By Rachel Guise, PPS Editor —
Let’s start at the beginning. What is metadata?
IngramSpark defines metadata as “the words and phrases that you use to describe yourself and your book.” This includes the author name, book title, description, publication date, and other book-specific details. Keywords are also included in the metadata. These would be terms you want to be associated with your book so that when a person searches online for that topic, your book comes up in the search results. Basically, metadata describes your book. It works like DNA, but for your book! This secret set of instructions hidden inside is what helps SEO programs, search engines, and web pages pick up your book.
What makes metadata effective?
The most important part of the metadata is the keywords. The words and phrases you select will be used in your book’s description. So, the more keywords you list in the metadata and use in your description, the more your book will appear in search results. According to IngramSpark, your list of keywords shouldn’t include anything generic. You want to use specific ideas your intended audience will search for. Also, these keywords allow the metadata to be picked up by online retailers so they can direct a reader to the genre of books they would like to view.
Why is metadata important?
First impressions are everything! Your target audience will be reading several book titles and book descriptions in their search. You want your book to stand out. Being specific with your description will help hone in on why your book is the best choice. IngramSpark has another bit of insight. Metadata is a great place to note selling points and special features. Illustrations or new-to-this-edition elements can help increase interest in and sales of your book. Another perk? Metadata can help your readers find your other publications. That’s built-in marketing!