Publishing an eBook has never been more accessible. You don’t need a traditional publisher, massive budget, or technical expertise to get your eBook into readers’ hands. Here’s everything you need to know about eBook publishing in 2026.

Choosing the Right Publishing Platform

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) dominates the market, offering up to 70% royalty rates and access to millions of readers. For maximum reach, consider publishing on multiple platforms like Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo. Aggregator services like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive let you distribute across multiple platforms from a single dashboard, saving time and effort.

Preparing Your Manuscript

Before uploading, ensure your manuscript is publication-ready with professional editing, proper formatting with consistent fonts and spacing, a clickable table of contents, and optimized images. Most platforms accept Microsoft Word documents, but uploading an ePub file gives you more formatting control.

Don’t overlook metadata—choose categories carefully, select relevant keywords, write compelling book descriptions, and set competitive pricing based on market research.

The Cover Design Factor

Your eBook cover is your primary marketing tool. In digital marketplaces, covers appear as thumbnails, so simplicity and bold visuals win. Professional design is essential. Test your cover by shrinking it to thumbnail size—can you still read the title? Does it stand out among competitors?

Pricing Strategy

Books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 on Amazon qualify for 70% royalties. Research similar books in your category and price competitively. Consider launching at a promotional price to gain initial reviews and visibility, then adjust upward once established.

Launch and Marketing

Build anticipation before launch through social media and email notifications. The first week is critical—Amazon’s algorithm rewards early sales momentum. Encourage reviews by including a polite request at the end of your eBook.

Professional services like Hillshire Media can manage the entire publishing process, from manuscript preparation through launch marketing, ensuring your eBook meets industry standards.

Leverage Amazon’s promotional tools, create content marketing through blogs or videos, and build an email list. Focus on platforms where your target readers spend time, sharing valuable content rather than constant sales pitches.

Measuring Success

Use platform analytics to track sales and refine your marketing strategy. Don’t be discouraged by slow initial sales—eBook publishing is a marathon. Many successful authors built readership gradually through multiple quality releases and consistent effort.

Conclusion

eBook publishing democratizes authorship, allowing anyone to reach global audiences. While the technical process is straightforward, success requires quality content, strategic marketing, and patience. The barriers to publishing have disappeared—now it’s about taking action and sharing your message with the world.