Should You Publish Wide or Stick with Amazon KDP?

Should You Publish Wide or Stick with Amazon KDP?

If you’ve published your book on Amazon KDP (or you’re planning to), you’ve probably seen the little box that asks if you want to enrol in KDP Select. It’s easy to tick it and move on, thinking “Sure, why not? More visibility sounds great.”

But before you do, let’s take a proper look at what that decision really means - and whether it’s the right move for you and your book.

What "Going Exclusive" on Amazon Really Means

When you enrol in KDP Select, Amazon asks for exclusive digital rights for 90 days at a time.
That means you can’t sell the ebook version of your book anywhere else - not on Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, or even your own website.

In exchange, Amazon offers some tempting perks:

• Your book gets access to Kindle Unlimited (KU) readers, who can borrow it “for free” as part of their subscription.

• You can run Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions to boost visibility.

• Amazon’s algorithm often gives a little extra love to Select titles (which can help with ranking).

So if your main goal is Amazon visibility or if you’re launching your very first book and want to build early momentum, going exclusive can make sense - at least for a while.

What It Means to "Go Wide"

Publishing wide simply means not being exclusive to Amazon.
Instead, you distribute your ebook (and usually your paperback too) to multiple retailers and library systems. Platforms like Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, or PublishDrive make this easy.

Your book becomes available in places like:

• Apple Books

• Kobo

• Barnes & Noble Press

• Google Play Books

• Libraries (through services like BorrowBox or OverDrive)

• Even smaller regional ebook stores you might never have heard of!

That’s a lot of potential new readers - and often in countries where Amazon isn’t the main player.

The Pros and Cons

Going Exclusive (KDP Select)

Pros:

• Simpler setup and reporting, all under one roof.

• Kindle Unlimited can give you a steady stream of page reads (and extra income).

• Easier to focus your marketing on one platform.

Cons:

• You’re building your entire author business on one company’s platform.

• You can’t sell your ebook anywhere else.

• If your audience doesn’t read on Kindle, they’re out of luck.

Going Wide

Pros:

• You reach a much bigger global audience.

• You build long-term stability - your income isn’t tied to Amazon’s whims.

• You can price differently or run promos tailored to each retailer.

• You can even sell your ebook direct from your own website (and keep more of the profits).

Cons:

• More admin and setup time (unless we at Jo Wildsmith Publishing take this task on for you, of course).

• Sales often grow more slowly - you’re building a long game, not chasing quick wins.

• You’ll need to handle marketing across multiple platforms (or have a good system for it).

My Honest Take

If you’re a first-time author, or if you’re launching a new series and want to make a splash, it’s totally fine to start with Amazon exclusivity for your first 90 days or even six months.

But once your book has found its footing?
It’s worth seriously considering going wide.

Wide publishing opens up doors: schools, libraries, audiobook channels, international readers… It gives your book a life beyond Amazon. And for authors who want to build a lasting career - or use their book to support a business or personal brand - it’s often the better long-term move.

A Quick Reality Check

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
If 90% of your readers are in the US and on Kindle Unlimited, staying exclusive might be perfect for you.
If your book supports your business, or you dream of reaching readers in Europe, Canada, or Australia, wide distribution gives you that freedom.

The best part? You can change your mind.
KDP Select runs in 90-day cycles, so when it renews, you can opt out and go wide later on.