New Book Category Selection in Amazon KDP: What Authors Need to Know

When you’re self-publishing a book, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right category for your book. The category you choose will determine where your book appears in Amazon’s search results, and it can have a big impact on your sales.

In the past, Amazon’s book categories were fairly straightforward. But in recent years, Amazon has made some changes to its category system. These changes have made it more difficult for authors to choose the right category for their books.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the new Amazon book category system and we’ll provide tips on how to choose the right category for your book.

The New Amazon Book Category System

In the past, Amazon’s book categories were organized into a hierarchical structure. Books were assigned to a primary category, and they could also be assigned to one or more secondary categories.

For example, a book about dog training could be assigned to the primary category “Pets & Animals” and the secondary category “Dog Training.”

This system made it relatively easy for authors to choose the right category for their books. However, it also had some limitations. For example, books could only be assigned to one primary category, and it could be difficult to find the right secondary categories for books that covered multiple topics.

In 2022, Amazon overhauled its book category system. The new system is still hierarchical, but it’s more flexible than the old system. Books can now be assigned to multiple primary categories, and they can also be assigned to more specific subcategories.

For example, a book about dog training could now be assigned to the primary categories “Pets & Animals” and “Self-Help,” and it could also be assigned to the subcategory “Dog Training.”

The new Amazon book category system is more complex than the old system, but it also offers more opportunities for authors to reach readers who are interested in their books.

Tips for Choosing the Right Book Category

When choosing the right book category for your book, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First, you need to consider the main topic of your book. What is the book about? What kind of readers are you trying to reach?

Once you know the main topic of your book, you can start to narrow down your choices. Look at the different categories on Amazon and see which ones are the best fit for your book.

It’s also important to consider the competition in each category. If there are a lot of other books in your category, it will be more difficult to stand out. You may want to choose a less competitive category if you’re just starting out.

Finally, you need to make sure that the category you choose is relevant to your book. If you choose a category that’s too broad, your book won’t be easy to find. If you choose a category that’s too narrow, your book won’t reach as many readers.

Here are a few tips for choosing the right book category for your book:

• Use the Amazon search bar to find books that are similar to yours. What categories are they listed in?
• Read the descriptions of different categories to see what kind of books they include.
• Check out the competition in each category. How many other books are there? How well are they selling?
• Choose a category that is relevant to your book and that will help you reach your target audience.

Conclusion

Choosing the right book category for your book is an important decision. The category you choose can have a big impact on your sales and your visibility on Amazon.

By following the tips in this blog post, you can choose the right book category for your book and increase your chances of success.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful: