| Authors, self publishers and book publishers often | | | | In any case, you want your title to be simple and exact |
| spend a lot of time thinking over possible titles for an | | | | for 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 mind | | | | other search engines. After all, people use Google to |
| when choosing a title, assuming you're publishing a | | | | search 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 a | | | | increase 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. But | | | | Besides bookstores and Google, librarians like titles that |
| many publishers I've talked to have chosen titles that | | | | describe 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 or | | | | order just one copy. They order multiples, for the main |
| humorous titles that offer the prospective buyer no | | | | branch 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 say | | | | I've seen many titles make or break publishers with |
| exactly what the book is about. After all, many | | | | great marketable non-fiction books. In some cases |
| customers browse the spines of books on the | | | | they 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 Beetle | | | | Knowing all of this, if you absolutely can't bear the |
| Engine", you're signing a death warrant to your | | | | thought 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 the | | | | slow but certain death to your publishing and marketing |
| same time. Both had the same title - "When the Bough | | | | efforts. |
| Breaks." They were similar in content but who knew | | | | The title is the most important decision you'll have to |
| what gems might really be inside. The books never | | | | make 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' dilemma | | | | publishers 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 or | | | | book 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 if | | | | style. Everyone will appreciate knowing what the book |
| they're persistent but nothing like the rewards a good | | | | is about and a lot more copies will be sold. |
| title would bring. | | | | |