Choosing the right categories is one of the most impactful ways authors can increase their book’s visibility and reach on Amazon. However, many struggle to select optimal categories due to the wide range of options. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover best practices for optimizing categories based on genre, trends, and more. By following these tips, you can take full advantage of the discoverability benefits that well-chosen categories provide.
Carefully Researching Category Options
The first step is to familiarize yourself with Amazon’s extensive category list. Spend time browsing through the options to get a feel for how they are organized by genre, topic, age range, and more. Make notes of any categories that seem relevant to your book based on its themes, target audience, and other key attributes.
You should also analyze the categories top authors in your genre have selected for their successful books. Look at not just the primary categories but also common secondary categories. This gives valuable insights into where your potential readers may naturally search.
Identifying Your Book’s Primary Categories
With your research notes in hand, it’s time to identify the 2-3 categories that best fit your book as the primary listings. When choosing:
- Focus on categories specific enough that you won’t face excessive competition.
- Consider your book’s genre(s) as well as the overarching topics/themes covered.
- Account for factors like any intended age range or reading level.
- Verify the categories are actively used by browsing their associated book listings.
Careful selection of the prime categories sets the stage for increased visibility in relevant search results.
Leveraging Additional Secondary Categories
Don’t stop at just the main categories. Listing your book in secondary categories unlocks exposure to a wider potential audience.
Some authors list as many as 5-10 additional relevant subcategories. However, only include categories that make logical sense based on your book’s content and attributes.
Cross-genre categories can work well if your book incorporates elements of multiple genres. You can also consider listing in categories related to specific themes, settings, characters, or other elements within the story.
Just be strategic and don’t overdo it – the goal is discoverability, not confusion.
Optimizing for Genre-Specific Categories
Amazon offers niche genre categories that can help surface your book to highly targeted readers. Make sure to take advantage of these by:
- Identifying your book’s primary and secondary genres.
- Browsing all available genre categories to find the most fitting options.
- Considering subgenres, tropes, or other niche elements as secondary categories.
For example, listing a fantasy novel in “Teen Fantasy” may outperform a broader “Fantasy” category placement.
Capitalize on Seasonal Opportunities
Holidays, cultural events, and other seasonal occasions present prime opportunities to boost book discoverability. When monitoring category trends and sales data, take note of time-bound categories that may align with your book’s theme. Some examples include:
- Christmas novels listed under “Holiday Fiction” from November through January
- Horror stories featured in the “Halloween” category in the weeks leading up to October 31st
The key is timing your category updates 2-4 weeks in advance for maximum exposure throughout the relevant period. Testing seasonal placements can uncover surprising new audience interest.
In addition to swapping categories, highlight seasonal elements within your product details. Cross-promote related categories, too to expand reach. Leveraging trending seasonal categories requires ongoing research and a proactive strategy. And targeted efforts can significantly boost sales and visibility for each relevant period.
Analyze Category Performance
To continuously improve your category strategy, it’s important to analyze performance data over time. Amazon provides valuable sales and traffic insights within your KDP reports. Pay attention to:
- Top performing categories based on units sold and page reads
- Underperforming categories that see little traffic or sales
- Seasonal fluctuations in different category performances
- Emergence of new top-ranked categories
This intel helps identify what’s resonating most with readers to focus your efforts. It also flags categories needing replacement.
You can supplement Amazon’s data by installing tracking tools like BookReport or Publisher Rocket. They offer granular category-level data beyond what Amazon provides.
Some key metrics to monitor include:
- Traffic and impressions by category
- Average time spent in each category listing
- Bounce rates that indicate poor category fit
- Conversion rates from traffic to sales
By analyzing both Amazon and third-party data, you gain a well-rounded view of what’s working and opportunities for improvement.
Routinely Reevaluate Your Categories
It’s important to continuously reassess your category listings to ensure they remain optimized over the long run. Set a regular cadence, such as quarterly or biannually, to review category performance and make updates. When reevaluating, consider:
Seasonal Trends
Certain categories become more popular during holidays, cultural events, or other periods throughout the year. Keep an eye on seasonal categories in your genre, and be prepared to swap in relevant options as those times approach. For example, a book about Christmas traditions could be listed in “Holiday Fiction” from October to December.
Sales and Traffic Data
Refer back to your Amazon and third-party analytics to identify categories driving the best or worst results. Well-performing categories should stay prioritized, while underperformers may need replacing. You may also notice entirely new top-ranked categories emerging over time.
Book Updates
If you release a new edition, update the content, or make other significant changes, your category lineup may need adjustment. Reevaluate to ensure categories still accurately reflect your book.
Genre and Niche Shifts
Publishing trends are always evolving. Be on the lookout for new niche categories in your space as well as changes in what’s popular among readers. Your categories may need tweaking to stay aligned with emerging opportunities.
By carving out routine review periods, you can seamlessly keep categories fresh and optimized based on ongoing performance signals and industry developments. This ongoing process helps maximize long-term book discoverability.
Test New Category Placements
Don’t be afraid to experiment with fresh category placements based on your findings.
Once you’ve identified potential category improvements or opportunities based on research and data analysis, testing changes through an iterative process is essential. Some testing strategies to consider:
- Gradual Introduction: Rather than overhauling all categories at once, replace just one underperforming category or add one promising new option. This allows impacts to be more clearly measured.
- A/B Testing: Split traffic between your existing category lineup and a revised version to compare results. Tools like Publisher Rocket allow A/B testing of different category orders or prioritizations.
- Timeboxed Trials: Give new categories a minimum of 4 weeks to take effect before reviewing results. Long-term trends are more important than short-term fluctuations.
- Metric Tracking: Monitor changes in key performance indicators like page reads, sales velocity, time on detail page or conversion rates. Third-party tools provide granular category-level data.
- Ongoing Optimization: Testing is an ongoing process. Successful changes can be expanded upon, while failures lead to further experiments or reverting changes. Continuous improvement depends on iterative learning.
With a methodical testing approach, you can safely explore new category opportunities, determine what resonates best, and continuously refine your strategy over time.
Wrapping Up
Maximizing book categories requires an ongoing commitment to research, testing, and analysis. However, the discoverability rewards can significantly boost sales profiles for authors who treat it as a long-term optimization priority.
So make sure to allocate some time every few weeks to evaluate your book performance and keep an eye on the category performance too. It only takes a few minutes to review the metrics and edit the categories if needed.
