| Judy Cullins c. 2007 | | | | idea for your book--yours alone. |
| A clever title is great if it is clear, but a clear title is | | | | Sam Horn, author of Tongue Fú!, puts her special |
| always preferable. The best? A clear and clever title. | | | | twist on defusing verbal conflict. Check out the cliche' |
| A shorter title is better than a longer one. Your reader | | | | books. You can tweak a cliche and make your book |
| will spend only four-eight seconds on the cover. While | | | | title memorable. |
| some long titles have succeeded, usually the shorter, | | | | 6. Include benefits in your subtitle if your title doesn't |
| the better. | | | | have any. |
| A title is part of your book's front cover. Busy buyers | | | | Specific benefits and your audience mentioned in the |
| including bookstore buyers, wholesalers, distributors and | | | | title invite sales. For instance, Marilyn and Tom Ross' |
| your audiences buy mainly because of the cover. Dan | | | | Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide |
| Poynter, author of Writing Nonfiction, says, "The | | | | for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses. |
| package outside sells the product inside." Make your | | | | 7. Choose others' book covers in your field as models. |
| cover sizzle. | | | | Go to your local bookstore with five-colored felt tips |
| Start with a working title before you write your | | | | pens and paper. Browse the section your book would |
| chapters. Include your topic, your subject and use the | | | | be shelved on. Choose five book titles and covers that |
| book's benefits in your sub title if possible. Here's your | | | | attract you. Photo copy or sketch those, noting the |
| ten tips for titles that sell: | | | | colors, design, fonts, and sizes of fonts. Add other |
| 1. Create impact for your title-check out magizine print | | | | colors you like. Place the book cover you love near |
| and radio ad headlines. | | | | your workstation to inspire you. For the final copy, use |
| Check out other authors' titles on the bookstore | | | | professional cover designers if possible. Your |
| shelves. Your title must compel the reader to buy now. | | | | bookcoach can recommend some if you email her. |
| Which title grabs you? Elder Rage or Caregiving for | | | | 8. Be outrageous with your book title. |
| Dad? | | | | People do judge a book by its title. Your reader will |
| 2. Include your solution in your title. | | | | spend only four-eight seconds on the front cover and |
| Does your title sell your solution? Make sure it answers | | | | eight-fifteen seconds on the back cover. Your cover |
| the question rather than asks one. For instance, Got | | | | and title must be so outstanding and catchy that they |
| Minerals?, or Minerals: The Essential Link to Health. Use | | | | compel the reader to either buy on the spot or look |
| positive language instead of negative. For instance, | | | | further to the back cover. Take a risk. Be a bit crazy, |
| Without Minerals You'll Die can be Minerals: The | | | | even outlandish. |
| Essential Link to Health. | | | | 9. Be your strongest salesperson self. |
| 3. Make it easy for readers to buy. | | | | Choose the strongest words, benefits, and metaphors |
| Readers want a magic pill. They want to follow | | | | to move your audience to buy. Titles do sell books. |
| directions and enjoy the benefits the title promises. For | | | | This picture or feeling words to get started. |
| example, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John | | | | 10. Include your audience in your title. This gives your |
| Kremer gives at least 1001 ways for authors and | | | | book a slant. |
| publishers to market their books. | | | | When your title isn't targeted other famous authors' |
| 4. Expand your title to other books, products, seminars, | | | | titles win out. Always make your title clear and make it |
| and services. | | | | easy for your audience to recognize they need your |
| Make sure that your title will work well with the title of | | | | book. Your title and front cover is your book's number |
| your presentations, articles and press releases you'll | | | | one sales tool. Short titles are best, say three to six |
| need to promote the book. Such seminars and | | | | words. John Gray didn't get much attention with his |
| teleclasses titled "How to Write and Sell Your Book- | | | | book "What Your Mother Couldn't Tell You and What |
| Fast!" and "Nine Sure-Fire Ways to Publicize and | | | | Your Father Didn't Know." He shortened it to the now |
| Promote your Business on the Internet." come under | | | | famous, "Men are From Mars, Women are From |
| the umbrella "fast book writing, publishing and | | | | Venus." |
| promoting," and "promote your book or business with | | | | An outstanding title sells books. Make sure to give this |
| the #One Way-The Internet." | | | | part of your book, the number one essential |
| 5. Use original expressions--a way of expressing one | | | | "Hot-Selling Point," some time and effort. |