Amazon KDP vs. Google Play Books – The Ultimate Publishing Strategy

You have written a great book (Part 1). You have designed a killer cover (Part 2). Now, you have a digital file sitting on your computer. It is time to turn that file into an asset that generates passive income.

But here is the dilemma: Where do you upload it?

Many beginners blindly upload to Amazon and stop there. As a digital marketer, you need to think bigger. In this guide, we will break down the two giants of the industry—Amazon KDP and Google Play Books—and the specific strategy to dominate both.

The Strategic Choice: “KDP Select” vs. “Going Wide”

Before you upload a single file, you must make one business decision.

1. The Amazon KDP Select Route (Exclusive) Amazon will ask you to enroll in “KDP Select.”

The Deal: You get paid when people read your book for free on Kindle Unlimited (KU). You also get promotional tools like “Free Days.”
The Catch: You must grant Amazon 100% exclusivity. You cannot sell on Google Play, your own website, or anywhere else digital.
Who is this for? Fiction authors (Romance/Thriller) often do well here.

2. The “Wide” Route (Non-Exclusive)

The Deal: You sell on Amazon (standard), Google Play, Apple Books, and your own site.
The Catch: You don’t get the “Kindle Unlimited” reads.
Who is this for? Non-Fiction & Educational Authors. If you are teaching a skill (like marketing or finance), you want to be everywhere. We recommend this route for most Mnoor LLC readers.

Platform 1: Amazon KDP (The Volume King)

Amazon controls over 60-80% of the e-book market.

The “7 Keywords” Rule: When uploading, Amazon gives you 7 keyword slots. Do not waste these on single words like “Marketing.” Use “Long-Tail” phrases: “Digital marketing for small business 2025”.
Pricing Strategy: To get the 70% Royalty rate, you must price your book between $2.99 and $9.99. If you price it at $0.99 or $15.00, your royalty drops to 35%.
Format: Amazon accepts Microsoft Word, but for professional results, use Kindle Create (free software) to format your file into a .kpf file.

Platform 2: Google Play Books (The Android Giant)

Most authors ignore Google Play. This is your advantage.

Less Competition: It is much easier to rank on the first page of Google Play than Amazon.
The SEO Bonus: Google Play Books are indexed by Google Search. Your book can show up in standard web search results.
Global Reach: Billions of users in Asia and South America use Android, not Kindle.
Format: Google prefers a clean PDF or EPUB file.

The Winning Workflow

If you choose to “Go Wide” (Recommended):

Upload to Amazon KDP first. Do not check the “Enroll in KDP Select” box. Set price to $4.99 – $9.99.
Upload to Google Play Partner Center. Use the same description but add slightly different keywords focused on “Android” or “Mobile learning.”
Link them. Once live, put both links in your social media bio.

Conclusion: Don’t Leave Money on the Table

Publishing is not about “uploading and hoping.” It is about understanding the algorithms of these platforms. Amazon gives you volume; Google Play gives you global reach and SEO. Used together, they build a powerful brand.

COMING UP NEXT: Part 4 (The Finale)

You are now selling on the big platforms, but they are taking a 30% cut of your money! In our final blog post, we will cover:

Direct Sales: How to sell the book on your own website (mnoorllc.com) and keep 100% of the profit.
The Funnel: How to turn book buyers into high-ticket clients.

Let Us Handle the Tech

Confused by “Metadata,” “KPF files,” and “ISBNs”?

At Mahnoor LLC, we offer a “Done-For-You” Publishing Service.

Account Setup: We create and configure your KDP and Google Play accounts.
SEO Optimization: We research the high-traffic keywords for your specific niche.
Formatting: We convert your manuscript into the perfect file types for every platform.

Start Publishing Today – Let’s get your book into the hands of millions.