How to Optimise Your Amazon KDP Book Listing

Craft a Compelling Title and Subtitle

Amazon’s search algorithm heavily relies on the title and subtitle to match to customer searches, making them primary drivers for discoverability. You should enter the book title exactly as it appears on the book’s cover to ensure accurate search results. You can only change your paperback book title before you publish your book. So make sure it is correct. You can change a Kindle books title after publication.

Historically book titles are just that, but in today's digital age some authors are adding keywords to their book titles. In non-fiction books it is very commmon. You should make your own decision about this, remembering that the exact same thing should be written on the cover of your book.

Understanding Book Categories on Amazon KDP:

Amazon’s book categories are complicated to say the least! They have to organise a vast catalog, to help readers find books that match their interests. Choosing the right categories is crucial for ranking in searches, reaching your audience, and influencing Amazon’s recommendations.

In June 2023, Amazon made significant changes to the KDP category selection process, impacting self-published authors.

Understanding Amazon KDP Category Changes:

Amazon’s 2023 update changed how you select categories for your book on Kindle Direct Publishing or KDP, making it simpler but more critical to choose wisely. Here’s what you need to know in plain language.

• The Old Way (Pre-2023): You picked categories from the BISAC system (a standard book categorisation system), and Amazon mapped them to its own categories. You could also ask KDP support to add up to ten categories or adjust them if needed..
• The New Way (Post-2023): You now choose three categories directly from Amazon’s list in the KDP dashboard when setting up your book. Amazon do also make decisions on what categories your book goes in, based on your book’s content and keywords.

• Your three category choices are crucial for getting your book found by readers. Picking the right ones helps your book appear in relevant searches and Amazon recommendations, boosting visibility and sales.

  Be strategic—choose specific, less competitive categories to rank higher with fewer sales. Check your older books, as their categories may be outdated since the June 2023, update.

5 Important things to know when choosing Amazon Book Categories.:

1. Three-Category Limit
   You can now select only three categories directly in the KDP dashboard.
2. No Additional Requests
   Amazon no longer allows authors to contact support for extra categories. Books published before June 2023 will have outdated categories and need updating to stay relevant.
3. Aligned with Amazon Store
   Categories now match Amazon’s store structure (over 11,000 options), replacing BISAC categories for more precise placement, helping your book appear in relevant searches.
4. Competitiveness Matters
   Categories vary in competitiveness. Niche categories require fewer sales to rank high compared to broad ones like “Fiction,” so choose wisely.
5. Select Niche Categories
   Choose one competitive category and two less competitive ones (e.g., needing ~20 sales to rank in the top 10) to maximise bestseller ranking potential.

Use High-Performing Keywords

Keywords (up to seven, 50 characters each) are also vital for Amazon’s search algorithm, determining where your book appears in search results and influencing its visibility on category pages and Amazon’s recommendation engine.

Selecting high-traffic, low-competition keywords ensures your book reaches the right audience, maximising discoverability. High-traffic, low-competition keywords help books rank higher in niche categories, requiring fewer sales to achieve visibility compared to broad terms like “fiction”.

For self-published authors, unoptimised or generic keywords can bury a book in Amazon’s vast catalogue. Strategic keyword selection, avoiding restricted terms per Amazon’s KDP guidelines, boosts click-through rates and long-term sales potential.

Your Book Description

Your book description is your primary sales pitch on Amazon, designed to convert browsers into buyers by capturing their interest and compelling them to purchase. A well-crafted description highlights the book’s unique appeal.

Keywords in the book description are not factored into Amazon's algorithm. This is likely because of past abuse by keyword stuffing.

A compelling description builds reader trust, making it essential for self-published authors to stand out and maximise sales potential.

Your Book Cover

Do you judge a book by its cover? On Amazon people certainly do!

A professional, genre-appropriate cover, serves as the first visual impression for potential readers, playing a critical role in driving click-through rates (CTR) on Amazon.

A cover that aligns with genre expectations—such as dark, eerie imagery for horror or evocative, period-specific visuals for historical fiction—immediately signals to readers that the book matches their interests, encouraging them to click and explore further.

High-ranking books on Amazon’s Best Sellers lists demonstrate that visually compelling, genre-specific covers, designed with bold typography, vibrant colours and relevant imagery, significantly boost engagement.

Conversely, a poorly designed cover, can deter readers, undermining even a well-written story and reducing sales potential.

A professional cover also enhances credibility, appealing to both readers and industry professionals, and supports Amazon’s algorithm by increasing clicks, which contribute to sales velocity and higher rankings.

If you can, invest in a Professional and Experienced Book Cover Designer, to design a genre-appropriate cover to boost click-through rates, first impressions count.

Pricing Strategy

A competitive pricing strategy, tailored to your genre and target audience, is crucial for driving sales.

Setting a price that aligns with reader expectations encourages purchases and boosts discoverability.

Regular price testing, (yes you can change the price at any time!) such as adjusting between price points to find the sweet spot, and leveraging promotions like Kindle Countdown Deals or free book campaigns, can create sales spikes that improve BSR Best Seller Ranking.

An uncompetitive price, either too high or too low, can deter readers or signal low quality, reducing click-through rates and sales potential.

For self-published authors, a well-researched pricing strategy, informed by genre norms and market trends, is essential to stand out in Amazon’s vast catalogue and sustain long-term sales growth.

A+ Content (Enhanced Brand Content)

A+ Content, also known as Enhanced Brand Content, allows authors to enrich their Amazon KDP book listing with images, charts, detailed descriptions and engaging storytelling elements.

You will find it in the Marketing Section of KDP Home, not inside your book listing.

Add A+ content will increase sales by a small percent, but every sale counts right

This feature transforms a standard listing into a more immersive experience, showcasing a book’s unique appeal—such as evocative imagery of an ancient Roman Yorkshire setting for historical fiction novel on that subject.You can also add reviews of your books from outside of Amazon, Goodreads reviews for example.

Add testimonials for you as an author, as well as other books in the series or other books you have published

By highlighting key themes, characters, or reader praise, A+ Content builds trust and captivates browsers, encouraging them to purchase. It also enhances credibility, making the book appear more professional and appealing to both readers and industry professionals.

A+ Content isn't directly factored into the Amazon search algorithm's ranking calculations, so keywords are not a factor. But can improve search visibility indirectly by enhancing user experience and engagement.

For self-published authors, adding A+ Content is essential to differentiate their book in Amazon’s competitive catalogue and maximise reader interest.

Improve Your KDP Book Listing Today with Expert Help

If you’ve already published on KDP, now is the time to revisit your book listing. Amazon’s June 2023 category changes mean many self-published authors have outdated or unoptimised listings that hinder sales.

Optimising a KDP listing isn’t easy—it requires deep research, keyword expertise and strategic category selection to navigate Amazon’s 11,000+ categories. Mistakes, like choosing overly competitive categories or neglecting metadata, can bury your book.

At DreamEngine, we specialise in tailored KDP optimisation plans for self-published authors. Our team will select high-traffic, low-competition keywords and categories, optimise your metadata, and ensure your listing shines.

Whether you’re refining an existing listing or launching a new book, we’ll give you an edge.

Take Control of Your KDP Success with DreamEngine

Don’t let an unoptimised KDP listing hold back your book’s potential. A strategically optimised listing can significantly improve your visibility and sales on Amazon.

DreamEngine’s expert KDP optimisation plans, tailored for self-published authors, suggest data driven category and keyword selection, recommendations for A+ content and more, for higher search rankings.

Click below to transform your listing today!

DreamEngine Authors

At DreamEngine, we’ve worked with authors like David Baboulene, Paul Carroll, Tina Zee and many others to optimise their Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing KDP book listing.

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