Metadata — If your book can’t be found, does it exist?
Metadata might be invisible to readers, but it’s doing an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. In this episode, LL Kirchner and Tara Lush break down what metadata actually is, what parts authors can control, what parts they can’t—and why treating it like clerical busywork is one of the easiest ways to let a good book quietly disappear.
We talk candidly about keywords, categories, pricing signals, print logistics, and why being “unclear” is worse than being imperfect. This is not a hacks episode. It’s a reality check.
Support our books
* Find Tara’s books on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tara-Lush/author/B00O5M5T5G
* Find LL’s books (available everywhere):https://llkirchner.com/books
Episodes referenced
* Episode 2: Publishing terminology
* Episode 4: Publishing numbers (ISBNs, ASINs, BISAC, etc.)Essential background for understanding how metadata works across platforms.
Platforms & tools discussed
* Amazon US Help CenterHow keywords, categories, pricing, and page count affect discoverability.
* Barnes & NobleDifferent category structures and keyword logic than Amazon.
* IngramSparkPrint metadata, bookstore ordering, returns, trim size limits, and margins.
* Draft2DigitalA practical place to update metadata post-publication for wide authors.
* BookBubUsed for testing comps and reader behavior through ads.
* Publisher RocketDiscussed with skepticism and curiosity; helpful for some, confusing for others.
What we’re reading / listening to
* Write to Riches by Renee Rose
* One of Us Is Dead by Geneva Rose
Coming next
Episode 8: Kindle Unlimited — the 800-pound bear
Have questions about KU? Drop them in the comments—we’ll address them in the next episode.
