in, right?
Well, it’s not quite that straightforward. The process of publishing your Kindle eBook involves several essential steps, and it’s crucial to get everything right before you hit that Publish button. After all, once your work is out there in the world, making changes can be quite challenging!
First and foremost, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with Amazon’s requirements for publishing an eBook. Fortunately, these requirements are relatively straightforward: your book must consist of original content, remain unpublished elsewhere online or in print, and adhere to Amazon’s specific formatting guidelines.
Once you’ve thoroughly checked that everything is in order, including covers, table of contents, and page numbers, it’s time to create a KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) account.
Entering this stage might seem a bit overwhelming, given Amazon’s algorithms, keywords, and categories, but don’t be discouraged. You don’t need to master every detail before you start. Dive in, experiment with various options, and discover what works best for you and your book.
While self-publishing can be a demanding journey, the rewards it offers are well worth the effort in the long run. Publishing your work on Amazon is the initial stride towards achieving self-publishing success and the freedom that comes with it.
So, why wait any longer? Go ahead and hit that Publish button! Your literary adventure awaits.
10. Share on Social Media
Sharing your content on social media brings numerous advantages.
When you distribute your blog posts on these platforms, they become visible and accessible to a wide audience.
This heightened visibility substantially enhances the likelihood of individuals not only reading your posts but also visiting your blog and subscribing to it.
Timing is key; by strategically posting your content on social media, you can tap into a surge of traffic from these platforms.
How to Choose Categories (Bisac Codes) on Amazon KDP
When you’re in the process of publishing your book on Amazon, one of the most pivotal decisions you’ll encounter is choosing the appropriate categories for your work.
Selecting the right categories can significantly impact your book’s sales potential, as an ill-fitting category might hinder its success.
Thankfully, with a little know-how, making this decision doesn’t have to be daunting.
To begin, it’s crucial to consider the purpose of categorization on Amazon. Naturally, the primary objective is to boost book sales. However, it goes beyond that; you should also aim to pinpoint the most pertinent category that aligns with your book’s content to maximize its sales potential.
A valuable tool at your disposal is the use of Bisac codes. These codes, widely used by bookstore owners and publishers worldwide, help categorize books by genre and type, making it easier to determine the ideal placement for your work.
Additionally, when pondering your category choices, exploring Amazon’s existing lists can provide valuable insights. By perusing these lists, you can gauge which categories are popular and possess the greatest potential for your specific book.
It’s essential to note that your chosen category doesn’t have to mirror the entire breadth of your book; targeting more specialized, niche categories can yield successful results, especially for newer authors seeking increased visibility and a higher ranking.
When making secondary category choices, it’s advisable to stay within the parent category for better visibility and alignment.
While selecting categories may involve some degree of educated guesswork, you can gain valuable insights from your readers’ preferences. Investigate your readers’ “also-bought” lists on platforms like Goodreads or other online book recommendation tools to discover what other books they enjoy. This can guide you in selecting the most suitable Amazon lists to promote your book effectively.
Now that we’ve delved into the process of category selection, let’s explore how Amazon determines which books to promote on its platform.
As mentioned earlier, Amazon now employs the concept of “categories” when deciding which books to feature on its website.
For your book to be considered for promotion by Amazon, it must meet two critical criteria: firstly, it must belong to one of the selected categories, and secondly, its keywords must align with those used in the selection process.
It’s vital to carefully align your book’s category selection and keywords to ensure it aligns effectively with Amazon’s promotional system. This synergy between category and keywords is essential to increase your book’s visibility and chances of being promoted by Amazon.
How to Choose Keywords on Amazon KDP
When you’re in the process of selecting keywords on Amazon KDP, it’s essential to consider the words or phrases that potential readers might use when searching for a book similar to yours.
The goal is to ensure that your book appears in search results when people employ these keywords.
Fortunately, several tools can assist you in finding the most suitable keywords for your book.
One such tool is the free Kindle Samurai software, which provides data on daily book sales for any given keyword. It also assesses the level of difficulty in ranking for that particular keyword.
Another valuable resource is MerchantWords, which allows you to gauge the monthly search frequency of specific keywords on Amazon. This tool also provides additional insights, such as the number of competing titles and whether the keyword experiences seasonal trends.
Once you’ve identified the keywords you want to target, it’s crucial to strategically incorporate them into your book’s content. Effective placements include the title, subtitle, book description, and even within certain chapters. However, exercise restraint – avoid overwhelming your readers with an excessive use of keywords in your text.
How to Receive Amazon Kindle Payment in Nigeria
Amazon requires your account information to facilitate the automatic disbursement of your royalties.
Below are the steps to receive payments from Amazon KDP in Nigeria:
- Open a Payoneer Account: Start by creating a Payoneer account. During registration, you’ll receive a US, UK, and Europe account number for free.
- Provide Required Information: On the Payoneer registration page, indicate whether you are registering as a business or an individual. Complete the necessary information as requested by Payoneer.
- Add Your Local Bank Account: Link your local bank account by providing its details, including the SWIFT code. Submit this information.
- Account Review: After completing your registration, allow Payoneer’s team to review your account.
- Confirmation Email: Once the review process is complete, you will receive an email confirming that your Payoneer account is active.
- Access Payoneer Account: Log in to your Payoneer account and navigate to the “Receive” section.
- Choose “Global Payments”: From the drop-down menu in the “Receive” section, select the “Global Payments” tab.
- Retrieve US Account Information: Locate and select your US account to access its number and other necessary details.
- Access Amazon Affiliate Account: In a new browser tab, log in to your Amazon affiliate account.
- Navigate to Payment Settings: Within your Amazon affiliate account, go to the settings section and look for “Payment and Tax Information.”
- Choose Payment Method: Select the option to “Change payment method” from the available choices.
- Opt for Direct Deposit: From the payment method options, choose “Direct Deposit” as your preferred payout method.
- Select Country: Pick “United States” as the country where your bank is located from the provided list.
- Fill in Payment Details: Fill in the payment details using the Payoneer US bank account information obtained from your Payoneer account. Ensure you select “Checking” as your account type, not savings.
- Submit Information: Once you’ve entered the required information accurately, click the “Submit” button to save your payment method.
That’s it! You’re now set up to earn commissions through the Amazon affiliate program and receive your payments directly into your Payoneer account.
Nigerian authors and publishers who publish through Amazon can expect monthly payments directly to their Payoneer accounts.
Royalties are disbursed on a monthly basis, typically around 60 days after the end of the month in which the sales were recorded (90 days for Expanded Distribution), provided you meet the minimum payment threshold.
You have two methods available for accessing your funds from Payoneer. You can opt to receive a dedicated Payoneer MasterCard, which will be issued to you by Payoneer. This MasterCard can be used to withdraw your earnings from any Nigerian bank ATM displaying the Mastercard logo.
conclusion
Publishing a book on Amazon Kindle is a straightforward process:
Create a Listing: You can create a listing for either an e-book or a print-on-demand paperback.
Set Up Book Details: Begin by providing essential book details such as the title, subtitle, author name, and category.
Upload Content and Cover: Next, upload your e-book content and cover files.
Set the Price: The final step is to determine the price for your book.
This step-by-step guide is designed to assist anyone in Nigeria who wants to learn how to publish their book on Amazon Kindle.
