# How to Choose Amazon Categories and Keywords for Your Book > How to pick Amazon categories and keywords for your book: research competitors, use reader phrases, avoid mistakes and check the live page. Source: https://theauthorpublishing.com/blog/how-to-choose-amazon-categories-and-keywords/ Publisher: The Author Publishing Last updated: 2026-11-02 --- To choose Amazon categories and keywords, study the books that your ideal reader already buys, note where they are listed and which phrases describe them, then pick the categories that fit your book honestly and enter keywords that readers would actually type. Categories place your book on the shelves where readers browse, and keywords help it appear when readers search. Both are free, and both are easy to get wrong. This guide shows a simple research method, explains the rules you must follow and lists the mistakes that waste a good listing. Amazon changes its category system and its limits from time to time, so check the current KDP help pages when you set up. If you want expert help, our [Amazon book listing optimization](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/book-listing-optimization/) service reviews and improves your choices. A good description also helps, as we explain in [how to write a book description that sells](https://theauthorpublishing.com/blog/how-to-write-a-book-description-that-sells/). ## Key takeaways - Categories help readers browse, and keywords help readers search - Study comparable books to learn where your readers look and what they type - Choose categories that honestly fit your book, and check how they appear on the live page - Use natural reader phrases, not other authors' names or misleading terms - Revisit your choices a few times a year, because categories and competition change ## What is the difference between categories and keywords? Categories are the shelves of the Amazon store, such as a genre or topic, and they help readers who browse lists and rankings. Keywords are the words and phrases that match what readers type into the search box. You enter both in KDP during setup, and they work together with your title, subtitle and description. A good category puts your book among the right neighbours, and a good keyword connects it to a specific need. ## How do I research categories? Find five to ten comparable books that readers of your genre buy, and look at where they are listed on their product pages. Note the categories that appear again and again, and look at how competitive each one is. A narrow category with fewer books may be easier to rank in than a broad one, but it must still describe your book honestly. Pick the best fits and avoid forcing the book into a popular category where it does not belong. ## How do I choose the right keywords? Start with the phrases that describe your book's genre, subject, setting, themes and the reader's need. Type those phrases into the Amazon search bar and note the suggestions it offers, because they show what real people search for. Choose phrases of several words that are specific, such as a small-town second chance romance. Use the keyword fields KDP provides, and note that it currently offers a limited number of them, with a character limit for each, which can change. ## What are Amazon's rules for categories and keywords? Amazon expects keywords and categories to describe your book accurately. Do not use another author's name, a trademarked brand or terms that mislead, such as bestselling or free, and do not repeat words already in your title in ways that waste space. Do not choose a category for a different kind of book to gain visibility. Amazon may remove misleading metadata or reclassify the book, and repeated problems can cause account issues. Read the current KDP content and metadata guidelines. ## How do I check that my choices worked? After publication, look at the live product page and see which categories Amazon displays, because it may place the book differently from what you chose. If the categories are wrong or missing, you can ask KDP support to add or correct them. Our [Amazon listing fixes service](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/listing-fixes/) handles these requests and other listing problems. Check again after a few weeks, because updates are not instant. ## What mistakes should I avoid? - Picking broad categories where the book will never be seen - Using keywords that readers never type - Copying a competitor's metadata without checking whether it fits - Repeating the same word in every keyword field - Forgetting that print and eBook editions need consistent details - Never revisiting the choices after launch ## How do categories, keywords and the description work together? The title and subtitle tell readers and Amazon what the book is. The categories place it on the right shelves. The keywords connect it to searches. The description convinces the reader to buy. If one part is weak, the others work harder. Aim for consistency, so that a reader who finds the book through a category recognises it in the description. Our [Amazon KDP publishing services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/kdp-publishing-services/) align all of these before publication. ## How do I choose categories and keywords for non-fiction? Non-fiction readers search for solutions, so keywords should name the problem and the audience, such as budgeting for freelancers or leadership for first-time managers. Categories should match the subject and the reader's goal. Check how similar guides are listed, and look for gaps where your approach is distinct. Be careful with health, finance and legal topics, where Amazon applies extra rules and readers expect accuracy. If your book mixes topics, choose the main one for the category and use keywords for the rest. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many categories can I choose on KDP? KDP currently lets you choose a small number during setup, and you can ask support for more in some cases. Limits change, so check the current help pages. ### How many keywords can I use? KDP currently offers up to seven keyword fields, each with a character limit. Check the current limit. ### Can I change categories and keywords after publishing? Yes. You can edit them in KDP, and updates may take a few days to appear. ### Should I use my competitors' names as keywords? No. Using other authors' names or brands breaks Amazon's rules and can lead to removal. ### Why does Amazon show different categories from the ones I chose? Amazon may map your choices to its own categories. You can ask KDP support to adjust them. ### Do keywords guarantee ranking? No. They help your book appear for relevant searches, but ranking depends on sales, reviews and competition. ## Services that can help - [Amazon book listing optimization](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/book-listing-optimization/) - [Amazon book listing fixes](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/listing-fixes/) - [Amazon KDP publishing services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/kdp-publishing-services/) - [Amazon series page setup](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/series-page-setup/) - [Book marketing services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/book-marketing-services/)