How to Find Low Competition Niches on KDP

If you have ever thought about publishing on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), you’ve probably heard people saying “find a niche.” And they’re right. Choosing the right niche can make or break your success on KDP. But here’s the tricky part: most beginners get stuck looking at highly competitive categories. They end up making books in the same areas everyone else is targeting—like journals, coloring books, or romance fiction. That’s why their books don’t sell.

The real key is simple: look for low competition niches. These are areas where readers are hungry for content but not many authors are serving them. In other words, it’s like finding a shop where customers are lining up, but no one is selling the product.

Now the big question… how do you actually find those niches? Let’s break it down step by step.

Why low competition niches matter
Imagine opening a small coffee shop. If you put it in a street with five big Starbucks stores, your chances are slim. But if you open in an area where people want coffee but no one is selling it yet, you win. Same goes for KDP. If you publish in a niche that already has thousands of strong competitors, you’ll struggle. But with low competition niches, you can stand out faster and sell more with less effort.

Start with reader demand
Before you even look at competition, you need to make sure people actually want the type of book you plan to publish. Demand is everything. Without demand, even if competition is low, your book won’t sell. One way to measure demand is to look at Amazon Best Sellers Rank (BSR).

• Books with a BSR under 200,000 are selling regularly.

• A BSR under 100,000 means the book is doing really well.

• If a niche has several books under 200,000 BSR, it’s a sign that people are buying.

👉 Tip: You don’t need fancy tools. Just search Amazon directly, scroll through books in your target idea, and note down their BSR.

Check competition levels
Once you know readers are buying, the next step is to check competition. Here’s a simple method:

1. Go to Amazon and type your keyword.

2. Look at how many search results appear.

3. Check the quality of the top results (cover design, reviews, page count, etc.).

If search results are under 5,000 and top books don’t look too professional, this is a green light. If you see 20,000 results with polished covers and 5,000+ reviews, it’s not worth it.

Use long-tail keywords
Here’s where most people miss out. Instead of targeting big, broad niches like “coloring book,” go deeper. Look for long-tail keywords like:

• “Coloring book for seniors with dementia”

• “Mindful coloring for stressed moms”

• “Simple coloring book for toddlers age 2-4”

These long-tail niches often have less competition but still attract real buyers.

Here’s a quick table to explain:

Check if people are searching outside Amazon
Amazon is not the only place people look for books. Sometimes, you can get hints from outside platforms. Try using:

• Google Trends – type your keyword and see if interest is rising.

• Pinterest – search for your niche, see if people pin related topics.

• Reddit/Quora – check what problems people are discussing.

For example, if you find lots of discussions on “gratitude journals for teens,” but there are only a handful on Amazon, that’s a clear gap you can fill.

Spy on reviews for hidden ideas
Customer reviews are a goldmine. Why? Because readers literally tell you what they like and dislike. Spend some time reading reviews in your chosen niche. Look for repeated complaints or wishes.

For example, if readers of a puzzle book keep saying “too hard for kids,” that’s a chance to create an easier version. Or if people reviewing planners say “wish it had more space for notes,” you can design one that fixes the problem.

Balance between evergreen and trending niches
Not all niches are equal. Some are evergreen—like cookbooks, children’s books, self-help—these will always sell. Others are trending—like AI art prompts, pandemic journals, or cryptocurrency guides.

The smart strategy? Balance both. Evergreen niches give you long-term income. Trending niches can bring quick wins, but they often fade fast.

Before publishing, check demand using this guide: How to Check Book Demand on Amazon Quickly.

Don’t ignore micro-niches
Sometimes, even within a niche, you can go smaller. This is called micro-niching. For instance:

• Instead of just “gratitude journal,” try “gratitude journal for nurses.”

• Instead of “puzzle book,” try “word search puzzle for truck drivers.”

It might sound funny, but these micro-niches often have very loyal audiences. People love books that feel made “just for them.”

Avoid the trap of only chasing low competition
This might surprise you. While low competition is good, it should never be the only factor. A niche with very low competition but no demand is just as bad as a niche with high competition. Always ask: “Is there enough buying power in this space?”

Practical tools you can use
While you don’t need tools, they can make research faster. Some popular ones include:

• Publisher Rocket (paid, shows competition and search volume).

• Helium 10 (used for Amazon product research, but works for KDP too).

• AMZ Suggestion Expander (a free Chrome extension that gives keyword ideas).

👉 But remember: tools are helpers, not magic bullets. Always verify with your own eyes on Amazon.

A step-by-step niche research routine

Here’s a simple routine you can follow daily:

1. Brainstorm ideas – hobbies, professions, age groups, problems.

2. Search on Amazon – check results, BSR, and covers.

3. Look outside Amazon – Google Trends, Pinterest, Reddit.

4. Check reviews – see what readers want more of.

5. Test with long-tail keywords – find micro-niches.

6. Validate demand vs competition – make a final call.

Do this regularly and you’ll always have new niche ideas.

Example niches people overlook

Here are a few real examples (not recommendations, just ideas):

• Log books for electricians 🛠️

• Memory journals for grandparents 👵

• Diet trackers for new moms 👶

• Fitness planners for people over 60 💪

• Pet training logs for dogs or cats 🐶🐱

Notice how all of these are specific. That’s the key.

Some common mistakes to avoid

• Copying popular niches blindly – just because “gratitude journal” is hot doesn’t mean you’ll succeed.

• Ignoring cover quality – even in low competition, a poor cover kills sales.

• Overstuffing keywords – readers want a good title, not spammy text.

• Not testing first – always test with one or two books before going all in.

Quick tips to stand out even in low competition niches

• Invest in a professional-looking cover.

• Write a clean, honest book description.

• Use proper categories (you can request extra from Amazon support).

• Add a few interior features that competitors don’t offer.

Even small details can make your book shine.

Final thoughts
Finding low competition niches on KDP is not about magic tricks. It’s about being curious, patient, and willing to research where others don’t. Remember—Amazon is huge, and there are readers for almost everything. The ones who win are those who can match the right book to the right audience.

So, don’t just chase what everyone else is doing. Look for gaps, test ideas, and always think like a reader first. That’s how you’ll discover gold.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need paid tools to find niches?
No. Tools can help, but free methods (Amazon search, BSR checking, reviews) are enough for beginners.

Q2: How do I know if a niche has enough demand?
Check BSR of top 10–20 books. If several are under 200,000, that shows steady sales.

Q3: What’s better—evergreen or trending niches?
Evergreen niches bring long-term stability, trending niches bring quick profits. The best strategy is to mix both.

Q4: How many books should I test in a niche?
Start with one or two. If they perform well, scale up with variations.

Q5: Can I succeed in KDP in 2025 and beyond?
Yes. The market is competitive, but readers are also increasing. If you find the right low competition niches, success is absolutely possible.