Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is one of the most profitable and beginner-friendly online platforms Nigerians are using to make money in dollars in 2025. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone looking for a legit side hustle, KDP allows you to publish books and earn passive income without spending much capital.

In this complete beginner’s guide, we’ll explain what Amazon KDP is, how it works, and how you can start earning in Nigeria — even without writing experience.

What is Amazon KDP?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a free self-publishing platform owned by Amazon. It allows you to publish your books online (eBooks or paperbacks) and earn royalties whenever someone buys or reads them.

The best part is that you don’t need to be an author to make money. Many Nigerians are using KDP to publish low-content books such as journals, notebooks, logbooks, and planners — all created with free tools.

How Amazon KDP Works

The process is simple:

1. You create or design a book.
2. You upload it to Amazon KDP.
3. You set your price and publish it.
4. Whenever a buyer purchases your book, Amazon prints and ships it for you.
5. You earn a royalty (usually 60% of the selling price minus printing costs).

Amazon pays monthly in U.S. dollars, which you can receive in Nigeria through Payoneer or Wise.

What You Can Publish on Amazon KDP

You can publish different types of books on KDP, including:

• Low-content books: Notebooks, journals, diaries, sketchbooks, coloring books.
• Medium-content books: Activity books, workbooks, planners, puzzle books.
• High-content books: Novels, short stories, poetry, academic or educational materials.

For beginners, low-content books are the easiest way to start since they don’t require much writing.

How to Get Started on Amazon KDP in Nigeria (Step-by-Step)

Let’s walk you through the exact steps to start making money from Amazon KDP as a Nigerian in 2025:

Step 1: Create an Amazon KDP Account

Visit https://kdp.amazon.com and sign up using your email address. Fill in your details, including your real name, address, and country (Nigeria).

During registration, you’ll also set up your payment method (Payoneer or Wise) so Amazon can pay your royalties in dollars.

Step 2: Choose Your Book Type

Decide if you want to publish low-content, medium-content, or high-content books.

If you’re new, start with low-content books because they’re easy to design using tools like Canva or BookBolt.

Step 3: Design Your Book

Use Canva (free) to design your book cover and interior pages. For example:

• Journal or Notebook: Add lines or simple quotes.
• Planner: Add daily or weekly schedules.
• Coloring Book: Add black-and-white illustrations.

Make sure your design looks neat and professional.

Step 4: Upload Your Book on KDP

Once you’ve finished designing, upload your book files (cover and interior) to Amazon KDP.

You’ll also need to:

• Enter your book title and subtitle.
• Write a short book description (SEO-friendly).
• Choose relevant categories and keywords.
• Set your pricing (e.g., $5.99 or more).

Step 5: Publish and Wait for Approval

After uploading, click “Publish” and wait for Amazon to review your book.
This usually takes up to 72 hours.

Once approved, your book will appear on Amazon stores worldwide, and you’ll start earning whenever people buy it.

Step 6: Promote Your Book

Publishing is not enough — you need to promote it.

You can promote your KDP books by:

• Sharing on Facebook groups, Twitter, and Pinterest.
• Creating TikTok videos about your book.
• Using Amazon Ads (optional).

The more people see your book, the higher your chances of sales.

How Amazon KDP Pays Nigerians

Amazon pays authors monthly (usually between the 20th and 26th of each month).

Since Nigerians can’t use local bank accounts to receive dollar payments directly, you’ll need a Payoneer or Wise account.

• Payoneer: Create a free account, get a virtual U.S. bank account, and receive Amazon payments in dollars.
• Wise: Similar to Payoneer, also supports receiving KDP payments.

You can then withdraw your funds to your Nigerian bank account in Naira.

Tips to Succeed on Amazon KDP as a Beginner

1. Start simple: Begin with notebooks or journals to learn the process.
2. Use quality designs: Poorly designed books don’t sell.
3. Research niches: Use tools like BookBolt or Creative Fabrica to find trending book ideas.
4. Focus on keywords: Optimize your titles and descriptions with relevant keywords.
5. Be consistent: Publish multiple books — the more books you have, the more you earn.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Copying or re-uploading other people’s books.
• Using copyrighted images or logos.
• Setting unrealistic prices.
• Ignoring book formatting requirements.

Amazon can ban your account if you violate its publishing rules. Always follow their content guidelines.

How Much Can You Earn from Amazon KDP?

Your income depends on the number of books you publish and how well they sell.

On average:

• Beginners earn between $50 to $300 per month after publishing several books.
• Intermediate publishers can earn $500 to $2,000 monthly.
• Top KDP creators earn $10,000+ monthly by scaling and promoting multiple niches.

The secret is consistency and quality.

Conclusion

Amazon KDP remains one of the best online businesses for Nigerians to earn in dollars in 2025. It’s simple to start, requires little investment, and pays directly into your Payoneer or Wise account.

If you’re serious about building a steady dollar income online, start today by signing up on Amazon KDP and publishing your first book.

FAQs

1. Can I use my Nigerian bank account to receive Amazon KDP payments?

No, Amazon doesn’t send payments to Nigerian bank accounts directly. You’ll need a Payoneer or Wise account to receive payments in dollars.

2. Do I need to write a full book to make money on KDP?

No. You can start with low-content books like journals, notebooks, and planners that don’t require much writing.

3. Is Amazon KDP free to join?

Yes, creating an Amazon KDP account is completely free. You only need to invest your time in designing and uploading your books.

4. How do I withdraw my KDP earnings in Nigeria?

After receiving payments in Payoneer or Wise, you can easily transfer the funds to your Nigerian bank account and withdraw in Naira.

5. Can I use my phone for Amazon KDP?

Yes, you can use your smartphone to design and upload books through Canva and the Amazon KDP website, although using a laptop is more convenient.