Chris A. Baird | March 20, 2018

Banned for taking shortcuts? Well, Amazon will suspend any account if there are poor quality books on the market. Check out below to get some tips in your self-publishing journey.

Table of Contents

They Took A Shortcut

I recently was informed by a friend of mine that their Amazon account was banned along with all of their books.

But before we get into that, check out my free Self-Publishing Secrets Checklist. It will help you get started on your self-publishing journey.

You might be wondering what they did? Well, the answer is very simple... they took a shortcut.

You see, they have piles of books and realized that they could sell those exact books in other markets if they were translated.

Check out this related article: Do I Need To Copyright My Self-Published Books?

Accounts Banned By Amazon

So, instead of hiring someone to do the translations and editing, they decided Google Translate was good enough!

Well, let's just say it wasn't.

Amazon, without any warning, immediately banned their account. Banned for taking shortcuts, for putting poor quality books on the market. Their suspension also included the books they had published in English.

Check out this related article: Why Did My KDP Account Close Without Any Notification?

You're Just Sharecropping

There are two huge lessons to take from this...

1. You are sharecropping when you are selling on someone else's platform. So, if you have apps on iTunes or books on Amazon, they have the right to kill your cash flow with the flick of a finger and there is very little you can do about it.

Check out this related article: 7 Tips From Successful Self-Published Authors

2. Be very careful with taking shortcuts. Sometimes, you don't get second chances to make up for previous mistakes and based upon how many products or services you have on the market, you may find yourself losing big fast! Don't go for the shorter route to prevent your account from getting banned for taking shortcuts.

~ Chris Baird

P.S. What shortcuts have taken in the past that you regret? Have you ever had an account banned for taking shortcuts or closed for any other reasons?

Self-Publishing For Business Owner – A Complete Overview

So you’re a business owner and you’re thinking maybe self-publishing might be right for you and your specific business. You’re probably right, that’s why you’re going to want to stick around for the answer in today’s topic. IntroductionWhat we’re going to talk about today is Self-Publishing for Business Owner – A Complete Overview. I’m going to

Best Email Marketing Service?

Have you found the best email marketing service provider? If not, then this article is for you. Knowing What To DoIf you’ve been around my blog for any amount of time, you know that one of the biggest challenges many authors face when getting started with their books is understanding the importance of having an email

IngramSpark Self Publishing Review & Guide in 2023

So, you’re ready to go beyond Amazon, and you’re looking for what other platforms might be the best choice for you. Well, it might be that IngramSpark is the next stop on your self-publishing journey. Introduction to IngramSparkIn today’s topic, we’re going to discuss the IngramSpark Self Publishing Review & Guide in 2023. So, let’s get

Self Publishing For Coaches

If you’re a coach, you’re probably looking for new ways of getting leads and new clients coming into your business. One of the best ways to do this is by having your book, and self-publishing may be the right route for you.IntroductionSo, in today’s topic, we are going to discuss self-publishing for coaches, a complete

How to Promote Your Self Published Book – Step by Step Guide

Have you been wondering how to promote your self published book effectively? Here’s a step by step guide that you can follow. IntroductionOne of the most common problems I hear from self-published authors is that their book is on the market, but it’s not selling. The main reason for this is a promotion problem that you

Can You Self Publish Under a Pen Name in 2023

Have you ever used a pen name for your books? Can you self-publish under a pen name in 2023? Learn about the answer to this very question today.IntroductionSo you’re getting ready to publish your book, and you’re trying to figure out what name you should use for the author’s name. But are you required to