KDP Keyword Research Tool
Keywords help Amazon understand what your book is about and who it is for. Good KDP keyword research focuses on what real readers would type — not on stuffing as many words as possible into your listing.
What are KDP keywords?
When you publish, KDP gives you seven keyword boxes for search terms that describe your book. Together with your title, subtitle and description, they help your book appear for relevant searches on Amazon.
Why keywords matter
A great book that nobody finds will not sell. Relevant keywords connect your book with readers already looking for it; irrelevant ones can bring the wrong visitors or break Amazon's metadata rules.
How to research KDP keywords
A practical approach weighs a few factors for each phrase:
Keyword relevance
Does the phrase accurately describe your book? If a reader searching it would be disappointed, drop it.
Search intent
Is the searcher looking to buy a book like yours, or for something else entirely, such as a free resource or a physical product?
Competition
Broad terms are crowded. Look at how many established books already target a phrase and whether you can offer something different.
Long-tail keywords
Longer, specific phrases — like "large print sudoku for seniors" — usually describe a clearer audience and face less competition.
How to use keywords in a KDP listing
Put your most important phrase naturally in the title or subtitle, weave related terms into the description, and use the seven backend slots for additional relevant phrases. Avoid repeating words you already used, competitor author names, trademarks and misleading terms.
No tool can tell you an exact Amazon search volume, and no keyword guarantees a ranking. Treat research as a way to make better-informed choices.
Helpful tools
Frequently asked questions
- How many keywords does KDP allow?
- KDP provides seven keyword boxes. Each can hold a word or a short phrase, within the character limit KDP shows when you publish.
- Can I see exact Amazon search volumes?
- Amazon does not publish search volumes. Any figure from a third-party tool is an estimate, so focus on relevance and intent.
- Should I repeat my title words in keywords?
- Generally no. Words already in your title and subtitle are indexed, so the backend slots are better used for other relevant phrases.
- Is the KDP Keyword Checker free?
- Yes. The keyword checker runs in your browser with no login or credits.
- Will better keywords guarantee higher rankings?
- No. Keywords improve relevance, but rankings depend on many factors, including sales and reader engagement.
Related KDP guides
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