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