Episode 53: Don't Be Haunted by Selecting Ghost Categories

Episode Title:The Smart Publishing Impact Series – Episode 53: Don't Be Haunted by Selecting Ghost CategoriesEpisode Summary:Choosing the wrong categories on Amazon KDP can quietly sabotage your book’s visibility—and most authors don’t even realize it’s happening.In Episode 53, Renée Lautermilch, Chief Editor at Smart Publishing, breaks down one of the most overlooked (and increasingly important) parts of publishing: categories—and specifically, ghost categories. These hidden traps can prevent your book from ranking as a bestseller, limit discoverability, and keep your book buried in Amazon’s ecosystem no matter how many copies you sell.Renée walks you through what ghost categories are, how to identify them, and how to strategically choose categories that actually work for you—not against you. She also answers real listener questions about category selection, keyword alignment, and why Amazon sometimes overrides your choices.If you want your book to be seen, found, and ranked—this episode is essential.What You’ll Hear:What Amazon KDP categories actually do (and why they matter)What “ghost categories” are—and why they can kill your rankingsWhy you only get 3 category choices (and why that matters more now)How Amazon assigns additional categories based on your metadataThe critical relationship between keywords and categoriesWhy duplicating category keywords can hurt your discoverabilityHow to identify a ghost category before selecting itWhy “general” categories are often a hidden trapHow to choose categories that balance relevance and competitivenessReal listener Q&A: why Amazon may change your categories after publishingQuote to Remember:“If your categories and keywords aren’t aligned, Amazon will decide for you—and it may not be in your favor.”Mentioned in This Episode:Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)SmartPublishingServices.com – courses, blogs, and publishing resourcesConnect with Renée Lautermilch on Facebook – she’s the only one in the worldEmail: [email protected] Next:Episode 54 features two intellectual property attorneys discussing Kindle’s controversial “Ask This Book” AI feature—and what it could mean for authors’ rights.