KDP Select is Amazon’s free Kindle book program meant for authors and publishers who choose to publish their eBooks via the Kindle Direct Publishing system.
But one thing to keep in mind is that it doesn’t extend to printed books and is only available on a “per-book” basis.
If you decide to have your Kindle eBook enrolled in KDP Select for the 90-day mandatory term, it means that your work can only be accessed via the Amazon Kindle store.
So, once you sign up, you’re not allowed to sell it in other stores, not even your website.
As someone who’s just getting started, you look at KDP Select as an enticing prospect to get instant exposure.
But it’s not for everyone. So, before you enroll your eBook, be sure to ask these questions first:
1 – Is KDP Select ideal for me?
As mentioned earlier, the program isn’t for everyone – consider enrolling your book in KDP Select if you don’t have an existing readership or if it’s your first time to publish an eBook.
Books classified as popular fiction or genre-type, i.e., fantasy, sci-fi, horror, crime, and romance, will have much better luck luring an audience via KDP Select.
2 – If I enroll my book in KDP Select, does it mean I can no longer sell it to other platforms or stores?
No, you can still sell your eBook elsewhere. And it’s a good idea to do so if Kindle sales are low, as this will help you gauge whether KDP Select is for you. But you must be aware of the stipulations.
For instance, you must abide by the 90-day exclusivity rule by Amazon. You’re free to sell your book wherever you want after that period.
Furthermore, you can’t sell your eBook at a lower price on other platforms or stores. Theoretically, you can; but you shouldn’t because of the possible consequences if Amazon finds out.
3 – What does it mean by “exclusive” in the context of KDP Select?
If you’ve signed up for the program, your eBook will only be available on Amazon’s Kindle store for no less than 90 days.
This means that you can’t publish it anywhere else – not even your website – during this period.
But once the enrollment expires, you have the option to re-enroll or relinquish Amazon’s rights to exclusivity by opting to sell it somewhere.
4 – Can I opt-out of KDP Select anytime?
You sure can, but when you’re enrolled in the program, any eBook you upload to the Kindle store will become part of KDP Select.
This means that your entire catalogue of works in the Kindle store is automatically removed from it if you decide to opt-out.
5 – Should I register the copyright before publishing?
There’s no need to; books are copyrighted once you complete them, provided you live in the U.S. However, you may register it if you want to do so.
Copyright protects original works, but registration will allow you to sue for violations in court. In other words, you can’t invoke the copyright law against someone who stole your work if it wasn’t registered at that time.
6 – Will Amazon take care of the formatting?
It doesn’t work that way. Well, there’s the option of buying a print-formatting service like CreateSpace.
It’s an Amazon-owned platform asking for a fee to format your eBook right before enrolling to KDP Select. But mind you, it’s not always the best option out there.
7 – Is there an accompanying promotion courtesy of Amazon when I enrol my book in KDP Select?
Amazon isn’t responsible for promotional tasks because they aren’t your publisher. As a retailer of your eBook, they only sell your work on their platform.
Unlike a traditional publisher, they’re not obliged to format the book or edit the content in it.
Amazon doesn’t even actively market eBooks on KDP Select. Maybe some steps are taken to promote your eBook, but they’re subtle.
8 – If I update my book in the middle of the enrollment period, will Amazon send the updated version to the previous buyers?
Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t do that either. It’s why your eBook must be as flawless as possible before you submit it for KDP Select – no grammatical errors, inaccurate information, and typos.
If someone downloads the updated version, anything that was bookmarked or highlighted is lost.
9 – Can I enroll a work that’s still being edited?
Yes, it may seem risky considering that the program only lasts for 90 days, but you can still enrol your eBook.
The good thing is that you have two months to edit it if you need more time before the period ends – and an entire lifetime afterwards to update it.
Remember not to upload new versions of the same book during the 90 days.
10 – What happens to my eBook after the program ends?
Once your KDP Select enrollment expires, Amazon removes it from the Kindle Unlimited (KU) platform.
Still, you’ll get a fair share of the monthly funds for the pages that KU customers read in your eBook starting from the date of expiration.
Be reminded that amenities like Kindle Countdown Deals are no longer retrievable once the enrollment expires.
Don’t worry; you can always upload it again and re-enrol it once the next enrollment period starts.
But if your book is no longer selling well, maybe that’s a sign not to waste your time on promoting it on Amazon anymore.
After all, there are other options out there – including your own website.
Joel Mark Harris graduated from the Langara School of Journalism in 2007. Joel is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer.
He has ghostwritten numerous books in all types of genres including true life crime, business, memoir, and self help. With over 1,000 blog posts to his name, he has helped hundreds of business owners scale their business and increase their visibility. You can email him at info@ghostwritersandco.com
