Let’s be honest. Metadata is about as thrilling as reading a tax manual. You won’t find people gathered at parties saying, “So, tell me about your BISAC codes.” (If you do, please invite me. I want to see that in the wild.) But here’s the kicker: metadata might be the least glamorous part of publishing, and also the most powerful. Think of it as your book’s dating profile. Without it, your book is just sitting there in the world’s biggest singles bar, staring awkwardly at the floor while other books are out there dancing.
The Algorithm is Your Matchmaker
Amazon, Ingram, Barnes & Noble—they don’t actually read your book. They don’t know your protagonist’s tragic backstory or how clever your plot twist is. They only know what you feed them: keywords, categories, descriptions, pricing. If you give them vague, half-baked info, your book isn’t going to get many dates. Quick example: If you wrote a middle grade fantasy with dragons and friendship themes, don’t just list “fantasy.” That’s like saying your hobby is “breathing.” Narrow it down: “middle grade dragon adventure,” “fantasy friendship series,” “kids quest novel.” That’s what readers are actually typing into the search bar at midnight when they’re trying to keep their kids entertained over summer break.Metadata Isn’t One-and-Done
Here’s where most authors go wrong. They treat metadata like the DMV: fill out the forms once and never go back. But the book market is alive, shifting, trending. A category that barely existed two years ago (“romantasy,” anyone?) might now be your golden ticket. Do yourself a favor—revisit your metadata every six months. Check the categories. Look at trending keywords. Adjust where it makes sense. It’s like rotating crops in a garden (sorry, I promised fewer garden metaphors, but this one fits).Free Marketing You’re Ignoring
Metadata costs you nothing but a little brainpower. Yet it’s the difference between being buried on page 27 of the search results or being the book someone one-clicks after binging another in your genre. Takeaway: Metadata won’t make you famous overnight, but it will quietly work for you 24/7. Treat it with respect, give it some updates now and then, and you’ll be surprised at how much more discoverable your book becomes. At BiblioMax, we’re a little nerdy about metadata (in the way some people collect Funko Pops). Because the truth is—getting this right is one of the simplest ways to make sure your book gets seen, bought, and read.