The best way to sell your new title is to have it appear in Amazon search results for books.
However, it can be challenging for new authors to figure out how to do it.
With so many new books appearing on Amazon every day, you need to work hard to be competitive.
But if you understand how the Amazon search engine works, you stand a much better chance of success.
What is Amazon search for books?
You probably use Google or Bing search all the time.
When you type a question or topic, a search engine provides results that respond best to your query.
Search engines generally try to provide you with the best information, advice, directions, explanations, or news articles.
But they can also provide buying advice such as reviews or where you can buy products or services.
Amazon search results work in a similar way, except for one crucial point.
Because Amazon is in the business of selling products, its search engine only returns results for Amazon products.
For authors, Amazon search results for books are a vital part of your book marketing.
The more you know about it, the more you can do to improve your prospects.
Yes, it will take a little bit of time to work through the information below.
But it will help you and your book have a better chance of success.
How does Amazon search work?
Like other search engines, Amazon uses algorithms, which are currently Amazon A9 and A10.
While all the inside workings of these algorithms are secret, some elements are known.
For Amazon products, including books, these are the key factors to rank on the first page of search results.
1. Keyword selection
2. Keyword placement
3. Product (book) title
4. Product (book) description
5. Category selection
6. Sales rank
7. Reviews
If you work on these seven points, you stand a much better chance of ranking higher in Amazon search results for your books.
Nothing is easy in publishing.
But at least you are in control of most of the items on the list.
Let’s look at each of them in more detail.
KDP metadata for books
When you publish your book with Amazon KDP, you need to provide three categories and seven search keywords.
You must also provide your title (and subtitle if you have one), author name, and book description.
These elements are all part of your metadata that Amazon algorithms use to list and place your book correctly.
But never think you can provide all this information by guesswork.
Before you publish your new book, you need to take the time to do your research on all of these elements.
There are a few ways you can do your research.
You can use the search bar on Amazon to check your keyword ideas.
It’s a slow but simple free method of doing your research.
However, you only get ten results and no search volume or popularity information.
You can also try some free Amazon keyword tools that work a little better.
The best way to research KDP keywords
The easiest and fastest way to find Amazon keywords and categories is to use software that lets you access the Amazon database for books.
The most popular KDP keyword tool for authors is Publisher Rocket.
As you can see, you can research keywords and categories, check your competition, and also find keywords for Amazon ads.
You can access information such as search volume, sales, average book price, and the number of competing books.
Here is an example search. The list of keyword suggestions was too long to fit in the image below, so I can only show you a small selection.
Ideally, you want keywords with a high number of searches, a low competitive score, and healthy sales.
You also have access to tutorials to help you find the best keyword and category selections for your book.
Okay, it’s not free. But you only pay once, and the program is constantly updated.
It’s by far the best tool you can use to help you get your book to appear in Amazon search results.
Optimize your book title and description
Selecting and using keywords in your book title and book description is an often overlooked opportunity.
If you get it right, you can extend your book exposure to Google search as well.
It works best for non-fiction and self-help books. But it’s possible for fiction if you do good research.
Here is the result of a search for growing orchids on Amazon.
However, Amazon books can often appear for the same search term in Google.
Both of these results come from using a search keyword in either the title or book description.
One tip is that you should only use your selected keyword once in your title and book description. But you could use variations to improve your search results.
Another is that you don’t need to list this search term in your seven back-end keywords.
Sales ranking and reviews
Without a doubt, these are the two toughest parts of marketing and promoting a new book.
But for Amazon search engine algorithms, they are critical factors.
Amazon wants to sell things, including your book.
However, if your book has zero sales and no reviews, the algorithm will decide that it is unlikely to sell and will rank it very low.
The only way to win on these two fronts is to get to work well before you publish your book.
You need to create interest and then beg, cajole, or persuade people you know to buy your book and leave a customer review. The other option is to add editorial reviews to your book sales page.
Luckily, there are so many ways you can promote a book.
But never leave it until after you publish your book. You have to get to work well before your book launch to get first-day sales and reviews.
Then, the algorithm will treat your book much better in Amazon search results for books.
Summary
Getting your book to rank high in Amazon search doesn’t happen by good luck or accident.
You need to put in a lot of work and effort to give your book everything it needs to succeed.
But if you focus on the seven points I listed earlier in this article, you will be well on your way.
You can control the first five points. Make sure you do your research to find the best Amazon KDP keywords for your book.
You are also in control of placing keywords in your title and book description.
The last two items on the list are challenging, for sure.
But if you work on them as much as possible, you will reap the rewards of all your efforts.
Yes, there are a lot of books and ebooks published every day, so it’s highly competitive.
However, very few new authors take the time to get things right before they publish.
Knowing this fact gives you an advantage. If you get everything right, you will be way ahead of the pack.
Related reading: Minimum And Maximum KDP Word Count, File Sizes, And Pages
