In this insightful prediction discussion, Sean Dollwet shares his thoughts on the evolving landscape of Amazon KDP publishing for 2026. Having published on KDP for over nine years and earned over $2.2 million in royalties, he identifies key trends and strategies for success in the upcoming years.
One of the most significant changes is the advent of AI, which has rapidly transformed the publishing process, making it cheaper and faster than ever before. AI tools allow authors to generate books much more quickly, shortening the timeline from idea to publication dramatically. This means aspiring publishers can test multiple ideas in a fraction of the time it took before.
Additionally, the Amazon algorithm is adapting to prioritize quality. High-quality books are now much more favored by the platform than they were previously. This shift means that while creating a large volume of lower-quality books might have worked in the past, it may no longer be a viable strategy. Sean emphasizes that one well-crafted book can outperform numerous mediocre ones, and he intends to focus his efforts on producing fewer, high-quality titles that genuinely add value to readers.
In his predictions, he asserts that audiobooks will continue to grow, especially as platforms like Spotify enhance the market for them. While producing audiobooks has been limited to certain countries through ACX, international opportunities are expanding, leading to a more accessible marketplace.
Sean also highlights the importance of quality over quantity in book publishing. He encourages focusing on evergreen topics that maintain long-term sales rather than jumping from trend to trend. Moreover, utilizing AI as a tool rather than a crutch is crucial for developing richer content that meets reader needs.
For those interested in improving their publishing strategies, Sean offers a KDP mentorship program where experts provide personalized feedback. You can apply for the mentorship program here:
http://pages.royaltyhero.com/yt-apply?utm_content=ra2jUn_Z3oU
To learn more about writing and publishing, check out his 7-day program:
https://seandollwet.com/7dbc
He also provides resources for aspiring authors, such as AI book writing software:
https://pages.royaltyhero.com/coauthor-sean?v=ra2jUn_Z3oU
Explore Fiverr for designing best-selling book covers:
https://seandollwet.com/fiverr-book-covers
For swift book reviews, consider:
https://seandollwet.com/bookbounty
And for everything else in the KDP world, tools like KDSpy for keyword research and Bookbeam with a discount code can help streamline your process:
https://seandollwet.com/kdspy
https://seandollwet.com/bookbeam
To sum up, as KDP continues to evolve, the potential for profit in 2026 is monumental for those willing to invest time and effort into crafting quality content.
By Sean Dollwet