Three Easy Secrets To Selling Your Book

The question of the ages for authors is what exactly sells a book? There are a multitude of answers, and all (or maybe none) of them are correct. I think there are actually two critical questions that must be asked in order to give an accurate analysis.

1: Is the potential buyer familiar with any of the author’s previous books?

2: Is this a new author to the reader?

By: TJ Mackay

The answer to these two simple questions makes a world of difference. What sells a book in the Hirst instance can encompass an entire volume!

The answers to the second are quite simple; the cover, the title, and the synopsis! That’s it.

If a reader has never heard of an author, the only thing they have to go by is a great cover that draws them in, and then an equally interesting title and synopsis. Those three things are the sum-total that will either make a reader click to investigate the newbie and purchase – or pass.

Think about it. As you’re scrolling through the myriad of options for books to read, what makes you stop? The Cover! Next, you read the title and the synopsis (blurb). If those things capture your attention, the author has you. If any one of those are off- putting, the author has lost a sale. That’s just how critically important getting that cover, title, and blurb right are to an author’s initial success. So let’s help you make each of those three amazing! First, an eye-catching cover. While most people may think this is a completely subjective thing, there are some basics that ALL covers must have in order to draw the great attention that is needed. These points are also the ones those cover designers and graphic artists who judge the RONE awards use when picking the Hinalists and winners.

1) Does a reader have a good idea what genre the book is by looking at the cover? And are there hints to what the book may be about? A book cover with a lovely Hield of Hlowers and a happy couple frolicking through them naturally invokes the assumption of Romance. A book in dark colors that shows a man with a woman who has blood dripping down her neck has a reader immediately assuming vampire. What if the real genres were switched, however? I have actually seen books with the dark cover that ended up being straight Contemporary Romance, and the frolicking couple was actually a Dark Mystery! Needless to say, neither book did well in overall sales because readers do not expect to read something completely different from what the cover conveyed.

2) Is the cover unique and different from all other covers within that genre? I can’t tell you how many times the staff at InD’tale has moaned about the “sameness” that makes it almost impossible to tell one book apart from all the others. All things go in trends, but conforming to those trends isn’t always the best marketing idea.

Yes, a Historical Romance must have the aspects of history within the cover, a Fantasy must convey an “other worldliness” for instance, but within genrespeciHic cover design constraints, it is so important we don’t succumb to just doing what everyone else is doing. That only succeeds in making a book forgettable.

3) Does the text and font Hit the title and genre, AND can one easily read it? As with the graphics, so goes the text! A Hlowery script text should never be placed on a Dark Mystery. A foggy, dripping block font will ruin a Contemporary Rom-Com – as will any title that is difHicult to read. Stylistic fonts still need to be easily discernible and readable on a thumbnail size image. And one more thing to consider, usually if using a stylized font for the title, that same font should not be used with the author’s name. Overkill is a thing. That’s it! If you can answer each of these questions with a resounding "Yes!" then you probably have a cover that a reader will stop to examine (the Hirst hurdle to purchasing). Sounds easy, but it can be a challenge. I promise, the results will pay off if each is considered and applied well.

Now, let's look at the title itself. “That’s a pretty easy one,” you may think… NOPE! Titles are extremely important because they are the gateway to access on any site and in any bookstore. Therefore, it is vitally important that your book’s title is easily found and remembered.

So before slapping that catchy title on your cover, you need to do a bit of research and use consideration in the following areas:

1)Has the title already been used? This is HUGE because ease of purchase is key. If a reader types in your book’s title, for instance, and 20 other books with that same title pop up, that means yours must be searched for, and you have immediately lost your customer.

2) Is the title easy to spell and remember? If the spelling of a word(s) in the title is difHicult, odds are many readers will get it wrong and search engines won’t be able to pull it up. The more time a reader has to spend hunting for the correct spelling in order to Hind it, the odds of losing the sale grow tremendously.

3) Is the title cheesy instead of catchy? This is a death knell for books right off the bat. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scrolled through books on a site, or in a bookstore, and literally rolled my eyes and moved on when seeing a title. Titles like, “The Billionaire’s Beautiful Baby Mama”, for instance, will get more eye rolls than bank rolls! (Had to check and make sure that wasn’t actually a title!)

See? Titles really are more important than you think and should be taken very seriously. They ride the Hine line that brings success or failure, all within a few small words. Finally, let’s discuss that all-powerful but headacheinducing thing, the BLURB! Yep, I have yet to meet an author who doesn’t groan at the mere thought, but we all know how terribly important it is to give readers a concise yet engaging synopsis of what your book’s about.

To achieve those things, we must remember readers expect a good overview of the story that is, Hirst of all, accurate. Nothing drives readers crazy faster than to purchase a book based on a brilliant blurb, only to discover the actual story is nothing at all like it promised! Every book has points the author believes make it worth reading. Take those points and show them to their best, but do NOT embellish for interest at the expense of accuracy!

To keep the blurb concise, you must decide what main points are of most interest, and then focus on only those. Yes, there are many side-stories, tidbits, and happenings that contribute to the overall enjoyment, but those are the secret discoveries only those reading need know. When browsing for a book, readers want an interesting but brief overall look at the characters and conHlict with a reference to the world or time the story takes place (this can be referenced easily within those Hirst two). Readers don’t want a running explanation of what the entire story is about. Tell who the story is about, what they are working toward/Highting for, and where/when it takes place. In other words, grab them, give them something they need to know, and then give them a reason to Hind out more!

That’s it! A few small things is all it takes to (almost) guarantee sales. I know, easy to say… not so easy to do! But, if done well, getting that sale will happen!