How to Choose the Best Title for Your Self Published Book

Authors, self publishers and book publishers oftenIn any case, you want your title to be simple and exact
spend a lot of time thinking over possible titles for anfor the search engines. And a 'how to' in your title
upcoming book they plan to publish and rightly so.guarantees you a lot more 'hits' from Google and the
There are some basic considerations to keep in mindother search engines. After all, people use Google to
when choosing a title, assuming you're publishing asearch for information they need NOW - help that fills
non-fiction book.their needs, wants and desires. As a result, traffic will
The most important thing to remember is to choose aincrease to your website or any other website that
title that describes exactly what the book is about.carries or mentions your book.
Some of you may think this is common sense. ButBesides bookstores and Google, librarians like titles that
many publishers I've talked to have chosen titles thatdescribe the book exactly. They're likely to order more
don't give you any idea of what is in the book.copies for their patrons. Librarians don't necessarily
Many times publishers come up with cute, clever ororder just one copy. They order multiples, for the main
humorous titles that offer the prospective buyer nobranch and all the branches. Don't overlook them as a
clues.good source for sales.
Bookstores don't like to carry books that don't sayI've seen many titles make or break publishers with
exactly what the book is about. After all, manygreat marketable non-fiction books. In some cases
customers browse the spines of books on thethey were forced to change the title and go back for
bookshelves in search of the information they need.another print run - expensive. Some couldn't afford to
Say your book is about repairing Volkswagen engines.do it. They were stuck with a garage full of books on
If you pick a title like "My Life with Cutie Patootie"pallets. Don't let this happen to you.
instead of "How to Fix Your Volkswagen BeetleKnowing all of this, if you absolutely can't bear the
Engine", you're signing a death warrant to yourthought of giving up your 'working title', then use it for
publishing efforts.the sub-title. But using it as the title will guarantee a
I recall a case when two titles came out about theslow but certain death to your publishing and marketing
same time. Both had the same title - "When the Boughefforts.
Breaks." They were similar in content but who knewThe title is the most important decision you'll have to
what gems might really be inside. The books nevermake when you publish a book.
had a chance without a descriptive title.To be safe, authors, self publishers and book
Publishers often find themselves in this 'title' dilemmapublishers need to make sure they choose the best
after they publish their book. They have two options.title for their book - a title that says exactly what their
Go back for another print run with the new title orbook is about. What it contains. No guesswork. And a
continue to throw money down the drain and market'how to' in the title will never be outdated or go out of
the 'heck' out of the book. Granted they'll sell some ifstyle. Everyone will appreciate knowing what the book
they're persistent but nothing like the rewards a goodis about and a lot more copies will be sold.
title would bring.