How to Self-Publish on KDP in 10 Minutes (2026)

About this video

A fast walkthrough of publishing an ebook, paperback, and hardcover through Kindle Direct Publishing in about 10 minutes, starting with the ebook because KDP carries most of its metadata into the print setups. Dale covers entering title, subtitle, series, author and contributors exactly as on the cover, description, publishing rights, primary marketplace, up to three categories, and the seven keyword slots (up to 50 characters each), suggesting Amazon auto-suggest or tools like Publisher Rocket for research. For the ebook he recommends an ePub manuscript, JPEG cover, a DRM choice, disclosure of AI-generated content, and checking the previewer. KDP Select gives Kindle Unlimited access but requires 90 days of exclusivity; royalties are 35% or 70%, with 70% in the US usually for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Paperbacks and hardcovers each need their own ISBN (free KDP ISBN only if staying on KDP; bring your own to use IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Lulu, etc.), print-ready PDF files, and full print covers. Hardcover has five trim sizes compared to 16 for paperback. After publishing, email notification should arrive within 1 to 3 business days.

Key takeaways

• Start with the ebook — KDP carries most metadata into paperback and hardcover setup
• Use up to three categories and fill all seven keyword slots (up to 50 characters each)
• Ebook pre-orders can be scheduled up to a year ahead, with the final file due at least 72 hours before launch
• KDP Select means 90 days of Amazon exclusivity; 70% royalty usually applies at $2.99-$9.99 in the US
• Each format needs its own ISBN; hardcover offers five trim sizes vs 16 for paperback

Episode details: published July 7, 2026 · 10:41 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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