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Amazon’s international book sales model has become one of the most effective ways in recent years for authors, publishers, and individual sellers to bring their physical or digital books to a global audience. Thanks to the opportunities offered by the digital age, it is no longer necessary to rely on traditional publishers for a book to appear on shelves; through Amazon’s massive marketplace, books can reach readers all around the world directly. While this process offers great opportunities for both authors and sellers, if not managed correctly it can also contain obstacles that seem complicated and demotivating.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at how international book selling on Amazon works, which models you can use to publish books, how to build effective sales strategies, and the practical answers to frequently asked questions.
One of the biggest advantages Amazon offers as a global marketplace is that it allows sellers to reach readers in dozens of countries with their books through a single platform. This is a challenging process even for traditional publishing houses, so the fact that an individual author or a small business can access this level of reach is an extraordinary opportunity. The first thing to understand is that there are different ways to sell books on Amazon.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s self-publishing system. Authors can publish both digital (eBook) and print (paperback and, in some countries, hardcover) formats. One of the most frequently asked questions is: “How does printing work with KDP?”
KDP uses a print-on-demand system. That means Amazon prints and ships the book only when a customer places an order; the author or seller does not need to hold inventory. This significantly reduces costs.
Another important question is: “Is international sales automatic with KDP?” Yes. When you choose to make your book available in all Amazon marketplaces during the publishing process, it becomes accessible worldwide. You do not need to manage any additional shipping process because KDP handles all printing and fulfillment.
Apart from KDP, you can also sell your physical books yourself. This method is especially preferred by publishers or sellers who hold bulk stock.
There are two main models:
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): You send your books to Amazon’s warehouses. Amazon handles packaging, shipping, and customer service.
FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant): You handle the shipping yourself as orders come in. This can be more complex for international sales, but in some niche products it can be more advantageous.
One of the most frequently asked questions is: “Are customs procedures difficult for international FBM shipments?” With FBM, yes, in some countries additional documents may be required. For this reason, FBA or KDP is generally easier for international book sales.
The advantages of selling books on Amazon in the global market are not limited to reach alone. Especially for authors who prefer the self-publishing model, several important points stand out:
Elimination of distribution costs
Paying Amazon’s commission only on items sold
Fully digital management of the process
Opportunity to gain organic visibility through reader reviews
Existing competitive advantage in niche categories
All of these make international book selling an attractive option.
The range of book types that can be sold on Amazon is quite extensive. However, there is one key question that sellers want to answer right at the beginning: “Which books sell better in the international market?” There is no single correct answer, but we can analyze trend categories based on user intent.
General observations and sales data show that the following categories consistently see high demand:
Personal development
Children’s books
Novels / fiction
Educational books
Language learning materials
Hobby and activity books (coloring, puzzle, workbooks)
Another question is: “Do Turkish books sell abroad?” Yes, especially in countries with a large Turkish diaspora, there is strong interest in Turkish-language books. However, English-language content has a much broader sales potential. For this reason, offering an English translation of a book whenever possible can significantly increase sales.
Placing the book in the correct category is critical for visibility on Amazon. This is because Amazon’s search algorithm (A9) takes into account the performance of products within their respective categories. Being placed in very broad categories can cause your book to get lost among thousands of other titles.
Many authors ask: “How do I know which category I should place my book in?” The most practical answer is to look at the categories of competitor books. On Amazon product pages, category information is listed in the “Product details” section. If your book is similar in nature to those titles, the same categories can be targeted.
This section is the step-by-step answer to the question: “Is it difficult to publish a book on Amazon KDP?” The process is technically simple, but content quality and page optimization determine success.
Your KDP account is linked to your regular Amazon account. When you set it up for the first time, you need to complete steps such as entering tax information, bank account details, and identity verification. A frequently asked question here is: “Is entering tax information difficult in Türkiye?”
In fact, the process is simple, and Amazon guides you step by step to fill out the W-8BEN form.
On the book upload screen, there are three main sections:
Book details (title, description, keywords)
Content upload (manuscript, cover, ISBN)
Pricing and distribution
At this point, one of the main questions people have is: “Do I have to get an ISBN?” No. KDP provides a free ISBN. However, you can also use your own ISBN if you wish.
One of the most critical points in selling books on Amazon is cover design. A professional cover significantly increases the click-through rate of your book. The manuscript file can be uploaded in EPUB or PDF format (depending on the type of book).
The short answer to the question: “What is the minimum resolution for the cover?” is:
At least 300 DPI.
Selling books on Amazon does not end with simply uploading the book. Your product page needs to be optimized to appear in search results.
The title should both attract readers and send the right signals to the algorithm. It is important to place your main keyword naturally in the title.
The description section is the heart of your book sales. It should clearly present both a summary of the content and the benefits it offers to the reader.
A frequently asked question is: “Is a longer description better?”
Yes, having a comprehensive description is beneficial; however, unnecessary length can have the opposite effect. Paragraphs should be organized and easy to understand.
KDP provides seven keyword fields in total. In these fields, you should include:
Niche-targeted keywords
Terms aligned with reader search behavior
Phrases that define the book’s sub-genre
On Amazon, pricing is a direct determinant of your sales. For international sales, automatically generated country prices are often not enough.
One of the most frequently asked questions is: “How should I set the price for my book?” You can use competitor analysis for this. By examining the price range of similar books, you can form an average picture. Pricing too low can create a perception of low value, while pricing too high can hurt purchase likelihood.
KDP offers two different royalty rates: 35% and 70%. While the 70% royalty rate is valid in many countries, it does include some technical requirements (such as file size and minimum list price).
The question “How do royalties work in international sales?” is answered as follows: No matter which country the book is sold in, your royalty is calculated according to the rate you have chosen and paid monthly.
Simply uploading a book is not enough; without an active marketing strategy, it is difficult to scale your sales.
Amazon’s own advertising system is a powerful tool to increase the visibility of books. Automatic campaigns are ideal for beginners, but later you should switch to manual keyword targeting for better control.
A very common question is: “Can I make sales without running ads?” Yes, it is possible; however, in highly competitive categories, advertising provides important support for visibility.
Amazon customer reviews directly affect sales. Adding a polite prompt inside the book or in the description to encourage readers to leave an honest review can be beneficial.
Promoting your book through Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and blogs can have a strong effect, especially in niche categories. BookTok trends, for example, have helped many books become bestsellers in a short period of time.
This section is one of the areas that sellers are most concerned about. However, Amazon’s systems significantly simplify the processes.
In your KDP or Seller Central account, you must complete the W-8BEN form. For sellers living in Türkiye, this form is important for reducing or eliminating U.S. withholding tax.
Many people approach the question “Are taxes complicated?” with hesitation. In reality, the process runs automatically; Amazon provides you with monthly reports. Declaring your personal income tax in Türkiye, however, is your own responsibility.
For FBM sellers, customs procedures are important. Since books are often considered cultural products, many countries do not impose special restrictions; however, because shipping times can be long, you need to be careful about customer satisfaction.
For those using KDP or FBA, this entire process is managed by Amazon.
To make book sales sustainable, you need to develop long-term strategies. For example, books that are part of a series usually perform better than stand-alone titles. When a reader likes one book, they are more likely to buy the others.
Another important question is: “What if my first book doesn’t sell?” This is something almost every new author experiences. The important thing is to keep working on optimization, ad settings, and category adjustments. After a few changes, many books start to gain visibility again.
Content updates are also a powerful strategy. Since KDP allows you to update your book file, improving the content over time makes it easier to reach new readers.
This comprehensive structure provides a solid foundation for anyone who wants to sell books internationally through Amazon. Book publishing and sales strategies require patience, but when the right steps are taken, the process can yield both financially and emotionally satisfying results. With Amazon’s global network, this journey becomes much more accessible, and it becomes possible for books to reach readers all over the world. The key at the start of this journey is to focus on the value of your book and your target audience, and to achieve consistent success over time through regular analysis and optimization.
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