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Ben Mack |
 Posted - 09/16/2007 : 13:20:02
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Warriors,
Would you please critique my draft book cover? I can take extreme heat. Please don't hold back on telling me how I'm over-complicating the matter. It is far better I face harsh realities today than proceed with an untenable plan. Maybe you'll need to see the revised 1st chapter... but for now I want to know if my hook is:
a) Grabbing your attention
b) Paid-off by the long-copy text on the front and back cover
I've been studying Jason Oman's 5-Step customer book purchase model:
- Pick-up a book
- Turn to back cover
- Open to table-of-contents
- Reads any page
- Decides to purchase
If you are in the process of writing a bestseller, Jason Oman's home-study course is IMO essential consumption.
==> I hold Jason Oman's model to be the most common behavior for a non-destination book.
What's a "non-destination" book? Well, a book that you buy while browsing in a bookstore.
BEFORE WE GET to my draft book cover BELOW...
Can long-form copy work on a book cover? I'd love to read your opinion. Maybe you hold that long-form copy can work on a book cover, but that I failed to deliver workable copy.
My intention is to create Jason Oman's pattern of behavior in somebody browsing marketing books, especially Guerrilla Marketing books on the bookshelf in your local bookstore.
THE big THEORY...
By paying-off the "Zero-Work" concept ON THE BOOK'S FRONT AND BACK COVER, readers will be incited to open the book and more likely to purchase our work.
ONE LAST NOTION...
There are three primary authors: Jay, Tellman and me. In addition, there will be guest essays from either Profit Experts like T. Harv Eker, Paulie Sabol, David Garfinkel, Warren Whitlock & Michael Morgan and coaches we're calling Winning Coaches like Mike Long, Artemis Limpert, Tony Michael, Bobbi DePorter & Lou Dalo.
HOWEVER, Michael Morgan & David Garfinkel feel that the sub-title is unbelievable. Please critique my draft cover...
<><><><><> begin FRONT COVER <><><><><>
23 Profit Experts & Winning Coaches present...
Guerrilla Marketing
Massive Profits with Zero-Work
By
Jay Conrad Levinson,
Tellman Knudson & Ben Mack
Allow us to define Zero-Work…
Zero-Work is an opportunity where the bulk of the work has either already been done or is being done by somebody else.
Before we begin...
The Only 4 Ways to Increase Profits
1) Reduce costs
2) Increase your $/per transaction
3) Sell to more people
4) Existing clients buy more often
That's it. There are only four ways to increase profits.
What's great about there being only four ways to increase profits? ==> It’s easy to remember the four most profitable questions in the world:
1) In what ways might we Reduce costs?
2) In what ways might we Increase our $/per transaction?
3) In what ways might we Sell to more people?
4) In what ways might… Existing clients buy more often?
But, if you are like most people…
You don't even have the time to ask yourself these 4 questions, let alone take the time to implement your answers…
So, how can you make Massive Profits?
<===<==see back cover==<===
<><><><><> end FRONT COVER <><><><><>
(BEFORE WE CONTINUE to the BACK COVER: The arrows above would obviously be art-directed, however, do i need to hire a GREAT copywriter or am i getting close?)
<><><><><> begin BACK COVER <><><><><>
Massive Profits with Zero-Work
Even if you can’t stand doing math you’ll enjoy seeing more zeros on your bank deposits and in your bank accounts!
$_ _ ,000,000.00
That’s why you read a book like this, to make a lot more money.
Previous Guerrilla Marketing books have focused on conserving your out-of-pocket investment, specializing in low-cost and zero-cost advertising and marketing opportunities.
Fortunately…
Zero-Work has very little to do with mathematics.
math geeks love
The Magic Square
(insert graphic
of Magic Square)
turn to the…
Table-of-Contents
for profitable insights
…
gar
NO FANCY MATH REQUIRED! ==> Zero-Work opportunities are when somebody else is doing, or has already done, the bulk of the work for you.
“Edorsement goes here. And they’re really impressive.”
--Big Name here
“Edorsement goes here. And they’re really impressive.”
--Big Name here
“Edorsement goes here. And they’re really impressive.”
--Big Name here
<><><><><> END book cover <><><><><>
critique please.
Fellow Warriors, thank you for your considerations!
With gratitude,
Ben
think==> Dr. Ben Mack |
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SimonC |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 14:09:19
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Just off the top of my head, one concern would be the amount of available space on both covers (as in how much of the text there can shout out "Pick me! Pick me!" to casual browsers ... and the other would be the Magic Square illustration, which seems to be illustrating mathematics that have very little to do with Zero-Work.
Hope that helps, Ben. |
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Rezbi |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 18:20:38
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Hi Ben,
I'm going to be a little harsh: I only read it at all because you asked for a critique.
Otherwise... I probably wouldn't give it a second glance.
No parts of the headlines "grabbed" me... by a long shot. It does sound unbelievable.
And the body text? Well... I still don't understand the benefits of it.
I think the English needs to be more plain.
I would recommend a good copywriter. Or, at least better copy.
I do think the concept of the sales cover is good, but the copy needs to be much better.
Sorry, but I hope that helps.
Sincerely,
Rezbi |
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Ben Mack |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 22:28:30
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SimonC, GREAT POINT about the math. Thank you. In terms of space on the cover, I'm confident it can fit. I'm also confident what I've written isn't working.
Rezbi, my former lover Liz Boswell says I should be grateful for your comments over here...
http://elizabethboswell.blogspot.com/2007/09/v-brattleboro.html
I AGREE WITH HER. Rezbi, thank you. No need to apologize. Your comments are prudent and spot on. Thank you!
Ben |
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Rhen |
Posted - 09/17/2007 : 03:50:31
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You've lost me there... at hello. :)
Listen, if I were you I'd take a look at what your favorite, best-selling books have done to market themselves.
This is market research at it's best because these authors don't just hire a 5$ an hour clerk to do this type of work. There is usually a lot of thought and expertise that goes into this that stems from years upon years of experience in the field. Knowing this, I wouldn't try to re-invent the wheel and over-complicate stuff.
Do what works. Period. Stand on the shoulders of giants. Look at what they've done that works.
Grab a bunch of best-selling books in different fields from the library shelf, sit down and look at how they have successfully marketed themselves.
They will be different from the outset but you will notice patterns. Then look for the underlying principles they all share in common. Adapt them to your particular book as best you can.
Re-write the whole thing. Write 15 drafts if you have to.
The headline is also very weak. You can do better, keep trying. And don't be afraid to scrape everything even if you've slaved for days or even weeks on a particular piece. No attachment there, you are writing copy that works so if you come across advice and your inner voice tells you to scrap it and start over, do it.
Also this is a tip I've found to be useful for myself when I write. Remember that copy writing is about what works, not about the amount of time spent writing the piece or even originality involved.
What works. What sells. Period.
:) |
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critique please: GUERRILLA MARKETING Book Cover as