KDP Income Report September & August 2024: Low & Medium Content Books
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Welcome back to another KDP income report. In this post, I’ll cover my earnings and ad spend for both September and August 2024.
I will also briefly mention recent changes in the VAT for UK publishers, my performance numbers, and some lessons learned along the way.
August and September Overview
These months are typically some of the slowest for KDP low and medium-content books in general, but able insights as we prepare for the much-anticipated Q4 sales boost.
September saw total royalties of $6,423 from 2,824 books sold, while August came in at $5,738 with slightly fewer sales. Here’s a quick breakdown:
September 2024:
Total royalties: $6,423
Highest day: $565
Lowest day: $112
Total ad spend: $975
Total books sold: 2,824
August 2024:
Total royalties: $5,738
Total ad spend: $982
Year-on-Year Comparison
When comparing September 2024 to September 2023, book sales were down 7%, from 3,043 to 2,824. However, the total royalties increased, though ad spend also spiked significantly—up 137% from last year.
This increased spending affected overall profit, meaning my profit margins were thinner this year in comparison.
Despite fewer sales, the higher royalty amounts reflect the impact of the new VAT changes in the UK, which I’ll talk more about in the next section.
VAT Changes and Price Adjustments
One of the major changes that affected my pricing strategy this year is the new VAT regulations for digital goods in the UK.
As many of you know, this change is crucial for UK-based KDP publishers, and it has led me to revise the pricing of many of my books.
Interestingly, I’ve noticed that several competitors have yet to adjust their prices, which might give you an edge going into Q4 if you act now.
Reducing your prices slightly can help make your books more attractive to buyers, even though it might lower your royalty per sale.
It’s a delicate balance between staying competitive and maintaining profitability.
I’ve noticed some books where VAT hasn’t been applied as expected, which is something to watch out for.
Publishing & Ad Spend Strategy
For September, I spent around $975 on ads, up from last year’s $400.
While this led to higher royalty numbers, my overall profit was slightly lower than in 2023.
One of the key takeaways is thatad spend doesn’t always guarantee higher profits, and tracking your ROI is essential.
On the publishing side, I’m focusing more on creating new hardcovers, though I’ve hit a few roadblocks with older books going back into review due to unpublished changes.
If your older books are doing well, it might be worth leaving them as is to avoid triggering Amazon’s review process.
August 2024 Recap
Looking at August, the total royalties reached $5,738, with an ad spend of $982. While this was a healthy number, the total profit was slightly lower than the previous year due to higher ad costs.
Nevertheless, August remained fairly consistent compared to 2023, which makes me optimistic about Q4’s potential.
Goals for October 2024
Now, let’s talk about October and my goals for Q4. I aim to publish at least five new books this month (three are already in review).
I’m also focusing on adding A+ content to my high-performing books that don’t have it yet, as this can help increase conversion rates.
While I haven’t had much success with recent designs, I’m continuing to create more and hope to tear up to Tier 2000 soon.
I’ve seen zero sales from my new designs, but I’m staying consistent and pushing through.
Conclusion
As we head into Q4, it’s crucial to keep refining your strategies, from ad spend to pricing adjustments.
While these slower months are tough, they provide a solid foundation for the busy season ahead. If you haven’t already, make sure to adapt to the VAT changes, keep experimenting with new content, and stay vigilant with your advertising.
Thanks for reading, and if you enjoy these updates, please like and subscribe! Let’s make the rest of 2024 great.
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