17 Tips To Write A Book Description That Sells

by Daniela McVicker

You've finally done it — you've written an entire book. Congratulations!

Now, you have to write the book description — this is one of the most important parts when it comes to marketing your book.   

The book description sits right on the back cover, or on the page above the "add to basket" option. It's essential that you get the book description directly. 

We'll walk you through the best tips for writing a book description. When done correctly, you'll ultimately get more sales, and all the effort you put into your book will be worth it.  

The importance of a book description  

You should think of your book description as more of a pitch. It's why they should buy your book, and what they should expect from it.  

Everyone knows that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover — this is why people turn to the blurb or description. Chances are if you've written an entire book, you'll be able to write a description to sell it — this is your work, your dedication, and your skills.  

The best thing to remember is that people are looking for a reason to buy your book, you just need to give them a little push.  

Here are our top tips for writing your book description for selling.  

1. Don't be too avant-garde  

Your book description isn't the place to test out new waters or be too elaborate.  

You should keep in simple, and dive straight to the point.  You might feel tempted to parade your artistic writing skills, but your book description doesn't really require this.  

Stay away from verbose writing, just sell your book as you would if you had 1 minute on a television show. This is one of the best tips that you can get given.  

2. Write in the third person 

Yes, you wrote the book, and it might very well be written in the first person. This doesn't matter at all. This isn't the book; it is essentially an advert.  

The reason the third person is better is that it seems less bias. You trust somebody else's review or opinion on something, rather than the creator's opinion.  

Think about it, you'd be less inclined to buy a product with only a description from the author. When people are shopping, they want impartial advice and judgments. This applies to books, too.  

3. Keep it short 

It isn't an English essay, it's a book description. People will not read a giant description — it just won't happen.  

Our recommendation to you is to keep it between 150 to 250 words. If you think this seems like a limited amount of words, you're entirely right.  

This will challenge you to put all the necessary parts into your description, without giving away anything unnecessary or essential.  

Keep it short, sweet, and straightforward. People will read it in a minute, and decide quickly if they want to buy it.  

As a marketing tip, if you give people too much time to consider, they begin to weigh up their options. They start to believe that they should save their money, or wait until it goes on sale.  

4. Use Keywords  

As books are sold heavily online now, keyword research is also crucial. Use Google and keyword research tools to find the best ones for you, and get your SEO off to a good start.  

Don't go too crazy with the keywords, people will recognize that they look a bit strange, and decide not to buy your book for that reason alone.  

Even if your book is exclusively being sold in-store, keyword research is still an important aspect. Our brains work in similar ways, online and offline. For instance, words like passion or chilling have substantial impacts, both digitally and in print.    

5. Create the hook  

The power of the hook — what we grab your reader and make them buy your book.  

Your very first sentence should be enticing and make the potential reader carry on reading. If the hook is poorly done, you'll lose the reader before you even had a chance.  

As we said, people are looking for a reason to buy your book, you need to pull them in.  

Usually, this means setting a clear focus on the most substantial claim, compelling concept, or surprising fact. Obviously, don't give too much away, though.  

It's all about balance.  

6. Keep it relevant  

Why should your reader buy your book? Why should they choose yours over the hundreds of others to choose from?  

Make sure you explain to them what they will gain, and how the book will provide them with it. Make it relevant and make it hard to say no to.  

Perhaps look at what is going on in the world, and decide from there — this is especially useful for nonfiction writers.   

7. List your expertise  

Another tip for nonfiction writers. Why should your reader trust you?  

Now, a lot of self-help books have somebody with a Ph.D. or extensive experience in a specific field.  

However, if you have a life event or a specific reason why you're more suitable to give advice, then explain this. This sets you out from the crowd and puts you in a prominent position.  

This could also be where you gain a relationship with the reader. Creating a friendship or a level of trust with your reader is essential — you can do that right from the beginning.  

8. Be really clear  

There should be no confusion about what your book is. This could be the genre or the specific reason for publishing your book.  

If you've written a psychological thriller, tell them. This way, all the lovers of this genre will immediately know this will be the book for them.  

9. Hint at the height of the book 

This is specifically for fiction books. You should hint at the climax in your book but never reveal it.  

Many fiction book descriptions will hint at something going wrong, or a big adventure that happens.  

If you reveal too much about this, the reader won't feel the need to buy the book — be very careful here.  

This is a prevalent marketing tool with books and films. They bring attention to a mystery slice of drama or adventure but keeps the reader or viewer guessing.  

Again, it's all about balance. Give enough away to keep them interested. Don't give too much away, so that your reader will feel like they don't have to read your book.  

A similar idea could be applied to a nonfiction book. Don't give too much information away, but hint at the help or information that you can provide.  

10. Concentrate on a problem  

Now that you have your reader's attention, you need to clearly describe the problem that they might be having.  

If you can analyze the problem that the reader is going through, you will really keep the reader engaged, and they'll be more likely to choose your book.  

What pain is in your reader's life? What problem do they have that is left unsolved? Is it possible that they have unachieved aspirations or goals, that you could help them reach?  

If you articulate these problems and hint that you could help, they will seriously consider buying your book.  

11. The solution  

It's not really enough to follow up on the problem with a simple; "I can help." 

Why should they believe you? You need to give them a reason to trust that your book can solve the problem, or at least help them feel better after reading it.  

Will the book make them more productive? Happier? Gain friends? Lose weight? What will the book provide them with that they didn't have before? 

Don't be ambiguous here, be very clear about the benefits, and you'll gain more readers.    

12. Keep it open  

We know, it seems like you have to give away your secret to sell your book. That is necessarily true.  

Your book description should be an open-loop — an essential piece of information should always be left out. This makes the reader want to know more.  

Balance really is critical in this scenario. Don't give away your secret, but don't make it too hard to understand.  

For self-help books, people want to know the basics, before they commit to buying your book. However, if you give too much away, they won't feel the need to buy your book.  

Find that common ground, and you'll be onto a winner description.  

13. Consider testimonials  

This is like word-of-mouth marketing. Sometimes, a book description just needs a couple of 5-star reviews, and it'll be seen as a must-have book.  

This is precisely why so many books emphasize on their testimonials. Whether it is a newspaper review or an esteemed opinion from a reader.  

Don't include a quote from a family member or friend. Your testimonials should be from a reader with credentials. This way, people will trust that it is impartial and a meticulous examination.  

14. Add a call to action  

Yes, even a book review should have a call to action. This should be included in a summary, which then asks or encourages your reader to buy the book.  

Don't make it too salesy, make it casual and just a tiny little push. They're already considering buying; they just need convincing. The best writing services out there can always consult you on crafting an efficient call you action that won’t be too straightforward.  

For example, "Pick up a copy today to become more in control of your life." Something persuasive, but still friendly and conversational.  

15. Practice makes perfect  

You won't get it right the first, second, or third time. It might take you hundreds of attempts.  

Your book description is so important, and getting it right will take time, effort, and a lot of research. Don't dive into writing it, with an expectation that it won't take long or that it'll be easy.  

Take a few of your favorite books from your library, and read their descriptions. Remember what made you want to buy them?  

You could even make your way to your local bookstore, and take a look at which books hook you — and why. We're sorry if this results in you buying more books that won't fit on your shelves.  

Write a description, write another, write on more, and go from there. Don't forget to get opinions from those around you, and make them honest.  

After all, this description could make or break your book, and valuable feedback is always needed.  

16. Re-read your book 

If you're having a big issue with coming up with a description. We recommend re-reading your entire book. Get really familiar with it, and take notes along the way.  

As you come across an important point — perhaps there's drama or a critical problem to be solved, make a note of it. You can refer back to these specifics, in your description.  

This is your book, and you should really know it better than anybody else. Also, this extra bit of knowledge will help with writing your description.  

17. Re-read your description  

Once you've finally decided on a description, and you are happy with it (well done), it's time to proofread. 

This is such a crucial part of your book journey, and you shouldn't rush it. Sometimes, the excitement of finally having all the words ready can tempt you to submit and then be left with regret.  

Take a step away from your book description, clear your mind, and then return to it. You'll notice little grammar or spelling errors, or decide that it isn't the description for you.  

Your description should feel like it has been penned by a publisher, not yourself. Make sure it flows right, isn't too long, and has the perfect voice throughout.  

A random spelling or grammar error could throw somebody off buying your book. That would be a disaster.  

Conclusion

Writing a book description should be seen as an extension of the book.  

It plays a crucial part in the overall marketing of your book and needs to be treated as a standalone project.  

Have fun writing your book description.

Daniela McVicker is a writer and blogger. She has a master’s degree in English Literature, and she is truly passionate about learning foreign languages and teaching. Daniela works with the students helping them to reveal the writing talent and find one true calling. You can check her last review of Trustmypaper.

10 Exercises To Inspire Your Writing

by Rhonda Martinez

As young aspiring authors, we all find ourselves at the crossroads called “Where to go and How to get there”. Looking up to masters in writing, it is so hard to discover your style and most importantly get your writing going.

If you are also facing the trouble of sitting and staring at the blank screen, here are some tips and exercises that will help you get inspired.

Word Box

Such an obvious, still such an effective exercise to try out. According to Gabriela Pereira, an author of “DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community” who shared practical advice on WritersDigest, this method helps her to gain fresh inspiration. It works like this. She has a box with pieces of paper and single words written on them. Whenever she feels stuck or just wants to train her brain to get a creative impulse, she closes her eyes and takes from 5 to 7 words out of the box. After that she starts writing until she includes all of the words she has pulled out. Gabriela believes that not only this exercise helps to boost inspiration, but it also drills a brain to create unexpected connections, as you need to somehow include all the words in a short story.

Word Association

Another great exercise to give a shot. This one helps to experience the free flow of thought. We believe that James Jones would definitely approve this tip. So here’s what you should do. Write out the first word that comes to your mind, and then continue the chain of associations. For example:

inspiration, writing, book, award, glory, lightning, thunder, storm, a ship, cruise, a captain, strong, desperate, lady, find, lost, glove…

This exercise will give you this burst of creative ideas and energy that you are craving for. What is more, you can try this method to find inspiration related to a specific character you are thinking about, or setting a scene. One word seems like a no-brainer, but it is truly worth trying, as you will enjoy the innovative stimulation to your ideas.

Discover Negative Space

Another useful tip from Gabriela Pereira involves exploring the so-called “negative space”. This is an area in art and design that serves as an opposing setting or environment to an object itself. Whenever you read a good book, you probably have this feeling that you only have a glimpse at the small part of characters’ lives, as the rest is left unseen. The gist of this exercise is to explore “the rest”, and expand your story. To illustrate how it works, let’s consider the following example. So you are writing a love-story with two main characters involved, and some other characters. If you get stuck with your story, you can try out writing a short scene about this or that moment related to the life of your supporting characters (even if their role in the whole story is not crucial at all). What is more, you can as well try out this exercise on other writers’ books. Choose the book, choose any supporting character whose life isn’t in the limelight, and imagine your own version of it.

Respond to a Poem

A well-known and effective way to practice your writing and refresh your inspiration is to write a response to a poem, or in fact to any kind of story. You need to pick a piece of writing you like, and react to it. If it is a love-letter, write a love-letter back. If it is a prose, you can try out writing your own creative interpretation of it.

Plunge into Art

The classic that never gets old - seek inspiration in art. Go to museums, see plays, fall in love with different kinds of arts, spend hours contemplating a painting, listen to inspiring music - the list is endless. We never know when inspiration can strike us, but we can speed up the process. Here is how it works. You look at the painting and try coming up with a backstory to what is happening there. In case it is a portrait, think what this person did in their life, or what had happened just before they came to sit still as a model. This exercise teaches an author to see any situation from the bird’s eye view at first, and then get closer to examine every little detail that is essential when creating a character, for example.

Search New Studies

According to Tyler Moss, these days authors have a unique opportunity to find creative impulse by searching new studies in Google. Choose the topic you are interested in whether it is physics, chemistry, biology or psychological studies, and look for the recent updates in these fields. For instance, the headline “Water Splitting Advance for Renewable Energy” can serve as a good start for someone writing a sci-fi novel, and thinking about setting the scene of the world in 3030. While another article on “Artificial intelligence can help some businesses but may not work for others” can lead one into peculiarities of a society, and to a close-up imagining the life of some man not being able to find a job. This is how it works, you pick the topic, look for research and voila, your brain is already shooting with ideas.

Get Inspired by Real People

Curtis Sittenfeld, an American writer known for her sharp short stories as well as 5 novels, shed the light on an interesting tip during her interview to a Writers Digest. The approach involves choosing a real personality like a movie star, a politician, a musician, and getting inspired. This exercise provides you with a foundation that you can play with by imagining various scenarios that could have happened, and how the life of a chosen person would have changed. What is more, you can let your imagination dive behind the scenes of real life events and enjoy all of the ideas that come to your mind, no matter how mad they can be. By playing with your creativity like this, you can truly find an inspiration you’ve been looking for.

Use Quotes to Practice Short Stories

Another simple, yet a productive exercise. Pick a quote or a saying, and try writing a story to either support the idea or contradict. For example, “curiosity killed the cat”, you may take it literally and come up with a comic strip based on the saying, or try out writing more serious stuff being educational. The choice is yours. What is more, you can enjoy reading through famous people quotes and take some time to think them through. This will in turn provide you with your own great ideas.

Write Out Some Headlines or Story Starters

Choose a headline or pick a book and write out the first sentence. Then, try to continue the story by providing your own outlook. It is a perfect creative task to train your brain and seek inspiration. For those who don’t want to scroll through looking for a perfect starter, there are tons of resources with already-made story starters.

Explore New Things

The last exercise may seem overgeneralized. However, it often turns out to be one of the most effective ones. As a writer, you will be in constant search for inspiration. The main difficulty authors face is lack of ideas and getting fed up with a routine. For this reason, the best you can do is to try and explore new things whenever you can. It can be applied to anything you do in your life: from trying out a new cooking recipe to taking up salsa dancing, from going out to a new restaurant to traveling to a new country. When exploring something, we are alert and focused on the thing we are doing. This is a unique experience always full of amazing opportunities to find inspiration. Eleanor Roosevelt once said “Do one thing every day that scares you”. That is why, don’t hesitate to go for it.

Summing up, as any activity writing needs constant practice and dedication if you want to achieve the results. If you see yourself as a prospering author, don’t limit your imagination and work for it. Don’t let a writer’s block stop you from creating a masterpiece. You need to invest your time and energy in what brings you joy and fulfillment. 

We hope that this article helped you find some of the exercises you want to give a try this very moment. These methods are real life-savers when it comes to getting stuck, and speaking from personal experience, they have truly proven to be effective. So, what are you waiting for?

Rhonda Martinez is a blogger and reviewer of popular essay writing services at LegitWritingServices.com. As a content writer, she loves writing about education technology, psychology and digital learning.

How to Find Your Readers: 7 Basic Tools to Use

by Scott Mathews

What’s the one thing that determines your success or failure as a writer? What’s the one thing that determines whether your audience will read your work and take action or not? It is content. The quality of your content determines virtually everything. Readers want to sacrifice their time for valuable, persuasive and organized content. They want something that will transform their lives for the better.

Therefore, before thinking of marketing your article or book, you need to ensure that your content is on point. Both quality and quantity play a critical role in determining whether your business will grow or not. Since there are many experienced content writers around you, it’s important to learn from them to avoid making silly mistakes. As the saying goes, success leaves tracks and so does failure.

Your ideal reader

Before creating content, you need to know who you are writing for. If you start writing without knowing your ideal readers, you’ll end up solving problems that they don’t have. And they won’t waste their time reading your piece.

According to academic writers online, your ideal reader is the person to which your article or blog would most interest. In some cases, they usually represent specific experiences, interests or age group. In other cases, they represent a certain sexuality, ethnicity or religion.

Knowing your target audience will help you craft a story that will appeal to them. Writing from the perspective of your ideal reader will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. You might think that this process is daunting. But it’s not. In fact, it’s easier than you think. Plus, it’s never too late to adjust a few things for the better. By doing this, your target audience will always be hungry to read your pieces.

Defining your target audience improves your work

As you’ve seen, it’s extremely important to know your reader before creating content. Let’s explore this section because it is at the core of your success in writing. Here’s a short guide to help you know your ideal readers so that you can create quality content.

1.    Pre-writing

While you don’t have to define your ideal reader during this stage, doing so can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. You’ll easily create a plan that will help you cover their most pressing or important topics. Pre-writing is not compulsory but it helps you plan and plot with your reader in mind.

2.    Concentration

When working on a broad topic or story, it’s easy to get lost since the story can take different directions. If you want people to read your work, you have to concentrate on your theme. Clarity goes hand in hand with direction.

3.    Marketing

Even if you create valuable, organized and persuasive content, you’ll still have to market your work. Do not assume that your readers will find your work without any effort on your side. Marketing is no easy work. Your success will not be determined by your effort. But with the tools you use and how well you use them.

7 tools that will help you find your readers

According to Bestessay.com, the tools you choose to use and how you use them will determine your results. Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, it’s never been easier to market your work. You can do it in a couple of seconds without having to pay hundreds of dollars.

1.    WordPress

WordPress is a widely used tool in our world today. Research studies show that this tool powers approximately 30 percent of the internet today. WordPress is a powerful and effective tool when it comes to marketing your work. This tool allows you to host and build sites. You can customize according to your readers’ preferences to increase traffic.

2.    Google Docs

Google Docs is a marketing tool that allows you to do all the work before presenting it to the world. Today, it’s extremely difficult to find writers who don’t use Google Docs to write their books or articles. It’s one of the best performing marketing tools for a reason. It’s not only easy to use but also has a great user experience. If you have WordPress, you can link it with Google Docs to upload your work easily.

3.    Yoast

Yoast is a great tool especially for writers who are focused on SEO. It’s an all-in-one plugin that helps you do a lot of SEO-related things which include optimizing content for keywords, editing and previewing URL slugs and descriptions, suggesting internal links and abstracting SEO tasks. This tool will improve your rankings on search engines thus making it possible for your ideal writers to find your work.

4.    Loom

Loom has been around for a while now. And it’s among the most powerful content marketing tools you can use. It allows you to create, edit and share videos. As custom paper reports, you can use this tool to market your content by creating and posting tutorials for walkthroughs.

5.    Canva

As a content creator, you probably know the importance of including amazing pictures in your work. The best thing about Canva is that it allows you to design the picture you have in mind. If you have a website or blog, this is an ideal marketing tool for you.

6.    Buzzsumo

According to college paper, Buzzsumo is an amazing content marketing tool that helps you analyze what content performs well for any competitor or topic. When using this tool, you’ll see several critical metrics such as backlinks, social shares and influencers sharing a piece of content to name a few. It can also help you connect with the top leaders in your field or industry.

7.    Google Analytics

Speaking of content marketing tools, you cannot leave out Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps you understand the metrics of your business and track your performance. By tracking your performance, you’ll easily figure out what you need to adjust to make things work.

Talk to your readers

When you’re writing about something you don’t know much about, it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking a formal tone. While taking an academic voice may make you sound knowledgeable in your field, your readers are highly likely to lose interest. Communicating in a friendly and entertaining way will greatly increase your traffic and readership.

Conclusion

With these seven tools, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding your ideal readers. It’s important to know who your ideal reader is before writing to avoid wasting your time and energy in the long run. Finally, talk to your readers in a friendly and entertaining way. They will appreciate it.

Bio

Scott Matthews is an experienced writer and editor at paper writing services, academic writing, and uk essay writers. He loves helping writers unlock their potential by sharing his thoughtful tips on professional writing services. During his free time, he travels with friends or plays with his toddlers.