| Book studies show that prospective readers spend | | | | your photo on the back cover. |
| about eight seconds looking at a book cover before | | | | 8. Author BIO: This is very important to have 4-5 |
| deciding whether or not to buy. If the book is | | | | lines to the right of your photo telling the world who |
| opened and table of contents and testimonials are | | | | you are and branding your expertise. Make certain |
| read, chances are the book will be purchased. | | | | that whatever your 4-5 biggest streams of income |
| Therefore, how can you as the author, get your | | | | are, you list these titles in your bio. If you want to |
| reader to pick up you book, open it and purchase? I | | | | earn income for speaking, coaching, and consulting |
| believe it all comes down to four key areas: | | | | then reference, these areas of work. |
| A. Author's Willingness to Commit The Rest of Their | | | | 9. Sales Closing Line: This is missed by virtually all |
| Life to Promoting Book | | | | authors even though it is so important. Basically, here |
| B. Cover Design (Which Includes Back Cover and | | | | you are re-emphasizing why your prospective reader |
| Spine) | | | | needs to buy your book. For example, my sales |
| C. Title, Subtitle, Tagline, and Back Cover Headline | | | | closing line on Creating You Own Destiny says: "This |
| D. Finally, Actual Content of the Book | | | | book is your compass. Let Patrick Snow help guide |
| Since cover design is listed near the top, below are | | | | you to your own destiny!" |
| 13 recommendations I strongly encourage you to | | | | 10. Publishing Imprint: Under photo and bio, you want |
| implement to help improve your book's chance of | | | | to insert the logo of your publisher. If you are |
| becoming a bestseller. These tips are listed from top | | | | self-published, under no circumstance use your last |
| to bottom as to how they should appear on your | | | | name anywhere in your publishing company's name. |
| book's back cover: | | | | 11. ISBN Number and Barcode: One the lower right |
| 1. Genre of Book: The only reason this is important is | | | | hand corner of your book, you need to list your |
| that it tells the bookstore employees where to | | | | 13-digit ISBN number and below this number should |
| shelve your book within their store. If your title can | | | | be your ISBN barcode. This is very important so that |
| fit in to multiple genres, I encourage you to list no | | | | bookstores can scan your book and sell to their |
| more than two. This is in upper left corner of back | | | | readers. Without an ISBN number and bar code, your |
| cover. | | | | work is not really a book. |
| 2. Back Cover Headline and Sub-Headline: This is | | | | 12. Price Amount and also Pricing Barcode: Just as you |
| located at the very top of the book and must be a | | | | need and ISBN number and barcode, you also need |
| bold statement to immediately grab the attention of | | | | the same for your price. When a bookstore scans |
| your prospective reader. This headline is basically the | | | | this barcode the price should appear in their system. |
| title of your back cover. It should be in large print | | | | Oftentimes authors will forget to also include the |
| and bolded (bigger than any other print on your back | | | | actual price of the book in this area as well. If your |
| cover). | | | | book is in the 150 to 300 page range and soft cover, |
| 3. Summary Paragraph: Under your headline / | | | | you should price your book between $14.95 and |
| sub-headline you need to include summary of what | | | | $19.95. You get over $19.95 for your book is if it is |
| your book is about, why the reader should care, and | | | | hardcover. |
| how the book will improve the reader's life. This | | | | 13. URL / Domain / Web Site: I would argue that |
| should typically be 3-5 lines. | | | | behind the title of your book, this is the most |
| 4. Author Quote: This author quote is completely | | | | important item on your book. URL should be listed in |
| optional. However, if you as the author have come | | | | big, bold print, at the lower left portion of your back |
| up with your own quote and place it on the back | | | | cover of book. The only other item on your back |
| cover of your book it will soon be all over the | | | | cover that has a bigger font would be that of your |
| Internet and quoted on other Web sites - all of | | | | headline and sub-headline. Be sure to capitalize the |
| which will bring more free publicity to your book. | | | | first letter of each word in your Web site address to |
| 5. "You Will Learn How To" Statement: This comes | | | | make it easier for buyers to read and memorize. I |
| next on the back cover under author quote. In this | | | | can't tell you how many readers have joined my |
| section you re going to include 4-8 bullets points of | | | | newsletter after seeing my URL on my book in a |
| what your reader will learn by reading your book. | | | | bookstore. Often, instead of buying my book they |
| Oftentimes, these bullet points can be created by | | | | simply memorized my URL and are now a subscriber |
| highlighting 4-8 of your best chapters in the book. | | | | to my newsletter. If I do my job, eventually, they |
| 6. Testimonials: Lets face it, it does not matter what | | | | will purchase a copy. |
| we say about our book, it matters what other | | | | As you can see, there are a lot of detailed items to |
| famous people say about our book. Therefore, ideally | | | | consider that need to be included on the back cover |
| you should list 2-3 testimonials from other | | | | of your book. I encourage not rush this process. |
| recognizable author names that are in the same | | | | Take your time, and get your back cover of your |
| genre as your book. These testimonials should be no | | | | book to look exactly as you desire it to be. The |
| more than 2-3 lines. | | | | majority of my clients who come to me seeking help |
| 7. Author Photo: If your book is a novel then your | | | | after their books have been published, are those |
| photo is not required. If you are writing a non-fiction | | | | who have room for improvement on their back |
| and branding yourself as an author, speaker, coach, | | | | cover. |
| and consultant, then inserting a professional color | | | | If you are in need of help with your back cover, |
| photo on the back cover lower left side is extremely | | | | please contact me, and I will offer you a free |
| important. Note: never put your photo on the front | | | | 30-minute publishing consultation, to help you with |
| cover of your book unless you are a world-famous | | | | you back cover and also position your book to |
| celebrity. In doing so, it will be a dead giveaway that | | | | become a best seller through other author promotion |
| your book is self-published. However, always put | | | | campaign ideas that you may not have considered. |