How to Research Profitable Niches for Amazon KDP

About this video

Despite the niche-research framing, the transcript is about Amazon categories (browse paths). When you publish on Kindle Direct Publishing you choose two categories in setup; these appear in Product Details after at least one sale or borrow, and Amazon’s algorithm adds a third complementing category based on keywords and categories. Dale says many categories are inaccessible from the KDP dashboard, that online sources and rumors put Amazon at over 19,000 browse paths, and that according to Amazon a book can actually have up to 10 browse paths — only three show in Product Details, but the other seven still count. That matters because categories correspond to best-seller lists: ranking in up to 10 categories increases exposure and searchability, and topping a list can also place a book in Hot New Releases, the sub-category for the highest-performing books released in the last 30 days, effectively doubling exposure for a strong launch. To get extra categories, he instructs viewers to log into KDP, click Contact Us, select Book Details then Categories and Keywords, and paste in the full browse paths, asking KDP to add them and remove any unwanted ones. Categories can be changed later, but he advises keeping a book in a category for at least 30 to 90 days before switching, because fulfillment delays make effectiveness hard to measure.

Key takeaways

• KDP setup offers 2 categories and Amazon’s algorithm adds a third, but a book can have up to 10 browse paths
• Only 3 categories show in Product Details; the hidden extra 7 still affect best-seller list placement
• Topping a category can also land a book in Hot New Releases for books released in the last 30 days
• Request extra categories via KDP Contact Us > Book Details > Categories and Keywords, pasting full browse paths
• Keep a category for at least 30 to 90 days before switching, due to delays in changes taking effect

Episode details: published June 20, 2017 · 5:20 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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