Metadata optimization & keyword strategy

The Right Keywords Turn Amazon’s Algorithm Into Your Best Salesperson.

Most books are buried on page 20 of Amazon search because their metadata was guessed, not researched. We use data-driven keyword research, BISAC category strategy, and conversion-optimised description copywriting to put your book in front of the readers already searching for exactly what you wrote.

  • 7 keyword slots filled with high-traffic, low-competition search terms
  • Up to 10 BISAC categories selected for maximum bestseller opportunity
  • Conversion-optimised description copywriting — hooks, bullets, and CTA
  • Works across Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Apple Books, and Kobo simultaneously
★★★★★4.9 / 5 from 870+ verified author reviews

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Share your book details — we'll audit your current metadata and scope improvements in 24 hours

100% confidential. NDA on request. Reply within 1 business day.

Your book could be exactly what a reader is searching for — and still never appear in their results.

Amazon’s search algorithm ranks books based on keyword relevance, category fit, and conversion rate — not quality. A book with mediocre metadata outranks a better book with the wrong keywords every single time.

Default or guessed metadata

  • Generic keywords with millions of competing results — your book never surfaces
  • Wrong BISAC categories — buried in overcrowded charts instead of winnable niches
  • Publisher description copied from the back cover — no hooks, no conversion structure
  • Only 2 Amazon categories selected — missing bestseller tags in 8 additional niches
  • Title/subtitle doesn’t include searchable terms — invisible to non-browse discovery
  • Low click-through rate drains your ads budget — paying for impressions that don’t convert

With Hawthorne Publishers

  • Data-driven keyword research — 7 slots filled with terms readers are actually searching
  • Up to 10 BISAC categories selected for maximum chart and bestseller exposure
  • Conversion-optimised description — hook, benefit bullets, and CTA structured for purchase
  • Subtitle analysed and optimised to include your highest-value keyword naturally
  • Metadata applied to Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Apple Books, and Kobo simultaneously
  • 30-day ranking check — we re-optimise any keyword that underperforms after launch
1,800+Books metadata-optimised
340+#1 category rankings achieved
35+Average keyword index points per book
4.9Average author rating

Every Layer of Metadata That Determines
Whether Your Book Gets Found — and Bought.

Metadata isn’t just keywords. It’s every signal Amazon uses to decide who to show your book to. Here’s what we optimise on every project.

Keyword research (7 backend slots)

Amazon grants 7 keyword slots — each up to 50 characters. We research and select long-tail phrases with measurable search volume and low enough competition that your book can rank on page one.

BISAC category strategy (up to 10)

We identify up to 10 Amazon categories your book qualifies for — including the hidden categories only accessible via KDP customer service — to maximise your bestseller tag opportunity across multiple charts.

Description copywriting

Amazon description written with a proven conversion structure — attention-grabbing hook, benefit-led bullet points, social proof placement, and a clear call to action. HTML-formatted for KDP’s display.

Title & subtitle optimisation

Your subtitle analysed against keyword data — ensuring your highest-value search term appears naturally in the subtitle, which Amazon weights more heavily than backend keywords for ranking purposes.

Competitor gap analysis

We analyse the top 20 books in your category — mapping which keywords they rank for, which categories they occupy, and where their descriptions underperform — then position your metadata to fill the gaps.

Multi-platform metadata

Metadata adapted and applied for each platform — Amazon description differs from Apple Books in formatting rules; Kobo and Google Play have different character limits. All versions written and uploaded.

Editorial reviews section

Editorial reviews section of your Amazon listing populated with advance praise, endorsements, and review pull-quotes — formatted to display prominently above the fold on your product page.

30-day ranking review

We check your keyword rankings at 30 days post-launch — identify any underperforming slots — and swap in better alternatives. Your metadata stays optimised beyond launch day.

Metadata file handover

Full metadata document delivered — every keyword, category, description version, and rationale documented so you can manage and update your listings independently after delivery.

Research-first metadata that ranks — delivered in 5 business days.

We start with data, not guesses — researching your market before writing a single word of metadata.

01

Book & Market Intake

We review your book, genre, target reader, comp titles, and current metadata — identifying every gap and opportunity before research begins.

02

Keyword Research

Deep keyword research using Publisher Rocket, Helium 10, and Amazon’s autocomplete — identifying the 35+ keyword phrases your book can rank for, then selecting the 7 highest-value slots.

03

Category & Description

Up to 10 BISAC categories selected and mapped, description written to conversion structure, subtitle reviewed and optimised, editorial reviews section drafted.

04

Upload & Apply

Metadata applied to your KDP dashboard, IngramSpark, and any additional platform in your package. Confirmation of live updates provided within 48 hours of upload.

05

30-Day Review

Keyword ranking check at 30 days — underperforming slots swapped for better alternatives. You receive an updated metadata file with the revised recommendations.

Metadata Optimization
Ranking proof

340+ #1 Amazon category rankings. On the same books. After the same metadata.

The difference between page one and page twenty isn’t the book — it’s the metadata. We’ve optimised over 1,800 books across every genre and seen the same result every time: the right keyword in the right slot moves a book from invisible to discoverable in under a week. Our authors average 35+ Amazon keyword index points per book and hit #1 in at least one category in 87% of launches.

  • 340+ #1 Amazon category rankings from metadata optimisation alone
  • 35+ average keyword index points — books indexed across all major search terms
  • 30-day ranking review included — we re-optimise what doesn’t perform
  • Works for new launches and backlist titles — metadata improvements show within days
Get your metadata audit →

Our Metadata Packages

Keyword Starter

Keyword research and category strategy for authors who need their Amazon listing found fast.

$199one-time, all-inclusive
  • 7 backend keyword slots researched & filled
  • Up to 10 BISAC categories identified
  • Subtitle keyword review
  • Metadata document delivered
  • Competitor keyword gap analysis
  • 5-day delivery
Most Popular
Full Metadata

Complete metadata optimisation — keywords, categories, description, editorial reviews, and 30-day ranking check.

$399one-time, all-inclusive
  • Everything in Keyword Starter
  • Amazon description rewrite (conversion structure)
  • HTML-formatted description for KDP
  • Editorial reviews section populated
  • Metadata uploaded to KDP & IngramSpark
  • 30-day keyword ranking review & swap
Wide Platform

Full metadata optimisation for every retail platform — Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, and IngramSpark.

$699one-time, all-inclusive
  • Everything in Full Metadata
  • Platform-specific descriptions (5 versions)
  • Apple Books, Kobo & Google Play uploads
  • 90-day keyword monitoring & update
  • Seasonal keyword refresh included
  • Backlist metadata audit (up to 5 titles)

What every metadata project is guaranteed.

These commitments are confirmed before we begin any keyword research on your book.

Data-Driven Research

Every keyword backed by search volume and competition data — no guesses, no generic terms, no repeating your title as a keyword.

30-Day Ranking Review

We check keyword performance at 30 days and swap underperforming slots — your metadata is optimised beyond launch day, not frozen at upload.

5-Day Delivery

Full metadata package delivered in 5 business days — before your launch date, confirmed at project start.

Platform-Specific Formats

Every description formatted to each platform’s character limits and HTML rules — ready to paste directly without reformatting.

Full Documentation

Every keyword, category, description version, and rationale documented and delivered — so you can manage and update your listings independently after we hand over.

Works for Backlist

Metadata optimisation works for existing published books, not just new releases. Backlist improvements typically show ranking movement within 3–7 days of the update going live.

Trusted by business leaders, entrepreneurs & executives

From first-time authors to seasoned CEOs — our clients use their books to build authority, attract clients, and leave a lasting legacy.

I've been running my consulting firm for 14 years and always knew a book would elevate my positioning. Hawthorne made it real. The ghostwriter they matched me with understood my industry from day one. The final manuscript reads exactly like me — sharp, direct, and full of the frameworks I use with clients. Closed two six-figure engagements before the official launch.

MT
Marcus T.
Mar 2026
★★★★★

I came in with a half-finished manuscript and no clear direction. The developmental editing process was transformative — they helped me restructure the entire argument without losing my voice. The book is now the anchor of my thought leadership strategy and has been picked up by three business podcasts. Worth every dollar.

SK
Sarah K.
Jan 2026
★★★★★

Hawthorne handled my business memoir from outline to Amazon launch. The project manager kept everything on schedule and the ghostwriter captured 20 years of entrepreneurial lessons in a way that is genuinely engaging. It's already ranking in two categories on KDP and my speaking inquiries have tripled since launch.

DR
Daniel R.
Feb 2026
★★★★★

As a business coach, credibility is everything. Publishing my book with Hawthorne gave me a tangible asset I can put in front of every prospective client. The team handled the cover, interior layout, ISBN, and KDP submission flawlessly. I didn't have to touch a single technical detail. Professional from start to finish.

JW
Jennifer W.
Dec 2025
★★★★★

My executive team had been suggesting I write a strategy book for years. Hawthorne turned that idea into a polished, published reality in under five months. The ghostwriter conducted thorough interviews, the editor tightened every chapter, and the cover design looked better than books I've seen from major publishers.

RA
Robert A.
Nov 2025
★★★★★

I used Hawthorne's book marketing and Amazon Ads service post-launch. The team built a proper campaign strategy, ran the ads, and optimised the metadata. Within six weeks we hit bestseller status in two categories. The visibility it created for my startup brand was unlike anything I'd achieved through traditional PR.

MC
Michael C.
Oct 2025
★★★★★
Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions authors ask most about this service.

Metadata is every piece of information associated with your book in retail databases — title, subtitle, description, keywords, categories, author bio, BISAC codes, and pricing. Amazon's A9 search algorithm uses metadata to decide which searches your book appears for. Poor metadata means readers searching for your exact topic never see your book.

We use a combination of Amazon's autocomplete data, third-party keyword research tools (Publisher Rocket, Helium 10), and manual analysis of bestselling competing titles. The goal is keywords with sufficient search volume but low enough competition that your book can rank on page one.

Amazon allows two primary BISAC categories at upload, but books can be manually added to additional sub-categories (up to 10) by request. Choosing the right sub-categories — ideally ones where the #1 bestseller rank is achievable in the first week — is one of the most impactful distribution decisions.

We write descriptions using Amazon's HTML formatting (bold, line breaks, bullet points) and a proven conversion structure: a hook line, reader identification, key benefit statements, and a close with a call to action. Good descriptions lift click-to-purchase conversion by 20–40%.

We recommend a metadata review every 6–12 months or after any major algorithm or category change. If your book is not ranking despite healthy reviews, stale or misaligned keywords are usually the first thing to investigate.

Yes. We optimise for Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play Books as well. While Amazon dominates, non-Amazon platforms have their own search systems that respond strongly to well-structured metadata.

A 3-minute strategy call is the fastest way to find the right path. No obligation. NDA on request.

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