Amazon KDP Keyword Research

Discover high-converting keywords that boost your book's visibility on Amazon. Reach more readers and increase sales with strategic keyword optimization.

Find Your Book's Best Keywords

Enter your book details below to discover relevant, high-traffic keywords that will help readers find your book on Amazon's marketplace.

Find Profitable Keywords

Why Amazon KDP Keywords Matter

Keywords are a critical but often overlooked component of Amazon KDP success. They serve as the foundation of your book's discoverability in a marketplace with millions of competing titles. Here's why they're so important:

Amazon Search Algorithm

Amazon's A9 search algorithm uses keywords as a primary ranking factor to determine which books to display when customers search. Without the right keywords, your book remains invisible to potential readers actively looking for content like yours.

Buyer Intent Targeting

Strategic keyword research helps you target readers with purchase intent. Unlike social media or general marketing, Amazon keywords connect you directly with people actively looking to buy books in your subject area or genre.

Browse Categories & Subcategories

Keywords help Amazon categorize your book properly, potentially placing it in additional browse categories beyond your two main selections. This increases your book's chances of appearing in multiple relevant places throughout the Amazon store.

Amazon Ads Effectiveness

Well-researched keywords form the foundation of effective Amazon Advertising campaigns. Understanding which terms readers use to find books like yours allows you to build targeted ad campaigns with higher conversion rates and lower cost-per-click.

Amazon KDP Keyword Strategy

The 7-Keyword Fields Strategy

Amazon allows 7 keyword fields in KDP, each accepting multiple words. Maximize these effectively.

  • Don't repeat words unnecessarily across fields
  • Include singular and plural forms only when meanings differ
  • Focus on different keyword concepts in each field
  • Don't include words already in your title or subtitle
  • Use all available space in each field (up to 50 characters)

Keyword Types to Include

A balanced keyword strategy includes different types of keywords to maximize visibility.

  • Topic keywords: Core subjects of your book
  • Audience keywords: Who your book is for
  • Benefit keywords: What readers will gain
  • Comparative keywords: Similar authors/books
  • Problem keywords: Issues your book solves

Long-Tail vs. Short-Tail Keywords

Balance different keyword lengths for optimal discoverability.

Short-tail keywords:

High search volume but high competition (e.g., "weight loss," "fantasy novel")

Medium-tail keywords:

Moderate search volume with targeted intent (e.g., "intermittent fasting guide," "urban fantasy series")

Long-tail keywords:

Lower search volume but highly specific with strong conversion (e.g., "intermittent fasting for women over 40," "dragon shifter romance series")

Keywords to Avoid

Some keywords can harm your book's visibility or violate Amazon's policies.

  • Competitor author names (against Amazon's terms)
  • Misleading terms unrelated to your book's content
  • Excessive use of subjective terms like "best" or "greatest"
  • Time-sensitive terms that will quickly become outdated
  • Keywords with typos (Amazon's algorithm handles misspellings)

Title & Subtitle Keyword Integration

Keywords in your title and subtitle carry extra ranking weight.

  • Include 1-2 primary keywords in your main title
  • Use your subtitle to incorporate 2-3 additional keywords
  • Ensure keywords flow naturally and appeal to human readers
  • Balance SEO needs with branding and marketability
  • Don't sacrifice clarity for keyword stuffing

Ongoing Keyword Optimization

Keyword strategy isn't a one-time task but requires ongoing refinement.

  • Monitor keyword performance through Amazon Analytics
  • Test new keywords by updating metadata quarterly
  • Analyze competitor keywords for successful books in your category
  • Adjust keywords based on seasonal trends when relevant
  • Use Amazon ads data to identify converting search terms

5-Step Keyword Research Process

Follow this systematic approach to discover the most effective keywords for your Amazon KDP book:

1Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Start by creating a list of basic keywords related to your book's:

  • Main topic or genre
  • Primary themes and concepts
  • Target reader profiles
  • Problems your book solves
  • Benefits readers will gain

Don't filter at this stage—aim for quantity and create a broad foundation of potential terms.

2Expand with Amazon's Search Bar

Use Amazon's search autocomplete feature to discover popular related terms:

  • Enter your seed keywords into Amazon's search bar
  • Note all relevant autocomplete suggestions
  • Add "a," "b," "c," etc. after your keyword to see more variations
  • Pay special attention to phrases that include modifiers like "best," "how to," etc.
  • Repeat the process for each seed keyword

3Analyze Competitor Keywords

Research successful books similar to yours:

  • Identify 5-10 bestselling books in your category
  • Study their titles, subtitles, and descriptions for keyword patterns
  • Use the "Look Inside" feature to check their table of contents for topic keywords
  • Review their Amazon categories and browse paths
  • Note any recurring phrases across multiple successful books

4Evaluate Keyword Competition

Not all keywords are equally valuable—assess competitive difficulty:

  • Search for each potential keyword on Amazon
  • Note the number of search results (higher numbers indicate more competition)
  • Check the bestseller ranks of the top 10 results (lower numbers mean tougher competition)
  • Look for keywords with reasonable search volume but manageable competition
  • Identify niches where you can realistically compete

5Organize and Implement Keywords

Strategically deploy your selected keywords across your KDP listing:

  • Prioritize your keywords based on relevance, search volume, and competition
  • Place your highest-impact keywords in your title and subtitle
  • Organize remaining keywords into the 7 keyword fields in KDP
  • Group related terms together within each field
  • Include keywords in your book description, focusing on the first 100 words

Ready to Boost Your Book's Amazon Visibility?

Our AI-powered keyword research tool will find the optimal keywords to help your book reach more readers and increase your KDP sales.

Find Profitable Keywords