Top 7 Essential "Hot-Selling Points" To Implement Before Writing Chapter One

Judy Cullins M.A.

©2003

Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include

the below tips, including writing for your audience, knowing your

thesis, your "tell and sell," and introduction, you'll sell more books

than you ever dreamed of.

1. Write for your one preferred audience. Not everyone wants

your book. Find out what audience wants/needs your book.

What problems does your book solve for them? Create an

audience profile and keep your audience's picture in front of you

as you write. Ask yourself, is my topic narrow enough? The

Chicken Soup For The Teenager, For The Prisoner, and other

specific groups sold far more copies than the original Chicken

Soup.

2. Write a sizzling book title and front cover. You have 4

seconds to hook your potential buyer. The cover itself sells more

books than any other part. Bookstore buyers buy mainly by

cover designs and title.Short titles are best, and short and clever

are even better. Your title must compel your audience, agent,

or publisher to buy. Use a sub title if your title is unclear.

3. Write a thirty-second "tell and sell." You only have a few

seconds to impress the media, the agent, the bookseller, the

individual buyer. Include your title, a few benefits, and the

audience. Create this billboard with sound bites that grab

attention. You may also want to compare your book to a

successful one. "Passion at Any Age: Renew, Recharge

and Reinvent Your Life"is the "Artist's Way" for seniors.

4. Write your back cover before you write your book. This is

the second most important "Hot-selling Point" for your book,.

Here you put compelling ad copy, benefits, testimonials, and a

small blurb about you, the author. If your potential buyer likes it,

they will buy on the spot. If they want more information, they will

look inside at the introduction and table of contents.

5. Write your book introduction. Include the problem your

audience has, why you wrote the book, and its purpose. In a few

paragraphs include specific benefits, and how you will present it

(format). Keep it under a page.

6. Create a table of contents. Each chapter should have a name,

preferably a catchy one. If your reader can't understand the

chapter title, then annotate it. Add some benefits or a sub title. In

"Passion at Any Age," the author put the word "passion" in each

title. Which attracts you more? "Open Your Mind?" or "Attracting

Passion?"

7. Reach out to opinion molders. After an initial contact of asking

for feedback, resend them the same chapter and the table of

contents of your book. Ask for a testimonial then. These

influential contacts' testimonials will make your back cover an

important sales tool.

Designing every part of your book as a sales tool and a

beacon to writing a focused, compelling, understandable, and

enjoyable book is a must, before you write a single chapter