For writers intent on publishing books, our keywords become a vital part of the process. The setup on Kindle Direct Publishing gives us the choice for 7 keywords. But how do we decide the best words that will attract readers and give a positive result on search engine optimizations?
Below is a formula we can use, based on our back blurb or the Amazon description. So first, we need to write an amazing description using copywriting words, a call to action, and a fabulous eye-catching hook.
Here’s the description for my newest book, just released on Amazon: Sustain Us, Oh Lord: Finding Strength When Life is Hard.
“How can Jesus followers deal with the hard places in life, especially when the struggles continue for months, years, or decades? Is there a magic formula to help us endure these challenges?
“When we go through difficult seasons in life, we often ask God to rescue us. We cry out for God’s mercy. We beg for healing. And sometimes those miracles DO happen. But other times, we must endure the pain, the struggle, the challenge, the suffering. Somehow, we must dig for the courage to persevere. How can we possibly find the grace for each difficult day?
“The answer is less of a focus on what we can do and more faith to believe in God’s sustaining power. In this brief, yet powerful book, RJ Thesman offers some practical tools, Bible passages, and reflections that point us toward the God who dearly loves us — even while allowing difficulties in our faith walk. Join Thesman for a study into the strength God provides through his sustaining power.”
The Keywords Formula:
Keywords 1-3: What the book is about, using specific phrases from the description. In the example above, that might be ‘The challenges of Jesus followers,’ ‘Miracles do happen,’ ‘Difficult seasons in life, ‘Practical tools for Christians,’ or ‘God’s sustaining power.’
Keywords 4-5: Not quite so descriptive. More leftover phrases such as: ‘faith walk,’ ‘sustaining power,’ ‘when we suffer,’ ‘enduring pain,’ or ‘finding grace.’
Keywords 6-7: Use category specific words. On KDP, you will have several choices for categories. So put these to work in your keywords. ‘Devotions for Jesus followers,’ ‘Struggles in Spirituality,’ ‘Inspirational devotions,’ ‘How to Meditate while in Pain,’ or ‘Christian Living.’
The other important tip for keywords is to keep a list of the keywords and categories you used for your print book. Then when you format your e-book, you won’t have to go searching for something you’ve already done.
So . . . keep this formula handy and use it for your next publication. Then order your copy of Sustain Us, Oh Lord: Finding Strength When Life is Hard.
See how neatly I added shameless promotion on this blog post?
©2025 RJ Thesman – All Rights Reserved
Image Attribution: Geralt / Pixabay
Multiple Bible verses contain the word ‘sustain.’ Find out why in Sustain Us, Oh Lord: Finding Strength When Life is Hard.
Kudos to well-placed shameless promotions!