METADATA
Your Book's Digital Fingerprint
The guide for authors who don't want their book to vanish into the abyss of the internet
Metadata is one of those words that sounds like it belongs in a lab or an MI5 briefing. In reality, it's far less glamorous — but far more important for your book's survival.
If you've ever wondered how Amazon decides which books to show readers, how your novel gets categorised, or why one book sells thousands while another languishes unseen… metadata is the puppeteer behind the curtain.
And if you get it wrong?
Your book becomes digitally invisible.
A ghost.
A polite whisper in a hurricane.
Let's prevent that.
What Is Metadata? (And Why Should You Care?)
Think of metadata as the DNA of your book — the information that tells stores, platforms, and search engines what your book is and who it’s for.
Readers don't see most of it directly, but algorithms do. And algorithms, as we know, need feeding with extremely specific information.
Metadata includes:
• Your title
• Subtitle
• Series name
• Author name
• Book description
• Keywords
• Genres & categories
• ISBN
• Edition details
• Language
• Age range
• Page count
• Cover file & alt text
• Publication date
• Price
• DRM settings
If your eyes glazed over, don't worry — we're about to break it all down like a very nerdy tour guide.
Titles, Subtitles & Series Names: Your First Metadata Minefield
Your title is not just a creative choice; it's a searchable piece of metadata.
Titles
• Should be short, clear, and memorable.
• Must match everywhere — book cover, KDP, IngramSpark, metadata forms, interior title page.
• Do not get fancy with punctuation that breaks search engines.
If you haven't finalised your title yet, revisit the section on titles in our Choosing the Right Cover guide.
Subtitles
For non-fiction these are crucial.
For fiction it's optional, but helpful for tropes, tone, and discoverability.
Example:
Beneath the Black Ice: A Nordic Thriller
This title sets the tone and gives the reader an idea of the tropes before they've even read the blurb.
Series Names
Keep these consistent.
One typo and suddenly you have two separate series. (This happens)
Author Name & Pen Names: Pick a Personality and Commit
Your author name is also metadata.
Use:
• The exact same spelling
• The exact same punctuation
• The exact same spacing
• Everywhere.
If you publish one book as R.T. Graver and the next as RT Graver the algorithm assumes you're two different people.
Pen name? No problem — but be warned: you're stuck with it unless you rebrand across every system.
Book Description: Metadata Wearing a Fancy Coat
Yes, your blurb is metadata too.
Search engines crawl this text for keywords, tropes, and themes.
But do not — do not — keyword stuff like a desperate SEO amateur from 2007.
Your blurb should:
• Hook the reader
• Signal your genre
• Use natural language
• Include relevant terms (e.g., "grumpy-sunshine romance" or "locked-room mystery")
If you don't know your tropes…
Please read the Plot Diagnostics & Revision guide before continuing or do some research.
Keywords: Where Most Authors Accidentally Self-Sabotage
Keywords tell Amazon who to show your book to.
Choose terms that:
• Accurately describe your book
• Match reader search behaviour
• Signal genre, tone, tropes, and themes
Avoid:
• Using your name
• Using competitive author names
• Words already in your title
• Misleading keywords (Amazon will punish you)
Keyword research tools:
• Publisher Rocket
• KDP's auto-suggestions
• Google Trends
• BookDrop (for tropes & comps)
Pro Tip: Use seven keyword phrases — not single words. Many authors fall into this trap.
Bad keyword: "fantasy"
Good keyword: "enemies to lovers fae fantasy romance"
Categories: Where Authors Accidentally Bury Their Own Books
Choose the wrong category and you compete with every best-selling giant of your genre.
Choose the right one and you have a fighting chance.
Tips:
• Use Amazon's category browser to find niches
• Don't automatically pick the "obvious" category
• Pick two categories that give visibility
• Request extra KDP categories via Amazon support
• Ensure your categories actually match your content
Pro tip: check where books like yours chart. This can be overwhelming with thousands of categories, but it's a necessary evil I'm afraid.
Check out our Writers Mindset Guide if you're struggling.
ISBNs & Edition Metadata: The Publishing Identity Numbers
Your ISBN links all metadata together.
The second you assign one, the universe begins expecting accurate information.
You need a separate ISBN for:
• Paperback
• Hardback
• eBook (not all platforms require this)
• Special editions
• Audio editions
A reminder: if you don't know what an ISBN is, or whether you even need one, please visit our ISBNs Explained guide before you go any further.
File Types & Formatting Metadata
Metadata often lives inside your files — especially digital ones.
Your eBook needs:
• A correct metadata header
• An embedded cover image
• A functional TOC
• Proper structure (don't panic — see eBook Publishing Essentials)
• Accurate front and back matter
Supported formats:
• EPUB (industry standard)
• KPF (Kindle Package Format)
• MOBI (deprecated but still lurking for some devices)
• PDF (not for Kindle — but used for proofing)
Incorrect metadata inside your EPUB can cause:
• Genre misplacement
• Author name mismatches
• Wrong publication dates
• Missing categories
• Cover errors
• KDP rejection
In other words: chaos.
Front Matter & Back Matter: The Bits Everyone Skips but Metadata Eats
Front matter should include:
• Title page
• Copyright page
• ISBN
• Author name
• Dedication (optional)
• Acknowledgements (optional, but do not thank fictional characters unless you want Amazon to group you with the best-sellers and bury your book 1000's of pages deep)
Back matter should include:
• "About the Author"
• Link to your website
• Link to your mailing list (hello Organic Book Promotion)
• Reading order if you're writing a series
• Calls to review & follow
These sections are metadata gold mines — algorithms track link clicks, series continuation, and reader retention.
Pricing, DRM & Publishing Details
Metadata includes:
• Price
• Territories
• DRM settings (Digital Rights Management)
• Pre-order dates
• Publication date
• Edition number
• Tags for adult content
Tip: Never price your debut at £8.99 unless you are already famous or accidentally iconic.
Start modest.
Grow with readership.
Metadata Quality Checklist (The "Don't Embarrass Yourself on Amazon" List)
Before clicking publish, confirm:
□ Title matches everywhere
□ Author name is consistent
□ Blurb is polished
□ Keywords researched & relevant
□ Correct categories
□ ISBN assigned correctly
□ Metadata header inside your EPUB is accurate
□ Publication date set
□ Pricing consistent across platforms
□ Series name spelled consistently
□ No misleading keywords
□ No placeholder text left in metadata fields
□ No ALL CAPS TITLES
Metadata: The Final, Invisible Hero
You can have the best book in the world, the most stunning cover, and the most dedicated launch plan — but metadata is the machinery that gets your book to the right readers.
Publishing without metadata is like shoving your novel into a cave and hoping someone wanders by with a torch.
This guide is the torch.
Use it well.