Amazon CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing will soon merge into one service. CreateSpace was an early adopter in print-on-demand publishing and in 2005 they were acquired by Amazon. In July 2016 Amazon launched KDP Print as separate offering which CreateSpace customers will now be required to use. All titles that are currently published through CreateSpace will be automatically moved to the KDP platform. Amazon is allowing a few weeks for authors who have titles through CreateSpace to make any edits, changes or additions to their titles before moving them to a KDP Print account.

This merge was foreshadowed by the elimination of CreateSpace’s author services. Publisher Service will be providing the same support for KDP as we did for CreateSpace, so self-publishers can still utilize our services for cover design, interior formatting and upload assistance.

Amazon is attempting to make the integration of CreateSpace into KDP a seamless process. There will not be much of a difference between the functions, services and abilities that were available on CreateSpace accounts once they are moved to KDP Print. The account and title setup is similar, viewing of sales reports, and overseas marketing options. The printing facility that produced the books for CreateSpace clients will remain the same once all accounts are under Kindle Direct Publishing. Customers will notice that the payment schedules and royalty fees will differ slightly once all titles are under KDP.

The final date of CreateSpace being completely removed from Amazon has not been decided, but Amazon encourages CreateSpace authors not to delay in transferring their titles to KDP. For information on the steps to moving your title from CreateSpace to KDP, follow https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GSJULX3WGP36HQ3R .

Amazon KDP requires that authors must submit titles with ISBNs that are registered to the author’s name in the Books in Print Database. With our Publisher Package, we ensure that you receive an ISBN registered to your name as the publisher and the ISBN barcode file for the cover of your book. To order the Publisher Package ISBN, click here. (www.isbn-us.com)

If you are interested in publishing your paperback or eBook through Kindle Direct Publishing and would like more information on the service, give us a call at 800-662-0701 ext. 250.

Selling your book through Amazon can be frustrating because of their seemingly random decisions to change book prices or mark products as “out of stock.” There’s a common saying in the publishing world, “you can’t live with Amazon, and you can’t live without them.” Amazon is a behemoth in the publishing world and it can be incredibly intimidating trying to sell your book in their world.

Upwards of 70% of all online print sales goes through Amazon so they cannot be ignored. Also, Amazon has thirteen active publishing imprints that cater to separate genres. These imprints, when combined with the incredible marketing power held by Amazon itself, makes it a tough game to compete in. If you look at the list of Top 10 Kindle Best-Sellers at any time, the majority will come from these 13 imprints.

All hope is not lost however. To compete against titles being published and marketed through Amazon directly, here are 3 things all authors should do.

1.) Get Reviews – The amount of reviews your book has on Amazon plays a large role in its popularity. The more reviews Amazon sees, the more likely it is to suggest it to other customers. Similarly, the more reviews there are, the more likely customers will actually purchase the book.

To ensure you have early reviews, ask a group of individuals to be advanced readers. This group can be comprised of friends, family or interested readers. They are given an advanced copy of the book free of charge in exchange for reviews on Amazon. This can be done before the book is published so that you have reviews already there the day it comes out.

2.) Choose the Right Keywords – When you list a book for sale on Amazon, you are given the opportunity to select keywords for your work. These keywords are strong influencers in when and how your book appears to customers on the site. Some tips for selecting the best keywords include:

• Using the base form of the word
• Using multiple words in each keyword
• Ensure the order of words is correct
• Not using title or authors name

3.) Market in conjunction with an Amazon imprint title – Admittedly, this one is not always possible but definitely worth looking into. Amazon favors their own titles but if you are able to market your book in conjunction with an Amazon imprint title, it will undoubtedly increase its exposure. By mimicking the manner in which the Amazon book is being sold, you are more likely to appear in the “also bought” suggestions that customers will see.

Amazon can be overwhelming for the most experienced authors and its algorithms are constantly changing. The best way to stay ahead of the game is to produce the best book you can and market it to the best of your abilities. Getting early reviews and selecting the right keywords are two ways to help you stand out to Amazon, increasing the likelihood of your success.