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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Testimonials: What to Send Someone When You Request Their Endorsement for Your Book

Send the Right Stuff To Get the Testimonials You Want


By Susan Kendrick

The latest series of articles on this blog have focused on testimonials for use on your book cover and throughout your marketing materials. We've looked at how to get big name testimonials, how to write them yourself, and mistakes to avoid.

Now, a Question from a Reader!
What to send the person from whom you are requesting a testimonial

Q:
Hello, Susan—Thank you for your blog and your web site—and the offer to submit a question. I have an important question about getting big name testimonials for my inspirational book. (Currently, it’s being considered by an agent.) I have a few people in mind whom I’ve never met. What should be sent to them? Thanks!

A:
Thank you for your note. Good question! I will answer you directly in this email and then post my response on the blog as well.

The first thing to do when you have someone in mind you want to approach for a testimonial is find out if you can contact them directly or if they have a “gatekeeper,” a secretary or assistant who handles their calls and emails.

-- If you can contact the potential endorser directly, first do so by email. Briefly introduce yourself and say why you are contacting them. Also tell them the complete title and subtitle of your book and why you would like an endorsement from them. Then, ask them what they would like you to send--i.e. the whole manuscript, or just the Introduction and a few samples chapters.*

Also mention that to help make the process easier for them--since you know they are busy--you would be happy to create and send them a few testimonials to choose from or to use as a springboard for their own ideas. And, ask if they would like to receive your material by mail or email. Keep this initial email as short and sweet as possible. Just the facts. Don’t overwhelm them. Be clear and concise. Look like someone who understands and respects their time.

* One thing that Dan Poynter recommends, too, is to approach this person as someone you would like to review a chapter or chapters because you would like their expert opinion on a particular aspect of your material that is their known area of expertise.

When you do send what they request, it is ideal if you can include the back cover sales copy, or at least a good working version of it, to give them an at-a-glance idea of the scope of your book and the benefit to the reader. Ideally, you will send your completed front cover design as well. Sending this market-ready piece shows the potential endorser that your book is real and in the production stage, not just an idea you are working on. This is another good reason to start your book cover early, so that you have that front cover ready to send.

-- If the person you are approaching does have a gatekeeper, call or email them. Then, follow the same approach as above, and ask this person how best to proceed—by phone or email, what to send, in what form, etc. If they offer to put you in touch directly with the person from whom you would like the testimonial, great. If not, work directly with the gatekeeper with the same high level of respect and professionalism.

Now, It's Your Turn

If you have further questions about how to approach potential endorsers for your book, who to approach, how to write quality endorsements yourself, etc., please feel free to email me directly at Susan@WriteToYourMarket.com.

And, please ask about our Critique & Consultation sessions and our mini coaching sessions. Sometimes all it takes to move forward is some feedback and direction. We're happy to provide help where you need it most and need it now.

Happy Publishing!
Susan

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

Writer's Digest Selp-Published Book Awards

Call for Entries -- Deadline is May 1, 2009

From Susan Kendrick

Here's an announcement that just arrived for the 17th annual Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards. Click here for details about award categories, how to enter, cash prizes, and more. Winning a book award, or even being a runner-up, is great way to gain industry recognition and add further credibility to your book.

Please contact us with any questions about how to get your book cover ready, at info@WriteToYourMarket.com.

Happy Publishing ... and Getting Your Book Noticed!
Susan Kendrick

Remember to visit our main website at www.WriteToYourMarket.com.

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