Amazon KDP Glossary - Self-Publishing Terms Explained

A

A+ Content - Enhanced product page content that lets authors add images, comparison charts, and formatted text below the book description. Available to brand-registered authors through Author Central. A+ Content can increase conversion rates significantly. BookTranslatorHub generates A+ Content guides as part of its translation packages to help you create compelling listings in every marketplace.

AMS (Amazon Marketing Services)- Amazon's advertising platform for running Sponsored Product and Lockscreen ads. Now officially called Amazon Ads. Authors use AMS campaigns to drive targeted traffic to their book listings.

ASIN - Amazon Standard Identification Number. A unique 10-character alphanumeric code assigned to every product on Amazon, including each edition of your book. Your Kindle ebook and paperback will have separate ASINs.

Author Central - A free Amazon portal where authors manage their public profile, add a biography and photo, track sales rankings, claim books, and access A+ Content tools. Each marketplace (amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, etc.) has its own Author Central account.

B

Back Matter - The pages at the end of your book that come after the main content. Includes the epilogue, appendices, bibliography, author bio, and links to other books. Effective back matter drives readers to your next title.

Beta Readers - Volunteers or paid readers who review your manuscript before publication. They provide feedback on story, pacing, clarity, and errors. Beta feedback is one of the most valuable steps before hitting publish.

BISAC Categories - The standardized classification system used by the book industry. BISAC stands for Book Industry Standards and Communications. Amazon maps these to its own category tree. You can select up to three BISAC categories during KDP publishing and request additional ones through support.

Bleed - A print setting where images or colors extend past the trim line to the very edge of the page. Required for books with full-page images or colored page backgrounds. Adds 0.125 inches to the outside edges of your interior file.

BSR (Best Seller Rank) - A number assigned to every book on Amazon based on recent sales velocity. A lower number means higher sales. BSR updates hourly and is relative to all other books in the Kindle Store or in a specific category.

C

Categories - The genre or topic classifications your book is listed under on Amazon. Categories determine which Best Seller lists your book can rank on. You can select up to three during publishing and request up to ten total through KDP Support.

Copyright Page - A page near the front of your book that establishes legal ownership. Typically includes the copyright notice, year of publication, ISBN, publisher or imprint name, and rights statements. Not strictly required by KDP but strongly recommended.

Cover Design - The front cover image uploaded to KDP for ebooks, or the full wrap cover (front, spine, and back) for paperbacks. Ebook covers must be at least 1000 pixels on the shortest side, with 2560 x 1600 pixels recommended. Cover quality is the single biggest factor in click-through rate.

CreateSpace- Amazon's original print-on-demand platform for self-publishers. CreateSpace was merged into KDP in 2018. All print publishing now happens directly through KDP's paperback and hardcover options.

D

Distribution - The reach of your book across sales channels. KDP distributes to all Amazon marketplaces by default. For paperbacks, you can enable Expanded Distribution to reach bookstores, libraries, and other online retailers through wholesale channels.

DOCX Format - A Microsoft Word file format commonly used for manuscript uploads to KDP. KDP automatically converts DOCX files to its Kindle format. Suitable for text-heavy books with simple formatting.

DRM (Digital Rights Management) - An optional encryption that prevents unauthorized copying of your ebook. You choose to enable or disable DRM when publishing on KDP. Once set, it cannot be changed without unpublishing and republishing the book.

E

eBook - A digital edition of your book sold for reading on Kindle devices, Kindle apps, and other e-readers. Ebooks have no printing or shipping costs, which means higher royalty margins compared to paperbacks.

Enrollment (KDP Select) - The act of opting your ebook into KDP Select, which requires 90-day exclusive digital distribution through Amazon. Enrollment grants access to Kindle Unlimited, promotional tools, and higher royalty rates in some markets.

EPUB - An open standard ebook format widely used across the publishing industry. KDP accepts EPUB uploads and converts them to Kindle format. EPUB gives authors more control over styling than DOCX.

Expanded Distribution - A KDP option for paperbacks that makes your book available to bookstores, online retailers, and libraries through wholesale channels beyond Amazon. Royalties are lower on Expanded Distribution sales due to wholesale discounting.

F

Fixed Layout- An ebook format where the page layout is locked in place rather than reflowable. Used for children's picture books, cookbooks, comics, and other image-heavy content where the visual arrangement matters. Created using Kindle Create or specialized tools.

Formatting - The process of preparing your manuscript file for upload to KDP. Includes setting margins, fonts, headings, page breaks, table of contents, and other layout elements. Poor formatting is one of the most common reasons for upload errors and negative reviews.

Front Matter - The pages at the beginning of your book before the main content starts. Includes the title page, copyright page, dedication, foreword, preface, and table of contents.

G

Ghostwriting - Hiring a writer to create your book content. The ghostwriter does the writing while you retain authorship and publishing rights. Common in nonfiction, business books, and high-volume fiction publishing.

Global Distribution - Publishing your book across multiple Amazon marketplaces worldwide. KDP distributes to marketplaces in the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, and others. Each marketplace has its own audience and search behavior.

I

Imprint- A publishing brand name that appears on your book's product page and copyright page. You can set a custom imprint name in KDP to give your books a professional publisher identity rather than showing your personal name.

Interior Layout - The design and arrangement of content inside your book. Covers margins, font choices, chapter headings, drop caps, spacing, headers, footers, and page numbering. Professional interior layout is what separates self-published books that look polished from those that look amateur.

ISBN (International Standard Book Number)- A unique 13-digit identifier for books. KDP provides a free ISBN for paperbacks, or you can purchase your own through Bowker (US) or your country's ISBN agency. Ebooks sold on Kindle do not require an ISBN - Amazon uses ASINs instead.

K

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)- Amazon's self-publishing platform. Authors use KDP to publish and sell ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers on Amazon marketplaces worldwide. KDP is free to use and pays royalties on each sale.

KDP Select - An optional program that gives Amazon exclusive digital distribution rights to your ebook for 90 days. In return, your book is included in Kindle Unlimited, you earn royalties from page reads, and you get access to promotional tools like Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions.

Keywords - The seven search terms you enter when publishing on KDP. Amazon uses these behind-the-scenes terms to match your book with shopper searches. Effective keyword selection is critical for discoverability. BookTranslatorHub generates marketplace-specific keywords for each language so your translated books are optimized for local search behavior, not just direct translations of your English terms.

Kindle Unlimited (KU)- Amazon's ebook subscription service. Readers pay a monthly fee and can read unlimited books enrolled in KDP Select. Authors are paid per page read from a shared monthly fund. KU can be a significant revenue source for prolific authors in popular genres.

KPF (Kindle Package Format)- A file format created by Amazon's Kindle Create tool. KPF files preserve your formatting exactly as designed and are ready for upload to KDP without further conversion.

L

Launch Strategy - The plan for promoting your book around its release date. Typically includes building an email list, coordinating ARC (Advance Review Copy) readers, running ads, and stacking early sales to boost your Best Seller Rank.

List Price- The retail price you set for your book on KDP. For ebooks, the price must fall within Amazon's allowed range (typically $0.99 to $9.99 for the 70% royalty tier). For paperbacks, you set the price above the minimum, which is based on your print cost.

Look Inside - An Amazon feature that lets shoppers preview a portion of your book before buying. Amazon automatically generates the Look Inside preview from the beginning of your uploaded file. A strong opening and clean formatting in the first few pages can directly influence purchase decisions.

M

Manuscript - Your complete book content in document form, ready for formatting and upload. The manuscript includes all front matter, body text, and back matter.

Matte/Glossy Finish - The coating option for your paperback cover. Matte has a smooth, non-reflective surface that feels premium and hides fingerprints. Glossy has a shiny, reflective surface that makes colors pop. Matte is the more popular choice among self-published authors.

Metadata - All the information about your book that Amazon uses for display and discoverability. Includes your title, subtitle, description, author name, keywords, categories, and pricing. Strong metadata is the foundation of organic book sales.

N

Net Royalty- The actual amount you receive per sale after Amazon deducts its fees. For ebooks, your net royalty is the list price multiplied by your royalty rate (35% or 70%) minus any delivery costs. For paperbacks, it is the list price minus the print cost and Amazon's percentage.

Niche- A specific, focused segment of the book market. Examples include "cozy cat mysteries," "keto meal prep for beginners," or "LitRPG fantasy." Publishing in a well-defined niche makes it easier to reach your target audience and rank in less competitive categories.

O

On-Demand Printing- Amazon's print model where paperback and hardcover books are printed only when a customer orders them. There is no upfront inventory cost. Each copy is printed, bound, and shipped individually by Amazon. This is the core technology behind KDP paperback publishing.

P

Page Count - The total number of pages in your printed book, including front matter and back matter. Page count affects print cost, minimum gutter margins, and spine width. KDP calculates your page count after you upload the interior file.

Paperback - A physical book with a flexible cover, printed on demand by Amazon. KDP paperbacks are available with cream or white paper, matte or glossy covers, and a range of trim sizes.

PDF (Portable Document Format) - The required file format for KDP paperback interiors. Your PDF must have embedded fonts, correct trim size dimensions, and proper margins. PDFs are also accepted for ebook upload but are not recommended because they are not reflowable.

Pre-order - A KDP feature that lets you list your ebook for sale before the publication date. Customers can buy it in advance, and all pre-order sales count toward your ranking on release day. Pre-orders can be set up to 90 days before launch.

Print Cost - The per-copy cost Amazon charges for printing your paperback. Based on page count, ink type (black and white or color), trim size, and marketplace. Your list price must be higher than the print cost for you to earn a royalty.

Proof Copy- A physical copy of your paperback ordered at cost for review before making the book publicly available. Proof copies have a "Not for Resale" banner on the back cover. Always order a proof to check for formatting issues that may not appear in the digital previewer.

R

Ranking- Your book's position in Amazon's search results and Best Seller lists. Ranking is influenced by sales velocity, keyword relevance, conversion rate, and customer engagement. Higher ranking means more visibility, which drives more sales.

Reviews- Customer ratings and written feedback on your book's product page. Reviews influence both shopper trust and Amazon's algorithm. Books with more reviews tend to rank higher and convert better. Amazon has strict policies against incentivized or fake reviews.

Royalty (35%/70%) - The percentage of the sale price you earn on each ebook sale. KDP offers two royalty tiers: 35% (available at any price) and 70% (available for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 in most marketplaces). The 70% tier has a delivery cost deduction based on file size. Paperback royalties are 60% of the list price minus the print cost.

S

Series Page - An Amazon feature that groups all books in a series together on a dedicated page. Readers can browse the entire series in order. You set up series information during the KDP publishing process by entering the series name and volume number.

Sitemap - A file that lists all pages on your website or author page for search engines to index. While not a KDP feature directly, maintaining a sitemap for your author website helps with SEO and drives organic traffic to your books.

Spine - The narrow edge of a paperback or hardcover that is visible when the book sits on a shelf. KDP calculates spine width based on page count and paper type. Books with fewer than about 100 pages may have no spine text at all. Your cover template includes the spine area.

Subtitle - Additional text that appears below your main title on Amazon. Subtitles are a valuable place to add searchable keywords and clarify what your book is about. They are especially important for nonfiction, where a descriptive subtitle can significantly improve click-through rates.

T

Table of Contents (TOC)- A navigational element listing your book's chapters or sections. For ebooks, the TOC should be hyperlinked so readers can tap to jump directly to any chapter. KDP requires a working TOC for all Kindle books. For paperbacks, a printed TOC is standard for nonfiction.

Translation- Converting your book's content from one language to another for publication in international markets. Quality translation goes beyond word-for-word conversion - it adapts tone, idioms, and cultural references for the target audience. BookTranslatorHub translates your book into 16 languages while preserving formatting, and generates marketplace-specific metadata so your translated editions are optimized for each Amazon storefront.

Trim Size- The final width and height dimensions of your printed book after pages are cut. Common sizes include 5" x 8", 6" x 9", and 7" x 10". Your interior file must be formatted to match the trim size you select in KDP exactly.

U

Unpublished - The status of a book that has been created in KDP but is not yet live on Amazon, or a book that was previously live and has been taken down. You can unpublish a book at any time from your KDP bookshelf, though it may take up to 72 hours to disappear from Amazon.

Upload - The process of submitting your manuscript file and cover to KDP. After uploading, Amazon processes your files and lets you preview the result before publishing. Upload times vary depending on file size and format.

W

Word Count - The total number of words in your manuscript. Word count affects reader expectations, pricing strategy, and genre conventions. A typical novel runs 60,000 to 90,000 words. Nonfiction books often range from 30,000 to 60,000 words.

Wrap Cover - The full cover file for a paperback or hardcover that includes the front cover, spine, and back cover as a single image. KDP provides a cover template calculator that generates the correct dimensions based on your trim size, page count, and paper type. The wrap cover must be uploaded as a PDF or high-resolution image file.