Book Titles

Today more than ever, the title of a book (and it's cover) have a bigger impact on the success of a book than almost anything else.

A bestseller starts with a good title!

Your title should:

• Easy to remember (1-2 word titles work best!)
• Make an immediate impact - think about the titles that stopped you (or made you click).
• Appeal to your target reader (in your niche - the more specific, the better).
• A good subtitle reveals what the book is about in as few of words as possible.

How many books have you picked up simply because of a title that grabbed your attention?

Spend some time on publishers websites and see which titles grab your attention.

How do you get a good review? Put your book in the hands of the right reader. How do you get a bad review? Put your book in the hands of the wrong reader.

An accurate and descriptive subtitle will help get your book in the hands of the right reader (and avoid the wrong reader).

Examples and ideas...

... A Gripping Binge-worthy Psychological Thriller Series
... A Paranormal Thriller
... Part 1 of the Thrillogy

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Fiction

• The Orphan Collector: A Heroic Novel of Survival During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic
• The Secrets We Keep: A Gripping Emotional Page Turner
• The Storm: A Story Inspired by Reincarnation in the Golden Era of Film and Music
• Into the Darkest Day: An Emotional and Totally Gripping WW2 Historical Novel
• The Pursuit of the Pankera: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes

Non-Fiction

• The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store
• The Good Karma Diet: Eat Gently, Feel Amazing, Age in Slow Motion
• Out Earn: How to earn more than your parents!
• Earn the A. Get to College. Get well paid.
• The ABCs to getting A's: The proven path to better grades with the Power Learning System
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
• The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts
• You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
• The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life
• Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Well-Being
• Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
• Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment
• Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World
• Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing
• Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure It
• Dealing with People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst
• What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
• Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
• GUTS 'N GUNSHIPS: What it was Really Like to Fly Combat Helicopters in Vietnam

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A trend I have seen - like it or not - is piggy backing on the success of an existing title that already has captured people attention and getting that 'word of mouth' we all need. It'll may also help you show up in Amazon search results better (although Amazon works hard to penalize authors who are 'gaming' the system).

I first noticed it when someone published '50 Shades of Kale.' Dozens of authors recently jumped on the 'The Fine Art of Not Giving a F*!K' bandwagon. And now I'm seeing it with 'The Life Changing Magic...'. Consumers are click happy and it's sad to say that many of the sales these authors are getting might be the result of mistaken identity.

More Reading

• [Titles - More important than you think!]

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