What if Amazon shoppers saw your book description and felt compelled to purchase?
What if you could buy Amazon or Facebook ads and close a sale in less than 10 clicks rather than the typical 20 – 30 clicks?
What if you showed your book description to your mother and she no longer worried about your decision to become an author?
These what-ifs are possible when you create a powerful description for your book. If sales aren’t meeting your expectations, a major culprit could be a lackluster description that fails to entice readers. I wrote this 4-part series to help you address the problem.
To recap, Step 1 of a great book description starts with displaying a marketing hook that grabs people’s attention. Step 2 involves differentiating your book from the crowded field by presenting accolades or a connection to popular titles that readers already love. Step 3 is about igniting the reader’s emotions, because logic makes people think but emotion makes them act.
Let’s conclude this series by focusing on Step 4, which is the simplest part of writing a persuasive book description. Yet, it’s the most overlooked and forgotten step by authors. When you end your description, you should always…
Step 4: Present a Clear Call-to-Action
A “call-to-action” means telling people to do something specific. In our case, you should tell readers to buy your book – literally. For example, use phrases, such as:
- Buy a copy today.
- Get your copy now.
- Purchase today!
- Enjoy reading your copy now.
I know you might shudder at the idea of telling people to buy your book. You may think displaying, “Get your copy now,” is too crass or overly promotional. But, I can tell you that years of research across multiple industries has proven the power of these statements.
Asking readers to buy your book may seem too obvious. But, if a call-to-action is unnecessary, then why do you see them on most television ads, hear them on most radio ads, and view them on most online ads? Because a clear call-to-action works.
You face an incredible amount of skepticism and distraction when people look at your book description, whether on Amazon or anywhere else. A call-to-action gives the reader a gentle nudge towards closing the book sale.
If you simply cannot stomach the idea of telling readers to buy your book, then try this approach. Imply the call-to-action by making the final sentence of your description lead the reader to desire buying your book. For example, notice how the description for the nonfiction book, Getting Past No, ends with:
You don’t have to get mad or get even. Instead, you can get what you want!
From a fiction perspective, the description for The Girl on the Train ends with a suspenseful question that builds interest by saying:
But is she really as unreliable as they say? Has she done more harm than good?
You can imply a call-to-action by using statements or questions that amplify a sense of suspense. However, it’s always more effective when you simply say, “Buy a copy now” or “Get your copy today.”
When you combine my four steps, you create the anatomy of an attractive book description:
Step 1 – Lead with a marketing hook
Step 2 – Differentiate your book from the crowd
Step 3 – Ignite the reader’s emotions
Step 4 – Close with a call-to-action
Now it’s your turn to apply these steps to your book description. When you improve your marketing text, it’s an easy way to increase sales without spending more money on advertising or publicity. Use the power of language to gain more readers when people see your book description. Nothing will make your mother more proud of your career choice.
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Even though I’ve explained how to write an effective book description, it can still feel like a daunting task to some authors. Don’t let a busy schedule or personal anxiety prevent you from maximizing your book sales. Purchase my new service, The Amazon Edge, and I’ll write the marketing description to make your book shine on Amazon.
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“If you’re serious about your book, then you need a seriously fantastic book description, and Rob is the guy to do it. The marketing copy that he wrote for my novel really brings the characters to life and tantalizes readers, making them want to learn more. His book description service is totally worth it. Don’t wait!!!”
Mark Cheverton
New York Times bestselling novelist with over 2 million copies in print
