Keyword Research for Amazon KDP: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Keyword research is a crucial step in creating a successful Amazon KDP book. You need to find the right keywords to help readers discover your book.

Start by brainstorming keywords related to your book's genre, title, and main theme. For example, if your book is a romance novel set in Paris, your keywords might include "Paris romance", "French love story", or "romance novels in Paris."

You can also use tools like Amazon's Kindle Spy or KDP Rocket to help you find relevant keywords. These tools can provide you with a list of popular keywords and phrases that are already being used by other authors in your genre.

Keep your keyword list focused and concise, aiming for 5-10 keywords per book. This will help you avoid overwhelming your target audience and make it easier for them to find your book.

What is Kindle?

Kindle is Amazon's e-reader platform that allows users to read digital books, newspapers, and magazines on a variety of devices.

It was first launched in 2007, revolutionizing the way people consume books.

What Are Kindle?

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Kindle keywords are exactly what they sound like - words that unlock greater visibility for your books. They're the words that potential readers type in Amazon's search when looking for a book.

Every single word counts when you're working with limited real estate, like in your title and book description. If you wrote a book all about how to garden on a budget, your title and book description probably won't mention other irrelevant words.

The better and more relevant the keywords, the higher the chance your book will appear in front of the right reader. Ideally, when choosing book keywords, you'd want them to be specific and use keyword phrases that people might actually search for.

Readers search for what they want to buy, and the top 3-4 results have the strongest chance of selling. The more relevant the keywords, the higher up your book will appear in the search results.

Fundamentals of Kindle

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Kindle keyword research is crucial for success on Amazon. It helps you choose the right keywords for your book, which is essential for visibility and sales.

You need to choose keywords that are not too competitive, but still relevant to your book. This can be a daunting task, especially with thousands of other books on the market.

There's a Keyword Bootcamp 101 that can guide you through the process. It's a step-by-step guide to help you choose the right keywords for your book.

To succeed on Amazon, you need to understand the fundamentals of Kindle keyword research. It's not just about throwing a bunch of keywords together, but rather about finding the right ones that will help your book stand out.

The right keywords can make a huge difference in your book's visibility and sales. By choosing the right keywords, you can increase your chances of success on Amazon.

Intriguing read: Kindle Keyword Research

Keyword Research Fundamentals

Keyword research is a crucial step in getting your book discovered on Amazon KDP. Good keyword research can help you pick a better title, description, and category for Amazon.

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To start, you need to collect keyword data and do some analysis, as thinking off the top of your head isn't going to cut it. You can use the filters in Publisher Rocket to see what the top 5 books in your categories are doing for keywords, then see if you can use a medium or long tail version of that keyword.

Here's a list of general and specific search terms to get you started:

  • Easy gardening
  • Gardening on a budget
  • Vegetable gardening
  • Growing vegetables in your backyard
  • Millennial guide to gardening

Remember, the more effectively you use your keywords, the more likely your book shows up in the search results, which can lead to more eyeballs on your book, more potential readers, and ultimately, more sales.

Finding the Right Book

Finding the right book is not just about finding the right title, but also the right keywords. Think of selling books like taking your readers on a safari, and you want the book description to outline everything they can expect from the journey.

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You want to leave room for their imagination, but also give them a clear idea of what to expect. This is especially important for self-published authors who don't have the luxury of a big marketing budget.

The key is to find the right keywords that will help your book show up in search results. This can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can find the perfect keywords for your book.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Types of Phrases

Keyword phrases play a crucial role in determining the visibility of your book in search results. Amazon's algorithm prioritizes relevance and customer behavior, so your book's title, subtitle, and metadata need to contain specific keywords that accurately reflect the content.

To increase your book's visibility, you need to understand the types of keyword phrases that exist. Broad keywords are highly competitive and help place your book in general search categories.

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Specific keywords, also known as long-tail keywords, are less competitive and more targeted. This means they can increase your book's visibility to a niche audience.

Here are the two main types of keyword phrases:

Brainstorming and Initial

Brainstorming and Initial Keyword Generation is a crucial step in keyword research.

To start, jot down a list of 10-20 short phrases you think people search for related to your broad topic. You'll want a mix of general and specific search terms.

A solid brainstorm list might include some of these words: Easy gardening, Gardening on a budget, Vegetable gardening, Growing vegetables in your backyard, Millennial guide to gardening.

At this stage, there are no right or wrong answers because you're just trying to get your ideas down on paper.

Understanding Negative Keywords

Negative keywords are a powerful tool to improve the effectiveness of your ad campaigns by preventing your ads from being displayed to audiences that are unlikely to be interested in your book.

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You can set up negative keywords on your Amazon Ads, but not on your book listing in KDP. This is because you want to avoid wasting money advertising to the wrong keywords.

For example, if you're writing a book about paleo diets, you'd want to exclude keywords like "vegan" because paleo includes meat, eggs, etc. and someone looking for a vegan diet isn't going to want your book.

Excluding irrelevant keywords helps you reach your target audience more effectively and saves you money in the process.

Types of Phrases

To rank well on Amazon, you need to understand the different types of keyword phrases that can help or hinder your book's visibility.

Amazon's algorithm prioritizes relevance and customer behavior, so your book's title, subtitle, and metadata need to contain specific keywords that accurately reflect the content.

Broad Keywords are highly competitive and help place your book in general search categories. They're like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but they can still be useful for getting your book seen by a large audience.

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Specific Keywords, also known as long-tail keywords, are less competitive and more targeted. They can increase your book's visibility to a niche audience, making it more likely that readers will find what they're looking for.

Here are some examples of Broad Keywords and Specific Keywords:

By understanding the difference between Broad Keywords and Specific Keywords, you can create a keyword strategy that helps your book reach the right audience and increase its chances of success.

Research Tools

Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner are two powerful tools that can help you expand your list of keywords and find more information, such as search volume.

Google Keyword Planner can give you an idea of the average monthly searches for your keywords and even help you determine seasonality, which can be a game-changer for sales.

Ahrefs is also a great tool because it allows you to limit your search to only Amazon, giving you search volume data specific to the Amazon platform.

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You can use Reverse ASIN lookup tools to get keywords from your competitors, which is infinitely useful. Cerebro by Helium10 is a top tool for this, showing a vast amount of data.

To use a reverse ASIN lookup, enter your seed keywords into Amazon, make a list of the top competitors' ASINs, and then enter 8-10 of these ASINs into Cerebro. Set filters to refine your search and export the data into an Excel sheet.

Here are some key tools and resources for keyword research:

  • Cerebro by Helium10: A reverse ASIN lookup tool that shows a vast amount of data.
  • JungleScout's Keyword Scout: Another good tool for reverse ASIN lookup.
  • Magnet by Helium10: A tool that extrapolates more keywords from your seed keywords.

Google Your (Free)

Google is a powerful tool for finding relevant keywords, and it's free. You can use Google to build up your brainstorming list by searching for your KDP keywords.

Google's "People also ask" and "Related searches" sections can provide insight into broader search patterns that can be applied to your Kindle keyword strategy. These sections can give you suggestions for real keyword terms that people have already used to search.

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Using Google to search for your KDP keywords can be a simple process that takes only seconds. For example, searching for the keyword "vampire" can give you a list of suggestions, including "vampire legends", which can lead to more keyword ideas.

You can repeat the process by clicking on these suggestions to find even more keyword ideas. This can give you a guide to how people search for a topic and what words they use.

Reverse Asin Lookup

Reverse ASIN lookup is a game-changer for finding keywords on Amazon.

Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a ten-digit alphanumeric code that identifies products on Amazon.

You can use reverse ASIN lookup tools to get keywords from your competitors, which is infinitely useful.

To use a reverse ASIN lookup, start by entering some seed keywords into Amazon that are related to your book.

Make a list of the top competitors' ASINs that show up, which you can do faster using web scraping tools.

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Enter 8-10 of these competitor ASINs into Cerebro, a tool by Helium10, and set some filters to refine your search.

For example, you can set a minimum search volume of 100 and a maximum word count of 6.

Export all the data into an Excel and sort by Search Volume.

Refine the raw keywords by relevancy to shorten the list.

Helium10 offers the most robust keyword research tools for Amazon, including Cerebro and Magnet.

Cerebro is a reverse ASIN lookup tool that shows a vast amount of data, while Magnet extrapolates more keywords from your seed keywords.

For instance, entering "true crime serial killer" as a seed keyword into Magnet got over 2000 results.

If you're on the Helium10 free trial, you can only use Cerebro twice a day, so consider signing up for the Platinum Plan, which costs $99/month and offers unlimited uses of Cerebro and Magnet.

Here's a quick rundown of the tools mentioned:

  • Cerebro: A reverse ASIN lookup tool by Helium10 that shows a vast amount of data.
  • Magnet: A tool by Helium10 that extrapolates more keywords from your seed keywords.
  • JungleScout's Keyword Scout: Another good tool for reverse ASIN lookup.

Built-in Resources

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Built-in Resources can be a game-changer for authors looking to boost their book's visibility. The free version of a popular keyword research tool can still help you craft a list of top keywords in your book niche, saving you hours of brainstorming time.

You can also tap into Amazon Kindle's built-in resources for keyword suggestions, which offer a curated set of keywords tailored to the nuances of the Kindle Store. This can give you a direct line into the market's pulse and help you infuse your listings with terms proven to attract and engage your target audience.

By leveraging these built-in resources, you can gain a deeper understanding of your target audience's browsing and purchasing patterns, allowing you to make more informed decisions about your book's online presence.

Analyzing Data

Analyzing data is a crucial step in keyword research for Amazon KDP. You'll need a tool like KDSpy to see the exact numbers for the top keywords that your competitors are using.

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To start gathering data, plug in each phrase from your list to see what kinds of books pop up. Pay attention to titles and subtitles that appear frequently and the keywords they incorporate. You can also take notes on their customer reviews and what readers liked (or didn't like) about these books.

The trick is to aim for keywords with high search volume but lower competition to have a better chance of standing out in the Amazon search results. This can be achieved by using tools like SearchAtlas to assess the Competitive Landscape for Specific Keywords.

Here's a rough breakdown of how to evaluate keyword difficulty and demand:

Regularly reviewing your sales and royalty reports on KDP can also indicate effective keyword usage. An increase in sales or KENPC reads (Kindle Edition Normalized Page Count) can suggest that your keywords are working well.

Check Best Seller Rank

As you dive into analyzing data, it's essential to check your Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR) regularly. A significant change in BSR can be linked to how well your keywords are resonating with potential readers.

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Keeping an eye on your book's BSR in each of its categories can help you gauge the effectiveness of your keywords. If your BSR improves following a keyword update, it could suggest that the new keywords are more effective.

Here's a breakdown of how to interpret changes in your BSR:

By monitoring your BSR and adjusting your keyword strategy accordingly, you can increase the visibility of your book and attract more readers.

Using Incognito Mode

Using Incognito Mode can be a useful tool for analyzing data, especially when doing new keyword research. Starting a new incognito tab or private browsing tab can make a difference, even if it's not a huge one.

Some experts recommend using incognito mode to get a fresh start on keyword research. It doesn't hurt to try it out and see if it makes a difference in your results.

Here are some benefits of using incognito mode:

  • It can help you get unbiased results, free from any influence of your previous browsing history.
  • It can also prevent any websites from tracking your behavior and adjusting their results accordingly.

So, give incognito mode a try and see if it makes a difference in your keyword research. You might be surprised at the results you get!

Review Sales and Royalty Reports

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Reviewing sales and royalty reports is a crucial step in analyzing data, and it's surprisingly easy to do. You can find these reports on KDP, and they'll give you a clear picture of your book's performance.

Regularly reviewing these reports can help you identify effective keyword usage, even if they don't track keywords directly. An increase in sales or KENPC reads can indicate that your keywords are working well.

Monitoring these reports, especially after updating keywords in your book's metadata, is key to gauging any changes in performance. This will help you see if your new keywords are making a difference.

Here's a simple way to track your progress: Look for increases in sales or KENPC reads.Monitor these reports regularly, especially after updating your book's metadata.

How to Refine and Update

Refining and updating your keywords is crucial for maintaining a strong online presence. Regularly reassess your keyword strategy if you're not seeing improved results in sales, reviews, or search ranking.

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To refine your keyword list, you need to understand how keyword relevancy works. For example, if you've written a non-fiction book about serial killers, a keyword like "true crime serial killer" would have a relevancy of 100% because it's highly specific to your book.

Use the keyword relevancy table as a guide to determine the relevance of each keyword. For instance, "crime" would have a relevancy of 50% because it's a very general genre term that can cover many types of crime-related books.

To update your keywords, you can use tools like Amazon's search bar to gather real-time insights. By frequently testing keyword combinations in the search bar, you can observe direct feedback from the marketplace and adjust your keyword strategy accordingly.

Here's a rough guide to review intervals and their benefits:

Remember to update your keywords regularly to keep up with your competition and stay aligned with the latest search trends. This will help you maximize your book's online exposure and reader engagement.

Real-Time Insights with Bar

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Amazon's search bar isn't just a tool for discovery, but also for gathering invaluable, real-time insights. By frequently testing keyword combinations in the Amazon search bar, authors can observe direct feedback from the marketplace, adjusting their keyword strategy accordingly.

This approach allows for the fine-tuning of search terms, ensuring that an author's book remains relevant and continues to surface prominently as search trends evolve. Amazon's search bar can be a powerful tool for authors to stay on top of trending keywords and reader habits.

To leverage Amazon's search bar effectively, authors can observe the autocomplete suggestions offered by this feature, which provides a dynamic reflection of trending keywords. By paying attention to these suggestions, authors can gain insights into what readers are searching for and adjust their keyword strategy accordingly.

Here are some benefits of using Amazon's search bar for real-time insights:

  • Trending keywords: Amazon's search bar provides a list of trending keywords that readers are searching for.
  • Reader habits: By observing the autocomplete suggestions, authors can gain insights into reader habits and preferences.
  • Keyword strategy: Authors can adjust their keyword strategy to ensure that their book remains relevant and continues to surface prominently in search results.

By incorporating Amazon's search bar into their keyword research strategy, authors can gain a competitive edge and increase their chances of success on the Kindle Direct Publishing platform.

Boosting Visibility

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Amazon Categories can boost your book's visibility by ranking it higher in specific categories like "hobbies" making it easier for readers to find it.

Using the right keywords is crucial for search visibility on Amazon Kindle. Keywords act as signposts, steering interested readers towards your book. Precision is key, ensuring the relevance and specificity of keywords influences search engine rankings and visibility.

A table illustrating the role of keywords in KDP keyword research:

By tailoring ads with long-tail keywords targeting your ideal reader profile, you can increase the likelihood of conversion.

Advertising Console

Amazon's automatic advertising campaigns can pull in tons of keyword and keyword data in just a month.

To get the most out of Amazon's advertising console, set a decent budget for it and let Amazon do the work. By the end of the month, you'll have at least 100 keywords.

You can export all your keyword data and filter using three key metrics: Click-through rate (CTR), Conversion Rate (CVR), and Advertising Cost of Sale (ACoS). We're looking for high CTR and CVR, and low ACoS.

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Amazon bids very aggressively, so it's essential to shift over to a manual campaign with your best keywords to manage your ad budget. Running an ad campaign for a short period can help you find the best keywords.

Amazon KDP authors can benefit from using a dedicated Amazon PPC (pay-per-click) software, such as SellerMetrics, to research, inform bidding, and run more profitable Amazon advertising campaigns. This will give you a much better chance at appearing in front of a better audience.

Boosting Visibility with Categories

Choosing the right categories for your book can make a huge difference in its visibility on Amazon Kindle. By selecting categories that are relevant to your book's content, you can increase its chances of being discovered by readers who are interested in that topic.

Amazon allows you to choose categories for your book, which can help it rank higher in specific categories like "hobbies." This makes it easier for readers to find your book when browsing the Kindle store.

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To determine which categories are best for your book, you should consider your target audience and the topics they are likely to be searching for. This involves aligning your book's keywords and categories with the interests and search behaviors of potential readers.

Here's a summary of the key aspects of choosing categories for your book:

By carefully selecting categories and keywords that are relevant to your book, you can increase its visibility and reach a wider audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Amazon KDP keywords?

Amazon KDP keywords are words or phrases that help readers find books on Amazon by making them discoverable through Amazon's search algorithm. They help categorize books based on relevancy and topic, making them more visible to potential readers.

Does Amazon have a keyword search tool?

Amazon offers a keyword search tool to help sellers find relevant keywords for their products, but it's not a free tool available to everyone. To access Amazon's keyword tool, you can use a third-party tool like Keyword Tool Dominator, which provides a more comprehensive solution.

Rosemary Boyer

Writer

Rosemary Boyer is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative content. With a focus on technical and educational topics, she has established herself as a reliable voice in the industry. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, covering subjects such as CSS Precedence, where she breaks down complex concepts into clear and concise language.

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