Non-Fiction Book Descriptions That Sell Books

Summary

In this informative video, Julie from Book Launchers emphasizes the critical role of compelling book descriptions in driving sales, especially for non-fiction. She outlines key elements that make a description effective: grabbing attention with a strong opening, addressing the reader's needs, creating curiosity, and including relevant keywords for discoverability. Julie shares examples of successful and ineffective descriptions, provides a checklist for crafting impactful content, and highlights the importance of professional editing. Ultimately, she underscores the value of investing time and effort into book descriptions to maximize marketing success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Book descriptions are essential for selling your book and converting readers.
• 😀 Your book description should act as a salesperson, making readers feel they need to read your book.
• 😀 The opening sentence must immediately grab attention and focus on the reader's interests, not the author.
• 😀 Good examples of opening lines create curiosity and highlight what's in it for the reader.
• 😀 Effective descriptions should evoke emotions, address pain points, and showcase the book's benefits.
• 😀 Use bullet points to tease key tips, tools, or secrets within the book.
• 😀 Include a brief author bio to establish credibility and justify why the reader should choose your book.
• 😀 Incorporate relevant keywords to improve visibility in Amazon ads and searches.
• 😀 Differentiate between back cover descriptions (120-160 words) and online descriptions (up to 250 words).
• 😀 Writing a compelling book description is an iterative process that may involve multiple drafts and professional help.

Q & A

Why are book descriptions important for selling a book?

Book descriptions are essential because they act as sales tools that convince potential readers to purchase the book. A well-crafted description can significantly increase conversion rates, especially in online platforms like Amazon.

What is the primary function of a book description?

The primary function of a book description is to sell the book. It should captivate the reader's attention and create a need to read the book rather than simply summarizing its content.

What should be the focus of the opening sentence in a book description?

The opening sentence should grab attention immediately and focus on the book's hook or the biggest promise it offers to the reader, rather than on the author.

How can authors create emotional appeal in their book descriptions?

Authors can create emotional appeal by addressing pain points, evoking curiosity, or introducing tension relevant to the reader's interests, making them feel invested in the book's content.

What are some effective ways to tease the content of a book?

Authors can tease the content by showcasing key insights, tools, or unique elements using bullet points. This highlights what readers can expect to gain and what makes the book distinct from others.

What role does the author's credibility play in a book description?

Including a brief section on the author's qualifications establishes their credibility and reassures readers that they are learning from someone with expertise, making them more likely to engage with the book.

Why is keyword inclusion important in book descriptions?

Keywords enhance the book's discoverability, particularly for Amazon ads. Properly integrated keywords can improve the chances of the book being found by potential readers searching for related topics.

What is the recommended word count for back cover and online book descriptions?

The recommended word count for back cover descriptions is 120 to 160 words, while online descriptions can be up to 250 words, allowing for more detail while still being concise.

What common mistakes should authors avoid in their book descriptions?

Authors should avoid focusing too much on themselves, being overly vague, and making their descriptions sound generic or boring. Such mistakes can deter potential readers.

What tools can authors use for keyword research related to their book descriptions?

Authors can use tools like KDP SPY and KDP Rocket for in-depth keyword research. Google's free keyword search tool can also provide useful insights, although it may differ from Amazon search behavior.