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When it comes to selling books on Amazon, most authors obsess over ads, reviews, or even the perfect book description. But there’s one often-overlooked issue that could quietly sabotage your book’s discoverability — and that’s categories.
If your book is shelved in the wrong category, you’re not just missing readers — you're sending Amazon’s algorithm all the wrong signals.
So how do you know if your book is in the wrong place?
And more importantly, how do you fix it?
Let’s dig in.
The Problem with Bad Categories
Putting your book in the wrong Amazon category is like hiding it on the wrong shelf at a bookstore. If you wrote a romantic suspense novel but Amazon has you filed under “general romance” or “thriller,” your ideal reader won’t find you.
Here’s why that matters:
● Readers search by genre.
● Amazon recommends books based on categories.
● Bestseller status is tied to category rankings.
So yes, your categories matter a lot more than you think.
How to Check (and Fix!) Your Categories
Step 1: See where your book is now.
Scroll down your Amazon retail page to the “Product Details” section. You’ll see which categories your book is currently ranking in — or not ranking in.
Step 2: Browse your competition.
Go to the Kindle Store and click “Categories” on the left-hand sidebar. Drill down by genre until you find highly specific subcategories. Look at the bestseller ranks of top books in those sections. Are they similar in length, genre, or tone to yours?
Step 3: Aim for the right balance.
You want categories that are relevant and get traffic, but not so competitive that you’ll never break in. For example:
● “Cozy Animal Mysteries” = niche and findable
● “Fiction > Mystery” = crowded and vague
Step 4: Update your categories.
If you’re self-published through KDP, you can update your categories from your dashboard. If you don’t see the exact category you want, you can request it by contacting Amazon support with the category path. (Yes, they’ll usually do it.)
If you're traditionally published, share the right categories with your publisher and ask them to make the request through their portal.
Final Thought: Small Change, Big Impact
Fixing your categories doesn’t cost a dime, but it can completely shift how your book performs on Amazon. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting discovered, take a closer look at your categories.
It might just be the smartest fix you’ve never tried.
by Penny C. Sansevieri
June 20,2025
The Amazon Author Formula Workbook is your hands-on guide to mastering the strategies that make books sell on Amazon. Whether you're launching your first book or refining the reach of a full series, this companion workbook to the bestselling Amazon Author Formula gives you step-by-step worksheets, guided prompts, and insider tactics to boost visibility, improve conversions, and drive real sales.
Bonus: Every worksheet in this workbook is yours to download for free! Use the access code inside the book to instantly generate printable versions and get to work. Whether you prefer print or Kindle, you’re covered!
From keyword and category alignment to pricing strategy, Amazon Ads planning, and retail page optimization—every page is designed to help you take focused, immediate action. Track your progress, fine-tune your Amazon relevance score, and uncover what’s really holding your book back from charting higher. With detailed planners, ad campaign organizers, and expert insights, this workbook turns strategy into execution—so you can stop guessing and start growing.
Packed with the same market-tested techniques Penny Sansevieri has used with thousands of authors, this is the ultimate Amazon toolkit for taking your book marketing to the next level.
✅ Inside the workbook, you'll find:
- A comprehensive Author Bio Builder to help craft a compelling, professional Amazon bio
- Step-by-step Book Description Worksheet and Checklist for high-converting sales copy
- Launch Plan Template to map your release timeline and marketing efforts
- ARC Tracker for managing and following up with early readers and reviews
- Pricing Comparison Sheet to evaluate competitive pricing in your genre
- Promotional Schedule Planner, including timing for KDP Select countdowns and free deals
- Retail Page Optimization Checklist to maximize every inch of your Amazon listing
- Amazon Ads Prep Checklist to ensure your book and page are ad-ready
- Keyword Planner to generate 300+ keywords tailored for your Amazon Ads
- Ad Strategy Worksheets to help design, test, and track ad campaigns that convert
- Progress Trackers to measure improvement across your marketing efforts
- Expert tips and real-world advice throughout every section
If you’re serious about making Amazon work for you, this workbook is your launchpad to long-term success.
Bonus: Every worksheet in this workbook is yours to download for free! Use the access code inside the book to instantly generate printable versions and get to work. Whether you prefer print or Kindle, you’re covered!
EXCERPT
Understanding Amazon’s Ecosystem
Amazon
is more than just the world’s largest online bookstore—it’s a complex
ecosystem that, when understood and navigated correctly, can propel
significant success for your books. In this chapter, we’ll dive into the
core mechanics of how Amazon works for authors, from category rankings
and algorithms to mastering keywords and metadata. Understanding these
elements is the foundation for getting your book seen by the right
readers.
Key Concepts
1. Amazon's Algorithms and How They Work
Amazon
uses algorithms to determine which books get the most visibility. These
algorithms consider factors like sales velocity, reviews, and
engagement. The better you understand how these factors play into your
book’s success, the more you can take advantage of them.
2. Keyword Optimization
Keywords
are essential for helping readers find your book. When people search
for a topic, Amazon pulls up books based on the relevance of the
keywords entered. Your book needs to be optimized with the right
keywords that align with the subject your target readers are searching
for.
3. Categories and Subcategories
Choosing
the right categories can significantly impact your book’s visibility
and its chances of becoming a bestseller within that category. By
selecting both broad and niche categories, you can increase the
likelihood of your book ranking high and staying visible for longer
periods.
4. The Power of Bestseller and Hot New Release Lists
Appearing
on Amazon’s bestseller lists, or hot new release lists is a great way
to increase your book’s visibility. But reaching these lists isn’t just
about luck—it’s about strategically positioning your book through
timing, keywords, and initial sales pushes.
But before we dig into all of this, let’s find your perfect target reader.
Who Are Your Target Readers?
What
do you think are your correct keywords? Chances are, whatever you said
may be wrong. The reality is that authors often perceive their book
differently than they should. It’s not because they’ve misunderstood who
their reader is, but they often assume their reader base is much larger
than it is. This is in no way a bad thing. However, it’s all about
zeroing in on who your reader is. In other words, who would naturally
gravitate to your book vs. who may stumble upon it accidentally and be
intrigued? This latter group of readers is not your target. Let me
explain.
Let’s say you’ve written a young adult book. It’s an
adventure story with some fantasy elements and you say, “Well, my book
is not that dissimilar from the Harry Potter series, so clearly my
target audience is very wide: young adults, and adults of all ages.”
Harry
Potter did well across a variety of age groups; that’s a true
statement. But it didn’t start out that way. The publisher started out
by focusing on the core reader group and expanded out from there.
Before
you can dive headlong into finding great keywords, you need to identify
your readers. What similar books do they read? How will your book help
them, etc.
Finding the Best Categories for Your Book
Putting
your book in the wrong category is akin to shelving your book in the
wrong place at a bookstore or library. You want to go where your readers
are, which means being laser focused on which “shelf” your book should
be on.
There are two types of categories; the first are the
standard industry categories, also referred to as BISAC (Book Industry
Standards and Communications). The second are the Amazon Kindle
categories. You’ll want to review my book to help better understand this
process, as well!
Generally, I recommend applying your Kindle
book to these very Amazon-specific categories. Why? Because they’re
unique, underused, and a great way to gain more visibility for your
book.
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Penny Sansevieri is a book marketing powerhouse, strategy-savvy copy queen, and the driving force behind countless indie author success stories. As the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., she’s spent over two decades mastering the publishing landscape, with 24 published books, a number of them achieving bestseller status, and 25 years of hands-on experience to show for it.
A trusted industry expert and NYU professor of self-publishing, Penny blends academic insight with battle-tested marketing savvy. She’s been named a Top Influencer by New York Metropolitan Magazine, and her innovative Amazon and media campaigns have helped authors land on The New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She leads an all-women team, hosts the top-rated Book Marketing Tips and Author Success podcast, and is known for her sharp, no-fluff strategies that get books seen—and sold.
Whether it’s decoding Amazon algorithms, crafting media-worthy pitches, or building irresistible author brands, Penny stays ten steps ahead of the curve. Her passion for indie bookstores, binge-worthy bundling, and big-picture brand strategy fuels every project she touches.
To learn more about Penny, her team, or to explore AME's cutting-edge marketing services, visit amarketingexpert dot com.
