Help with book title, please

20 replies
I hope this is the proper location for this post. Anyway, I've just finished an ebook on sculpting 6-pack abs. I'm looking for a great title for the book, and possibly a heading for the sales letter too. Anyone got any ideas they'd like to share? It would be greatly appreciated.
#book #titl #title
  • Profile picture of the author kfk2003
    To give you a decent, relevant title and headline we'd need far more info about your product:

    What's your hook?
    What's your USP?
    Signature

    Andrew Gould

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1557330].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author marky44
      Thanks for the response guys. The book is a diet and exercise based plan. What I do is show people how to strip away the excess fat while keeping their existing musle mass (we all have enough muscle to look really good when the fat comes off), and do it without starving themselves, or spending a huge amount of time in the gym. Also, the plan deals with the importance of training the entire body, maximizing energy expenditure, as opposed to endless abs-training sessions, which produce little in the way of fat burning, leaving a layer of belly fat in place,while providing poor training stimulus for the abs.

      As to how long it takes to see results it would depend on how much fat the individual was carrying, but a realistic target of around two pounds of fat loss per week is the goal I suggest.

      The program has been tested over the past year with clients that my partner has trained (including myself, and has proved spectacularily successful. And I do have the pics of the success of the program, so getting them into the ad won't be a problem.

      I've also put together some bonuses on adding muscle, why fat-burning pills are a wase of money and often times even dangerous, and developing the right mindset for success with any body-transformation program.

      Hope this gives you something to work with.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1557512].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kfk2003
    I'm struggling to come up with an interesting book title for you.
    But for a sales headline you could use something like this as a starting point:

    "Who Else Wants Ab's of
    Chiseled Granite?"

    The real secrets to maximum muscle and blowtorching the fat
    clean off your body. Discover what other "experts" can't - or
    won't - tell you...
    Signature

    Andrew Gould

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1558901].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    "Only David's Michelangelo Has A Body This Hard"

    Becoming Michelangelo:
    Shed the Fat and Transform Your Body Today!

    (That was just something that popped into my head. No need to take it seriously. I'm just a writer most days - no copy involved. Haha)

    Tina
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1559540].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Malave
    "Melt Fat. Get Ripped Quick."

    Enough Lies. Get The Facts here.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1560983].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author marky44
      Thanks guys. I know it's hard to come up with a great title and headline. But your efforts are definitely appreciated.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1561094].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Titling is a big deal. I wouldn't invent an effective title for
    a client unless I was paid for the creative work.

    I don't intend to come-off as a snob - but if you lack ideas
    to make your product marketable, asking to have fundamental
    positioning solved for you - for free - by forum gadflies is
    virtually the equivalent of asking a bunch of bums on the
    street.

    Does the success of your project matter so little to you?

    Writing titles is a craft. Bill Philips paid Ted Nicholas over
    $15,000 to come up with the chapter headings for
    "Body for Life" - and the book was a best-seller. When
    you default to the lowest common denominator on key
    issues of creativity in marketing ideas, expect to reap
    what you sow.

    Proven titles and concepts that sell books may be found
    in E. Haldeman Julius's book "the First 100 Million"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1561208].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author marky44
      Thanks Loren. Not everyone who starts out in business is loaded. It doesn't mean they think so little of their project. I can't imagine you don't know that already. If I had Bill Phillips' deep pockets I might fork over that kind of dough also. But I don't. So here I am. It's up to people here to offfer their suggestions, or not. Nobody's putting a gun to anyone's head.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1561264].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author The Copy Nazi
        Banned
        Originally Posted by marky44 View Post

        Thanks Loren. Not everyone who starts out in business is loaded. It doesn't mean they think so little of their project. I can't imagine you don't know that already. If I had Bill Phillips' deep pockets I might fork over that kind of dough also. But I don't. So here I am. It's up to people here to offfer their suggestions, or not. Nobody's putting a gun to anyone's head.
        Very rude. Loren is spot on. He also happens to be one of the most savvy marketing guys on this forum. The other suggestions made here are pathetic. I did have a mind to feed you a great title but I don't like your attitude, so stuff it.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1563293].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author marky44
          Malcolm, if you don't want to offer your opinion on a book title, that's fine. But rude? You call other posters pathetic and tell me to stuff it. Anyway, have a prosperous and healthy 2010.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1563738].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
            Folks, marky44 is legitimate. I have personally talked with him, at length.

            He and his partner may not be experts at marketing, business building, copywriting and sales, but they are sincerely asking for help and it sounds like we can contribute. Better yet, they do have something special.

            If you want to withhold, obviously that's your prerogative.

            I'm for giving anybody who sincerely wants to build their business "a leg up."

            Best of success with your project, marky44.

            - Rick Duris
            Signature
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1564035].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Well - you get what you pay for much of the time.

    If I had an idea for a breakthrough title and hook for
    an abs book I wouldn't give it away. I would hire the
    book written myself and take all the profit on the
    marketing concept.

    The client here is on the other side of the equation. There's
    no shame in having no money to launch your product -
    people do it all the time. What I'm doubtful of is
    the tactic of trying to get quality thinking done for you
    while offering very little in return.

    Without a hook and a great cover, and so forth, your ebook
    will almost surely under-perform in the market, because
    it is a crowded place and only the best marketing ideas
    tend to win-out. So you need some good marketing
    ideas. That's been admitted. But I see none forthcoming -
    so I guess the situation is either to acquire capital for
    yourself in some form or another: perhaps developing
    new skills of your own, or getting money to retain
    the services of those who have the skills you lack.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1564193].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Freeman77
      There's nothing wrong with soliciting the advice of the masses -- I'm sure there are examples of successful folk doing just that.

      Personally speaking, I don't like a lot of hyperbole or exaggeration in my copy or titles ("chiseled abs," "abs of steel," etc.). There are hundreds of ab products out there, so the public is probably immune to much of that talk.

      In fact, I'd discourage all the "abs of steel/shed the fat/ripped to shreds" talk -- yuck.

      Here are some themes that might catch my eye:

      See Your Abs...for the First Time in Your Life
      You Have a 6-pack -- Now Show Them
      8-12% Bodyfat in 4 Weeks (with the Abs to Prove It)
      Year-round Abs Made Easy

      These are all bad, and I wouldn't encourage you to actually use them. I'm just throwing out some stuff that might spark something for you.

      BTW, I read that many of us don't have the classic "6-pack" muscles, depending on genetics. Some of us have more of a sheet of muscle without the clear divisions. It still looks awesome at a low body fat, but it's more smooth than the classic 6 pack. You can see this in some body-builders: While many have the clear 6-pack, others have a smooth "sheet" of muscle.

      But I digress. Good luck!
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1564401].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Chris Houghton
        Here are a couple that popped into my head....

        Six Pack Ab Secrets

        Ripped Ab Method
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1564964].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
          Hi marky44,

          I have been thinking about your situation....

          One of the implicit outcomes you want with your book is to get your BRAND established.

          You want a brand that NAILS your USP. But at the same time, is expandable enough to incorporate projects you may want to take on in the future.

          Stated differently, if you're serious about your endeavor, you want something that's enduring.

          Sometimes, brands can center around people. Oprah, Dr. Oz, Martha Stewart, and recently Jillian Michaels come to mind. The great thing about this strategy is no one can swipe it and apply it to their project.

          And sometimes, brands are centered around a GREAT name or tagline "When it positively has to be there overnight." Or Denise Austin's "Buns of Steel" series. And Bill Phillips "Body for Life" series come to mind. (Notice I said the word "series.")

          Or sometimes, people just make up a name, like the "P90X Workout." WTF does that mean? Who knows, but it's kicking some major tail right now. Once you get your name trademarked, it's yours (and you have to protect it.)

          And sometimes, the brand is based upon a great, universally compelling story. The Charles Atlas ads come to mind.

          (Regardless of which strategy you pick, you should study these ads and promotions. They are all brilliant. Just google them and bone up.)

          The question you have to ask yourself is "at what level do you want to play this game?"

          On the low end, you can push out an ebook on abs in a week and then head on to the next project. Or you can establish it such you build something that's leveragable in the future in all sorts of intersting and profitable ways.

          In other words, asking for a title right now may be a bit premature. And if you do get a KILLER title or headline, someone WILL swipe and apply it to their project. So you would have to move fast and move things to PM asap.

          As Loren accurately points out, selecting book title is a major deal. At the highest levels, there's an intention, thoughtfulness and strategy behind it. One that must align with your goals for your business.

          These are things to think about as you hone in on your target.

          - Rick Duris
          Signature
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1565471].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author marky44
            Thanks guys for the contribution. Lots to think about there.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1567033].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author eibhlin
    Awe 'Em at the Beach - Fast Six-Pack Abs

    (I am not a copywriter. It was just what popped into my head as I read this thread.)
    Signature
    Artist, blogger, and author of a bazillion books, more or less. Find me at Eibhlin.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1565452].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jukeboxhero
    Here's the deal dude...

    So you don''t have 20k to spend on ads...

    Why don't you put together a small ppc campaign and TEST the titles that you had in mind and along the way build your list so that when your book comes out you'll have someone to sell to....

    Plus you will have a title that isn't just a shot in the dark...

    Even more so you will have tested it in the very market place where you intend to sell it.

    Tim Ferris did this with his book 4 hour work week to come up with a title...

    Or you could go with the Napoleon Hill route and ask your subconscious prior to going to bed...His world famous book "Think and Grow Rich" at one time was going to be called

    "Use Your Noodle and Get Your Boodle"...My guess is that one didn't stand a chance.

    Good luck dude.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1568493].message }}

Trending Topics