In self-publishing, “going wide” means making your book available on multiple retail platforms instead of selling exclusively through Amazon. It is one of the most important strategic decisions an author makes, and the right approach depends on your genre, audience, and long-term publishing goals.

The alternative to going wide is Amazon exclusivity through KDP Select. When you enroll a Kindle ebook in KDP Select, you agree to a 90-day exclusivity period where your ebook can only be sold on Amazon. In return, you gain access to Kindle Unlimited, the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and promotional tools like Kindle Countdown Deals and free book promotions.

KDP Select pays authors based on pages read through a shared fund. The payout rate fluctuates monthly but has recently been around $0.004 to $0.005 per page. In high-readthrough genres like romance, fantasy, and thrillers, Kindle Unlimited income can be significant and sometimes exceed direct ebook sales.

Going wide means distributing your ebook beyond Amazon to platforms like Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Google Play, Scribd, and library systems such as OverDrive and Libby. While you can upload directly to each platform, many authors use an aggregator like Draft2Digital, which distributes to multiple retailers from a single dashboard and takes a percentage of sales instead of charging upfront fees.

The main advantages of going wide include:

• Diversified income across multiple retailers
• Access to readers who do not use Amazon
• Availability in libraries and international markets
• Stronger long-term catalog value across platforms

The main disadvantages of going wide include:

• Smaller individual market share per platform
• Less built-in discoverability compared to Amazon
• No access to Kindle Unlimited or KDP Select promotions

A common strategy is to start exclusive with KDP Select to build reviews and early traction, then expand to wide distribution later. Some authors also keep the first book in a series exclusive while distributing the rest widely.

It is important to note that KDP Select exclusivity applies only to ebooks. You can distribute your print book through KDP, IngramSpark, and other platforms at the same time without restriction.

The decision is not permanent. KDP Select automatically renews every 90 days, but you can opt out at the end of any cycle. If you choose to go wide later, you can transition — although it may take time to build visibility and sales momentum on new platforms.

Sources:

• Amazon KDP Select Terms and Conditions
• Draft2Digital Help Center
• Written Word Media: “Wide vs. Exclusive Publishing Data”