Enrolling your ebooks with Amazon KDP Select exclusivity can definitely increase sales.
But after having my ebooks in and out of KDP Select exclusivity many times, I can say that the benefits only last so long.
The first 90-day period always results in a sales boost.
But for each recurring 9o day enrolment period, sales and KENP page reads gradually fall away.
In and out
I had all my ebooks in KDP Select for three consecutive 90-day periods.
But I am in the process of removing my ebooks from KDP Select, and I’ll move back to open publishing most of my titles.
The reason is the same as the previous times I enrolled my ebooks with Amazon KDP Select.
After about six months, sales gradually fall, and in some cases, fall away rapidly.
This time, however, I also noticed a dramatic decline in KENP page reads during the last three months of enrolment. You can see this in the graph below clearly shows.
It is impossible to know the precise reasons why a decline has happened every time I have been in Amazon KDP Select.
But it is probably a logical assumption to say that it is due to Amazon’s algorithms and its need as a retailer to promote fresh products.
I have to say, though, that re-enrolling after a break of six months or more seems to get some reward from Amazon.
Sales always seem to increase again in the first new enrolment period.
How does Amazon promote KDP Select ebooks?
Getting accurate data and information regarding how Amazon promotes KDP Select ebooks is impossible.
Experience and anecdotal evidence are all I can bring to this topic.
But after five or six times in and out of Amazon KDP Select exclusivity, I can honestly say that I believe the benefits of KDP Select diminish towards the end of the second enrolment period and then decline further in the third.
As Amazon only asks for 90 days of exclusivity, perhaps this in itself explains the sales drop-off.
Amazon obviously needs to reward publishers for granting KDP Select exclusivity.
Otherwise, there would be no point in the exercise.
Perhaps Amazon is only prepared to reward for a certain amount of time.
This would explain why the required exclusivity period is quite short.
And possibly why the consecutive second and third enrolments are less successful.
My experience
Whatever the reasons, I can only offer my conclusions on Amazon KDP Select from my own experience.
Firstly, yes, KDP Select can certainly increase ebook sales.
Plus, by gaining access to Kindle Unlimited readers via KDP Select, page reads should start to happen in the first 90-day period.
Secondly, there is still a flow-on benefit in a second consecutive 90-day period.
But lastly, leaving your ebooks permanently enrolled has limited benefits. Sales and page reads seem to fade away slowly.
It would be better to consider returning to open publishing as it could be a better option.
That is the route I am taking at present through Draft2Digital.
I will certainly return some of my ebooks to KDP Select exclusivity in the future and hope for another sales and page reads spike.
Related Reading: The Pros And Cons Of Amazon KDP Select Exclusivity
I am confued, you said: Amazon obviously needs to reward publishers for granting KDP Select exclusivity. Otherwise, there would be no point in the exercise. So what is the point of the exercise? I have had my book in KDP Select for several weeks and have seen no benefit at all. What am I mIssing?
I will pull all my books out ot KU because of the long-persisting click-farm-problem, that Amazon doesn’t get under control. In the contrary, KDP-accounts of authors are deleted in the process when click-farms try to mask their shady activities by clicking the books of real authors too. KU is too risky.
In October 2016 Amazon changed the algorithm in favour of the own imprints. This may influence your KU sales & borrows as well.
There are reports on Kindle boards from Pauline Creeden too. And on the page of David Gaughran.
Thanks for posting this, We’ve had similar experiences and as of this year we’ve pulled the plug on KDP select as it’s not providing much value to us the self-publisher. In fact given the page read requirements it’s not much return value. While we’re still with Amazon we’re not going the route of exclusivity any longer given the lack of incentives.