10 Amazon KDP Mistakes That Cost Authors Money in 2026
Avoid these costly mistakes that can hurt your sales, rankings, and even get your account suspended. Learn from real author experiences and protect your publishing business.
Publishing on Amazon KDP can be incredibly profitable—or incredibly frustrating. The difference often comes down to avoiding a handful of critical mistakes that cost authors thousands of dollars every year.
After analyzing data from over 10,000 indie authors and processing millions of compliance checks through our tools, we've identified the 10 most expensive mistakes authors make on Amazon KDP. Some of these can cost you a few hundred dollars in lost sales. Others can get your entire account terminated.
This comprehensive guide breaks down each mistake, shows you real examples, and provides actionable solutions to protect your publishing business. Whether you're launching your first book or your fiftieth, these insights will save you money and headaches. For a step-by-step approach to avoid these pitfalls, follow our complete KDP publishing checklist.
Pro Tip: Want to avoid these mistakes from the start? Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish by David Gaughran covers this in detail.
Table of Contents
- 1.Using Banned Keywords in Your Metadata
- 2.Pricing Your Book Wrong
- 3.Choosing the Wrong Categories
- 4.Ignoring Keyword Research
- 5.Publishing Without Proper Formatting
- 6.Not Understanding Print Costs
- 7.Enrolling in KDP Select Without Research
- 8.Writing a Weak Book Description
- 9.Not Tracking Your BSR and Sales
- 10.Violating Amazon's Content Guidelines
Using Banned Keywords in Your Metadata
💸 Potential Cost: $500-$5,000+ (Account Suspension)
The Problem
Amazon has a strict list of prohibited keywords that can get your book unpublished or your account suspended. Many authors unknowingly use these terms in titles, subtitles, or keyword fields.
Common Examples
- Words like 'bestseller', 'free', or 'sale' in titles
- Competitor author names or book titles
- Misleading genre indicators
- Trademark violations
The Solution
Use our Compliance Checker to scan your metadata before publishing. It checks against Amazon's latest banned keyword list and flags potential violations.
Use Free ToolPricing Your Book Wrong
💸 Potential Cost: $200-$2,000/month in lost royalties
The Problem
Pricing too high kills sales. Pricing too low leaves money on the table. Many authors don't understand the 35% vs 70% royalty tiers or how pricing affects their actual earnings.
Common Examples
- Pricing at $2.98 instead of $2.99 (loses 70% royalty)
- Not accounting for delivery costs on large eBooks
- Ignoring competitor pricing in your category
- Setting paperback prices below printing costs
The Solution
Use our BSR Calculator to see estimated sales at different price points. For paperbacks, use our Print Cost Calculator to ensure profitable pricing.
Use Free ToolChoosing the Wrong Categories
💸 Potential Cost: $300-$1,500/month in lost visibility
The Problem
Your category selection determines where your book appears in search and browse. Choosing overly competitive categories means you'll never rank. Choosing irrelevant categories means low conversion.
Common Examples
- Putting a romance novel in 'Literary Fiction'
- Choosing broad categories like 'Fiction' instead of specific sub-genres
- Not researching BSR requirements to rank in top 100
- Wasting both category slots on similar categories
The Solution
Research category BSRs using our BSR Calculator. Choose one competitive category for credibility and one niche category where you can rank top 20.
Use Free ToolIgnoring Keyword Research
💸 Potential Cost: $400-$2,000/month in lost organic traffic
The Problem
Your 7 keyword slots are prime real estate for discoverability. Many authors waste them on single words, overly competitive terms, or irrelevant phrases that nobody searches for.
Common Examples
- Using single words like 'romance' or 'thriller'
- Copying keywords from bestsellers (too competitive)
- Using the same words already in your title
- Not using all 7 keyword slots
The Solution
Use our AI Keyword Research Tool to find high-volume, low-competition keyword phrases specific to your book's niche.
Use Free ToolPublishing Without Proper Formatting
💸 Potential Cost: $100-$800 in returns and poor reviews
The Problem
Formatting errors create a poor reading experience, leading to returns, bad reviews, and lost sales. Common issues include broken links, missing chapters, inconsistent fonts, and poor mobile display.
Common Examples
- No clickable table of contents
- Images that don't display on mobile
- Inconsistent chapter formatting
- Broken internal links
- Poor paragraph spacing
The Solution
Use professional formatting tools like Vellum, Atticus, or Calibre. Always preview on multiple devices before publishing. Test on Kindle, iPad, and phone.
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by Chandler Bolt
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Not Understanding Print Costs
💸 Potential Cost: $150-$1,000/month in negative margins
The Problem
Many authors price their paperbacks without calculating actual printing costs. Amazon charges based on page count, ink type, and trim size. You can easily end up with negative royalties.
Common Examples
- Not accounting for expanded distribution fees
- Choosing color interior without checking costs
- Pricing below the minimum royalty threshold
- Not comparing costs across different trim sizes
The Solution
Use our Print Cost Calculator before setting your paperback price. It shows exact printing costs for all trim sizes and marketplaces, ensuring profitable pricing.
Use Free ToolEnrolling in KDP Select Without Research
💸 Potential Cost: $200-$1,200/month in lost wide distribution
The Problem
KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited) requires exclusivity. You can't sell on Apple Books, Kobo, or other platforms. Many authors enroll without understanding if KU page reads will compensate for lost sales.
Common Examples
- Enrolling without checking genre performance in KU
- Not calculating KENP value for your book length
- Ignoring international markets where KU is weak
- Staying in KU out of habit, not data
The Solution
Use our KENP Calculator to estimate KU earnings vs wide distribution. Romance and fantasy often do well in KU. Non-fiction and literary fiction often perform better wide.
Use Free ToolWriting a Weak Book Description
💸 Potential Cost: $300-$1,500/month in lost conversions
The Problem
Your book description is your sales page. A weak description means browsers don't convert to buyers. Many authors write boring summaries instead of compelling sales copy.
Common Examples
- Starting with 'This book is about...'
- No hook in the first 2 lines
- Wall of text with no formatting
- Not including keywords naturally
- No call-to-action
The Solution
Use the AIDA formula: Attention (hook), Interest (what's unique), Desire (benefits), Action (CTA). Use bullet points, bold text, and white space. Include keywords naturally.
Not Tracking Your BSR and Sales
💸 Potential Cost: $100-$600/month in missed optimization
The Problem
Your Best Sellers Rank (BSR) tells you how well your book is selling. Not tracking it means you can't measure the impact of price changes, promotions, or marketing efforts.
Common Examples
- Not knowing your baseline BSR
- Not tracking BSR after price changes
- Not monitoring competitor BSRs
- Not understanding BSR fluctuations
The Solution
Check your BSR daily for the first month, then weekly. Use our BSR Calculator to estimate sales from your rank and track trends over time.
Use Free ToolViolating Amazon's Content Guidelines
💸 Potential Cost: $1,000-$10,000+ (Account Termination)
The Problem
Amazon has strict content policies. Violations can result in book removal, account suspension, or permanent termination. Many authors don't realize certain content is prohibited.
Common Examples
- Excessive violence or graphic content without warnings
- Plagiarized or public domain content without transformation
- Misleading content (e.g., fake reviews, manipulated rankings)
- Copyright violations in cover images or interior content
The Solution
Read Amazon's Content Guidelines thoroughly. Use our Compliance Checker to scan for potential violations. When in doubt, contact KDP support before publishing.
Use Free ToolProtecting Your Publishing Business
These 10 mistakes collectively cost indie authors millions of dollars every year. The good news? They're all completely avoidable with the right knowledge and tools.
The most expensive mistakes—banned keywords and content violations—can be prevented with a simple compliance check before publishing. The next tier—pricing, categories, and keywords—requires research but pays dividends in sales and visibility.
At BookBloom, we've built free tools specifically to help you avoid these mistakes. Our Compliance Checker catches banned keywords, our BSR Calculator helps with pricing and category decisions, and our Keyword Research Tool finds profitable, low-competition keywords.
Quick Action Checklist
- Run your metadata through the Compliance Checker before every publish
- Research category BSRs and choose strategically
- Use all 7 keyword slots with researched 3-5 word phrases
- Calculate print costs before setting paperback prices
- Track your BSR weekly to measure marketing impact
- Test your book formatting on multiple devices before publishing
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I accidentally use a banned keyword?
Amazon may unpublish your book and send a warning email. In severe cases or repeat violations, they can suspend your account. Always use a compliance checker before publishing to avoid this.
Can I change my book's price after publishing?
Yes, you can change your price anytime. However, frequent price changes can confuse readers and affect your sales rank. Test different price points every 90 days for best results.
How do I know if my categories are too competitive?
Check the BSR of the #100 book in your category. If it's under 5,000, the category is very competitive. If it's over 50,000, it may be too niche. Aim for categories where #100 is between 10,000-30,000 BSR.
Should I enroll in KDP Select or go wide?
It depends on your genre. Romance, fantasy, and sci-fi often perform well in Kindle Unlimited. Non-fiction, literary fiction, and international markets often do better with wide distribution. Use our KENP Calculator to compare potential earnings.
How often should I check my BSR?
Check your BSR daily during launches or promotions. For established books, weekly checks are sufficient. Use our BSR Calculator to track sales trends over time.
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