How to Use Google Trends to Validate Your KDP Niche (Before You Write a Word)

You found a niche with good BSR numbers on Amazon. The competition looks manageable. You're ready to start writing.

But how do you know this niche will still be relevant in three months when your book is published? How do you know the demand isn't already declining?

Google Trends answers both questions for free.

Why Google Trends Matters for KDP Authors

Amazon BSR tells you what's selling right now. Google Trends tells you what people are interested in over time. Combining both gives you a complete picture of a niche's viability.

A niche can look great on Amazon today but be in terminal decline. A niche can look mediocre on Amazon but be rapidly growing. Google Trends reveals the trajectory that BSR alone can't show you.

How to Read Google Trends for Niche Research

Go to trends.google.com and enter your niche keyword. Here's what to look for:

1. The 12-Month View

Start with "Past 12 months" to see the recent trend. You want one of three patterns:

• •Steady line: Consistent interest year-round. This is the safest bet for evergreen content.
• •Upward slope: Growing interest. Even better. You're getting in while the market expands.
• •Seasonal peaks: Predictable spikes at certain times of year. Useful if you time your launch correctly.

What you don't want: a downward slope or a single spike that's already passed.

2. The 5-Year View

Switch to "Past 5 years" for the bigger picture. Some niches look stable over 12 months but have been in slow decline for years. The 5-year view catches this.

Look for niches where the overall trend is flat or rising. A topic that peaked in 2023 and has been declining since is not where you want to invest your time.

3. Related Queries

Scroll down to "Related queries" and look at the "Rising" tab. These are search terms growing in popularity that are related to your niche.

This is gold for two reasons: - It reveals sub-niches you might not have considered - It shows you where the market is heading, not just where it's been

Seasonal Patterns: Timing Your Launch

Many KDP niches have predictable seasonal patterns:

• •Diet and fitness: Spikes in January (New Year's resolutions)
• •Gardening: Peaks in spring
• •Holiday crafts: Surges in October-November
• •Back to school: August-September
• •Tax and finance: January-April

If your niche is seasonal, launch 2-4 weeks before the peak. Amazon's algorithm rewards early sales momentum (the popularity flywheel), so getting in before the wave hits positions you to ride it.

Comparing Multiple Niches

Google Trends lets you compare up to five search terms simultaneously. Use this to evaluate competing niche ideas against each other.

Enter your top 3-4 niche candidates and compare their relative interest. This gives you an objective way to choose between options that might look similar on Amazon.

Red Flags in Google Trends

Spike and crash: A sudden spike followed by a return to baseline (or lower) usually means a viral moment or fad. The niche might be flooded with books by now.

Steady decline: If interest has been dropping for 2+ years, the market is shrinking. You'd be fighting an uphill battle.

No data: If Google Trends shows insufficient data for your keyword, the search volume is too low. This doesn't necessarily mean the niche is bad (it could be very specific), but it's a warning sign.

Geographic concentration: If 90% of interest comes from one small region, your addressable market might be smaller than you think.

Combining Google Trends with Amazon Data

The most powerful approach is cross-referencing:

1. 1.Find niches with good BSR numbers on Amazon (demand exists)
2. 2.Verify with Google Trends that interest is stable or growing (demand will continue)
3. 3.Check that the trend isn't a recent spike (avoiding fads)
4. 4.Look at related queries for sub-niche opportunities
5. 5.Validate with Reddit community signals for the full picture

When Amazon data and Google Trends both look good, you've found a niche worth committing to. Our complete niche research guide walks through the full 6-step process.

A Real Example

Let's say you're considering the niche "stoicism for beginners."

On Amazon, the top books have BSRs between 3,000-25,000 with moderate reviews. Looks promising.

On Google Trends, "stoicism" has been on a steady upward trajectory for the past 5 years, with a particularly strong acceleration in the last 18 months. Related rising queries include "stoicism for women" and "stoicism daily practice."

This is a green light. Proven demand on Amazon, growing interest over time, and emerging sub-niches you could target for less competition.