Secret Rule #3: Genre, Categories & Pricing
Updated: Oct 14
Secret Rule #3: Genre, Categories & Pricing answers an important question: how do readers know what your book is about, and whether it is worth buying, before they read a word? Your genre tells them what it is, your categories place it on the right shelf, and your price tells them it fits what they expect to pay.
Broad labels like New Adult, Young Adult, Novels, or Nonfiction say very little about what is inside a book. Genres like romance, memoir, mystery, or Christian living tell readers exactly what kind of experience to expect, and every genre has a price range readers are used to.
In this article, you will get a clear answer first, then the solution step by step, and then an industry hack that makes your path a little easier and less encumbered by hurdles.
Questions and Answers
Q: Is "Nonfiction" a good category for my book?
A: It is too broad. Readers browse specific genres and topics, so choose the most specific category that fits.
Q: What is the difference between a genre and a category?
A: Your genre describes what kind of book it is. Categories are the specific shelves on Amazon where your book is listed.
Q: How should I price my book?
A: Look at the prices of the bestsellers in your categories and stay within that range. Price too high and readers pass you by; price too low and they may question the quality.
Q: Can pricing help my book reach a bestseller list?
A: Yes. Amazon's bestseller lists reflect recent sales, so a short promotion, such as a launch price, a Kindle Countdown Deal, or free promotion days through KDP Select, can create the burst of sales that moves a book up its category list. Check Amazon's current KDP rules before you plan one.
The Solution
Describe your book in one sentence.
Name the specific genre that matches that sentence.
Find five books very similar to yours on Amazon.
Note the categories those books rank in.
Choose the most specific, accurate categories for your book.
Make sure your cover and description match your genre.
Note the prices of the bestsellers in your chosen categories.
Set your price within your genre's normal range.
Plan a short launch or relaunch promotion to build sales momentum.
The Industry Hack
Scroll to the "Best Sellers Rank" section on the Amazon pages of books like yours. It lists the exact categories where those books are selling. Professionals use this free research to place their books where real readers are already shopping.
Keywords for Amazon and YouTube
book genre, Amazon book categories, choose book categories, KDP categories, how to price a book, KDP Select, Kindle Countdown Deal
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