Author Ads Pro

Guide

KDP keywords and categories

Your listing's keywords and categories decide where your book shows up for free. Here's how to fill them well, and how they connect to your ads.

By Michael Cortez, PPC strategist · Updated November 8, 2026

The seven keyword boxes

KDP gives you seven boxes. Treat each one as a search a reader might type, and make every box count:

  • Use phrases, not single words: "slow burn fantasy romance" tells Amazon more than "romance".
  • Cover genre, subgenre, tropes, setting and audience: "cozy mystery series with cats", "space opera military sci fi".
  • Skip what's already indexed: words in your title, subtitle and series name.
  • Avoid what KDP disallows: other authors' names, other book titles, misleading terms, and claims like "bestseller" or "free".

Choosing categories

KDP lets you pick up to three categories. Choose the most specific ones that honestly fit: a niche category where your book can rank is worth more than a giant one where it disappears. Look at where comparable books sit, and check how many sales it takes to rank in a category before you choose it.

Listing keywords vs ad keywords

KDP keywords influence where the book appears in organic search. Amazon Ads keywords decide which searches your paid ads show on, and there you can target hundreds of searches, plus comparable authors and book pages. The two feed each other: searches that convert in your ads' search term report are strong candidates for your seven keyword boxes.

Use your ad data

Run your search term report through the Kindle Author Ads Analyzer. The Harvest list shows searches that bring readers profitably: the best of them often belong in your KDP keywords too.

Run your own report through the Kindle Author Ads Analyzer

Free, runs in your browser, no signup. See which terms to negate, which bids to move and which keywords pay across the series.

Analyze my report

Questions

How many keywords can I add in KDP?

Seven keyword boxes. Each can hold a word or a short phrase, so most authors use phrases that readers actually search for.

Should I repeat words from my title in KDP keywords?

No need. Your title and subtitle are already searchable, so use the keyword boxes for other phrases readers use.

How many categories can I choose on KDP?

Up to three categories, chosen directly in KDP when you set up or edit the book. Amazon may also place your book in related categories.

Are KDP keywords the same as Amazon Ads keywords?

No. KDP keywords help your book show up in organic search. Amazon Ads keywords decide which searches your paid ads appear on, and you can have far more of them.

Can I use other authors' names as KDP keywords?

KDP's guidelines don't allow references to other authors or books in your keywords. In Amazon Ads, targeting comparable authors is common practice.

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