9 Steps to Update a Kindle Book You’ve Previously Published
For fresh info and/or increased sales
Don’s a keen observer and prolific reporter of truth, common sense, humor, & life. He’s a WRITER and humorist, sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. He lives in Nashville, TN. He publishes every weekday morning. If you like his writing, here are 7 ways to find his stories. Don’t forget to have direct delivery of new stories by subscribing HERE! At the end of this story, he will put any links you need that may be associated with this story.
Updating a Kindle book you’ve published previously involves nine steps, whether you’ve published it via Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or another platform. Here’s a quick list for updating your Kindle book.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
1. Log into Your KDP Account at the [KDP website](https://kdp.amazon.com/) and log in with your Amazon credentials.
2. Select the book to update on your “Bookshelf.” Find the book you want to update. Click on the “…” (ellipsis) button next to the book and select “Edit eBook content” or “Edit paperback content” depending on which version of the book you intend to update.
3. Upload the new manuscript the new manuscript you have prepared and proofread. Make sure it’s formatted correctly for Kindle (e.g., as a .doc, .docx, or .kpf file). Under the “Manuscript” section, click “Upload eBook manuscript” and select your updated file to upload.
4. Update your cover (if necessary) and I, personally think it’s crazy to go through this much work and NOT update the cover, so, upload your new eye-catching cover file under the “Cover” section.
5. Modify other details, like the book’s metadata, such as the title, subtitle, keywords, and book description, as needed.
6. Preview your book with the “Launch Previewer” tool to ensure the updated manuscript looks the way you want it on various Kindle devices.
7. Save and publish it after reviewing the changes, by clicking “Save and Continue.” On the “Pricing” page, click “Publish Your Kindle eBook” or “Publish Your Paperback Book.”
8. Inform readers of the update, if it contains significant changes, by notifing Amazon. You can contact Amazon KDP support to request that they send an email notification to customers who have purchased the book, informing them of the update. Amazon will review the changes to determine if they are significant enough to warrant a notification.
9. Update your own marketing materials (website, social media, etc.) to let readers know about the new edition.
Final thoughts
Keep a copy of the original manuscript and all previous versions for your records.
For eBooks, the ASIN remains the same. For paperbacks, if the changes are substantial (such as a new edition with a significant amount of new content), consider whether you need a new ISBN.
Maintain a log of changes and updates to your book to keep track of what was modified and when.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your Kindle book is up-to-date and continues to provide value to your readers.
Reasons to Update Your Kindle Book Cover Even if the Content Hasn’t Been Updated
Worthwhile to do even by itself.
If you enjoyed this, join 17,760 other fans and followers everywhere. I’d like to lavish you with gifts, rewards, and my weekly real-life writing newsletter. Click to sign up, and come on in. The keys are above the door. Have a cookie.