How to Market Your Humor Book on Amazon KDP (Without Losing Your Mind)
Marketing a humor book on Amazon is like trying to explain a joke in an elevator pitch—you’ve got approximately 7 seconds before someone’s attention wanders to another of the 3 million books published this year.
Having navigated the peculiar waters of KDP marketing for comedy books, I’m here to share what works, what doesn’t, and what will make you question your career choices.
Understanding the Amazon Algorithm (Sort Of)
Let me be honest: nobody fully understands Amazon’s algorithm except Amazon, and I’m convinced even they’re not entirely sure. But here’s what we do know:
The algorithm favors:
- Sales velocity - Books selling consistently
- Relevance - Keywords that match search intent
- Engagement - Click-through rates on your listing
- Reviews - Both quantity and quality
For humor books specifically, the challenge is that people don’t usually search for “funny book.” They search for the topic they want to laugh about.
Keywords: The Comedy Goldmine
Keywords are where humor books can actually have an advantage. While serious fiction fights over “thriller” and “romance,” we get creative territory.
My Keyword Strategy
Broad keywords (competitive but necessary):
- Satire book
- Funny books for adults
- Humor fiction
- Comedy novel
Niche keywords (your secret weapon):
- Academic satire
- Professor humor
- Faculty meeting jokes
- Campus comedy
- University humor books
Long-tail keywords (specific intent):
- Funny gift for teacher
- Humorous books about college
- Satirical fiction for intellectuals
Pro tip: Look at what readers of similar books are buying. Amazon’s “Customers also bought” section is keyword research gold.
Choosing the Right Categories
Amazon gives you two category slots. Use them strategically.
Category Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Putting your satire in “General Humor”—too competitive ❌ Choosing a category that doesn’t fit—confuses readers ❌ Ignoring niche categories—missed opportunity
Better Category Strategy
For academic satire like my work:
- Humorous Fiction → Satire
- Literature & Fiction → Satire (yes, both exist separately)
Check the category bestseller lists. Can you realistically compete for a top 100 spot? If so, that category is worth targeting.
Pricing Your Humor Book
Pricing comedy is tricky. Too cheap and people assume it’s not good. Too expensive and they’ll wait for a sale.
My Pricing Philosophy
Kindle eBook: $4.99 - $9.99
- $4.99 for shorter works or new authors
- $9.99 for established authors with longer works
- The 70% royalty sweet spot
Paperback: $12.99 - $16.99
- Factor in printing costs
- Leave room for promotions
- Consider your page count
Audiobook (if applicable): Premium pricing
- Comedy audiobooks with good narration command higher prices
- The performance adds significant value
The Book Description: Your Comedy Showcase
Your book description is a free sample of your writing voice. For humor books, it should BE funny, not just describe funny content.
Description Structure That Works
- Hook (2-3 sentences): Grab attention with voice
- Premise (1 paragraph): What’s the book about?
- Stakes/Appeal (1 paragraph): Why should they care?
- Social proof (optional): Reviews, awards
- Call to action: Tell them to buy it
Example Hook
“What happens when a tenured professor finally snaps during their 47th meeting about parking lot redistribution? Absolute chaos—and the best laugh you’ll have all year.”
Compare to the boring version:
“This is a funny book about a professor who doesn’t like faculty meetings.”
Same information. Wildly different impact.
Reviews: The Comedy Club Audience
Reviews are social proof, but for humor books, they’re also validation that your jokes land. Here’s how to ethically build reviews:
Do:
- Ask readers directly (email list, back of book)
- Follow up with people who loved it
- Make leaving a review easy (include links)
- Be patient—reviews take time
Don’t:
- Buy reviews (against TOS, destroys credibility)
- Trade reviews with other authors (also against TOS)
- Obsess over negative reviews (someone will hate your humor)
- Argue with reviewers (ever)
Promotional Strategies That Work
1. Kindle Countdown Deals
Drop your price for a limited time while maintaining the 70% royalty. Great for boosting sales velocity.
Best practices:
- Run for 3-5 days
- Combine with promotion sites
- Schedule around paydays (people have money)
2. Promotion Sites
These sites email their subscribers about book deals. For humor:
- BookBub (the holy grail—hard to get)
- Bargain Booksy
- Robin Reads
- Fussy Librarian
3. Social Media (Strategically)
Social media can work for humor books because… you’re funny. Your posts should demonstrate your voice.
What works:
- Funny observations in your niche
- Relatable content your audience shares
- Behind-the-scenes writing life
- Engaging with your community
What doesn’t:
- “BUY MY BOOK” posts
- Generic motivation quotes
- Posting to the void
4. Newsletter
Building an email list is the single best long-term marketing investment. Offer something valuable (free short story, exclusive content) in exchange for signups.
The Long Game
Here’s the truth nobody wants to hear: marketing a single book is hard. Marketing a catalog is easier.
Write more books. Each book is:
- A new entry point
- Cross-promotion opportunity
- Algorithm signal that you’re active
- Another chance to reach readers
My first book didn’t take off until my second book gave readers a reason to discover the first.
A Reality Check
Most books don’t become bestsellers. That’s okay.
Success metrics worth celebrating:
- Finishing and publishing (huge accomplishment)
- Your first sale (someone bought your jokes!)
- Your first review (someone read AND reviewed!)
- Consistent sales (even small ones)
- Reader emails (connection made)
Final Thoughts
Marketing humor books requires being funny everywhere—your description, your ads, your social media, your author bio. It’s exhausting, but it’s also the purest form of “know thyself” marketing.
You’re not selling a product. You’re selling your sense of humor. If they like you in the description, they’ll like you in the book.
Speaking of humor books on Amazon, have you checked out Prof or not, here I come! yet? It’s a masterclass in academic satire AND a fine example of everything in this article.
What’s your biggest KDP marketing challenge? Let me know in the comments!
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I'm Prof Y Not, and when I'm not grading papers or crying in a broom closet, I write satire books about the absurdity of academia.
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