Make sure your metadata is in tip top shape for optimal SEO and online discoverability.
Genre fiction refers to books that are written according to a particular theme or style. Crime fiction, romantic fiction, or fantasy fiction are examples of popular genre fiction. Fiction readers are very genre-specific, and your metadata (especially keywords and categories) tells them at a glance if your book meets their interests.
Why is it so important to master your metadata? Quality metadata is key to ensuring the discoverability of your titles and is too often overlooked by self-publishers and even by some traditional publishers.
Put simply, without good metadata, your audience can’t find your content. If your audience can’t find your content, they can’t buy your content.
Four major areas of focus for reviewing and perfecting your metadata for fiction are highlighted below:
Book Description
Make sure to provide a detailed description of your book. Include things such as:
- A punchy headline—and make it bold to stand out!
- Retelling Callouts—i.e. "A modern retelling of Beauty & the Beast."
- Series Information—i.e. "This is the second book in the Big Brother series."
- Special Edition Details—Does this edition have a special cover or some other special feature? Call it out!
Tropes
To appeal to readers of specific recurring themes, provide a bulleted list of tropes at the end of the book description. For example:
This book is perfect for fans of:
- Happy Endings
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Small Town Romance
- Forbidden Love
Series Info
Booksellers and libraries want to know if a book is part of a series and will often stock an entire series together. If applicable:
- Provide the series name and number in the appropriate fields
- Include mention of the series in the book description
- Do not include the series name in the title or subtitle
Author Biography
Make sure to provide an author bio, which helps build credibility and relatability with readers. Include things such as:
- Personal info about the author
- Prior work
- Awards and critical acclaim
- Social media handles if the author has a strong online presence
Don’t forget to add appropriate BISAC subjects, Thema subjects, and keywords. This discoverability metadata is vital for all books regardless of genre.
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