How to Choose the Best KDP Keywords
Keywords are how readers find your book on Amazon. When someone types "cozy mystery with cats" into Amazon's search bar, the algorithm scans titles, subtitles, descriptions, and your 7 keyword slots to decide which books to show. Picking the right keywords can mean the difference between your book buried on page 20 and appearing in front of buyers on page 1.
Think like a reader, not an author
Authors tend to describe their books in literary terms — "a sweeping saga of redemption." Readers search in practical terms — "family drama fiction," "second chance romance," or "easy coloring book for adults." This tool shows you what readers are actually typing into Amazon, which removes the guesswork entirely.
Use phrases, not single words
Each of your 7 keyword slots can hold up to 50 characters. Don't waste a slot on a single word like "mystery." Instead, combine related concepts: "cozy mystery cats small town funny" packs five searchable terms into one slot. Amazon indexes each word individually, so this single phrase makes your book discoverable for "cozy mystery," "mystery cats," "small town mystery," and several other combinations.
Don't repeat what's already indexed
Amazon automatically indexes your title, subtitle, and author name. If your book is called "Murder at the Cat Café: A Cozy Mystery," you don't need "cozy mystery" in your keywords — it's already searchable from the title. Use your keyword slots for terms that aren't in the title, to maximize your total coverage.
💡 Pro Tip
After choosing your keywords, search for them on Amazon yourself. If the top results are books in your genre, you're on track. If the results are unrelated, refine your phrases to be more specific.
Target specific niches, not broad categories
Broad terms like "romance novel" have enormous competition. Specific phrases like "enemies to lovers workplace romance" or "dark academia fantasy series" have less competition and attract readers who are more likely to buy because they're looking for exactly what you've written. This tool's A–Z expansion helps you discover these long-tail phrases.
Amazon KDP Keyword Guidelines
Amazon has specific rules about what you can and can't include in your keyword fields. Violating these won't get your book removed, but it can reduce your search visibility or trigger a manual review.
✅
Do: Use descriptive phrases
Setting, theme, tone, character types. "Small town romance single dad" describes what the reader gets.
✅
Do: Include alternate spellings
If your topic has variant spellings ("Hanukkah" / "Chanukah"), include both. Amazon doesn't auto-match these.
❌
Don't: Use other author names
Putting "like Colleen Hoover" in your keywords violates Amazon's guidelines and can flag your listing.
❌
Don't: Use "book" or "kindle"
These are redundant. Also avoid "free," "bestseller," "new release," and similar claims.
❌
Don't: Repeat your title words
Amazon indexes your title automatically. Using the same words wastes slots you could use for new terms.
❌
Don't: Use category names
Terms like "Fiction > Mystery" are handled by your category selection. Keywords should add new discoverability.
⚠ Important
Amazon states that misusing keywords — such as including misleading terms, competitor names, or offensive content — can result in your book being suppressed in search results. Stick to accurate, descriptive terms that genuinely reflect your book's content.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓
How many keywords can I use on Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP allows up to 7 keyword phrases per book. Each phrase can be up to 50 characters long, including spaces. You enter these in the "Keywords" section of your book's details page on the KDP dashboard. Every word within each phrase is indexed separately by Amazon's search algorithm.
❓
Should I use single words or phrases?
Always use phrases. Each slot holds 50 characters, so packing multiple related terms into one slot maximizes your coverage. "cozy mystery cats small town amateur sleuth" is far more effective than putting each word in its own slot. Amazon indexes every word individually regardless.
❓
Can I change my keywords after publishing?
Yes, you can update your keywords anytime. Go to your KDP Bookshelf, click the ellipsis button (…) next to your book, select "Edit book details," update the Keywords section, and click "Save and Continue" then "Publish." Changes typically take 24–72 hours to reflect in Amazon's search index.
❓
What words should I avoid in my keywords?
Avoid words already in your title or subtitle (Amazon indexes those automatically), generic terms like "book" or "kindle," time-sensitive claims like "new" or "bestseller," other authors' names, subjective claims like "best novel ever," and category names you've already selected.
❓
Do keywords affect my book's categories?
Keywords don't directly determine your categories — you select those separately. However, certain keyword phrases can make your book eligible for additional browse categories that aren't in the standard picker. Amazon's algorithm also uses keywords alongside categories for search relevance.
❓
Where does this tool get its data?
This tool uses Amazon's own autocomplete suggestions — the same dropdown that appears when you type in Amazon's search bar. These reflect real customer search behavior. The A–Z expansion appends each letter to your seed keyword, uncovering hundreds of additional suggestions that wouldn't appear in a single search.