How to Choose the Right Categories and Keywords on Amazon
Choosing the right keywords can mean the difference when finding your target reader
You’ve written the book. You’ve edited, formatted, and designed a beautiful cover. Now it’s time to hit publish — but there’s one section in the KDP setup that throws authors into analysis paralysis every time:
Categories and keywords.
These aren’t just random tags — they’re search tools.
They determine:
Where your book appears on Amazon
Who sees it
How likely is it to hit a bestseller list
The good news? You don’t need to be an SEO wizard or hire a data analyst. You just need to be intentional.
Here’s how to choose the right categories and keywords for your book — and why they matter more than you might think.
What Are Amazon Categories?
Categories on Amazon are like digital bookshelves. They help Amazon organize titles into genres and subgenres, like:
Teen & Young Adult > Horror
Romance > Contemporary > Small Town
Mystery > Cozy > Culinary
When you publish through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon lets you choose 2 categories up front. But here’s the secret:
You can actually be listed in up to 10.
You just have to request the additional ones through Amazon support after your book is live. (More on that in a bit.)
How to Choose the Right Categories
Step 1: Research Books Like Yours
Search Amazon for books in your genre or subgenre. Look at:
The category path under their “Product Details” section
Their Amazon Best Sellers Rank (ABSR)
Ask:
What are their categories?
Could your book realistically rank here?
Are these categories active but not ultra-competitive?
Tip: If a category has fewer than 10,000 books and the top-ranking books have ABSRs above 5,000, that’s a good target for visibility.
Step 2: Look for Niche, Relevant Categories
Broad categories (e.g., “Romance”) are oversaturated. Go more specific.
Instead of just “Science Fiction,” go for “Science Fiction > Genetic Engineering.”
Instead of “Mystery,” try “Mystery > Amateur Sleuth > Female Protagonist”
The more niche and accurate your category, the better your chances of discovery and charting.
How to Add More Than 2 Categories
Once your book is live:
Go to your KDP Dashboard.
Click “Help” > “Contact Us.”
Choose: Amazon Product Page → Update Amazon Categories
Copy/paste your ASIN and request to be added to up to 10 relevant categories.
Include the full category paths like this:
“Please add my book to the following categories:
Kindle Store > eBooks > Romance > Multicultural & Interracial
Kindle Store > eBooks > African American > Women’s Fiction”
Amazon usually updates your listing within 24–72 hours.
What Are Amazon Keywords?
Keywords help your book show up in search results. When a reader types something like “spicy small-town romance” or “YA horror in a theme park,” Amazon uses keywords to decide which books appear.
You’re allowed 7 keyword slots, and each can be up to 50 characters long. You can include multiple phrases in a single slot, separated by commas.
How to Choose Effective Keywords
Step 1: Think Like a Reader
What would your ideal reader type into Amazon to find a book like yours?
Try to include:
Tropes (enemies to lovers, secret baby, found family)
Setting (small town, haunted mansion, dystopian city)
Character types (grumpy boss, single dad, teen outcast)
Subgenre or tone (dark romance, fast-paced thriller)
Step 2: Use Amazon’s Autocomplete
Go to Amazon’s search bar and start typing words related to your book. Let the autocomplete feature show you real search phrases readers use.
Example:
Type “YA horror” → you get “YA horror books,” “YA horror zombie,” “YA horror theme park,” etc.
These are gold. Use those exact phrases in your keyword slots.
Step 3: Avoid Wasted Words
You don’t need to include:
Your book title or author name
Keywords already covered by your categories
Words like “book,” “novel,” or “Kindle”
Maximize space with high-value phrases instead.
Bonus: Long-Tail Keywords Are Better Than Single Words
Instead of using one-word keywords like thriller or romance, go for long-tail keywords:
“slow burn enemies to lovers”
“female detective cozy mystery”
“gritty urban fantasy with vampires”
Longer phrases = more targeted audience + less competition.
Categories & Keywords Can Be Updated
Here’s something many new authors don’t realize:
You can change your keywords and categories anytime
If your book isn’t getting visibility, try tweaking them. It’s part of the long game of discoverability. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Final Tips
Use ALL 7 keyword slots
Track your ABSR after changes to measure impact
Revisit categories if you rebrand, update your blurb, or launch a sequel
Keywords = search visibility | Categories = chart placement
Choosing the right categories and keywords isn’t just about algorithms — it’s about readers finding your book.
Take the time to research, experiment, and refine. Visibility on Amazon is a long game, and categories + keywords are two of your most powerful tools.
You already did the hard work of writing the book — now make sure readers can find it.