The Pros and Cons of KDP Select: Should You Go Exclusive?
Key Takeaways
- KDP Select requires 90 days of exclusivity (no selling on Apple, Kobo, etc.)
- Kindle Unlimited (KU) page read payouts are often higher than sales royalties for fiction
- Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals are only available in KDP Select
- Going 'Wide' is a long-term strategy for building a platform independent of Amazon
The Exclusivity Trap?
KDP Select is the program that puts your book into Kindle Unlimited (KU). The 'catch' is that you cannot sell your ebook anywhere else. For some, it's a goldmine; for others, it's a cage.
The Advantages of KDP Select
- Passive Page Reads: You get paid for every page read by a KU subscriber. This can bring in income even on days you have zero 'sales'.
- Promotion Tools: Access to 'Free Book Promotions' (5 days every 90 days) can launch a book from obscurity to the top of the charts.
- Ranking Boost: KU borrows count toward your Amazon sales rank, helping your book stay visible.
The Disadvantages of KDP Select
- Platform Dependency: If Amazon changes the rules or bans your account, your entire business disappears.
- Loss of Global Reach: Readers on Kobo (huge in Canada/India) or Apple Books cannot find you.
- Lower Profit per Unit: In some genres, a $4.99 sale earns more than a full read of a 200-page book in KU.
Market Data
Fiction authors typically make 60%+ of their income from KU, while Non-Fiction authors often do better going Wide.
Conclusion: Test Both
The beauty of KDP Select is that it's a 90-day commitment. Start in Select for your launch to get reviews and visibility. After 90 days, if your page reads aren't significant, consider going Wide.
Platform Strategist
Expert in moving books from KDP Select to 'Wide' distribution without losing momentum.
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