The How-to-Publish Series: Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Wallet) Step 6: Keywords, Categories & Codes – Because Great Books Deserve to Be Found

Here’s a number that should stop any indie author mid-scroll: over 4,500 new books are published on Amazon every single day. That’s not a typo. That’s the digital slush pile your brilliant book is up against.

Now, before you run off to scream into a pillow, take a deep breath. Because here’s the good news: there are ways to help your book stand out. It’s just not enough to write a great book anymore—you also have to position it properly.

That’s where keywords, categories, and blurbs come in. Unfortunately for the tech unsavvy, choosing keywords for books can be quite tricky.

This isn’t just metadata—it’s marketing magic, and it’s one of the most overlooked steps in the indie author journey. It’s a harsh truth every indie author needs to hear (and probably write on a Post-it next to their keyboard):
If your book doesn’t show up in search results, it might as well not exist.

That’s not drama. That’s digital reality. Whether it’s Amazon, Google, or Goodreads—discoverability is everything.

So in this crucial step, we’re diving into the art and science of making your book findable and irresistible. That means keywords, categories, and blurbs that don’t just describe your book—they sell it.

Let’s get your book from invisible to “Add to Cart” in under three seconds.

Why Keywords, Codes, and Categories Aren’t Optional

Publishing a book without keywords is like putting your masterpiece in a black hole and whispering, “Hope someone finds it!”
Spoiler: they won’t.

When a potential reader types “cozy witch mystery” or “how to heal from narcissistic abuse” into Amazon, they’re not browsing—they’re searching. If your book doesn’t match what they’re typing, it won’t appear. Full stop.

So:

• Keywords = search terms that match what your ideal reader is looking for
• Categories = the digital shelf where your book lives
• BISAC Codes = (Book Industry Standards and Communications) are how booksellers and distributors categorise your book

And your job?

To make sure both are laser-targeted and reader-focused. Not vague. Not clever. Effective.

How to Choose Winning Keywords (Without Guessing)

Amazon lets you add 7 keyword phrases—so use every one.

Here’s how to find them:

1. Think like a reader: What would you type if you wanted to find your book?
2. Use Amazon autofill: Type part of your topic/genre and see what Amazon suggests.
3. Check competitor books: Scroll down to their Product Details—check the categories and ranking.
4. Use a keyword tool: Publisher Rocket (paid), KDP Champ, or free tools like Google Trends.
5. Include pain points: Think “how to stop procrastinating” not “productivity tips.”

Bonus Tip:

Amazon indexes your subtitle, backend keywords, and book description for SEO. That means keyword-rich blurbs = double win.

Picking the Right Categories (and Gaming the System a Bit)

Amazon technically lets you choose 3 categories—but did you know you can request up to 10 more after you publish?

Use this to your advantage.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books or https://kindletrends.com/categories/
2. Click through the subcategories until you find niche ones your book fits
3. Pick a mix of competitive and less competitive ones
4. After publishing, email KDP Support and request category changes/additions

Why it matters?
Landing in a smaller category can make you a #1 Bestseller with fewer sales. Instant credibility badge.

What About BISAC Codes? (Yes, They Matter)

BISAC stands for Book Industry Standards and Communications, and while it sounds like something only librarians and publishers should care about, here’s why you should:

Your BISAC code is how booksellers, distributors, and catalogues classify your book—and it’s what determines your Amazon category placement by default.

So, if you choose the wrong BISAC code, you could:

• End up shelved in a category that has nothing to do with your book
• Miss out on being listed where your ideal reader is actually browsing
• Compete in an oversaturated category when a niche one would’ve made you a bestseller in a weekend

How to Choose the Right BISAC Code:

1. Go to the official BISAC subject headings list
2. Find the one primary code that best matches your book
3. Use that when publishing through platforms like IngramSpark or Draft2Digital
4. For Amazon KDP, you don’t choose BISAC directly, but your KDP category selection is loosely based on BISAC—you can cross-reference to make sure you’re choosing the right match

Pro Tip:

Don’t just pick “SELF-HELP / General” or “FICTION / General” because it sounds safe. That’s like putting your book in a warehouse labelled “STUFF”.

Instead, niche down:

• SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Self-Esteem
• FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal
• COOKING / Health & Healing / Herbal

The more targeted your BISAC code, the more likely your book is to:

• Show up in the right searches
• Be placed correctly by distributors and libraries
• Get found by exactly the right reader

Common Mistakes That Tank Your Visibility:

• Generic keywords like “fiction” or “love story”
• Categories that don’t match reader expectations
• Blurbs that talk about the book instead of to the reader
• Clever but meaningless subtitles
• Skipping keywords in your book description

Step 6 isn’t just admin. It’s marketing magic.
It’s the difference between a book that sits on a virtual shelf gathering dust… and one that pops up in front of exactly the reader who needs it.

Your words matter. Let’s make sure they’re discoverable.

Need help writing your blurb or optimising your categories?
We offer book description makeovers, keyword research, and Amazon page optimisation.
Reach out at info@harvardink.com or visit harvardink.com for a publishing consult.

And of course, the previous blog in our How to Publish series can be found right here!