Keyword research for selling a book on Amazon

The success of a book on Amazon depends on far more than its content, its cover or its price. One of the most critical factors is the right choice of keywords. They are what makes a book visible in the catalogue, lifts it into the top search results and, in the end, sells it. Below we look at how to carry out keyword research for selling a book on Amazon KDP, how to build a semantic core, how to assess the competition and how to avoid the usual mistakes.

What keywords are on Amazon KDP

First of all, it is worth understanding that keywords are the terms or phrases buyers type into the Amazon search box. If you enter these words correctly when you publish your book, it is far more likely to be shown to the people who are looking for exactly your content.

Amazon allows you to add up to 7 keywords or phrases for each book. It is worth stressing that these fields are not visible to readers, yet they directly affect search visibility and the categories in which your book will appear. Simply filling in the fields is not enough, however. You need to choose the words your target audience really searches for, words that are not too competitive but are still in demand.

At first glance the choice of keywords may look like a detail. In reality it is one of the most powerful tools for selling a book on Amazon. Without the right keywords, even a brilliant book can go unnoticed.

How to find effective keywords

To pick keywords that are genuinely relevant and profitable it is better not to work at random but to follow a systematic method. Below is a step by step guide to researching keywords for your book on Amazon.

The semantic core: what it is and what it is for

A semantic core is an ordered list of keywords that reflect the content, the subject and the goals of the book. It helps you work with Amazon SEO systematically: putting the necessary words into the title, the description, the structure of the sections, the text of the book and even the chapter titles.

When you build the core, always take into account:

• the main and the secondary subjects of the book;
• the target audience (age, gender, needs);
• the level of competition, that is how crowded the niche is;
• the seasonality and topicality of the queries.

Typical mistakes when choosing keywords

When working with keywords it matters not only to find the right options but also to avoid the most common mistakes:

• generic words such as book, story or novel, which bring no targeted traffic;
• untruths or manipulation, for example naming Harry Potter in a book that has nothing to do with the series;
• repeating the same words in the title, the description and the keywords, because Amazon does not count duplicates;
• keywords with no connection to the subject, which lowers relevance.

Recommendations for using keywords effectively

To make sure your effort pays off, follow these tips:

• choose long-tail keywords – not psychology, for instance, but a book on child psychology for parents;
• do not be afraid of niche keywords: a narrow subject means less competition and better chances of reaching the top;
• test: change the keywords from time to time to see how well they perform;
• keep the core in step with the other fields: include the keywords in the book description, in the title and even in the image file names;
• add relevant queries to the section titles – this helps the Amazon algorithms index the content of your book through the Look Inside feature.

Would you like us to select the keywords for your book and optimise its description? Write to us – this can be done as a separate service or as part of a full preparation for publication.