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Copy for books?

by James Fame
5 replies
I realize these are completely different animals from sales letters but they do have a purpose in sales too. Any resources I can look at to improve the following:

1. Book descriptions / Back cover copy
2. Website copy
3. Book cover
4. Book title

I've been getting decent conversions but I'm looking for a way to split-test it to rake up sales.

For fiction titles I normally always go with a curiosity-based headline set around a main emotion, whereas non-fiction it's much easier to embed a direct benefit in it without sounding all salesy.

James
#books #copy
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    The Warrior Book Club / Kindle forum here will be helpful. I'm a member and it's worth it even though I don't churn out books.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      I've been getting decent conversions but I'm looking for a way to split-test it to rake up sales.
      Be careful... The goal in book sales on places like Amazon is not to get the most number of sales; it is to get the most number of sales from people who are extremely likely to like the book. If you oversell the book or misrepresent it in any significant way, you will get blowback in the form of negative reviews which will stay attached to your book forever.

      This is a conclusion I've come to after watching other authors struggle with negative reviews due to a book description that did not match the book well enough.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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      • Profile picture of the author James Fame
        Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

        The Warrior Book Club / Kindle forum here will be helpful. I'm a member and it's worth it even though I don't churn out books.
        Thanks Jason, I'll check it out.

        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        Be careful... The goal in book sales on places like Amazon is not to get the most number of sales; it is to get the most number of sales from people who are extremely likely to like the book. If you oversell the book or misrepresent it in any significant way, you will get blowback in the form of negative reviews which will stay attached to your book forever.

        This is a conclusion I've come to after watching other authors struggle with negative reviews due to a book description that did not match the book well enough.

        Marcia Yudkin
        Thanks Marcia, you're right, that's a timely reminder. I don't tend to wander into that kind of territory because I'm not a fan of refunds and pesky fanmail lol.

        James
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        Fire me a pm if you have a question. I build businesses and provide consulting. I do not do finance/money/internet marketing niches. Fitness, self-improvement and various others are welcome.

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  • Profile picture of the author optionmedia
    Get ideas from successful books in your
    target category.

    Don't copy or steal anything...I know you wouldn't.

    Just check out what the top books like yours are
    doing and come up with your own ideas based
    on what's working already.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Just check out what the top books like yours are
      doing and come up with your own ideas based
      on what's working already.
      Actually that's not recommended when it comes to Amazon book descriptions.

      Many top-selling books have things going for them that you won't see on Amazon - such as Oprah appearances, ten million Twitter followers, JV connections up the wazoo and so on. If you imitate what that kind of an author is doing in their book description you can do your own book in. Because in their case the book description is not doing most of the selling.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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