KDP Research Tools
Publisher Rocket: The Complete Guide for Amazon KDP Authors
Publisher Rocket is the industry-standard research tool for self-published authors on Amazon KDP. At a one-time price of $97, it gives you real data on keyword search volume, category competition, and AMS ad terms — data that Amazon does not share publicly. This guide walks you through every feature and shows you how to use it alongside iWrity to maximize launch success.
40%
avg improvement in organic discovery for authors using Publisher Rocket
500+
extra impressions per day from optimized keyword phrases
$97
one-time cost — no subscription, lifetime updates included
What Is Publisher Rocket?
Publisher Rocket (formerly KDP Rocket) is a desktop software tool created by Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur. It pulls live data from Amazon to give indie authors four critical research capabilities:
- 1Keyword search volume and competition score — see how many readers search a phrase per month and how hard it is to rank for it.
- 2Category research — find out exactly how many sales per day a book needs to reach #1 in any given category.
- 3Competitor analysis — see what keywords competing books rank for and how much they earn.
- 4AMS ads keyword research — find the exact search terms Amazon shoppers use so you can target them in Sponsored Products campaigns.
How to Use Publisher Rocket: Step-by-Step
Keyword Research Before Publishing
Amazon KDP gives you 7 keyword phrase slots in your book dashboard. These are not just tags — they directly affect which search results your book appears in. Publisher Rocket's Keyword Search tab lets you type any seed phrase and instantly see monthly search volume, competition score (0–100), and estimated earnings of top books ranking for that term.
Best practice workflow:
- Enter 3–5 broad seed phrases that describe your book
- Look for keywords with competition score below 45 and monthly searches above 1,000
- Prioritize long-tail phrases (4+ words) — less competition, more buyer intent
- Fill all 7 KDP keyword slots with your best findings
Category Research — Find Winnable Categories
Most authors pick categories at random. Publisher Rocket's Category Research tab shows you the "sales to be #1" number for every Amazon book category. Your goal is to find categories where the top-ranked book sells 20–50 copies per day — competitive enough to have real readers, but winnable during a launch week push.
Pro tip: You can request up to 10 categories for your book by emailing KDP support with specific category paths. Publisher Rocket gives you the data to choose all 10 strategically instead of guessing.
Competitor Research — Learn From Top Books
The Competitor Research tab lets you enter a competing book's title or ASIN and see which keywords it ranks for, its estimated monthly earnings, and its BSR history. This is invaluable for new authors entering a genre — reverse-engineer what's already working before you invest in a cover and editing.
- →Find 3–5 bestselling books in your niche and analyze their keywords
- →Look for keywords those competitors rank for that you have not used yet
- →Estimate whether their earnings justify entering the niche
AMS Ads Research — Fuel Your Ad Campaigns
Amazon Advertising (formerly AMS) is the most powerful paid channel for KDP authors. Publisher Rocket's AMS Keywords tab generates hundreds of relevant search terms for any seed phrase, complete with estimated bid ranges and competition levels. This saves 10–20 hours of manual keyword harvesting per campaign.
AMS workflow with Publisher Rocket:
- Enter genre, theme, and comparable author names as seeds
- Export the keyword list (Publisher Rocket exports to CSV)
- Upload to Amazon Ads as exact and broad match targets
- Prune underperformers after 2 weeks of data
Publisher Rocket Alternatives
Publisher Rocket is the most popular tool in its category, but it is not the only option:
| Tool | Cost | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher Rocket | $97 one-time | Full KDP research suite | Desktop only |
| Kindlepreneur (free tools) | Free | Quick keyword ideas | No volume data |
| Amazon Autocomplete | Free | Discovering seed phrases | No competition data |
| K-lytics | $37+/report | Genre market reports | Not real-time |
The Winning Formula: Publisher Rocket + iWrity
Amazon book success depends on two things working together: traffic and conversion. Publisher Rocket handles the traffic side — it ensures readers can find your book when they search for your genre. But traffic alone does not sell books. When a reader lands on your book page, the first thing they check is the reviews.
This is where iWrity comes in. iWrity connects your book with verified ARC readers who leave genuine reviews before and during your launch. A book with 25+ reviews converts traffic into sales at dramatically higher rates than a book with 2–3 reviews.
The flywheel in practice:
finds keywords
your book
reviews
to sales
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Publisher Rocket cost?▼
Publisher Rocket is a one-time payment of $97 with lifetime updates included. There is no monthly subscription fee.
Is Publisher Rocket worth it for new KDP authors?▼
Yes. Even one book optimized with Publisher Rocket keywords can recover the $97 cost many times over. Authors using Publisher Rocket see an average 40% improvement in organic discovery.
What is the difference between Publisher Rocket and Kindlepreneur?▼
Kindlepreneur is the blog and free tools site by Dave Chesson, the creator of Publisher Rocket. Publisher Rocket is the paid software with real-time data. Kindlepreneur offers free keyword tools with less depth.
Can Publisher Rocket help with AMS ads?▼
Yes. Publisher Rocket has a dedicated AMS Ads keyword tool that surfaces the exact search terms Amazon shoppers use, saving you hours of manual research.
How does Publisher Rocket work with iWrity?▼
Publisher Rocket finds the keywords that drive traffic to your book listing. iWrity builds the ARC reviews that convert that traffic into sales. Together they cover the two biggest levers of Amazon book success.
You Have the Keywords. Now Get the Reviews.
Publisher Rocket gets readers to your book page. iWrity ensures they find the social proof to click Buy. Start building your ARC review team today.
Get ARC Reviews with iWrity