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All of us want our new book to sell well. What can we do to maximize our chances?
COVER
THUMBNAIL -
Does it look intriguing in a thumbnail? It doesn't matter if the full size image blows you away. If the small thumbnail doesn't grab a reader, it simply blows.
SCREAMS YOUR GENRE
Look at my mock-up cover to THE NOT-SO-INNOCENTS ABROAD
A dirigible lifting a steamer above the ocean. One look and you know it is Steampunk. The title is catchy and stands out.
The cover is your book's salesman. Be sure it looks quality, for that will suggest to the reader that your prose within is quality, too.
BLURB
The blurb above teases beyond the sky adventure.
The Blurb is the true seller of your book after you have gotten the reader interested with your cover.
Don't treat it as an afterthought. Remember the goal is never to describe your story but to intrigue your reader.
The above blurb gives you the promise of a unique story of a mystic bear against the might of Avalon.
LOOK INSIDE FEATURE
Make sure your first 10 pages are riveting, for that is usually the number of pages Amazon gives the reader to make up her or his mind.
Read your first 10 pages thinking how they will impact the new reader trying to decide whether or not to buy your hard-won novel.
CHOOSE WISELY
Remember INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE and the ancient knight's warning?
In KDP you get two categories.
In Createspace (Print) you only get ONE! Choose wisely.
Now, do I choose science fiction ... steampunk or do I choose fantasy ... alternate history?
I went to one of the most popular Steampunk novels, BONESHAKER, and found its statistics:
Even after 7 years:
- #161 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Steampunk
- #342 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Alternate History
So I pick Science Fiction ... Steampunk
In KDP, you get 7 keywords. In Createspace, you only get 5! CHOOSE WISELY.
Looking at my book, I pick STEAMPUNK, ALTERNATE HISTORY, CIVIL WAR, ALIEN INVASION, ABRAHAM LINCOLN VILLAIN.
BOOK PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Many authors using Createspace lazily just use their back cover blurb. Sigh.
This is your chance to sway the Amazon browser your way to buy your book. Have advance reviews? Use them.
Have riveting snatches of dialogue? Use them.
Tease. Cajole. Amuse. But get the reader interested enough to see what happens next.
MARKETING
Be innovative. Be different. Do a shop-worn thing in a new way as in my "Don't You Hate Book Tours?" Book Tour.
DON'T FORGET I'M AT CHRYS FEY'S BLOG!
You're so very right in that a cover has to work as a thumbnail and as a full sized image.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terry. I was beginning to feel as I were singing to an empty theater! Good to see you again!
DeleteHi Roland .. you certainly have to box clever in this day and age - and be creative at all times ... interesting post - thanks - Hilary
ReplyDeleteAs many starlets will attest -- it's all in the packaging! :-)
DeleteIt's the package that entices, and the words that hold our attention. I like the Indiana Jones reference - choose wrong and you die. . .in a manner of speaking.
ReplyDeleteAt our sales die! Ouch! Stunt Double, please!:-)
DeleteHopefully, both the package and prose of my latest will be winners. Thanks for the support, D.G.
Just yesterday I finally found a couple photos (on Getty stock) that I think will really work for my two Charity MacCay novels. Hopefully this week I can nail everything down and get at least my first Charity cover ready to go to an artist. It feels good!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it feel good to find just what you are looking for in a cover and be able to go forward? Best of luck and high sales! :-)
Delete