This is Swati from India. I have been a full-time content writer for over a decade now. I always wanted to write and publish a book where I can write not for google and algorithm; but to readers. So, I am new to KDP. I used to like non-fiction for all my life, but as I started my kdp journey; I have started developing taste for fiction too. And I regret not reading fiction earlier in my life. From Royalty Guild I wish to scale my KDP business this year. I mean 2026.

@Pamela Henkels kindly offered her book to be used as a case study. The book ranks well for the major search term on the first page. To boost sales, Pamela decided to redesign the cover. I decided to participate in the experiment and ordered my version of the cover. You can see the result. I'd like to ask you to provide feedback and, most importantly, estimate the cost of such a transformation. Based on your experience, how much would it cost to produce a cover like this? At the end of the week, I will reveal how much I paid, and we can compare your estimates with the actual price. 💲Also, since we are discussing costs, the Premium tier pricing update takes effect today. It will be a 64% discount till the end of the month. Next month, the price will increase by $1. Over time, it will reflect the increased value of the tools for Premium tier members. Once you subscribe, the price will remain the same for the duration of your subscription (until you cancel). And now, please, your feedback on the cover experiment.

@Paul Jenkins It reminded me of an important question that I had been thinking about for a while: the opportunity for publishers from Asia to participate in our meetings. Paul said that morning time in Europe would work for Asia. For example, 8:00 am in London. What do you think about it? Do you have any ideas or suggestions?

This is by no means an idle question for the year 2026. If you want the answer right away, there is a detailed plan published today in the Classroom. Briefly, we need to use the most underutilized method: our contacts. Sure thing, you must comply with Amazon rules. Amazon “Customer Reviews / Community Guidelines” page guided who may not review your book: “We don’t allow a review by someone who has a direct or indirect financial interest in the product. We don’t allow a review by someone perceived to have a close personal relationship with the product’s owner, author or artist.” Another passage from Amazon’s self-publishing guidance: “You may provide free or discounted copies of your books to readers, as long as you do not require a review in exchange or attempt to influence the review.” Here is the simple rule: anyone who benefits from your success should not review your book. Anyone who has no stake in your sales can review it. People you CAN ask for a review: • Readers you know casually who did not work on the book. • Members of your email list who subscribed willingly. • Colleagues who have no financial or personal stake in the book. • Followers from your social media audience. • Beta readers who did not get paid and did not contribute editorial work. People you should avoid from asking for a review: • Close family. Amazon often blocks these reviews automatically. • Close friends when Amazon can see a strong connection. • Anyone you paid. This includes editors, designers, ghostwriters, formatters, and marketers. • Business partners or employees.• Anyone you trade reviews with. Amazon treats that as manipulation. • People who received compensation of any kind beyond a free copy. A safe pattern is this. Give people an easy path to read your book. Ask for a review only if they want to leave one, and never guide what they say. Amazon looks for bias, and bias usually shows up in relationships or incentives.

Were you aware that you could face a fine of up to $51,744 for a paid review? - The Rule: The charge stems from the FTC's "Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials" (codified as 16 CFR Part 465). This rule, which was finalized in 2024, explicitly bans practices like writing, buying, selling, or disseminating fake reviews. - The Authority for Fines: This new rule gives the FTC the authority to seek civil penalties for violations. This authority is granted under Section 5 of the FTC Act. - The Fine Amount: The $51,744 is the maximum civil penalty the FTC can seek per violation. This specific amount is not permanent; it is adjusted annually for inflation, which is why it's such a precise number. The FTC may also take the position that each individual fake review constitutes a separate violation. The new FTC rule (16 CFR Part 465) prohibits fake reviews, which in turn allows the FTC to seek inflation-adjusted civil penalties under its existing authority from the FTC Act. The rule specifically prohibits several deceptive practices, including: - Buying or Selling Fake Reviews: This includes reviews from someone who does not exist (like an AI-generated review) or who has not actually used the product. - "Review Hijacking": Using or repurposing a review written for one product on a different product. - Insider Reviews: Company officers or managers writing reviews for their own products or services without clearly and conspicuously disclosing their relationship. - Review Suppression: Illegally suppressing negative reviews, such as by threatening the reviewer or misrepresenting that a site shows all reviews when it does not.