Metadata Minute (Issue #18): Cookbook Metadata Essentials

In the crowded cookbook market, getting your book noticed requires precise metadata that captures its unique flavor. With the right metadata, you can connect with the perfect audience, enhance discoverability, and boost sales. Here are some cookbook-specific metadata strategies to help your titles thrive.

BISAC Subjects

Cookbooks cover a vast range of topics, from vegan and gluten-free recipes, to quick meals and regional cuisines. Use detailed BISAC codes to narrow down the book’s specific niche, avoiding the temptation to simply tag it as "Cooking - General." Instead, try codes like "COOKING / Vegan" or "COOKING / Regional & Ethnic / Italian" to pinpoint the book’s audience and content. BISG recommends adding three BISAC codes per title, so make the most of them!

TIP: Specialty categories such as “COOKING / Sustainable Living” can also signal to eco-conscious readers that your cookbook aligns with their values.

Keywords and Book Description

Adding some detail to your book description and your keywords can help sell the value of your book and explain the contents in more detail:

• Skill Level: Cookbooks can vary widely in terms of experience level. Be sure to define whether your book is for beginners, intermediate cooks, advanced chefs, etc. Specifying this in metadata (either keywords or elsewhere) will ensure your book reaches the right kitchens.
• Dietary Focus: If your book, or even sections of your book, focus on specific diets (keto, gluten-free, paleo, vegan, etc.), make sure to tag it accordingly. You can even get more specific around health focuses, such as low-sugar, anti-inflammatory, or weight management.
• Seasonal Recipes: Many cookbooks align with specific seasons or holidays. Including these seasonal keywords (Christmas baking, summer grilling, spring salads, etc.) can help capture readers looking for timely inspiration. If you use BISG’s BISAC Merchandising Themes as well, those can help categorize your book more clearly.
• Awards and Endorsements: If your cookbook has received notable culinary awards, mentions in well-known publications, or endorsements from celebrity chefs, add these accolades to your metadata as soon as they’re available.
• Unique Features: Some modern cookbooks include exclusive features, such as QR codes that link to cooking videos, chapters on meal planning, extra items with purchase, and more. If your book includes these, be sure to detail them in your metadata.

Author Expertise and Credentials

An author's background in the culinary world can greatly influence a reader’s trust and interest. If the author is a trained chef, nutritionist, or well-known food blogger, include these details in the metadata (description, author bio, keywords). Credentials can also appeal to both individual buyers and libraries or schools looking to build culinary collections.

Images and Content

Cookbook readers expect high-quality visuals, and metadata can help communicate what they’ll find inside. Be sure to include extra images for your listings with interior book spreads and pictures of the meals your cookbooks help readers create.

Remember not to neglect A+ Content or the Look Inside/Read Sample feature on Amazon! If you were in a bookstore, you probably wouldn’t buy a cookbook without flipping through some of the content first, right? Make sure you give online consumers that option, too. Let readers have a virtual taste of the food your cookbook will provide.

For more tips and guidance, subscribe to the Metadata Minute newsletter and stay ahead in the world of book metadata.