How to Find Low Competition Niches for Amazon KDP

Did you know that without proper niche research your KDP books can vanish into obscurity? Mastering how to identify low-competition niches on Amazon can dramatically boost your visibility and organic sales.

The Importance of Niche Research in Amazon KDP

Many authors pour hours into designing and writing a book only to watch it sink beneath hundreds of competing titles. Amazon KDP has democratized self-publishing, especially for low-content books such as journals, planners, and puzzle books. This surge in entries has made niche research essential. By pinpointing categories with solid demand but few existing titles, you put your book in front of eager buyers without spending a fortune on ads. Effective niche research aligns your creation with reader searches, improving your chances of ranking on page one and driving consistent, organic sales growth.

“If you can find a bunch of niches that have high search traffic, but they have low competition, you can upload your books, and you’ll organically get sales.” — YouTube Transcript

A Beginner's Strategy for Niche Research

Even if you’ve never used special software, you can uncover niches directly on Amazon. The Alphabet Soup Method only requires an incognito browser window and the Amazon search bar. First, open Amazon in a private or incognito mode to avoid personalized results. Then type your base phrase (e.g., “word search books for”) and press space. Amazon’s auto-suggestions reveal what real shoppers are typing. Go letter by letter—A, B, C, and onward—to collect themes like adults, seniors, Christmas, or couples. Within minutes you’ll have a list of hundreds of potential niches to explore further. This free approach provides genuine keyword ideas, helping beginners grasp basic research without investing in paid tools.

Advanced Niche Research with Book Bolt

For deeper insights into monthly search volume and competitive intensity, specialized tools are invaluable. Book Bolt’s Keywords tool taps Amazon Marketplace data to display up to 100 results per page. After logging in, select Keywords → Search, then enter a term like “word search.” Switch results per page to 100 and scroll through entries sorted alphabetically. Each keyword comes with estimated monthly searches and a competition grade from A (low competition) to F (overcrowded). You can heart promising niches—such as “adventure word search” or “anxiety relief puzzles”—then review them under Favorites. Book Bolt also offers a three-day free trial and a lifetime 20% discount, making it easy to test drive before committing.

Tips for Validating Your Niche

Beyond volume and competition scores, you’ll want to cross-validate your niche ideas:

• Check Amazon Best Seller Ranks (BSR) for top titles in that category. A BSR under 100,000 often indicates steady sales.
• Analyze the number and quality of competitor reviews. Fifteen or fewer reviews means room to stand out.
• Observe competitor covers and descriptions: can you craft a more eye-catching design or clearer subtitle?
• Use Google Trends to confirm seasonal or long-term interest patterns for your keywords.
  By combining these metrics, you ensure your chosen niche not only looks good on paper but thrives in practice.

Finalizing Your Niche Choices

Once you’ve hearted and vetted several potential topics in Book Bolt, it’s time to prioritize. Create a simple spreadsheet listing each niche, its monthly search volume, competition grade, BSR range, and average review count. Highlight the top three niches that strike the best balance between demand and low competition. Plan to design distinct covers, write compelling subtitles, and optimize your Amazon KDP listing with those exact keywords. After launch, monitor weekly sales and rank fluctuations, making adjustments—such as tweaking titles or cover art—to improve performance over time.

Conclusion

Now you’re equipped with both free and advanced methods to find low-competition niches on Amazon KDP. By combining the Alphabet Soup Method with a tool like Book Bolt and validating with BSR and Google Trends, you’ll confidently target gaps in the market.

Actionable Takeaway:
• Launch three KDP books in your top niche, optimize your listing with those exact keywords, and monitor BSR weekly for continuous improvement.

Have any other niche research strategies worked for you? Share your experiences or questions below!