Monday, April 27, 2009

Free Book Cover Timeline


Did you see the offer to download our
Free Book Cover Timeline?

An excerpt from "Cover The Book: Insider Secrets for Writing AND Designing a Bestselling Book Cover," this timeline shows you what to do, when to do it, and how long each step will take. It's designed to help authors and publishers keep the whole book cover process running smoothly and on time--title and subtitle, cover design, interior design, printing, and more.

Download this Free Timeline at: http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com/submitformfreetimeline.html

Best!
Susan

Susan Kendrick, Write to Your Market, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com, 1-715-634-4120.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Bullet Points: 30 Power Verbs to Get You Started


Part Four: Learn How Easy It Is To ...

By Susan Kendrick

(Here is the fourth and final installment from this article on bullet points and how to write cash-on-counter marketing copy for your book.)

As you create bullet points for your marketing copy, try leading into the list with a phrase like, “Learn how you can” or “Discover how simple it is to” and then start each bullet point with a powerful verb.

Remember, Once you’ve drafted your bullet points, stand back and look at them.
Will they:
- Get noticed at-a-glance?
- Create a thirst for what your book has to offer?

- Give people irresistible reasons to buy?

If all your answers are “Yes,” congratulations. If not, keep at it. The following list will help.

How to Write Bullet Points ...
30 Power Verbs to Get You Started

Ask
Begin
Start
Boost
Invite

Improve
Capture
Overcome
Move past
Get
Capture
Create
Keep
Stay
Reduce
Grow
Eliminate
Explode
Protect
Look
Allow
Fill
Nurture
Escape
Expect
Reverse
Scan
Stretch
Use
Overcome

Get help with your marketing copy. Visit us at http://www.writetoyourmarket.com and get your Free Book Cover Timeline.

Susan Kendrick, Write to Your Market, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com, 1-715-634-4120.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Bullet Points: Examples from Bestselling Book Covers


Part Three--Before You Start Writing ... Examples to Follow ... Making Sure Your Bullet Points Work

By Susan Kendrick


(Here is the third of four installments from this article on bullet points. Read this then go make good things happen for your book marketing copy!)

Before You Start Writing
Who is your target market? Don’t say, “Everyone.” To reach out to people who need what you have to offer and sell them on the expertise in your book, you need to identify your particular market niche—that group of people who have specific questions or problems for which you offer specific solutions.

For example, if your book is about personal finance, what kind and for
whom? Is it for people at the end of their careers and ready to retire?
Young professionals who have more time to develop retirement
strategies? Parents eager to save for their children’s college education?

The differences may be subtle, but they are important. Knowing the specific wants, needs, hurts, hopes, and deepest desires of your target market helps you create bullet points that magnetically pull them into your message and what it can do for them.

Examples from Three Bestselling Books

Here are bullet points from a few well-known, bestselling books. See how each of these bullet points instantly pulls you in and makes you say, “Yes!” And, see how each one starts with a powerful verb? Wouldn’t you like these things for your life?

Jack Canfield--The Success Principles:
• Ask for and get everything you want … from people who can give it to you

Robert Kiyosaki--Rich Dad Poor Dad:
• Explode the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich

Timothy Ferriss--The 4-Hour Work Week:
• Eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist

More Examples to Follow

Here are some more examples of buy-me-know bullet points, this time from a handful of books on our shelves, from book covers we‘ve developed for our clients. While the following bullet points were first developed for book covers--a great proving ground for creating concise, powerful book marketing copy--these authors went onto successfully use these bullet points to sell their books on their websites and in other promotional copy.

Business Success:
• Use only those marketing techniques that will be most successful for you
• Grow your business, even on a limited budget
• Get corporate sponsors on your side—they’re looking for a good idea, too!

Personal Success:
• Attain all your dreams and goals while keeping your family a top priority
• Use this menu of everyday smells to help you learn faster and retain more
• Scan your home, job, and relationships to get rid of Joy Busters™

Personal Finance:
• Contact the people and companies who want to help you re-establish credit

Parenting:
• Be a great mom without losing your identity
• Understand what dads offer that babies can’t get anywhere else

Health and Wellness:
• Use simple home remedies to reverse everyday damage to your immune system

Now, Inspect Your Work
Once you’ve drafted bullet points for your book, stand back and look at them.
Will they:

- Get noticed at-a-glance?

- Create a thirst for what your book has to offer?

- Give people irresistible reasons to buy?

If all your answers are "yes," congratulations. If not, keep at it until you can say “Yes!” to each and every one of these questions. Need some help? Give us a call, 1-888-634-4120, or email info@WriteToYourMarket.com.

NEXT: 30 power verbs you can use to create powerful bullet points for your book marketing copy--on your book cover, book website, media materials, and more.

For information on our book cover branding, copywriting, and coaching services, please visit us at http://www.writetoyourmarket.com./

© Copyright 2009, Susan Kendrick, Write to Your Market, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com, 1-715-634-4120.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Bullet Points: Getting Started


Part Two--Why Bullet Points Work ... 3 Tips for Writing Them ... Do's and Don'ts

By Susan Kendrick

(This is the second of four installments on writing bullet points for your book marketing copy. To see all the parts in this series, go to following posts:)

Part One -- "Get Noticed Fast"
Part Three -- "Examples from Bestselling Books"
Part Four -- "30 Power Verbs to Get You Started"

Why Bullet Points Work

There’s never any guarantee that people will read all of your book marketing copy, or read it from top to bottom. They may look at your headline, your endorsements, your call-to-action, or your bio. But, bullet points, because they stand out from everything around them, tend to pull people in first.

Exposure to decades of advertising copy—in print ads, on TV, online—has conditioned consumers to react to bullet points this way. That’s where they expect to find the real reason to buy a product or service and what they will get out of it. Capitalize on their expectations!

Make your bullets tight, punchy statements that instantly bring out the benefits of your book to the reader. Note, this is not about all the great things you and your book have to offer—the features of the book. It’s about describing those features as mouth-watering, benefit-rich, sound bites.

One disclaimer: Not every book needs bullet points. Using or not using them depends on what kind of copy is going to work best to attract your target audience. A gift book for new mothers, for example, may deserve more of a narrative style, a “dialogue” with the reader. But, most non-fiction books will get exponential marketing power with a few well-crafted bullet points.

3 Tips for Writing Powerful Bullet Points

Anyone who sees your sales copy—either in print or online—will only spend about 15 seconds reading it. Your main selling points have to pop and be highly visible, almost at a glance. So bullet points, too, must be kept short and to the point. Here are three tips to get you started:

1. How Many? Use about 5 to 7 bullet points total. You can use less, but do not use more or they lose their at-a-glance appeal.

2. Keep Them Short! Remember, you want to make these points an inviting and easy-to-read part of your book marketing copy. Keep them concise by avoiding excess description or “flowery” copy.

3. The WHAT More Than the HOW … People are more interested in what your book will do for them than how it will do it, at least initially. Give them the benefits and do it fast. You can explain how this happens later, or inside the book.


Plus ... A Couple of Do's and Don'ts:

* DON'T use any punctuation at the end of your bullet points. You do not need a comma, period, or semicolon at the end as a break between bullet points. Only use a period if the bullet point is more than one sentence (like this one ...). For book marketing copy, your bullet points will be short (see next point!).

* DO try to keep bullet points on one line if possible, or no more than one and a half to two lines, max. Remember, at-a-glance visibility is key here, especially when bullet points are included in quick-read book marketing copy like your book's back cover copy or on your website.

* DO start each bullet point with an active verb. (See the list included in the third and final post in this series, tomorrow.)

Free Book Cover Timeline

Have your started your book cover, or are you in the middle of that process right now? Please download our Free "Book Cover Timeline." It's a great way to keep the entire book cover process on track and running smoothly. Learn what to do ... when to do it ... and how long each step should or can take. Go to http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com/submitformfreetimeline.html.

Have questions about your book marketing copy? Email us at info@WriteToYourMarket.com.

Happy Publishing!
Susan

© Copyright 2009, Susan Kendrick, Write to Your Market, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com, 1-715-634-4120.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Bullet Points: Give Your Book Some Beach Muscle!


Part One--Get Noticed Fast


By Susan Kendrick


Greetings. Well, it's been a while, which usually means I've been writing for clients, so my writing here takes a break. But, here's a new series I think you'll like.

This is part one of a new article in the Copywriting Fitness series I've been writing for IBPA (Independent Book Publishing Association -- formerly PAM). This article is designed to help you give your book the most high-visibility, buy-me-now advantage of successful book marketing—bullet points, beach muscle for your book.

(Since this is a longer article, I will be posting it in sections over the next few days.)

Get Noticed Fast!

Let’s face it, bullet points are for show. Their job is to stand out, get noticed, and attract the attention of people who might not read anything else in your marketing copy.

While your core positioning statement gives your book power for the long haul--with readers, your industry, the media, and joint venture partners--bullet points are meant to be a little more flashy. They are a teaser, offering just enough information to make someone want to get their hands on your book—now!

That’s why bullet points are one of your best sales tools, on your back cover copy, your website, media pitches, catalogue copy, anywhere you publicize your book. They quickly assure your reader that what your book delivers is something they need and want.

NEXT: Part Two -- "How Bullet Points Work" and "The Quick-Start Guide to Bullet Points"


For information on our book branding, copywriting, and coaching services, please visit us at http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com.

Happy Publishing!
Susan

© Copyright 2009, Susan Kendrick, Write to Your Market, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.WriteToYourMarket.com, 1-715-634-4120
.