Check out Jony Studios’ blog What Is A Back Book Cover Blurb And Why You Need It to know everything you need to know about a back book cover blurb.
The above-linked blog talks about how a back book cover blurb is specifically for the reader. It’s essentially a marketing tool used to convince the reader to buy your book.
And because of that your blurb needs to be clear and should meet the readers needs and expectations. Below are few rules to keep in mind for writing a successful back book cover blurb:
WRITE IT NICE AND SHORT
Keep your blurb within 250 words.
Readers read your blurb in a passing glance while deciding to buy a book. Anything more than 250 words will be off-putting and is probably a red flag for you.
If you need more words to convince a reader to buy, it’s a bad sign. Marketing relies on creating intrigue by saying only a few words.
REEL THEM IN THE FIRST LINE
Just like any written media, the first line is always the thing that reels in a reader after the heading.
If your first line or two are generic and boring, the reader will lose interest.
A few suggestions on what your first line could be are:
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Ask the reader a question that will be answered in the book
Set a scene that might provide a character’s characteristics, describes the place the book is set in, etc.
State the reader’s problem directly. Similar to asking a question, speaking to the reader’s problem will give them an overview in one line of what the book will do for them.
Make the reader a promise. Guarantee the reader what they’ll be receiving from the book.
DESIGN A COVER ACCORDING TO YOUR READERS’ EXPECTATIONS
Finding a niche or creating something that stands out is usually what we wish to accomplish.
However, when it comes to a back book cover blurb, it is a good practice to give the readers what they want.
Consider a movie trailer. If you choose all the comedic scenes from a movie to put in your trailer but the actual genre is that of a thriller, it will confuse the heck out of viewers. The same applies to your blurb.
When writing your blurb, try remembering that book you bought based on the back cover and take influence from what attracted you to buy it. Incorporating these similarities will increase the chance of readers buying your book drastically.
TRY TO THINK FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF A READER
As a creator, sometimes we lose focus on who the work is for. It is very easy to get lost in the story or idea.
While writing a blurb, always keep in mind who will be reading your book. It needs to be enticing, informative and should present a solution to a problem in some cases.
Remember:
Fiction readers look for entertainment.
Non-fiction readers look for solutions/information.
FOLLOW THE STANDARD FORMAT
Try using bullet points that convey the solution/information provided in your book, reviews and endorsements for non-fiction books. It gives the book the certainty it needs to convince the reader to buy it.
Use paragraphs that describe the book, as a movie’s trailer would, for fiction. This gives the reader enough information to know the genre and theme of the book. It entices them to want to read further.
DON’T REVEAL EVERYTHING
A back book cover blurb is a synopsis. It should only be giving the reader a peek inside what your book is about.
Similar to a movie trailer, only reveal enough to entice them into reading further. If you give away the goodies before they even open the book, what will they need to buy it for?
WRITE A REUSABLE BLURB
Today, books are available in almost every format. From print, ebooks to audiobooks, books today are accessible to every type of reader.
Always make sure to write a blurb that can be easily copied for every format. This means that your blurb should be scannable and easy to implement on a digital platform.
Conclusion
These are the tips you will need to write the best possible back book blurb.
A blurb is one of the most effective marketing tool writers need to help sell their books. These tips will help you achieve that milestone.
Happy writing!
- By Neha Agarwala
If you need help turning your book into an audiobook, we offer audiobook production services that will help you reach a wider audience and increase your book sales.
Learn more here and listen to some of our audiobook samples.
