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Self-Publish...Or Don't

Top 7 Essential "Hot-Selling Points" To Implement Before
Writing Chapter One
Judy Cullins M.A.
©2001

Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include
the below tips, 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.Your title must compel your audience to buy. If
you want an agent or publisher your title and subtitle are vital.

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. Include a few 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 sales tool your book has to offer.
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 more 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? "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 to be a sales tool and a
beacon to writing a focused, compelling, understandable, and
enjoyable book is a must, before you write a single word.
=============
Judy Cullins: author, publisher, book coach
Helps professionals manifest their book and web dreams
eBook: _Ten Non-techie Ways to Market Your Book Online_
www.bookcoaching.com/specialoffers.shtml
Send an email toSubscribe@bookcoaching.com
FREE The Book Coach Says... includes 2 free eReports
Judy@bookcoaching.com
Ph:619/466/0622

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