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Wednesday Wondering . . .

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What does it take to sell a book? Everyone has an opinion.

Let's start with the cover. I want a great cover to entice me. I have certain expectations for a cover depending on the genre, whether or not it's a series, a romance, a suspense, etc. I want the cover to portray a hint of what's to come. I want it to speak to me and jump out at me.

The old adage that we can't "judge a book by its cover" is in fact true. We learn over the years of reading novels that sometimes the cover does not adequately do the story between those covers justice – either the cover outdoes the story inside or the story surpasses the cover. 

Novelists continually hear and/or learn from experience that "word-of-mouth" is still the most effective method to sell books. A friend recommends a book to another friend and the recommendations might continue. The "substitute(s)" for word-of-mouth are online reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, wherever readers go to search out a new read. Many faithful readers go to these places to seek out their novel choices and take reviews seriously. Others rarely read reviews and only go to online retail outlets to purchase a book they've somehow heard about or noticed. Still others seek out their novels at places like Barnes&Noble and don't bother checking out social media to find their selections. 

What will cause a reader to take a chance on a new author? Some publishers insist their new authors have a succinct marketing plan, but in reality there have never been absolutes for marketing novels. There have been gimmicks, giveaways, newsletters, blogs, vlogs, social media presences, and impressive author websites. Some of these work but not for everyone. Some die-hard readers don't take the time to read, peruse, or examine all of these offerings. They must have their sources for selections of the novels they read, but maybe they're the ones that go by "word-of-mouth" recommendations or browsing bookstores or libraries.

So what is it for you? What compels you to take a chance on a book and purchase it? 

 

Father, we write, we wait, we put our hope in you. Help me to write well and share you within the pages of a good story. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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5 responses to “Wednesday Wondering . . .”

  1. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    Recommendations by you, Brenda Anderson, and my sister-in-law
    If there’s a good looking cover, and it’s a good deal, I’ll give it a try.
    I have read recommendations on Amazon of books I’ve already read to see if they’re trustworthy. They are not, sometimes completely inaccurate.

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  2. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    “I have read recommendations on Amazon of books I’ve already read to see if they’re trustworthy. They are not, sometimes completely inaccurate.” — I couldn’t agree more, Deb. Some reviews are not only inaccurate, they’re spiteful and smug. Sometimes I wish more people who’ve liked my work would write a review on Amazon, but, ultimately, I only hope they like the book(s) they’ve read.
    I’m honored that you enjoy my reviews. I’ve eliminated reviewing the novels I didn’t care for or felt like I didn’t really have anything of value to say about them. That way I’m not creating a review which does the book injustice for those who might enjoy it. As you know, Deb, I once wrote a few scathing reviews. No more – at least not with identification of author and title.
    Thank you for all you do for me, Deb, in my work. Can’t thank you enough.

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  3. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    Appreciate that, Debra!
    Nicole always has great recommendations. My problem is the lack of time to read. 🙂

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  4. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    While a cover will catch my eye, the blurb will compel me to open the book.
    As Debra said, recommendations from you, Nicole.
    Are they an author of enjoyed in the past? What genre is the book? I will glance at ratings, and may skim reviews, but rarely read them through as I don’t want spoilers.
    But really, it goes back to the blurb. Does the story sound enticing to me?

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  5. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Thank you, too, Bren. I’m honored when people appreciate my reviews/recommendations. Really am.
    I want a good blurb too, but it seems like Christian Fiction tries to tell the story on the back cover. I try to limit myself to the first two sentences and sometimes that’s even too much when searching for a story! What’s up with that?
    I’ve got a two-sentence blurb for the book I’m writing now. I don’t know if I’ll expand on it. I really like those two sentences. 😉

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