9 Tips On Writing A Great Description For A Non-Fiction Book
Introduction
If your book’s description does not grab the reader by the collar, and quickly convince them that you have the answers that they are looking for, you are going to lose them. In a matter of seconds, they will move on to the next book and continue searching for answers. I discovered this very early on in my quest to become a self-publisher. I have developed a short list of tips that can improve your book description and hopefully increase sales.
1. Develop an introduction that will grab the reader’s attention
You wrote your entire book for a particular audience in mind. You should already know exactly what you need to say to grab their attention. Try to grab them in the first sentence. This introduction is the hook.
2. Keep it on the short side
If your book description is too long, you risk losing the reader. Get right to the point. As a general rule, you should easily be able to write a very good book description within 100 to 150 words.
3. Make an emotional connection
This is essential is you expect the reader to like you.
4. Don’t oversell by using insincere superlatives
All hyperbole that you use must be backed-up with real proof. Without believable proof, your reader will very quickly lose all trust in you and your book.
5. Write it in the third person, present tense
Whether you are the book’s author or publisher, you should write the book’s description in the third person and in the present tense. This will make the description more believable.
6. Use a quote or testimonial from a third party
Testimonials are a very powerful marketing tool, especially if it is from a well-known or very accomplished person.
7. Explain how the reader will benefit from your book
What are the most important things the reader will learn from your book.
8. How will your book help them solve their problems?
This answer to this question is crucial to getting the reader to buy your book. This answer is the main reason that they book buyer is looking at your book in the first place.
9. Add a short call to action
Subtly ask readers to buy your book, in a non-aggressive way.
Conclusion
All of these tips should be very easy for you to accomplish. I suggest that you spend a lot of time on Amazon reading the book descriptions of books whose subject matter is similar to your book. By doing this you will discover how other authors describe their own books. Compare the descriptions of the books by famous authors and by newer authors.