- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon KDP is a self-publishing platform provided by Amazon that allows authors and publishers to publish and distribute their eBooks and paperback books to a global audience.
- eBook: An eBook, short for electronic book, is a digital publication that can be read on electronic devices such as e-readers, tablets, and smartphones.
- Paperback: A paperback book is a printed book with a flexible paper cover, typically used for physical distribution and sale.
- ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number): An ASIN is a unique identifier assigned by Amazon to each product listed on their platform, including eBooks and paperback books.
- ISBN (International Standard Book Number): An ISBN is a unique identifier used to identify books and is essential for physical book distribution and cataloging. While not mandatory for eBooks, it is recommended for paperback books.
- DRM (Digital Rights Management): DRM is a technology used to protect digital content from unauthorized copying and distribution. Authors can choose to enable DRM for their eBooks on Amazon KDP.
- Royalties: Royalties refer to the percentage of revenue that authors earn from the sales of their books. Amazon KDP offers different royalty rates for eBooks based on price, file size, and distribution method.
- KENPC (Kindle Edition Normalized Page Count): KENPC is the unit Amazon uses to measure the length of eBooks for royalty calculations. It represents the number of normalized pages, which may differ from the actual page count in a printed book.
- Categories and Keywords: Authors can select relevant categories and add keywords when publishing their books on Amazon KDP. These help improve discoverability and ensure the book appears in relevant searches.
- Pre-Order: Authors can set up a pre-order period for their eBooks before the official release date. This allows customers to place orders in advance, contributing to early sales rankings.
- Kindle Unlimited (KU): Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service offered by Amazon, allowing readers to access a vast selection of eBooks for a monthly fee. Enrolling eBooks in KU makes them eligible for readers to borrow and read for free, and authors earn royalties based on the number of pages read by subscribers.
- Paperback Distribution: Amazon KDP offers Expanded Distribution, allowing authors to distribute their paperback books to bookstores, online retailers, and libraries beyond Amazon.
- Paperback ISBN: If authors choose to enable Expanded Distribution for their paperback books, Amazon KDP provides a free ISBN. However, authors can also use their own ISBNs for further control and branding.
- Print-on-Demand (POD): Amazon KDP uses print-on-demand technology to produce paperback books. Books are printed and shipped to customers only when they are ordered, eliminating the need for inventory storage.
- Author Central: Author Central is a service provided by Amazon that allows authors to create and manage their author profiles, add author photos, and link their books to their profiles for enhanced author discoverability.
This glossary provides a comprehensive list of essential terms and concepts related to Amazon Kindle Desktop Publishing (KDP). It aims to assist authors and publishers in navigating the platform and optimizing their publishing experience on Amazon.