$ cat prompt.txt — Kindle Publishing (KDP)

KDP Metadata Optimizer — Title, 7 Keywords, Categories, A+ Copy

Generate BSR-friendly KDP metadata: subtitle, 7 backend keywords, 2 categories, and an A+ description.

20–40 min beginner Claude Sonnet, GPT-5#kindle#kdp#metadata

intro.md

Most KDP books die in obscurity because of weak metadata, not weak writing. Amazon ranks your book on the 7 backend keyword slots, the title/subtitle, and category fit. This prompt produces all of it — calibrated to real buyer search behavior in your niche — so your book actually gets found.

$ cat prompt.txt | pbcopy

The prompt — copy & paste

prompt.txt

You are an Amazon KDP metadata strategist. Optimize the full metadata for my book so it ranks for high-intent buyer searches.

INPUTS:
- Title: {{book_title}}
- Topic / what the book teaches: {{topic}}
- Target reader (be specific): {{target_reader}}
- 2–3 competing/comparable books I'm up against: {{comp_titles}}

PRODUCE:

1. SUBTITLE (the highest-leverage metadata field)
Write 3 subtitle options. Each must pack the primary keyword phrase a buyer would search + the specific benefit + a curiosity or credibility element. Stay under 200 chars. Rank them and explain the #1.

2. 7 BACKEND KEYWORD SLOTS
Amazon gives 7 keyword fields (≤50 chars each). Fill all 7 with multi-word buyer-search phrases (NOT single words, NOT repeats of words already in your title — Amazon ignores duplicates). Cover: the core topic, the buyer's problem phrasing, the use-case/occasion, and 1–2 long-tail "X for Y" phrases. Output as a numbered list with the rationale for each.

3. CATEGORIES (2 primary)
Recommend the 2 best Amazon browse categories — specific enough to hit "#1 New Release" / "Bestseller" badge potential (a smaller sub-category you can rank #1 in beats a giant one you'll never top). Name the exact category path.

4. A+ / BOOK DESCRIPTION (the sales page)
Write the book description in this structure:
- HOOK (1–2 lines that state the reader's pain or the bold promise — bold the first line)
- AGITATE (3–4 lines: what happens if they don't solve this)
- PROMISE + PROOF (what the book delivers + why you/this book)
- WHAT'S INSIDE (5–7 benefit-led bullets — what they'll be able to DO)
- CTA (1 line: "Scroll up and click Buy Now to…")
Use simple HTML (<b>, <br>) since KDP supports light formatting. 150–250 words.

5. COMPARABLE-TITLE GAP
In one paragraph: based on {{comp_titles}}, what angle/promise is UNDER-served that my metadata should lean into to stand out?

Be specific to real buyer search language. Generic keywords ("self help", "business") are wasted slots.

$ variables_to_fill_in

$ man playbook

Step-by-step playbook

How to actually use this prompt for the best results.

01
Gather your 2–3 closest competitors first
Search your topic on Amazon, pick the 2–3 books that show up top with strong reviews. Their titles + 'customers also bought' reveal the exact buyer language the prompt optimizes against.
02
Run the prompt and verify keywords in Amazon search
Type each of the 7 keyword phrases into Amazon's search bar — do real books appear? Does autocomplete suggest it? If a phrase returns nothing, swap it for one that does.
03
Pick a category you can actually rank #1 in
A '#1 New Release' badge in a small sub-category drives more clicks than rank #4,000 in a huge one. Favor the most specific category that still has buyers.
04
Paste the description into KDP and test
Load the A+ description, publish, and watch your BSR for 2 weeks. If clicks are low, the subtitle is usually the lever — A/B test subtitle option #2.

$ man tips

Pro tips for better output

›Never duplicate a word between your title and your 7 keyword slots — Amazon already indexes the title, so duplicates waste a slot.
›Refresh keywords every 60–90 days based on which search terms actually convert (visible in KDP's advertising search-term reports if you run ads).
›The subtitle moves rank more than almost anything else — spend the most effort there.

$ echo $YIELD

What you'll get

output.md

3 ranked subtitle options, all 7 backend keyword slots filled with buyer-search phrases, 2 specific category recommendations, a 150–250 word A+ book description, and a competitor-gap angle.

$ man faq

FAQ

How many of the 7 keyword slots should I actually use?

All 7, every time. Each unused slot is search visibility you're giving away. Use multi-word phrases, not single words, and never repeat words already in your title.

Should I pick popular or niche categories?

Niche enough to realistically hit #1 (for the badge + the algorithmic boost it triggers), but with real buyer demand. A #1 in a focused sub-category beats page-5 in a massive one.

$ ls /prompts/kindle-publishing