The New Category Changes on Amazon

by Penny Sansevieri | Jul 13, 2023 | Podcast for Authors

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Amazon is constantly refining how readers discover books, and its latest changes point to one clear goal: making it easier for shoppers to find exactly what they’re looking for. While many authors focus on algorithms, keywords, or advertising, Amazon is increasingly focused on improving the customer experience. That means authors need to become more intentional about how they position their books.

One of the biggest developments is Amazon’s evolving category navigation. During testing, Amazon introduced a more guided browsing experience that walks readers through increasingly specific genre and trope selections. Instead of simply choosing “Romance” or “Mystery,” shoppers could drill down into highly targeted subgenres and themes before seeing recommended books. Although the feature was only in beta at the time, it highlights the direction Amazon appears to be heading: helping readers narrow their choices more quickly by matching them with books that closely fit their interests.

For authors, this reinforces an important lesson. Vague positioning is becoming a disadvantage. If you’re unsure whether your book is romance or women’s fiction, thriller or suspense, Amazon’s evolving discovery tools may make it increasingly difficult for readers to find you. Successful books clearly communicate their genre, audience, and reader expectations from the beginning.

These changes also complement Amazon’s recent updates to book categories. Authors now choose categories directly through KDP rather than requesting them through customer support. While the overall category structure hasn’t changed dramatically, Amazon is encouraging authors to take greater ownership of selecting the most appropriate categories for their books. Learning how categories work is no longer optional. It’s becoming an essential publishing skill.

The discussion also touches on a broader trend happening across the internet. Just as Google and social media platforms are using artificial intelligence to personalize search results and recommendations, Amazon is investing heavily in guiding shoppers toward products it believes they’ll enjoy. Rather than presenting endless lists of options, the platform is increasingly “ushering” readers toward books that closely match their interests and purchasing behavior.

The takeaway for authors is straightforward: spend time understanding the platform where you’re selling your book. Categories, metadata, positioning, and genre selection aren’t administrative tasks. They’re fundamental parts of discoverability. Authors who understand how Amazon organizes and recommends books will be better positioned to benefit as these new discovery tools continue to evolve.

The episode also highlights a new independent bestseller list from Bookstat, which aims to provide broader visibility into book sales, including independent titles. While still relatively new, it represents another positive development for authors looking beyond traditional bestseller lists for industry insights. Finally, the hosts remind authors that they don’t need to be active on every new social media platform that appears. Securing your preferred username across platforms is a smart precaution, but your time is usually better spent building a strong presence where your readers already engage.