Selecting Categories for Amazon's KDP: Two Methods to Consider

Selecting Categories for Amazon's KDP: Two Methods to Consider

MaximizingVisibility and Sales for Self-Published Authors on Amazon Requires Careful Amazon Book Category Selection

In response to recent changes, Amazon now restricts books to appear in only three categories, as opposed to the previous ten. To optimize discoverability without investing time in exhaustive research or erroneous approaches, authors can utilize the Publishing Assistant on our website.

Key Takeaways

• Selecting Amazon book categories can be challenging, with issues like duplicates, dead ends, and Amazon's own verification process.
• Thanks to its AI capabilities, the Publishing Assistant streamlines Amazon book categorization, making it easier for authors to find the ideal categories for their book.
• Although Amazon limits your control over KDP categories, it offers subcategories and placements to improve searchability. Categories can be influenced by the age range specified by the author.

Mastering Amazon Book Categories with Our Website's Book Metadata Generator

Traditionally, authors have struggled to crack the Amazon book search model, aiming to make it onto the bestseller lists. The brand-new Book Metadata Generator, part of the Publishing Assistant, offers authors an intelligent tool to conquer Amazon KDP categories.

Authours can use the Book Metadata Generator, whether or not they opt to distribute via our website. It has its distinct pricing structure and payment system, separate from other services on our website and not included in the existing pricing. Users initially receive 60 free credits, allowing them to create metadata for one book effortlessly.

Why You Should Try It

Writing compelling book metadata can be just as daunting as composing the book itself, thanks to the crucial role it plays in a book's visibility. Emotionally attaching oneself to the work often makes prioritizing commercially appealing options over personal preferences challenging.

Identifying the optimal categories and keywords can be a time-consuming detective-like endeavor, often characterized by countless hours spent researching ever-evolving trends and classifications, as well as book searches by title for inspiration. To relieve authors of this technical burden, the AI-powered Book Metadata Generator serves as a dependable ally, enabling authors to concentrate on their writing abilities.

How to Use it

Register for or sign in to our website to access the Publishing Assistant. You can find it either in the Distribution dashboard or by clicking "Apps."

1. Upload your manuscript in EPUB, DOCX, or PDF format.
2. Fill out your book's information when ready, then hit start to see the new task added to the left-hand panel. The AI takes approximately five minutes to evaluate your book.
3. Get recommendations for the title, blurb, Amazon book categories, BISAC categories, keywords, and more.

🔥 Before choosing suggested titles or series, be aware that they are always based on the identified keywords in your book and adhere to industry standards.

The Amazon category tree encompasses more than 8000 elements that are changing continuously. The Publishing Assistant peruses all listed categories to provide the best matches for uploaded content.

💡 Keep in mind that on the KDP upload page, you can upload a maximum of three Amazon book categories.

1. Refine the suggestions and export the metadata as a PDF or proceed with publishing.

🔥 It's important to note that:

1. You can return later to reconsider suggestions, even after the book is published, and adjust them accordingly.
2. After some time, the Publishing Assistant will cease providing new alternatives since it only suggests options relevant to your book.

Choosing Amazon Categories

Previously, authors could choose BISAC categories, which Amazon then converted into Amazon book categories. As a result of the May 2023 changes, authors now need to conduct thorough research to master KDP categories, as they no longer have access to this direct method.

1. To access Amazon's browseable category system, go to the Details tab in your KDP dashboard.
2. Begin with broad categories, such as "Books," and move to more specific subcategories like "Mystery" or "Science Fiction."
3. Strike a balance between visibility and competition. Wider categories like "Fiction" boast more traffic but face harsher competition, whereas narrower niches might encounter less competition but may reach fewer readers.

🔥 Tips:

1. Prioritize Accuracy: Select categories that accurately reflect your book's genre and content.
2. Conduct Research: Investigate the categories under which similar books are listed to understand what works for your type of story.
3. Identify the Competition: After choosing your KDP categories, delve deeper! Examine the bestselling ebooks in each category. This will give you an idea of the competition you're facing and the kind of content that appeals to readers in that category. By understanding the competition based on each book's ABSR number, you can tailor your marketing strategy to ensure your book stands out. Your book needs to rank higher than the first book on the category's bestselling list.

Amazon Categories: Key Considerations

According to Dave Chesson's video, there are three factors that authors should consider:

1. Category Duplicates

Although 54% of Amazon categories are duplicates, you can still choose them. Unfortunately, Amazon will not allow you to choose the same subcategory twice using different methods.

2. Dead-End Categories

These categories do not lead to Bestseller Lists. In total, 27% of the categories in the listings lead to dead ends.

3. Amazon Category Verification

Although authors choose their categories, Amazon reserves the right to place their books in categories they deem more suitable for the book. To make this decision, Amazon utilizes the keywords found in the book to determine the most suitable category.

More About Amazon Book Search

Although limited to three categories, Amazon offers other options for categorizing and classifying books: subcategories and placements. To identify the categories under which your book appears, check the product page on Amazon.

Amazon emphasized that there is no need to contact customer support regarding the categorization, as it relies on customer activity. Age-range specifications have recently become another factor affecting the way Amazon KDP categorizes books. While specifying an age range is optional, it can impact the category in which your book appears.

Authors with books exclusive to Amazon will likely be affected more by these changes than those with books on multiple platforms. Wide distribution can provide a buffer against the alterations. The Publishing Assistant will certainly be a useful tool in navigating this evolving landscape.

In the quest for optimal visibility and sales, authors can leverage the Publishing Assistant's AI capabilities to streamline Amazon book categorization, making it easier to find suitable categories for their book. Furthermore, authors can use the Book Metadata Generator, an intelligent tool within the Publishing Assistant, to conquer Amazon KDP categories, freeing up time for focus on writing and self-development in the realm of education-and-self-development.

By employing the Book Metadata Generator, authors can effortlessly create metadata that helps their book stand out on Amazon, key to maximizing discoverability. This tool is useful for authors who distribute their books via any platform, not only on the website that offers the Publishing Assistant. The generator handles the labor-intensive process of identifying the optimal categories and keywords, allowing authors to focus on their lifestyle, technology, and personal growth, away from the task of endless research and adaptation to ever-changing trends.

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