Can I Succeed Without Ads in 2024? (KDP Blog: Feb 16, 2024)
A common question many publishers, especially beginners, ask is: Can I create a KDP business without running ads? I don’t want to disappoint, but in my opinion, the answer is no.
There was a time, pre-2020–2021, when publishing various types of low or medium-content books and seeing a small percentage of them take off without the help of ads was possible. These days, however, such instances are rare, if they happen at all. This isn’t surprising given the significant rise in popularity of low-content publishing in recent years, which has seen an influx of hundreds of thousands of authors entering the business.
As a result, relying solely on organic traction for your business doesn’t seem like a wise strategy. Some form of marketing should be involved.
On the Positive Side
Of course, this is just my opinion, and I recognise others may have different views. However, you don’t need a huge budget to run ads for your books, especially for types like notebooks, journals, and logbooks. These often have a low cost-per-click, and it’s possible to manage with bids as low as $0.15 or even less.
What should be the mindset when running ads?
Running ads can be costly, and it’s usually not a long-term strategy for a book. This means the goal shouldn’t be to continue spending on a book indefinitely without a clear end goal. The purpose of ads is quite simple: to spend money to generate sales, increase rank, and gain organic traction. Once you achieve organic sales, you can turn off the ads.
What would my strategy be if I started KDP again?
I would definitely not start with $0. I would ideally have $1,000 ready to invest in the business, publishing in niches with enough demand and low competition, using the funds to outsource covers, interiors, and to run ads. I would reinvest any profits made in the following months back into the business, aiming to start making a profit after at least 7–9 months of publishing.
To conclude,
KDP has changed over the years, and I believe it will continue to evolve. Many strategies that worked in the past are no longer effective, and it’s crucial to adapt. I understand that many don’t want to hear it, but one of the significant changes is the reduced likelihood of creating a business that relies solely on organic traffic and sales.
My previous blog and more:
