Finding Keywords for KDP in 10 Minutes

Summary

In this video, you'll learn how to find effective keywords for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) in under 10 minutes. The process emphasizes the importance of keywords for book discoverability but clarifies they don't guarantee sales. Key steps include using DS Amazon Quick View in incognito mode to get unbiased search results, leveraging Amazon's auto-suggest feature, analyzing keyword competitiveness through Amazon's Best Seller Rank (ABSR), and organizing keywords for maximum impact. For a quicker method, the video suggests using Publisher Rocket software. The video aims to equip you with practical keyword research techniques to enhance your book's visibility on Amazon.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Keywords are crucial for the discoverability of books on KDP, as they can significantly impact a book's success.
• 📚 Start by listing words that describe your book in a few words, which will help in the brainstorming process for finding keywords.
• 🛠️ Install the 'DS Amazon Quick View' browser extension to view product details directly in search results for easier research.
• 🕵️ Use incognito mode in your browser to avoid personalized search results and get a broader view of what a new customer would see on Amazon.
• 🔑 Use Amazon's auto-suggest feature to gather relevant keywords by typing the first word of your list and noting down suggestions.
• 🔎 Research each keyword on your list, paying attention to the number of products associated with it and the average Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR).
• 🏆 Aim for an ABSR below 100,000, which indicates a sale roughly once a day, and be cautious with super competitive keywords.
• ✂️ Clean up your keyword list by separating the strong keywords from the weaker ones, focusing on 1-4 keywords for the backend of your KDP book.
• 🔗 Combine and pair keywords that have some overlap to maximize the use of the seven backend keyword slots on KDP.
• 📝 Organize your keywords using a spreadsheet or document to track the research and implementation process for future reference.
• 📝 Use the remaining keywords in various areas such as your book description, author bio, and A+ content for additional SEO opportunities.
• 🚀 For an easier way to conduct keyword research, consider using keyword research software like Publisher Rocket to streamline the process.

Q & A

Why are keywords important for KDP books?

Keywords are crucial for KDP books because they aid in discoverability, helping potential readers find the book through search results on Amazon.

What is the recommended approach to initially brainstorm keywords for a book?

Start by listing words that accurately describe your book in a few words, as if you were explaining it to someone quickly. This is to stimulate creative thinking without overthinking.

What is DS Amazon Quick View and how does it help with keyword research?

DS Amazon Quick View is a browser extension that displays product details from a given book inside search results without having to visit the product page. It helps in quickly accessing information and saves time during keyword research.

Why should we use incognito mode for keyword research on Amazon?

Incognito mode provides the broadest search results based on a new customer's perspective, without being influenced by personal browsing history or interests, offering a more general view of the market.

What is the significance of Amazon's auto-suggest feature during keyword research?

Auto-suggest helps in identifying relevant keywords by offering suggestions as you type. It can reveal keywords that you might not have otherwise thought of, expanding your keyword list.

How should you evaluate the effectiveness of a keyword based on the number of products associated with it on Amazon?

A keyword is considered effective if it has less than a thousand products associated with it. If the number exceeds a hundred thousand, it might be too competitive, and you may want to consider alternatives.

What is the Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR) and how does it relate to keyword research?

ABSR indicates the sales performance of products within a category or product type. A lower ABSR suggests higher sales and demand, which is desirable for keyword selection.

What is the ideal ABSR range for a keyword to be considered for a KDP book?

An ideal ABSR range for a keyword is between ten thousand to a hundred thousand, indicating moderate competition and reasonable daily sales.

How should you refine your keyword list for the backend keywords on KDP?

You should separate the really good keywords from the okay ones, aiming for one to four strong keywords to use in the seven backend slots of the KDP book. The rest can be paired or combined for better coverage.

What is the recommended method for organizing and tracking your keyword research?

Use a spreadsheet or a document to list and track the keywords, the date of research, and the combinations used, which can be helpful for troubleshooting or ensuring relevancy on Amazon later.

How can leftover keywords from the research be utilized effectively?

Leftover keywords can be incorporated into various areas such as the book description, author bio, A+ content, and other Amazon presences to enhance SEO and discoverability.

What is Publisher Rocket and how does it simplify the keyword research process?

Publisher Rocket is a keyword research software that simplifies the process by skipping the initial steps of manual research, providing a faster and easier way to find effective keywords for KDP books.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Finding Keywords for KDP Books

This paragraph outlines the importance of keywords in the discoverability of KDP books and provides a step-by-step process for identifying them. It emphasizes that while keywords are crucial, they do not sell books; that responsibility lies with the book's cover, description, and content. The speaker proposes a 'hard way' of finding keywords and promises an alternative method later. The initial step involves creating a list of words that succinctly describe the book. The paragraph also introduces the 'DS Amazon Quick View' tool for streamlined product detail viewing within search results and suggests using incognito mode in the browser for unbiased Amazon search results. It advises against focusing on first-page placements and instead concentrates on keyword research, including using Amazon's auto-suggest feature and analyzing the number of products associated with each keyword and their Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR). The goal is to find keywords with a reasonable ABSR for better visibility and sales potential.

05:02

📝 Organizing and Utilizing Keywords

The second paragraph delves into the organization and application of the keywords gathered. It advises against using the same root keyword in multiple slots and suggests casting a wide net for keyword selection. The speaker recommends using a spreadsheet or a document to track the research and implementation process, noting the date and specific keywords used. Any remaining keywords after the initial selection should be incorporated into various areas such as the book description, author bio, and A+ content on Amazon. The paragraph also highlights the opportunity to customize author bios for each book on Amazon for better search engine optimization. Towards the end, the speaker introduces a more efficient method of keyword research using 'Publisher Rocket' software, which simplifies the process by bypassing the initial steps described. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to learn more about this software in a subsequent video.

Keywords

💡Keywords

Keywords are essential for the discoverability of a book on platforms like Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). They help potential readers find a book through search functions. In the video, the creator emphasizes the importance of identifying keywords that accurately describe the book's content, which is crucial for its success in the digital marketplace.

💡Discoverability

Discoverability refers to the ease with which a book can be found by potential readers on online platforms. The video script discusses how keywords enhance a book's discoverability, making it more likely for readers to come across the book when searching for related topics or genres.

💡DS Amazon Quick View

DS Amazon Quick View is a browser extension mentioned in the script that simplifies the process of viewing product details on Amazon. It allows users to see details of a book within search results without having to navigate to the individual product page, streamlining the keyword research process.

💡Incognito Mode

Incognito Mode is a private browsing feature in web browsers that prevents the browser from storing local data about the user's browsing history. In the context of the video, using incognito mode ensures that search results on Amazon are not tailored to the user's past behavior, providing a more general view of how a book might appear to new customers.

💡Auto Suggest

Auto Suggest is a feature on Amazon's search bar that provides users with a dropdown list of suggested search terms as they type. The video script advises using this feature to identify relevant keywords for a book, noting down those that seem to be a good fit for the book's description.

💡Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR)

The Amazon Best Seller Rank is a metric that indicates how well a product is selling in comparison to other items in the same category. The script explains that a lower ABSR signifies more sales and better visibility, which is desirable for a book's keyword strategy.

💡Keyword List

A keyword list is a compilation of terms that are relevant to a book's content and are used to improve its visibility on Amazon. The video script details the process of creating such a list, emphasizing the need to include keywords that are both relevant and have a reasonable search volume.

💡Backend Keywords

Backend keywords are the keywords that are entered into the backend of a book's listing on Amazon KDP. The video script discusses the importance of selecting the right backend keywords, suggesting that one to four strong keywords should be used directly, while others can be combined or paired.

💡Publisher Rocket

Publisher Rocket is a keyword research software mentioned in the video as an alternative to the manual process of finding keywords. It is presented as a tool that can simplify and expedite the keyword research process for authors publishing on Amazon KDP.

💡Search Volume

Search volume refers to the number of times a particular keyword is searched for on a search engine within a given time frame. In the context of the video, a high search volume for a keyword indicates that it is in high demand, which can be beneficial for a book's visibility and sales.

💡Author Bio

An author bio is a brief description of an author's background, qualifications, and other relevant information. The video script highlights the opportunity to customize author bios for each book on Amazon, suggesting that this can be used for search engine optimization and to enhance a book's discoverability.

Highlights

Keywords are essential for discoverability on KDP but do not directly sell books.

Build a list of words that accurately describe your book as a starting point.

Install the free version of DS Amazon Quick View to see product details without visiting product pages.

Use your browser in incognito mode to get broader, untailored search results.

Utilize Amazon's auto-suggest feature to generate relevant keywords.

Search each keyword and focus on those with fewer than 1,000 products or with high relevance despite high volume.

Examine the average Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR) to gauge keyword effectiveness.

Aim for an average ABSR below 100,000, representing roughly one sale per day.

Identify super competitive keywords and understand that high ABSR may indicate low demand.

Prioritize keywords with ABSR between 10,000 to 100,000 for better sales potential.

Clean up your list to select the best one to four keywords for your KDP backend.

Combine and fill the seven backend keyword slots effectively, utilizing up to 50 characters each.

Avoid repeating root keywords in multiple slots; aim for a diverse set of keywords.

Use a spreadsheet or document to track your keyword research and implementation dates.

Incorporate leftover keywords into your book description, author bio, and other Amazon presence areas.

Each book can have a customized author bio, separate from the Author Central bio.

Publisher Rocket software offers a faster and easier way to conduct keyword research, skipping the initial five steps.

Transcripts

i'm going to share my process for

finding keywords for kdp and we're going

to do it in less than 10 minutes to be

clear it will take more than 10 minutes

to get quality keywords it's the video

that i'll keep concise i hope you

understand now first of all why are

keywords the thing that you need to

focus on because it can make or break

the success of your books keywords aid

in discoverability what keywords don't

do sell books that's up to your book

cover your book description and of

course the content though i'm going to

show you the hard way of doing things i

won't leave you hanging without sharing

an alternative more about that later

first build out a list of words you feel

accurately describe your book if someone

were to ask you what your book was about

but you only had a few words to describe

it what would it be

don't overthink this one you merely need

it to grease the creative wheels ahead

of time you will unearth some keywords

later in your research that you hadn't

otherwise thought about number one

install ds amazon quick view in your

browser now hey the free version is

totally fine essentially what this tool

does is it shows you the product details

from a given book inside the search

results as opposed to clicking on the

product going to the product page and

scrolling on down it's just a big mess

now you're going to enable it for

incognito mode when you visit the

settings in your browser then extensions

then details on the browser extension

tick the option to allow an incognito

number two open your browser in

incognito mode i don't crazy you didn't

think that we were coming to this

position right if you visit your browser

as usual all the results will be

tailored to your interests and by

history on amazon we're not marketing to

you so we need something a bit broader

enter incognito mode it serves you the

broadest results based on a new customer

visiting amazon now don't get caught up

in getting first page placement that

comes with time marketing book sales and

patience besides trying to find your

book on first page search results is not

a good use of your time every customer

gets personalized product

recommendations based on what they have

bought before what they have searched

before before number three auto suggest

type in your first word from a keyword

in your list but don't press enter allow

auto suggest to do its work now jot down

any keywords you perceive as relevant to

your title when in doubt throw it out be

100 certain it's a great descriptor of

your work if it's not it'll only confuse

customers and stymie book sales number

four search your keyword list now look

up each keyword on your list focus on

the number of products associated with

the keyword in the top left corner on

the amazon page if it's less than a

thousand great if it's above a hundred

thousand then you might want to look

into alternatives to be clear you can

still use a keyword if there is an

insane amount of search volume if the

keyword phrase is a great descriptor of

your book then keep and ignore the

volume

ds amazon quickview gets to work next

simply scroll down the page and look at

the average amazon best seller rank also

called absr now to summarize it briefly

the absr is based on the number of

products in a given category or product

type the number of sales dictates the

placement and ranking the more sales you

have the closer your book will be to

number one the less sales you have the

farther your book will rank away from

number one we want to see an average

absr of below 100 000 that represents

roughly one sale per day

seeing any rank higher than that like a

million means the demand simply isn't

there for this keyword in search

but keep an eye out for super

competitive keyword placement if your

average absr is a hundred you're in for

a fight and may never see first page

placement oh by the way first page

placement is the coveted spot because

who has the time to scroll through pages

of products from a search now i don't so

the closer you are to the top position

of the first page search result the more

likely you have to get a sale as you're

researching be mindful of particularly

great keywords that match your book

perfectly have a reasonable amount of

products and an average absr that's

between say ten thousand to a hundred

thousand absr ten thousand is roughly

about a dozen to two dozen sales per day

i think it's probably closer to two

dozen number five clean up your list

hopefully you've got a giant list of

keywords now let's separate the really

good keywords from the okay keywords we

want roughly one to four keywords that

we'll use as is in the seven backend

keywords of our book on kdp as for the

rest of the keywords match up and pair

keywords that have some type of overlap

the key to the seven back end keywords

is to fill the slots as much as you can

you don't have to but it certainly does

help in fact the kindlepreneur dave

cheston shared a case study about how to

fill those slots find out details when

you visit daylinks.com

seven kindle keywords in the case study

they tested filling in the boxes

completely and then filling them with

exact match keywords they found that

three to six slots filled to the brim

work well with one to four slots having

exact match keywords meaning they are

the exact keyword with no compromise or

combination once you have these keywords

together start to splice them don't

overthink the step amazon will pull from

your metadata and try to make the most

sense of your almost non-linear keyword

combinations you have 50 characters per

slot so use them up if you can't should

you use the same root keyword in

multiple slots i wouldn't recommend it

try to cast a wide net when selecting

keywords i know your book has to have

more than just one root keyword to

describe it number six organize use a

spreadsheet or like what i do a

microsoft word document where i just

build out a list with it and this is

what i'm going to use to track the day

that i'm researching this and

implementing it and the individual

keywords used in the combinations

because later on you may have to go back

and troubleshoot or make sure those

keywords are actually holding some type

of relevancy on amazon number seven use

the leftovers

any keywords left from your research

incorporate them into a variety of areas

including your book description author

bio a plus content and anywhere you have

a presence on amazon fun fact did you

know you have a totally separate author

bio for each book yeah that's not

including the author central one if

you're not using a customized author bio

you're missing out on a big opportunity

to search engine optimize your listing

but what about the easy way i told you

about though you'll spend some time

building out your keyword list with the

previous method faster and easier way to

do keyword research is with my preferred

keyword research software publisher

rocket i literally skip all the first

five steps i told you about when i use

it find out more about publisher rocket

in this next video i'll see you there