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Does a title really sell a
book? The short answer is, yes. If a book does not attract
a reader initially, it will be overlooked and not
purchased. The book title is the element that creates the
initial attraction to the book.
Watch people who are
browsing in a bookstore. A catchy title grabs their
interest and makes them reach for the book out of
curiosity. A great title makes browsers think,
“Really?” or “What does THAT mean?” or “That’s
what I need”. Think long and hard when choosing your
book’s title. The title must give some clues about the
book’s contents in a snappy “one-liner”.
Many authors struggle
fiercely with the title choice, not realizing that the
title is there somewhere in the book’s contents. They
just haven’t recognized it because they are too close to
the project. Sometimes it helps to talk to impartial,
unbiased persons. Tell them what your book is about, and
then listen to their feedback.
Alternately, on the
tongue-in-cheek advice of one publishing professional,
open a bottle of wine and start writing. Make a list of
everything that comes to mind about what you have written
in your book. Nothing is too silly, but do try to strike
on the central theme or message.
When your list is complete
(and the wine is all gone), group your notes into
categories. Choose the snappiest, most intriguing words
that say something about your book without sounding like a
boring explanation.
Perhaps these titles will
help you:
- Woman-Sense Rules!
- Fit to Cook
- Climb Your Stairway to
Heaven
- Light the Fire
- Spell Success in Your
Life
If you are planning on a
series, your title should be your “brand”. Then as you
make your brand into a household word, you ensure future
sales. As each title in the series is published, you know
that people will buy the latest book to complete the
series. Think Harry Potter or Nancy Drew.
The subtitle of your book
is a great way to increase sales. The subtitle gets to the
heart of the book and convinces the reader of the book’s
benefits. It lets people know that the book is unique and
that they really can’t live without it. It makes the
reader believe that he or she just can’t live without it
– and that is your objective.
Check the following
subtitles:
- Woman-Sense Rules! –
The Spiritual Woman’s Guide to Finding Yourself When
You Didn’t Know You Were Missing
- Fit to Cook – Why
“Waist” Time in the Kitchen?
- Climb Your Stairway to
Heaven – the 9 habits of maximum happiness
- Light the Fire – Fiery
Food with a Light New Attitude!
- Spell Success in Your
Life - A road map for achieving your goals and
surviving success
In the title and in the
subtitle, you can use humor or emotions to sell your book,
but avoid clichés and “corny” expressions, or overly
common sayings. They soon become stale and annoying. Keep
your title unique, catchy and relevant.
Before making the final
decision on your title, conduct a title search (see our
home study course, Idea to Book…to Success – the fast,
easy, simple way! for instructions on title searches).
Although you cannot copyright a title, duplicating titles
only leads to confusion, and you want people to buy your
book, not a competitor’s book. Make your title one that
increases the likelihood of increasing your book sales.
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About
The Author
©
Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd.
Ink Tree
Ltd. helps authors publish, market and
sell books. From "101 Things You Need
to Know About Publishing" to our
Ultimate Book Marketing Kit, we will help
you make your book a success. http://www.inktreemarketing.com
info@inktreemarketing.com |
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