Top 10 Amazon KDP Beginner Mistakes To AVOID

Summary

This video highlights the top 10 mistakes Amazon KDP sellers commonly make. The creator shares personal experiences and insights on how to avoid these errors, such as ensuring book titles and subtitles are accurately formatted, avoiding keyword stuffing, managing cover margins, and addressing author name issues. It also discusses the importance of using non-copyrighted material, leveraging organic sales through niche targeting, and focusing on low- and medium-content books. The video emphasizes avoiding analysis paralysis and taking action to succeed in Amazon KDP, providing practical tips and strategies for new sellers to thrive.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ensure the book title on Amazon KDP matches exactly with the title on your book cover to avoid approval issues.
• 😀 Avoid using specific keywords like 'Free' and 'Best Seller' in your subtitle, as they are often flagged by Amazon.
• 😀 Do not repeat the same keywords from the book title in your subtitle to prevent keyword stuffing and rejection.
• 😀 When uploading your cover, make sure the background color extends all the way to the edge to avoid margin issues.
• 😀 If your author or contributor name is rejected, it could be because the name is already taken or trademarked. Try using a different name.
• 😀 Avoid using copyrighted or trademarked materials on your covers, such as celebrity photos, logos, or brand names.
• 😀 You don’t need to run paid ads to succeed on Amazon KDP; focusing on smaller niches can help your book appear organically in search results.
• 😀 Don’t aim for big sellers right away. Instead, focus on smaller sub-niches where competition is low but demand is high.
• 😀 Low and medium content books, like word search and puzzle books, tend to perform better than high content books, which compete with bestselling authors.
• 😀 Further niche down your book within a sub-niche to uncover underserved markets and increase your chances of success on Amazon KDP.

Q & A

What is the first common mistake Amazon KDP sellers make regarding book titles?

The first mistake is entering a book title on Amazon KDP that doesn’t match exactly what is on the cover of the book. Amazon prefers the title to match precisely, and if it's not approved, try different combinations of the words from your cover.

How should the subtitle be handled to avoid mistakes on Amazon KDP?

The subtitle should not include keywords like 'Free' or 'Best Seller' as Amazon flags these terms. Additionally, avoid repeating keywords from the title in the subtitle, as this can be considered 'keyword stuffing'.

What issue can arise with margins when uploading a cover file to Amazon KDP?

A common issue with cover files is not extending the background color all the way to the edge of the cover, which can result in a small, unintended white border. Ensure the color extends past the edge and that important elements are within the safe zone marked by the dotted green lines.

Why might an author name or contributor name be rejected on Amazon KDP?

An author or contributor name may be rejected if it’s already in use by another author on Amazon or if it’s a protected or trademarked name. To resolve this, try using a different name, as you can use different author names for each book.

What mistake should be avoided when using copyrighted or trademarked material on Amazon KDP?

Avoid using copyrighted or trademarked material like logos, celebrity photos, or brand names on your book cover. This can lead to your book being taken down for copyright or trademark infringement, especially if it uses someone else's reputation or identity.

Do Amazon KDP sellers need to use paid ads to generate sales?

No, paid ads are not necessary to generate sales. Sellers can achieve organic sales by targeting niche markets and using relevant keywords, allowing their books to rank naturally on the first page of Amazon search results.

What mindset should Amazon KDP sellers adopt when choosing niches for their books?

Sellers should focus on finding smaller, underserved niches with a lot of search volume but little competition. Instead of going after popular bestsellers, focus on creating multiple books for niche markets that are not yet saturated.

Why are low and medium content books more profitable for new Amazon KDP sellers than high content books?

Low and medium content books, like workbooks, puzzles, and templates, are more profitable because they don't rely on the author's reputation. Customers buy these books for their functionality, making them more likely to sell compared to high content books that require competition with bestselling authors.

What does the 'sub-niche' strategy refer to in Amazon KDP, and why is it important?

The 'sub-niche' strategy involves targeting specific, smaller niches within broader categories. For example, creating a horse-themed word search book within the word search genre. This extra layer of targeting helps sellers capture a more focused audience with less competition.

What is 'paralysis by analysis' in the context of Amazon KDP, and how can it be avoided?

Paralysis by analysis happens when sellers overthink or overanalyze the best way to start their KDP business and fail to take action. To avoid this, sellers should take the plunge and start creating books, as Amazon KDP is an easy business to begin with and offers a straightforward path to success.