How to Make a Book That Stands Out from Your Competition - Live Amazon KDP Q and A

About this video

This recording of a weekly live Q&A in the creator’s free Facebook group mixes submitted questions with a main lesson on standing out from competition. On coloring books, he says 8.5 x 11 inches is the standard trim, page counts should mirror and then beat competitors, and freelance illustrations might cost roughly $3–$10 per page depending on complexity and negotiation, with his own outsourced coloring books costing about $120 to produce as he recalls. On KDP’s seven backend keywords, he argues their ranking power is weak; they mainly signal metadata to Amazon and for ads, should not repeat title words, and stuffing many phrases in a box trades ranking strength for breadth. Other answers cover LLCs — not needed at the start for a real-life-event book, and a single-member LLC alone gives limited protection — proof of copyright for ACX/KDP from services other than the official register, and not waiting for an audiobook to run ads but waiting for 10–15 reviews. The central lesson is that you do not need more reviews than a competitor if your book is different: use a distinct cover, offer more value (for example more puzzles or recipes), promise the same result in less time, offer a complete guide where rivals are partial, or a simple guide where rivals are overwhelming, or teach the same outcome by a different method. Saturation, he argues, matters far less with a unique selling proposition.

Key takeaways

• For coloring books, match the market standard of 8.5 x 11 inches and competitor page counts, then beat them on value rather than copying exactly
• Backend keywords have weak ranking power: use relevant terms not already in your title or subtitle and do not over-invest time in them
• Stand out with a unique selling proposition — a different cover, more content, faster results, or a simpler approach — instead of making an identical book and chasing reviews
• If competitors offer a complete, complex guide, a simplified guide can be the differentiator, and vice versa
• Wait for around 10–15 reviews before running ads to a book, but do not delay ads just because an audiobook version is not ready

Episode details: published September 23, 2022 · 31:13 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Sean Dollwet’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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