How to Spy on Competitors for KDP Success

If you’re trying to succeed on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), one thing becomes clear pretty fast: you’re not alone. Thousands of authors and self-publishers upload books every single day. The competition is fierce, and if you don’t know what others are doing, you’ll always feel like you’re running in circles.

So, here’s the simple truth: spying on your competitors is not only smart, it’s necessary. Don’t worry—it’s not shady. It’s actually just research. You’re learning what’s already working so you can make better choices for your own books. Let’s break this down step by step in plain English.

Why spying on competitors matters

Think about it like this: if you open a coffee shop in your town, wouldn’t you check what other coffee shops are selling? Maybe one has cheaper prices, another has a cozy vibe, and another is all about drive-thru speed. You wouldn’t just ignore them, right?

The same goes for KDP. If you don’t pay attention to what others are doing—titles, covers, keywords, categories, pricing—you’ll miss out on what’s already proven to sell. Competitor research is like a shortcut to avoid mistakes.

Step 1: Identify your real competitors

Not everyone on KDP is your competitor. If you’re writing children’s coloring books, then a thriller novelist isn’t competing with you. Your competitors are authors publishing in the same niche as you.

Here’s how you can spot them:

• Search your niche keywords on Amazon (for example: “gratitude journal” or “sci-fi adventure for teens”).

• Look at the first 2-3 pages of results. These books are your true competition because they’re ranking well.

• Write down their titles, authors, and ASINs.

👉 Pro tip: focus on books that have a BSR (Best Seller Rank) under 100k in books. That means they’re selling well.

Step 2: Analyze their book covers

A book cover can make or break your KDP sales. Readers judge instantly. Competitors give you clues about what works.

Ask yourself:

• Do most covers use bold, bright colors or soft, minimal tones?

• Are fonts big and easy to read?

• Do they use illustrations or stock images?

Now, don’t copy their cover—but notice the patterns. If 80% of top-ranking books in your niche use hand-drawn style illustrations, maybe you should consider that too.

Step 3: Dig into their titles and subtitles

Titles are powerful SEO weapons. Look closely at how your competitors phrase their titles.

For example:

See the difference? Both titles speak to the same niche, but the words target slightly different buyers. Your job is to notice the gaps and come up with a fresh angle.

Step 4: Spy on their categories

Amazon has thousands of categories, but most authors don’t use them wisely. Check which categories your competitors use.

• Scroll down their book listing page.

• Under “Product Details,” you’ll see their categories.

• Some books are in obvious ones like “Self-Help > Journaling,” but others sneak into less competitive categories to rank easier.

👉 You can use tools like Publisher Rocket or free Amazon category finders to see all hidden categories.

Step 5: Study their keywords

Keywords are where the magic happens. This is how Amazon decides where to show your book. Luckily, you don’t have to guess what keywords competitors use.

• Look at their titles and subtitles for main keywords.

• Check their description for repeated phrases.

• Read customer reviews—people often mention keywords naturally (“I bought this gratitude journal for my 10-year-old”).

These words are gold. Write them down.

Step 6: Check their reviews

Reviews aren’t just about ratings. They tell you exactly what readers love—or hate—about a book.

When spying on competitor reviews, look for:

• Complaints: maybe people say, “This journal was too short.” That’s your opportunity—make yours longer.

• Praises: if they say, “The prompts were creative,” you know creativity sells.

• Repeated words: readers often use keywords without realizing.

Step 7: Analyze pricing strategy

Some authors go cheap ($2.99), while others sell at premium prices ($9.99+). Which one works? Well, it depends on the niche.

Make a small pricing table of competitors:

What does this tell you? Sometimes mid-range pricing ($6.99–$7.99) hits the sweet spot.

Step 8: Look at their descriptions

Descriptions aren’t just text—they’re mini sales pages. Notice how competitors structure theirs.

Do they:

• Use bullet points?

• Add emotional hooks?

• Write in a short, punchy style?

If most descriptions in your niche sound boring, here’s your chance to stand out with a lively, engaging one.

Step 9: Observe their extra strategies

Some competitors go beyond the basics. They might:

• Run Amazon ads (you’ll see a “Sponsored” tag).

• Offer series of books instead of one-offs.

• Have websites or email lists linked inside their book.

Spying on these extras shows you what top players do differently.

Step 10: Take action without copying

Now, here’s the most important part: spying is not about copying. It’s about learning what works, spotting opportunities, and then improving.

If a competitor’s cover is bright and bold, don’t make the exact same cover—but maybe create one that’s bold yet unique in color choice. If reviews say “this book lacked enough space for notes,” then your version should fix that problem.

Think of it as being a detective. You collect all the clues, and then you create something even better.

Quick checklist for spying like a pro

✅ Identify top competitors
✅ Study covers, titles, and subtitles
✅ Record categories and keywords
✅ Read reviews carefully
✅ Compare prices and BSR
✅ Improve where they fall short

Bonus tools for easier spying

While you can do everything manually, a few tools save time:

• Publisher Rocket (paid but powerful)

• Helium 10 (great for keywords)

• DS Amazon Quick View (free Chrome extension to check BSR instantly)

• AMZ Suggestion Expander (free keyword tool)

A simple example of spying in action

Let’s say you want to publish a coloring book for toddlers.

• You search “toddler coloring book.”

• Competitors’ covers show animals and big, simple shapes.

• Reviews complain: “Too many tiny details, my kid got frustrated.”

• Prices range from $5.99–$7.99, with top sellers around $6.49.

• Categories: “Children’s Activity Books > Coloring Books.”

What do you do? You create a book with big, simple drawings, price it at $6.49, and add a subtitle like “Easy Animals for Ages 2–4.” Boom—you just outsmarted your competition by spying smarter.

FAQs

Q1: Is spying on competitors legal on KDP?
Yes, 100%. You’re not hacking into anything—you’re just looking at public information on Amazon.

Q2: Can I copy competitor keywords directly?
You can use similar keywords, but don’t just copy-paste. Mix them with your own unique ideas.

Q3: How often should I check my competitors?
At least once a month. The market changes quickly.

Q4: What if my competitors are way ahead of me?
That’s okay. Instead of competing with the giants, focus on smaller niches where you can dominate.

Final thoughts

Spying on competitors isn’t sneaky—it’s smart business. If you want to succeed with KDP, don’t guess what readers want. Look at what’s already working in your niche, spot the gaps, and create something better.

It’s like standing on the shoulders of giants. You learn faster, avoid mistakes, and make smarter decisions. And the best part? Amazon gives you all this data for free—you just have to look.

So, start today. Pick your niche, study the competition, and take notes. Your next KDP book could be the one that climbs the charts—all because you knew how to spy the right way. 🚀