Creating a children's book with Maker Book is rewarding in itself. But many authors want to go further and offer their books for sale. Self-publishing has opened doors that were once reserved for authors with a traditional publisher. Today, anyone can publish a book and make it available for purchase worldwide. This guide walks you through every step, from choosing a sales platform to building a loyal audience.
Choosing your sales platform
Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
Amazon KDP is the most popular self-publishing platform in the world. It lets you publish books in digital format (Kindle) and in print (print on demand) with no upfront cost. Every time a customer orders your book, Amazon prints and ships it. You earn a royalty on every sale.
For children's books, the print format is by far the best seller. Parents prefer to give a real physical book rather than a digital version, especially for young children. Focus your efforts on the printed edition.
The publishing process on KDP is fairly simple: you create an account, upload your interior PDF file and your cover (in the format required by Amazon), fill in the metadata (title, description, categories, keywords), set your price, and publish. The book is usually available for sale within 24 to 72 hours.
Alternatives to Amazon
Amazon dominates the market, but other platforms are worth your attention:
- Blurb: specializes in photo and illustrated books, with premium quality options (premium paper, hardcover). Ideal for high-end gift books.
- Lulu: an alternative to Amazon KDP with extensive distribution options and a simple interface.
- IngramSpark: geared toward professionals, with distribution to physical bookstores. Recommended if you want your book to be available in stores.
- Etsy: perfect for selling personalized, limited-edition books. You can offer a personalization service (child's name, dedication) and print each copy to order.
- Your own website: to maximize your margins and control the customer experience. You handle printing and shipping yourself or through a fulfillment partner.
Setting the right price
Understanding the cost structure
On Amazon KDP, your book's price has to cover three things: the printing cost (which depends on the page count, format, and paper type), Amazon's commission (typically 40% of the sale price for print books), and your royalty (what's left). KDP provides a royalty calculator that lets you simulate your earnings based on the price you set.
Recommended price ranges
For self-published children's books, here are the price ranges that work well in the market:
- Softcover, standard format: between 9.99 and 14.99. This is the most competitive range and the one that generates the highest sales volume.
- Hardcover: between 16.99 and 24.99. Parents are willing to pay more for a hardback book that will survive their child's handling.
- Personalized book (on Etsy): between 19.99 and 34.99. Personalization justifies a premium price because the book is unique.
Avoid setting your price too low: it conveys mediocre quality and shrinks your margins to the point of making the venture unsustainable. A well-made children's book deserves a price that reflects its quality.
Optimizing your product listing
The title and subtitle
Your book's title should be catchy and make people want to read it. The subtitle, on Amazon, is extra space you can use to include important keywords. For example: title "The Midnight Dragon" / subtitle "A children's book for ages 4 to 8 - Adventure and friendship".
The description
Your book's description on Amazon is your sales pitch. Structure it in several parts:
- A two- or three-sentence hook that makes people want to read the story.
- A summary of the story without giving away the ending.
- The book's specs (page count, age range, format).
- A call to action ("Order now to give an unforgettable adventure").
Keywords and categories
Amazon lets you choose up to seven keywords and two categories for your book. Pick them carefully: they determine whether your book shows up in search results. Use the phrases parents would type to find a book like yours: "children's book age 5", "forest animal story", "kids birthday gift".
Marketing strategies
Social media
Social media is your main lever for visibility as a self-published author. Each platform has its strengths:
- Instagram: the ideal platform for illustrated books. Post illustration excerpts, photos of the physical book, page-flip videos. Use hashtags related to children's literature (#childrensbooks, #kidlit, #picturebook).
- TikTok (BookTok): short videos showing the creative process or the finished product can go viral. The "before/after" format (idea then finished book) works especially well.
- Pinterest: create pins with your most beautiful illustrations and link them to your sales page. Pinterest is a visual search engine widely used by parents.
- Facebook: parent groups and groups dedicated to children's literature are active communities where you can share your work (while respecting each group's rules on self-promotion).
Posting regularly
Consistency is the key to success on social media. Regularly post content related to your work as an author-illustrator:
- Behind-the-scenes of the creative process: show how you develop an idea, choose a style, polish the illustrations.
- Read-alouds of a few pages (with your publisher's permission, or in self-publishing).
- Reader reviews and testimonials (ask parents to share photos or videos of their children with the book).
- Announcements of new projects to build anticipation.
Email marketing
Build an email list of people interested in your books. Offer free content in exchange for signing up (a coloring page, an excerpt, a wallpaper with your illustrations). Send a monthly newsletter with your news, your new books, and special offers. An email list is an asset you own, unlike followers on social media.
Building an author brand
Your visual identity
Create a consistent visual identity across all your materials: website, social media, business cards, packaging. Use the same colors, the same typography, and the same graphic style. Readers should recognize your brand at a glance.
Your positioning
Define what makes your books unique. Is your specialty adventure stories? Poetic tales? Educational books? Personalized books? By positioning yourself clearly, you attract a targeted audience that comes back for each new book.
The relationship with your audience
Reply to comments, thank positive reviews, ask for feedback. The parents who buy your books are your best ambassadors. A satisfied parent will recommend your book to other parents, generating priceless word of mouth that money can't buy.
Mistakes to avoid
- Neglecting cover quality: the cover is what decides whether a parent clicks or moves on. Invest time in an attractive, professional cover.
- Publishing without proofreading: spelling and grammar mistakes are dealbreakers. Have your text proofread by several people before publishing.
- Ignoring negative reviews: every piece of constructive criticism is an opportunity to improve. Reply politely and draw lessons from it for your next books.
- Giving up too soon: the first sales are often slow. Most successful self-published authors released several books before finding their audience.
- Setting your price too low: as mentioned above, a low price devalues your work and shrinks your margins.
A 30-day action plan
- Week 1: Finalize your book (proofreading, layout, PDF export). Create your accounts on the sales platforms you've chosen.
- Week 2: Publish on Amazon KDP and at least one secondary platform. Write your description and select your keywords carefully.
- Week 3: Launch your social media presence. Post your first content, join the relevant communities, start building your audience.
- Week 4: Request your first reviews (family, friends, bloggers). Analyze your first sales data and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Selling children's books is a marathon, not a sprint. The authors who succeed are the ones who publish regularly, care about the quality of every book, and patiently build a loyal audience. With Maker Book, the creative part is simplified and accelerated, which leaves you more time and energy for the business side. Get started, publish your first book, learn from the experience, and improve with each new project.