How to Fill in The 7 Backend Keywords on KDP for Maximum Sales (Most Do it Wrong)

About this video

A short tutorial on filling in KDP’s seven backend keyword boxes. The main points: do not repeat keywords already in the title or subtitle, since the book already ranks for those, and reserve backend slots for other worthwhile terms. Avoid metadata manipulation — terms such as ‘free’, ‘sale’, ’new’ or ‘bestseller’, Amazon trademarks such as KDP or Kindle Unlimited, and competitors’ author names or book titles — which he warns can risk the account because Amazon prioritises customer experience. The central trick, credited to an article by Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur, is that Amazon mixes and matches words within a single box into many combinations. Putting several words in one box therefore ranks the book for more phrases but more weakly, while one keyword per box ranks for fewer phrases but more strongly. His recommendation is to mix both approaches — dedicated single-keyword boxes for priority terms and grouped boxes for secondary terms. For finding keywords he suggests competitor titles and subtitles, the free Amazon Search Suggestion Expander Chrome extension, and Publisher Rocket, including its conversion indicators.

Key takeaways

• Never duplicate title or subtitle keywords in the seven backend boxes; use the slots only for additional relevant terms.
• Avoid prohibited/manipulative terms — promotional words, Amazon trademarks, and competitor names or titles — to protect the account.
• Words in one backend box are combined by Amazon into many keyword phrases, expanding reach but diluting ranking strength for each phrase.
• Balance the trade-off: give must-rank keywords their own box, and group lower-priority keywords together in the remaining boxes.
• Source keyword ideas from competitor titles/subtitles, Amazon search suggestions via the free expander extension, and Publisher Rocket.

Episode details: published February 21, 2022 · 12:23 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Sean Dollwet’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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