How to write a KDP title and subtitle that buyers can find

What each part is for

• Title: what the book is, in the words a buyer would use. Short enough to read on a small cover image.
• Subtitle: who it is for and what they get. This is where a second keyword phrase fits naturally.
• Both must match what is printed on the cover; KDP checks this.

A simple formula

1. Start with the main phrase buyers type (for example, "Large Print Word Search").
2. Add the reader or the occasion in the subtitle ("100 Easy Puzzles for Seniors").
3. Add one clear benefit or detail that sets the book apart ("with Solutions", "One Puzzle per Page").
4. Read it aloud. If it sounds like a list of search terms, rewrite it as something a person would say.

Mistakes that cost sales or get a book rejected

Amazon's metadata guidelines set the exact rules and length limits; check KDP's help pages before you publish, because they change.

• Keyword stuffing: a title that repeats the same idea five ways looks like spam to buyers and to Amazon.
• Words that are not on the cover, or a cover that says something different.
• Claims such as "best seller", "#1" or "free", and references to other brands, authors or trademarks.
• A subtitle left empty: it is the easiest place to say who the book is for.

Check before you publish

1. Search your main phrase and compare your title with the first page: is it clearer or just longer?
2. Search every distinctive word in the title on a trademark register.
3. Make sure the words you did not use in the title go into your seven keyword boxes instead.

Use the leftover phrases well

Our free KDP Keyword Checker takes your title and your list of phrases, removes words the title already covers and packs the rest into the seven boxes. No account needed.