What are Amazon Keywords and Categories?

To make your book easier to find on Amazon, you need keywords and categories that accurately portray your book's content and reflect what readers will search to find it. Along with factors like sales history and Amazon Best Sellers Rank, relevant keywords and categories can boost your placement in search results on the Amazon Store.

Think of keywords as the words and phrases readers type when searching for books like yours.

Categories, on the other hand, are like the aisles in a bookstore – they help readers browse specific genres or topics they’re interested in.

Your book gets 7 keyword slots for each format (ebook, paperback/hardcover), and each keyword slot can hold phrases up to 50 characters (individual letters) long.

We’ll research and select your keywords based on the following metrics:

• Monthly search volume (we recommend keywords that have at least 1,000 searches per month)
• Competition level (we recommend keywords with a competition level of 65 or lower)
• Monthly average profit (ideally $1,000+ per month)
• Market relevance

For categories, your book gets 3 per format. We’ll place your book in the most strategic locations where your target readers are most likely to find it. This involves analyzing:

• Category competitiveness
• Sales requirements for ranking
• Relevance to your book’s content
• Reader browsing patterns

Our Research Process

Using professional tools and industry expertise, we’ll research 7 keywords that:

1. Have at least 1,000 searches per month
2. Have a competition level of 65 or lower
3. Have profit potential of at least $1,000 per month
4. Are relevant to your target audience

Once complete, you’ll find an excel sheet in your Author Folder with three tabs:

• Ebook Keywords Tab: Lists your 7 selected keywords for the ebook
• Book Keywords Tab: Lists your 7 selected keywords for the paperback/hardcover
• Categories Tab: Shows your 3 chosen categories

If you’re curious about why we selected certain keywords over others, it’s likely due to the fact that other keywords do not meet the above criteria! 

What to Avoid

Amazon has strict guidelines about keyword usage. Never use:

• Other authors’ names or book titles
• Terms like “bestselling” or “free”
• Time-sensitive statements
• Subjective quality claims
• Information already in your metadata
• Irrelevant terms

For more information on what not to use, visit Amazon's guidelines here.