Glossary · Publishing
What is book metadata?
Definition
Book metadata: Book metadata is the information that describes a book to stores and search engines: title, author, description, ISBN, price, keywords and categories.
Metadata is the data about your book rather than the book itself. It covers the title and subtitle, series name and number, author and contributor names, description, ISBN, imprint, publication date, language, page count, trim size, price, keywords, categories (such as BISAC codes) and age range. Stores use it to build your product page; search engines and store search use it to decide when to show your book.
Good metadata is accurate, consistent and specific. The author name should be spelled identically on every edition so stores link them. The description should be written for readers and use the words they would search for. Categories should be the narrowest ones that honestly fit. Misleading metadata — keyword stuffing, unrelated authors' names, or categories that do not match the content — can get a listing suppressed, so check each platform's current rules.
Traditional publishers and larger distributors exchange metadata in a standard XML format called ONIX. Self-publishers usually enter it by hand in each store's dashboard, which is why keeping a single master metadata sheet saves time and prevents mismatches when you publish wide.
Metadata is not fixed. You can usually update the description, keywords and categories after publication — many authors adjust them as they learn what readers search for.