A few weeks ago, I noticed something interesting.

One of my math workbooks was selling decently, but a competitor’s book — on the exact same topic — was absolutely crushing it. Same grade level.

Similar number of pages. Almost the same content: multiplication, division, speed drills.

At first, I thought maybe their audience was bigger. Or maybe they were running ads.

But when I took a closer look, I realized something that completely shifted the way I think about KDP:

It’s not just the content that sells. It’s the packaging.

If you’re a self-publisher (especially in the medium or high content space), you already know how much effort goes into creating a good product.

But here’s the truth — a great product with poor packaging often gets ignored.

On Amazon, buyers judge your book within seconds. That first impression matters more than we realize.

So I decided to rework how my book was presented. Not the content — just the way it looked and felt on the product page.

Here are the 3 packaging changes I made — and why I think every KDP author should consider doing the same.

1. I Rewrote My Description Like a Sales Page (Not a Checklist)

My old description was the usual stuff:

• “100 pages of math drills”
• “Covers addition, subtraction, multiplication…”
• “8.5 x 11 inch size”

Technically accurate? Sure.

Engaging? Not at all.

I started looking at how top-ranking books described themselves. And I noticed something: the best descriptions didn’t just list features — they sold benefits.

Instead of: “3,000 equations with answer keys”

They wrote: “Timed tests to build speed and confidence — with answer keys for self-checking.”

So I rewrote my description like I was talking directly to a parent or teacher. Less like specs, and more like solutions.

I also structured it better:

• A clear headline at the top
• Short paragraph that explained the value
• Bullet points that highlighted what’s inside
• A friendly call to action at the end

Just making the copy sound human, warm, and helpful made a huge difference.

2. I Created A+ Content That Actually Builds Trust

This was the biggest shift.

Before, my listing had a boring A+ content. Just the cover, the description, and that was it.

But A+ content gives you the chance to create a mini landing page right on your book listing — and it matters. It adds professionalism and trust instantly.

I broke it into a few simple sections:

• A banner that showed what the book covers (with icons and simple text)
• A module that explained why this book is ideal for the end user
• A “what’s inside” section with a few interior page previews
• A comparison chart showing my other math books

Each section had a purpose. I wasn’t trying to be fancy — just helpful. Clear text, clean design, and no over-the-top promises.

Even something as small as writing proper alt text for the images made the page feel complete and polished.

It took a few hours to put together, but it made my book stand out in a sea of listings that all look the same.

3. I Cleaned Up My Keywords Without Getting Flagged

KDP backend keywords are a weird game. You want to be found, but you also don’t want to get flagged for using trademarks or stuffing in random phrases.

Here’s what I did:

• Focused on long-tail keywords like “multiplication workbook for beginners” instead of broad stuff like “math book”
• Removed vague phrases like “100 pages of math” — they don’t help with search
• Reordered some awkward keywords to sound more natural (e.g. changed “multiplication practice workbook single digit” to “single digit multiplication workbook”)

I also double-checked everything for trademarks using TM search tools, just to be safe.

The result? My book started getting found more organically. It didn’t explode overnight, but the clicks started coming in — and that’s what leads to sales.

Final Thoughts: Repackaging Over Rewriting

Most self-publishers (me included) tend to focus so much on the content inside the book… that we forget what people actually see first.

If your book isn’t selling, it doesn’t always mean the content is the problem. Sometimes it just needs a better outfit.

So before you redo your manuscript, try repackaging your book like a real product:

• Write like a human, not a robot
• Show the value visually
• Make the listing feel complete and trustworthy

It worked for me — and I’m still learning. But this shift alone gave my book a fighting chance against bigger competitors.

If you’re working on your own listing and want a second opinion, feel free to drop a comment or DM me. I’m happy to take a quick look.

Let’s help each other create books that deserve to be seen.

Talk soon,

Subha

KDP Tools I Use

By the way — if you’re working on your own math workbook or any other KDP project, I highly recommend checking out Self Publishing Titans.

They have both free and paid tools you can use to find better keywords, design A+ content, and improve your listings without guesswork.

And if you make math worksheets and workbooks, this worksheet generator tool saves a ton of time.

Yes, these are affiliate links — but I only promote tools I actually use.