If you're an author, the back cover of your book is a significant sales opportunity you can leverage. Back cover copy is something people read in bookstores and online to learn more. Book promotion services professionals know that well-written blubs can help sell copies. Writing the paragraphs for the back cover is a distinct skill, and even experienced writers can benefit from a refresher on what works best. There are new requirements given the realities of today's bookselling marketplace, including brick-and-mortar stores and substantial online sellers. Keywords need to be included to benefit the online sellers.
Most publishing industry veterans agree the information on the back cover tells prospective readers (and book buyers) what the book is about -- and what to expect when reading it. These recognize the business side of bookselling and are intentional marketing moves to entice buyers. As a result, back cover blurbs need to be well written to achieve the specific objective. If they fall short, it can cost you sales and relegate the book to laggard status. It's also crucial to understand target readers and what they expect from the book. When the back cover text speaks to their needs, they respond.
The path to compelling cover blurbs is more straightforward for nonfiction writers, but there is a formula of sorts that many novelists follow. Compellingly summarizing a book's story is similar to a film trailer that entices audiences to see a film by showing selected highlights. The trick is to be interesting while not giving away too much of the story. It's also common to present some cliffhanger, or an implied one, that can only be answered by reading the book. The formula gives authors considerable latitude, and there are no rules except to write something compelling, regardless of how it must be effective.
People want to understand the value of reading a book in every genre, and the back cover blurb needs to help lay it out. For nonfiction books, it's also helpful to explain how the content adds to what is already published and understood – a proposition of newness. These help people understand how the book is different from others and worthy of their interest and money. A good cover blurb anticipates a prospective reader's questions about a book and endeavors to answer them. They're likely on the mind of people considering buying a copy, and you want to persuade them.
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