Comments on: Huge changes in Amazon KDP: What authors need to know in 2023

By: Lori Kirstein

Lori Kirstein — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:48:41 +0000

Richard, I know what I wanted in the old categories, but I don’t know how that translates to 2023 categories, so I’m at a real loss. I would rather not pay for Publisher Rocket but I haven’t found free version that will answer my question and help me choose the proper category. Is there any way to take the old string – Nonfiction / Medical / Healing – and find what the new Amazon listing would be for that? Thanks!

By: Richard McCartney

Richard McCartney — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:04:47 +0000

Charles – yes, I agree, Amazon needs to improve its range of categories in mainstream genres like Sci-Fi, Mystery and Thrillers, and Romance, to name a few.
Romance , for example, has only 46 categories/subcategories , while Science & Math has 202 in comparison.
You can check this out with this free Book Category Selection tool at:
https://bookcategories.spread.name/
This tool may help you further. As you mention, you want to probably have one of your categories in one of the main sci-fi or fantasy categories. However, this tool allows you to “search” for any keyword you think relevant for your book. For example, if a book was about Arthurian Fantasy, you could search for “Arthurian” and it will show you other categories Amazon has for this.
Of course paid tools like Publisher Rocket give you given more options, but as a free tool, this might well help you out. Best wishes- Richard

By: Writers and Publishers Network

Writers and Publishers Network — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 19:01:45 +0000

[…] What authors need to know in 2023 by Richard McCartney, founder of KBookPromotions […]

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 15:41:31 +0000

In reply to Charles Brass.

Charles, a drop-down menu with categories is a no-brainer and I’ve always wondered why Amazon didn’t do this — and still hasn’t.

Sandy

By: Charles Brass

Charles Brass — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 01:44:40 +0000

Hello, Richard.

I don’t mind limiting the choice to three. I just wish the list of categories was more extensive. The offerings didn’t align too well with my recent science-fiction novel, published in July. I also felt hamstrung with the fantasy choices for my more recent release this August. I’m hesitant to leave the fantasy and science-fiction categories to find more appropriate categories in other areas, like Young Adult, as a reader searching there is probably not searching for a fantasy or science-book. Too bad Amazon doesn’t create a series of drop-down lists where the content creator can select to create the most appropriate three categories.

Also, in this new way, you don’t have to bother sending an email to load your content into those other eight categories. Twice if you release an ebook and a paperback—and those had different category names! A bothersome extra step. Maybe that’s why Amazon did it—cut down on all those pesky emails.

By: Richard McCartney

Richard McCartney — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 22:42:41 +0000

Thanks, Joris. That’s a good point and emphasizes the need to pick the best 3 categories for your book. Alas, KDP does not provide a “search” feature when asking you to select your categories. So, for example, if you are a “horror” fiction writer, you will not easily find this category. The same is true if writing a “vampire ” fiction novel. So try out free tools like https://bookcategories.spread.name/ where you can carry out such searches and find the best KDP categories for your book both in fiction and in non-fiction.

By: ≫ Huge changes in Amazon KDP: What authors need to know in 2023

≫ Huge changes in Amazon KDP: What authors need to know in 2023 — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 16:19:37 +0000

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By: Joris

Joris — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:54:12 +0000

Yes. And the reason why Amazon went back to 3 categories (or at least ONE of the reasons) is that they found out that, in general, only 3 cats were really working, Having more did not really do a lot (Amazon’s words, not mine)

By: Richard McCartney

Richard McCartney — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:57:20 +0000

Stephanie,
Yes, Amazon can be frustrating at times. You comment that there are “categories I’d like to revisit and it seems I can’t without updating the book itself”. I hope the following information helps.
When editing your book in KDP, it gives you 3 main options:
1) Edit eBook details
2) Edit eBook Content
3) Edit eBook pricing
– So you can both Edit eBook Content, and Edit eBook pricing without affecting your current categories.
– You can also revisit you categories (without making changes) in the “Edit eBook details” page, as long as you do not save or publish the changes.
– Better yet, you can use external tools like https://www.bklnk.com/categories_2022.php where you can enter your ASIN, and it will display all your current categories. So look this up and see if you are happy with the current categories.
– If you do enter the “Edit eBook details” page, you will see this is where you set your Book Title, Language, Publishing Rights, Book Description, and Categories. So if you do “make a small change in the book description” (as you mention), and save it, you will be obliged to select only 3 categories.
– Amazon KDP is recommending authors to update their categories, but it is only optional.
– If seeking help on best categories to select for your book, try free tools like https://bookcategories.spread.name/ where you can search for categories, and even filter by which categories are easy, medium, and difficult to do well in.
I hope you find these points useful – Richard

By: Stephanie Golden

Stephanie Golden — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:11:32 +0000

These changes represent an improvement in the sense that I remember being so frustrated that I could only select from a very limited number of categories. But I have 2 books–one of mine and one for a client–whose categories I’d like to revisit and it seems I can’t without updating the book itself? I suppose I could find one word to change in my own ebook but my client’s book is also in print and I can’t really change it. Or maybe I could make a small change in the book description? Amazon, aargh.