Selecting Three Categories
Categories are a core part of your book’s visibility and discoverability.
New from Amazon
Amazon now allows you to select three categories directly when uploading your book through KDP. This is a shift from the old system where categories were broader and often assigned indirectly.
Think of categories as your marketing lanes. They define where your book shows up and who sees it. Choosing them well matters more than ever.
On the KDP Bookshelf Upload Page
When you upload your book, you will see the category selection as part of the setup process. You choose three, and those are the ones you’ll rank in.
There is no guarantee you’ll stick in all three, but those selections guide Amazon’s initial placement. Changing them too often will hurt your traction, so choose carefully the first time.
Adult Content and Age Range
You must now actively select whether your book contains adult content. Yes or no. There is no default anymore, and definitions are still a bit unclear.
You can also choose an age range, though it’s not required. If you want to target younger readers, this is where that decision starts to matter.
YA vs Children Categories
If you want your book in Young Adult, you need to set the age range to 13 and up. Children’s categories generally fall at 11 and below in the US system.
Be consistent. You can’t mix YA and adult categories. If you try, the system may reject your selections or fail to update properly.
You Only Get Three Categories
You pick three categories, and that is where your book will compete. These mirror what readers see when browsing the store. And avoid ghost categories. They’re not findable by readers.
Your keywords, blurb, and reader behavior will influence where Amazon ultimately places you within or around those categories. If something looks off, check your inputs for mismatches.
Research Category Strings
The best way to choose categories is to study books like yours. Find comparable titles and scroll down to their category listings.
Click into those categories and follow the full string. That path is what you want to replicate when selecting your own. It ensures your book lands where readers already expect to find similar stories.
Final Thought
Categories are not just a checkbox. They’re a core part of your book’s visibility and discoverability.
Take the time to research, align your choices with your content, and commit to them. Done right, categories help readers find you. Done poorly, they bury your book where it doesn’t belong.
Selecting Three Categories— Original Medium Article
Selecting Three Categories— Over 1000 Five Minute Focus videos on the Successful Indie Author YouTube Channel
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Craig Martelle is an author, leader, and entrepreneur living in Alaska. Retired from the Marine Corps military intelligence community and physical security, he graduated summa cum laude from law school and went into business consulting. From intelligence, to the inner workings of company boardrooms, to on-the-ground leadership, Craig has seen it firsthand.
He is a million-selling author of over 200 science fiction (post-apocalyptic, military sci-fi, and space opera), thrillers, and the non-fiction series, Successful Indie Author. Craig has been running author conferences since 2017, and also the Successful Indie Author Facebook Group, and the Successful Indie Author YouTube Channel.
Leadership is a service, not a crown to lord over others.