Publishing checklist

A practical KDP metadata checklist before you publish.

Use this checklist to review the metadata choices that shape discoverability and reader trust: title, subtitle, backend keywords, categories, BISAC, book description, and ad keyword starting points.

Title and subtitle

Make sure the title and subtitle match the book readers will receive. Keywords can help, but unclear or overstuffed titles tend to hurt trust and conversion.

Backend keyword slots

Use backend keywords for relevant phrases that are not already doing enough work in the title or subtitle. Avoid competitor names, misleading claims, duplicate stems, and promotional wording.

Categories and BISAC

Choose categories that fit the book's promise and audience. Compare difficulty, but do not trade relevance for an easier shelf.

Description and ad targets

The description should speak to readers first and algorithms second. For ads, start with tightly related keywords, comparable books, and testable match types rather than a huge undifferentiated list.

Questions authors ask

Should every keyword appear in the book description?

No. Use natural reader-facing language. Forced keyword stuffing can weaken the description and reduce trust.

Can Kindlefish create a full metadata package?

Yes. The paid Fee report can produce backend keyword slots, category recommendations, ad keyword targets, description variants, and caveats for review.

Next steps

Open the Kindlefish research workspace to run the live tool, or continue with one of the related author-research guides.