Can I use a famous author's name in my KDP keywords?

No. Amazon prohibits competitor author names in KDP keyword boxes. Using another author's name in your keyword fields violates Amazon's content guidelines and risks listing suppression or removal. The compliant alternative is to describe the type of book that author is associated with using genre and trope language: 'psychological thriller unreliable narrator', 'cosy mystery amateur sleuth series' or equivalent phrases that reflect the reader search patterns without naming a competitor.

Can I use 'bestseller' in my KDP keyword boxes?

No. Amazon prohibits promotional language including 'bestseller', 'award-winning', 'critically acclaimed' and similar quality or popularity claims in keyword boxes. These terms do not reflect how readers search for books and are not valid keyword content. If you want to communicate that your book has reached a bestseller list or won an award, include that information in your book description, where it can influence a reader's purchase decision without violating keyword guidelines.

What happens if I use prohibited keywords on KDP?

Amazon reviews book listings for guideline compliance, particularly after publication or following reader reports. Listings found to contain prohibited keywords can be suppressed from search results, returned for correction, or in repeated or egregious cases, result in broader account action. If you discover you have used a prohibited keyword, update the affected box immediately through your KDP bookshelf. Amazon typically refreshes indexation within 24 to 72 hours of a change.

Are there any other keyword restrictions I should know about on KDP?

Amazon also prohibits ISBNs and ASINs in keyword boxes, content that is obscene or offensive regardless of the book's genre, and anything that would otherwise violate Amazon's general content policies. Keywords relating to subjective quality claims ('the best mystery novel'), irrelevant categories unrelated to the book's content, and drug or controlled substance references outside of relevant educational or literary contexts are also excluded. When in doubt, the test is: does a reader genuinely type this phrase into Amazon when searching for a book? If not, it should not be in your keyword boxes.

What keywords are prohibited on Amazon KDP?

Amazon KDP explicitly prohibits certain types of content in the seven keyword boxes. Using prohibited keywords does not improve discoverability: it risks having your book suppressed, flagged or removed from the Kindle Store. Understanding what Amazon bars from keyword boxes lets you avoid compliance issues while also making better use of the character space for keywords that actually drive reader searches. Amazon's KDP content guidelines identify several categories of content that are not permitted in keyword fields. The categories most commonly encountered by authors are: competitor names (other authors' names and other book titles), misleading category or audience claims, promotional and time-sensitive language, and content that is otherwise in violation of Amazon's general content policies. These restrictions apply to all seven keyword boxes. Amazon reviews book listings, particularly after launch or following content reports, and listings found to contain prohibited keywords can be suppressed from search results or removed until the issue is corrected. Amazon explicitly prohibits using other authors' names or other books' titles in your keyword boxes. This is one of the most frequently misunderstood restrictions in KDP. Some authors believe that including a well-known comparable author's name in their keywords will surface their book alongside that author's results. While this may produce some short-term impressions, it violates Amazon's guidelines and risks account or listing action. The permitted alternative is to describe the type of book in reader terms rather than naming a competing author. Instead of a comparable author's name, use the genre, trope and sub-genre language that readers associate with that author's work. If readers who enjoy a particular thriller author's books tend to search 'psychological thriller unreliable narrator domestic suspense', that phrase captures the reader intent without naming a competitor. You cannot use keywords that create a false impression about your book's content, category or intended audience. Placing a literary fiction novel in keyword phrases that imply it is a children's picture book, or using age-group descriptors that do not match the book's actual content, violates Amazon's policies on misleading content. Quality and award claims in keywords are also prohibited. Phrases such as 'award-winning', 'bestseller', 'critically acclaimed' or 'New York Times' are not permitted in keyword fields, regardless of whether the claim is true. Amazon considers these promotional rather than descriptive and excludes them from valid keyword content. Amazon prohibits promotional and pricing language in keyword boxes. This includes words such as 'free', 'on sale', 'discount', 'deal', 'new release', 'just published', 'limited time' and similar phrases. These terms are not search queries that readers use to find books in a genre: they are promotional signals that have no place in backend keyword fields and are explicitly excluded from KDP's keyword guidelines. Time-sensitive phrases are similarly prohibited: 'book of the month', 'summer read 2026' and equivalent content are not valid keyword entries. Keyword boxes must contain descriptive terms about the book's content, genre, audience or theme that reflect how readers search when they are looking for a book like yours. Every prohibited keyword has a legitimate alternative that describes the same reader intent without the compliance risk. Instead of a competitor's name, use the genre, trope and theme language associated with their work. Instead of 'bestseller', describe the emotional experience the book delivers: 'unputdownable thriller', 'emotional family saga', 'heartwarming romance'. Instead of time-sensitive phrases, use evergreen descriptors that readers use year-round. The most reliable rule of thumb is: if a phrase is something a reader genuinely types into Amazon's search bar when looking for a book, it is likely a valid keyword. If it is a marketing claim, a competitor reference, or a promotional label, it is likely prohibited. Reader search behaviour is the test, not what you wish to communicate about your book.

KDP prohibits competitor names, misleading claims, promotional language and other terms in keyword boxes. Learn what is banned and what to use instead.