So, What is the Purpose of a Book Description?

The purpose of a book description, or ‘blurb’, is not to describe the book’s plot or summarize the details. That’s a synopsis. A book description is an ad for your book. It is marketing copy. Its entire purpose is to sell your book, so you need to think like a copywriter when writing yours. 

Below I’ll be covering the biggest book cover description mistakes to avoid. Because many new self-published authors either misunderstand the purpose of a book description, aren’t familiar with the conventions, or treat it as an afterthought. But this guide will start you off on the right foot. 

I’ll also include links to other blogs on the topic of writing a good book description so you’ll have a solid foundation before you begin writing yours.

1. Not Understanding the Purpose of a Book Description (or Back Cover Copy)

The first of the most common book description mistakes, and the root of the bad book description problem, is not understanding the purpose of them. Again, a book description is not a synopsis. It’s not a pitch. And it’s definitely not a plot summary.

Book descriptions, also known as back cover copy and often referred to (wrongly) as a blurb, have a singular and specific purpose. They are meant to sell the book. This doesn’t mean you don’t give hints or provide overviews of what is waiting for the reader inside the cover. It means that your book description needs to be captivating. A book description needs to entice the reader. It needs to be written in the right tone and language for the genre, and it needs to be concise. There should also be a call to action (CTA), or something that compels them to buy!

You can read all about how to craft a winning book description here. But first, continue reading about these easily avoidable mistakes. 

2. Using the Wrong Tone and Language is a Subtle Book Description Mistake that Turns Readers Away

There is nothing that will make a reader take note more than using the wrong tone or language for the genre. And not in a good way. So, it’s always best to get familiar with your genre’s conventions before you start writing that first draft. Look into your comparable titles to see how other authors in your genre use tone and language in their book marketing copy.

It should also be noted that the tone and language of your book description won’t necessarily match that of your book. For instance, if you write historical fiction and use dense prose, period specific language, or a regional dialect in your writing, it’s a mistake to transfer that style to your back cover copy. 

I’ve encountered this before, and edited author-written book descriptions like this. But this book description mistake almost always comes down to both not understanding the purpose of a book description and being unfamiliar with the conventions. 

So, use genre specific tone and structure and plain and standard language. 

3. Including Too Many Details Bogs Down Your Book Description and Kills Curiosity 

This is by far one of the most common and detrimental book description mistakes I’ve witnessed. Authors tend to get carried away with the details because, in their minds, there is so much to say and all of it is so interesting. They mistakenly believe more details mean immersing the reader in the story. Either that, or they simply struggle with being concise. 

Giving too many details is actually a deterrent to taking the leap to read the book.  A book description needs to grab your readers attention, keep it there, and leave them wanting more. When reading  book descriptions, we scan and skim. Readers want to get the information they need quickly and easily. They make decisions in mere seconds. 

You can, however, add more details to your long book marketing copy. For instance, on your Amazon book page. 

I use this analogy often, but think of your book description as a movie trailer. Have you ever seen a trailer that gave so much away you felt like you no longer needed to see the movie? 

On the opposite end, have you ever seen a brief but intriguing trailer that showed just enough to pique your interest? Did you want to know more? That’s what you want from your book description. 

Basically, don’t bog the reader down with unnecessary details or give anything away.

4. A Boring Book Description (or Not Understanding Copywriting Frameworks)

Remember, a book description is marketing copy. It has a purpose, and that purpose is to convert. 

So, each word needs to be impactful. Your back cover copy is limited by space, word count, and even attention spans. A boring book description does nothing for you or your book. Readers will simply stop reading. This particular book description mistake also comes from a misunderstanding of their purpose. It also happens because of a lack of familiarity with copywriting frameworks. Once you understand this, you’ll be able to avoid writing boring book descriptions. 

What are these copywriting frameworks that grab attention, speak to the reader, and persuade them to buy? 

• AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action
• PAS: Problem, Agitation, Solution
• FAB: Features, Advantages, Benefits

AIDA is useful and necessary for fiction books. You must grab the reader’s attention. Then pique their interest. Then make them want to read the book (desire). Finally, you want to compel them to action. This is the CTA (call to action). 

The other two, PAS and FAB, work well for nonfiction books. Of course you’ll also need to grab their attention, keep their interest, make them want to buy and compel them to take action. A business book description needs to address a specific problem and offer a solution. That’s why you’d use those particular frameworks.

Understanding copywriting frameworks will help you avoid this book description mistake by ensuring your copy isn’t boring. 

5. Please, Please, Do NOT Let AI Compose Your Book Description!

It disappoints me to even have to mention this one. But using AI is a huge book description mistake that borders on the unforgivable. I’m using the term AI because that is the marketing catch-all term for the technology, but I’m referring specifically to LLMs (Large Language Models) such as ChatGPT, Claude and those like them.

You can believe it’s only a matter of opinion that using AI to compose your book description is a mistake, but I’d like to provide you with some facts to consider. 

1. First, I’ll concede that AI as a whole has some useful applications. But none of them apply to creative endeavors and none of them apply to anything that requires a human element. AI is not good at this. Remember, your book description is more than an afterthought. It has a purpose. It requires elements of emotion and connection that AI simply cannot replicate because it does not understand human psychology. LLMs don’t get context or excel at subtlety. They can put together strings of words (from rehashed existing content) which may even seem like they present something meaningful, but a close read reveals they are just spitting out nonsense. They are especially terrible at understanding fiction cpnventions.

2. Let’s also consider that people in general do not like AI. They especially dislike AI generated writing and AI generated art. And that sentiment is growing daily. You may have seen the recent coverage of students booing commencement speakers trying to push AI. Did you also catch the cheers that came from other speakers decrying it? This is a reflection of the general attitude towards AI. Readers, especially, hate it. Other authors hate it. Many see it as something only the old and out of touch or lazy rely on.  Don’t believe me? Go online and search social platforms and forums. Look for opinion pieces and blogs on the topic. 

3. Creatives view AI as a threat and an insult to true art. They see it as theft because these LLMs simply steal from existing content and there are no real copyright protections as of yet. AI is not creating ideas whole cloth. It does not think or feel. It is just gleaning existing content from the internet and spitting it back out in a different form. You will lose the respect of your fellow authors and readers. Even the Pope is against it. What more do you need?

Remember, a book description needs to use few words and those words need to be persuasive and purposeful. AI doesn’t know how to persuade because it doesn’t understand human psychology. 

Avoiding these Book Description Mistakes is Easy When You Know What to Look for

All of these book description mistakes are easily avoidable. Hopefully it’s clear now why adding too many details, using the wrong tone or language, or using AI will turn readers away from your book. Now you can catch yourself before you make them.

Next, learn about all the elements that make up an attention-grabbing book description and start brainstorming!

Still feeling overwhelmed? Need a second pair of eyes and some editing help? Don’t hesitate to reach out.

The post 5 Common Book Description Mistakes to Avoid  appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

The First Items on Your Author Website Checklist: Preparing Before You Begin

Every author needs a website, but some, as we mentioned, will be more elaborate than others. Yours will depend on your needs and your wants. This author website checklist is meant to help you figure that out before you start the process. When you know what to expect, you’ll feel less overwhelmed.

You’ll have to answer some questions about what you need now, and what you’re planning for the future. 

Are you an entrepreneur with a business to promote? Do you plan on booking speaking gigs as an expert in your field? Then you’ll probably need more web pages than an author focused only on promoting their books might.

This is something you’ll want to consider before the process begins because it will affect your page count and therefore your budget. Designing your ideal website may also depend on your skills or platform limitations if you’re going it alone. You may have to figure out what is most important to feature now and upgrade over time. No need to worry though, there’s nothing wrong with a simple website. But there are some essentials that we’ll cover in the last sections. 

Know Your Vision Before You Start 

You’ll want to have a solid brand vision beforehand so you don’t build your website around unfinished ideas. Not having a clear vision can lead to a lack of cohesiveness in style and tone and potentially end up draining your time and energy.

It’s always a good idea to have the following in order before you start the website design process. We work with our clients on gathering these assets, but we made this author website checklist so you can do the same, even if you’re going the DIY route. 

• A domain name
• A professional headshot
• Color and font choices
• Website copy
• Book promo images
• Other images

Having these Author Website Checklist Items on Hand Will Streamline the Process

Domain Name

The domain name you end up with may depend on its availability. Even your name may not be available, so you may have to choose a variation such as adding the word “author” to the end of your name. For instance: JaneDoeAuthor. It can also be as simple as adding your middle initial. Some authors choose the title of their books or the series name as their domain name.

So, this is something you should be prepared for and be willing to adapt or tweak as necessary. Consider the pros and cons of each and keep SEO in mind. Think of a few options, write them down, and keep the list handy. 

Professional Headshot

A professional headshot isn’t a necessity, but if you’re planning on using a headshot on your website, it needs to be of professional quality. You can choose to pay a pro photographer, or use these tips to get your best headshot. You’ll get a lot of use out of a flattering, professional quality headshot, so it’s worth the effort or price.

Color and Font Styles

You may have already given this some thought, but choosing a few signature colors for your website that fit your brand beforehand will leave you feeling less overwhelmed when the process begins. The same goes for fonts. Don’t choose too many of either and keep them consistent throughout. This blog post will help you choose a color scheme for your website. 

Website Copy

This shouldn’t be an afterthought, or done in haste. Website copy should be polished, engaging and succinct. It needs to be free of grammar and spelling errors and typos. It’s not just filler, it serves a purpose. Your website copy is part of your SEO, which leads to discoverability. It’s also part of a strong brand. Yet, this important  feature often gets overlooked, so we wanted to highlight it on this author website checklist. You’ll need to craft a bio, a book description and CTAs, plus other content for all your website pages. 

Images

Although most DIY website templates have image and graphics banks, you’ll still need high-quality promo images of your book. You may also want to use other images if they’re relevant to your brand or book.  Just make sure they’re up to professional standards, high quality, and of course rights-free. Gather some now, so you have them ready to use. 

Your Author Website Checklist of Must-Have Features 

These features are absolute must-haves. Even if you choose to have a simple one-page website, you’ll still need to include the following. 

• Book
• Bio
• Blog/Newsletter sign up and contact

Book Page

This can be a landing page, or the focus of your single page website. But obviously, an author website checklist wouldn’t be complete without this essential addition! As an author, your book page is the most important feature of your website.  You’ll need to include the above mentioned high-quality book images, an engaging book description, and a CTA (call to action) that directs visitors to where and how they can buy your book. You don’t want to leave readers hanging! 

Add a Buy Now button and book store options too. 

You can read all about what makes a great website Book page here. 

Author Bio

The aforementioned author bio is also pretty essential. Readers want to know your story! Who is the person behind the book? Craft a good one and keep it on brand. Remember to consider word count too, because space will be limited. Get tips on writing a great professional bio here. 

Email Signup and Contact Form

We always recommend these two items because they’re necessary author marketing tools. You’ll want fans, media, and others to be able to contact you with the click of a button. And an author email list is a powerful marketing tool that allows direct contact with your audience. Of course, that will ideally be linked to a blog feed or newsletter. You can use a reader magnet to encourage sign ups for your email list. 

Some Extras You Can Add

These final elements of our author website checklist are not essential, but many authors need them, or will at some point. You can always add them as you grow, or if your goals shift or change.  

• Speaker Page
• Other Work
• Courses
• Media

The need to add these will depend a lot on your genre and your goals. As we mentioned in the first part of this blog, if you’re making your name for yourself as an expert in your field, and plan on booking speaking gigs, you’ll probably want to add a Speaker page. You can read about Business author websites here, to get an idea of what that will look like. 

If you publish your writing often in journals or magazines, you may want to include a page that links to your other work. Some authors (especially wellness and business book authors) have pages dedicated to their courses. 

Many authors benefit from adding a Media page too. You never know when you’ll get a chance to promote yourself or your book! Having a Media page makes it easier to get all the stuff they’ll need before interviewing you. 

Remember, Every Author Needs a Website

Whether you do it yourself from a template or work with professional web designers, this author website checklist will help you be better prepared when you start the process. To get more in-depth tips and guidance, click on the links provided. 

You can also browse our blog to find answers to your questions and gain insight on everything from self-editing and copywriting to book covers and author marketing strategies. 

If you need direct guidance with your publishing, marketing, or branding efforts, get in touch and see what we can do for you! 

The post An Author Website Checklist: Some Tips for Getting it Right appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

First, Why Bother with an Email List?

Did you know that email marketing is one of the most effective types of marketing out there? It’s true. Everyone has an email and most people check their email daily, and sometimes multiple times a day, just like they do social media. But unlike with social media, these emails land exactly where they’re meant to because they don’t rely on an algorithm to be seen. Of course, catchy subject lines help as far as open rates go, and the content of the newsletter or blog feed should appeal to your audience. There are some other benefits to email lists that may make you consider some of the reader magnet ideas below too. 

Because many authors are shy about putting their face out there and having daily social media presence, author email lists are something they can build to keep in touch with their audience while remaining fairly behind the scenes. They’re also an easy integration of passive and active book marketing.  

• Your click and conversion rates may vary but in general, email marketing has a very high ROI.
• Everyone has an email, even if they don’t have social media.
• The visibility of an email is not bound and limited by algorithms.
• They allow direct contact with your audience without a highly-visible online presence. 
• Emails can be tailored and targeted to a specific audience segment. 
• You have more control of clicks and conversions than on social media( no algorithms).
• They’re a way to speak directly to, and engage, your audience to build a loyal fan base. .

A Note on Reader Magnets and How They Work

Before we list some great reader magnet ideas, we should briefly explain how these reader magnets work. Our founder, Jeniffer, explains it well in her blog on using reader magnets to build your fan base and sell more books:

“A reader magnet is just a marketing strategy where an incentive is offered to engage with your content and build a loyal fan base. Something that draws in your audience, well, like a magnet. 

Here’s an example: Say you want to encourage your audience to sign up for your newsletter, subscribe to your blog, or pay for access to your Patreon or Substack. Well, you should offer an incentive to do so! It’s very similar to product promotions. Like when you get a free sample by spending a certain amount on other products. And we’re all likely familiar with how well that works. How often have you bought the bigger size, or a set of something over a single item just to get some little gift for free!? Reader magnets follow this same concept.”

This is Important! 

It should be noted that to work effectively, reader magnets need to appeal to your audience. This means offering something that is enticing specifically to them. So, knowing your audience and understanding what’s appropriate for your genre is necessary. For instance, there are different reader magnet ideas listed below for fiction and nonfiction. This is because different offers will appeal to different audiences, and there will be different expectations of what’s offered. 

Some Reader Magnet Ideas Work Across Genres

• Exclusive content
• Free book downloads
• Writing prompts
• Quizzes and assessments 
• Samples and previews

 Reader Magnet Ideas Specifically for Fiction Authors

1. Invite the Reader into the World of the Book

• Offer an exclusive link to a playlist of a character’s favorite songs or a soundtrack for the book. You can do this on Spotify or other streaming platforms. 
• Share recipes, or city and neighborhood guides that immerse the reader in the space. 

2. Supplemental Materials are a Popular Reader Magnet Idea

• Deleted scenes or extra subplots not included in the final version.
• More insight into side characters or an antagonist’s motivations or history.
• Personality quizzes like, “Which character are you?”. 

3. Previews of Upcoming Work or Sharing Your Process 

• Share your book cover before you share it with the public.
• Give access to the first chapter of your new book.
• Behind the scenes content on how it all came together.

Now, Here are Some Enticing Reader Magnets for Nonfiction Authors

1.Helpful and Valuable Assets

• Templates for journaling, planning, etc. AKA, action items.
• Free mini courses or webinars that introduce or supplement full courses. 
• Tip sheets in the form of convenient bullet lists. 
• Assesments that guide them to resources and actions that help meet their needs.

2. Money Saving Offers 

• Free, limited time access to paid content.
• Discounts on your courses.

Promoting Your Giveaway to Boost Signups 

As you may expect, these reader magnet ideas work best when they’re promoted. So, first you can add your sign up link basically everywhere. 

1. Your back cover or final page. You can use a QR code for this and on all of your merch or print marketing materials! 
2. On your  website’s book page, blog page, or other landing pages.
3. On your social platforms as pinned posts or in your bio.
4. Share them on your socials.
5. Mention them in interviews.
6. Add them to your email signature or newsletter and blog signoffs.

Don’t Forget the CTA!

These reader magnet ideas need to be accompanied by a CTA. If you want to sell something, you have to entice the reader. Even if it’s for something you’re giving away for free. 

Tell the reader what they’re getting: Make it clear with a bullet list. Share why you created this bonus material. Be sure to include a direct CTA, such as, “Sign up here!” “Download Now!” or “Click the Link!” or “Get it Now!”

And most importantly, remember that you’re offering an incentive to sign up for your email list, but you need to sell the newsletter or blog feed too. Tell them what they can expect from your emails! Are you offering juicy insights? Will they be getting weekly tips? Are they going to learn something new, exclusive to subscribers? Will they get notifications for early access to your next book or new course? Let them know!

Ultimately, any one of these reader magnet ideas could be used to grow your email list, but only if you know your audience and offer something they want or need. Then, make sure your newsletter or blog feed offers something valuable as well. Keep them engaged by staying consistent with your output. And don’t forget to check in and evaluate what is working and what isn’t. Analytics are your friend.

Soon, your email list will be growing and you’ll have a direct connection to your audience where you can seamlessly integrate passive and active book marketing as part of your winning author marketing strategy.

Have you read our blog on book marketing ideas for 2026 yet? You can find it here.

The post Reader Magnet Ideas for Growing Your Author Email List appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

So, let’s talk about book titles and how you can choose one that’s the best for your book. 

What is in Name? If it’s Your Book, There’s A Lot

Choosing a book title that works for your book comes down to a few factors, and even if you already have a book title in mind, it’s worth considering them before you make a final decision. A book’s title has a pretty huge impact on sales, with some sources stating that a strong, appealing title can triple sales. A strong title will increase your book’s discoverability and help solidify your author brand as well. 

Below, we’ll cover some of the things to consider when choosing a title for your book. 

Remember, a book’s title is its first hook. Also, it’s smart to keep in mind that authors often have different ideas about book titles than readers and marketers. The title needs to do a lot of heavy lifting. Just like your book cover, it needs to convey genre, tone and theme, and more importantly, it needs to drive sales. 

When Choosing a Book Title, Consider Theme, Mood and Tone

There are many tropes and naming conventions for choosing book titles, but a lot of authors find inspiration in the book’s themes, mood or tones. Readers also gravitate towards titles that evoke these aspects because they’re looking for something that makes them feel a certain way. Theme, mood and tone also elicit emotions and the right word or words can  define those emotions. 

Think of Jennette McCurdy’s, I’m Glad My Mom Died. It tells us this book is probably a brutally honest and darkly humorous depiction of tragedy.  It says a lot more than a title like, A Former Child Actor Speaks. 

What about Tim O’Brian’s classic, The Things They Carried? Much more emotional, personal and evocative than, say, The Vietnam Experience. 

Book Titles Need to Fit the Genre

Genre will often shape the naming conventions used in book titles. Think certain words, title length, and tropes. For example, Fantasy books often use the, The ___of ___ (noun and noun) formula. For instance, The Lord of the Rings, The Winds of Winter.  Historical fiction titles recently went through a trend of The [Job/Role]’s [Relative/Role]. Everyone was someone’s wife or daughter. 

Whatever you think of these trends, they do signal genre to readers. The thing is, when you jump on a trend train, the trend may be tired by the time you actually publish your book, so keep that in mind. 

TItles Can Convey Plot or Setting 

If setting is a main focus, theme or plot point in your book, you may want to consider this when choosing a book title. You don’t necessarily need to name a specific place, but certain words and phrases can evoke a region or time period. Think words like: Pines, Hills, Valley. They instantly bring you to a place. 

An example of conveying place and people (and more) is Where the Crawdads Sing. This title not only speaks of place by adding “Where” to the title, but when we think of crawdads, we think rural, marshy, hidden. We think of the American South. It conjures themes of secret places, away from people, of hearing things you can only hear if you’re there: the crawdads singing. 

Book Titles Should Be Easy to Read, Pronounce, and Spell

This one is important. Maybe above many others on this list. Because of how readers search for books online, and how word of mouth is passed, choosing a book title that is easy to read, pronounce, and spell makes it easier for people to remember and talk about. It also makes it easier to search online. Obscure words or terms and foreign spellings may seem interesting to an author, but they’re not a great boost for book sales. Yes, this even matters if your book is a unique fantasy set in a foreign world. 

Familiar But Unique Titles Send A Clear Message

Another naming convention to consider when choosing a book title is to use familiar terms in a unique way. You may have noticed that many words appear often in book titles. Think “America/an”, “Light”, “Shadow”, “River”.  All the Light We Cannot See. Where All Light Tends to Go. American Pastoral. American Dirt. A River Runs Through It, The River is Waiting. YA novels in particular use the word, “Shadow” often. Or, recall the aforementioned, “Daughter” and “Wife” trend used in popular fiction. 

Words are powerful signals and some instantly point to genre, tone or themes. It’s worth doing some research to find these patterns and to see how they are used and in which genres. It may inspire you. Think of the unique spin you could put on these often used words.  

Choosing a Book Title Based on Keywords is a Smart Move for Non-Fiction

Most of the above advice about choosing a book title relates to fiction books, although nonfiction titles definitely follow trends and tropes. But in nonfiction, you have a special opportunity to integrate keywords into your title. Nonfiction titles are more direct. They can be creative, but they also need to tell the reader exactly what they’re getting out of the book. You don’t need to use metaphors in the title, in other words. 

So, think about how your nonfiction book title will contain words that readers may search. Are you answering questions? Solving problems? Go ahead and tell the reader that with your title.

In nonfiction, subtitles are extremely common. This gives you the opportunity to add more keywords and information. Take advantage of that! Just make sure to do your keyword research beforehand and find solid comparable titles to help you along. 

Do a Fun Little Exercise Before Making a Final Decision

Maybe you already have a title in mind, or maybe the above list helped you come up with something good, but doing a simple exercise before you make your final decisions when choosing a book title can be a big help.

If you start with whatever you have and expand on that, whether your ideas are good or bad, it can help get those creative juices flowing. In fact, even writing down your bad ideas can help realize what works and what doesn’t. Reading these titles aloud will really make a big difference in how you perceive them too. Then think of your book description or your pitch. Does this title sum that up well? Does it evoke your themes and tone? Is the genre clear?

So, go ahead. Write a list of 10-15 title options. They can be variations of the same words or phrases. Just write. Try using some of those formula trends just for fun. Then, read them aloud. All while considering your book description or pitch.

Can you narrow it down to two or three from here? Now, you can take the time to think them over, or reach out and get the opinions of others before choosing a book title. 

1. Write down 10-15 title options (these can be variations of the same words and phrases)
2. Try some formula trends for fun
3. Read them aloud
4. Do they fit the book description and genre?
5. Choose the best three
6. Ask for outside opinions

Get Some Outside Opinions on Your TItle 

After your brainstorming exercise (which hopefully helped with choosing your book title), you may find it useful to seek out some trusted opinions. If you have friends, family or colleagues that regularly read your work, ask them what they think of the title. Of course, it will help if they know the book, or they at least have a solid book description. 

If you’re using beta readers, ask them to weigh in on the title. Ask specific questions about the title too, to get the most out of their feedback. 

• What does this title say to you?
• Would you pick this up?
• Does it seem to fit the book well?
• Do you have any suggestions?

Choosing a book title doesn’t have to be agonizing. Yes, your title is important, and it’s your first sales hook. But remember, you also have time to come up with the title while you’re still writing your book.  And if you review this list and try the little exercise we outlined, you won’t waste time or be paralyzed by uncertainty. Keep in mind, you may have different ideas about your title than readers. And you want a title that is appealing to them. 

What are your thoughts on this? Would you like to share your process? Let us know in the comments. 

The post Choosing a Book Title: How to Do it With Focus appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

Of course, book cover blunders happen (and quite often) but they don’t usually get the kind of press coverage and scrutiny that a book authored by a sitting vice president might. 

It was also noteworthy because this particular mistake was easily avoidable. So, how did an imprint of a major publishing house, publishing a book by a highly public figure, manage to overlook this detail ? 

An Easily Avoidable Mistake

So, who’s at fault here? The book cover design process doesn’t happen within a vacuum and there are several phases before final approval. During that process, the designer could have questioned their choice. The publisher could have researched and caught the mistake. Finally, JD Vance(assuming he went through the normal design process) could have caught it, or at least questioned it, himself. 

Now, Harper is justifying the use of the stock image of the Methodist church, located in Elk Creek, Virginia by saying it’s near where Vance grew up and the church essentially, vaguely represents the Christian religion. But others are pointing out that Vance’s past church-going experience was in the Evangelical church and he grew up hundreds of miles from where that Methodist church in the stock photo is located. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? 

Of course, the publisher doesn’t have to justify the reasoning behind their design choices, but in this particular instance, the choices were questionable enough to grab media attention. Yet we don’t know if it was a genuine mistake, or simply a  lack of effort and inspiration.

What we can assume, is that the cover will likely not be redesigned before the book’s planned June 16th release date. Why? Because that would be a costly process that the publisher likely can’t justify simply for a less-than-ideal book cover. JD Vance may be stuck with it. 

So, What Can We Take from This?

Generally, the goal is to prevent these book cover blunders from happening in the first place. Because even if Harper’s defense of their cover choice is valid, and it  wasn’t truly a mistake, then it would seem there wasn’t much thought put into the process.

So, how did this not get scrutinized a bit more closely when a book cover can make or break book sales? If it was on the designer, the publisher should have caught this. If the publisher failed to catch it, then the author should have. Because there is a process, and all these individuals were involved in that process on some level. 

So, what do we take from this? Mostly, that a book’s cover should not be an afterthought, and that someone along the line is going to notice if something is off. Unfortunately, in this case, it wasn’t noticed until it was too late. This is why it is important to trust your cover designer, but to also give feedback or speak up if something seems wrong. If you’re not working with a traditional publisher, its especially crucial to participate in this quality control. 

But How Much Control Does the Author Have Over the End Product?

We’ll be honest here and tell you that if you’re working with a traditional publisher, you’ll likely have little control over the end product. But, you are offered the opportunity to participate in the process and even provide feedback. Ultimately, though, the publisher is the expert and they’re going to go with the book cover that sells. Of course, if during the process you notice any book cover blunders, like what happened with Vance’s memoir, you should definitely speak up!

There’s a Difference Between a Blunder and an Unexpected Outcome

Now, book cover blunders are not the same as a difference in expectations over the design. For instance, in the latest episode of The Premise, our founders Jenffier and Chad spoke with author Annabelle Gurwitch about the unexpected outcome of the cover for her latest book, The End Of My Life Is Killing Me. 

In her mind, Annabelle was imagining a sort of Daphne and Apollo theme, yet she ended up with what she describes as a baby chicken doing yoga. Although she was a bit taken aback at first, she came to love the cover design choice and saw how it more clearly fit the theme and tone of her book. This cover wasn’t a mistake, it just wasn’t expected. 

As a self-published author, you’ll have more control over the finished product. But it’s still always best to trust the experts. They’ll just be more likely to accommodate and work with your particular vision than a traditional publishing house will, but if they present something you’re not expecting, you can have them justify their reasoning. 

These Book Cover Blunders Can Be Prevented with a Little Research

Unlike with Annabelle, who ultimately decided she loved her cover (and it definitely captures the spirit of the book) we don’t know what JD Vance thinks. But you have to wonder if he had any input. Did he not notice this stock photo of a Methodist church was not a Catholic church? Did he even see the cover before it was approved? Does he know the difference between a Catholic and Methodist church? Why didn’t the cover designer know? What got lost in the process? 

Our point? You should take your part in the cover design process seriously. 

Many authors have very clear ideas of what their book covers should look like. But this doesn’t mean your input will be considered by a traditional publisher.  As they should, most designers, marketers and publishers know what works and what sells. This is why you leave it to the professionals, and hopefully, you trust that they’re making the right decisions. Of course, we see with Vance’s book cover, something along the line led to a pretty big book cover blunder. Enough of one that it got media attention. 

As a self-published author, there are a few things you can do to prevent book cover blunders:

• Vet your cover designer
• Trust the process 
• Be involved, do the research, double check
• Take the time to make the right decisions about your cover

The Design Process is Meant to Prevent These Book Cover Blunders

Because mistakes and reprints can be costly, both traditional and nontraditional publishers do everything they can to avoid them. This is why there is a process! But mistakes still happen. 

But as a self-published author,  you’ll be more directly involved when working with a designer than a traditionally published author will.  It’s your book and you’re paying for it, so you have the final say. You’re also the one taking the risk. 

As with all self-publishing assistance though, you need to first make sure your cover designer is a skilled professional who has your best interests in mind. Then, the work will begin with your ideas. This is to give your designer a baseline. 

They’ll ask you to provide them with comparable covers. They’ll want to know what you like or dislike about the covers. Of course, they’ll also make sure your vision is in line with genre conventions and professional cover standards. Psst: A cover that doesn’t fit the genre is one of the biggest book cover blunders you can commit. 

All this happens before you ever get your first cover mock up to review. From there, the process continues until everything is just right. This takes time, but it also ensures you’ll avoid any book cover blunders. 

Want to read  more on the topic? The blogs below will start you off on the right foot. 

Here’s our blog on the book cover design process.

This blog lists the biggest  book cover mistakes to avoid.

What if it’s Too Late? Did Your Cover Already Go to Print? 

Have you realized that you’ve got a book cover blunder on your hands but the book has already been published? Maybe you’re thinking back on an older book cover with regret? Perhaps you didn’t work with the best designer? The good news is, if you’re a self-published author, no one is stopping you from redesigning your cover. Will it mean spending more money? Yes. But oftentimes it’s totally worth the cost of getting it right. Mistakes and regret aside, there are many reasons to redesign a book cover. You can read about them in this blog. 

Remember, a bad cover isn’t the end of the world and it’s never too late to make it better. 

Getting Your Book Cover Right

Ideally, you’ll work with a skilled designer, do your research, ask questions and bring up concerns if something is really off. Of course, there’s always the chance that the cover is just not what you expected, but maybe it’s the one best for your book. This will take time to consider, and a good designer should be able to convince you why their ideas are the better choice. 

If all else fails, and you already have a book cover blunder on your hands, or you’re just not loving it for any reason, you can redesign it! It’s never too late. But now we’re left wondering, will this media attention over the cover mean a redesign for Vance’s book? What do you think?

The post Avoiding Book Cover Blunders and Dealing with Unexpected Outcomes appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

The thing is, there is no one magic trick to give you an advantage in the ever-shifting marketing landscape. But knowing what your audience wants, and delivering it, will always be the best approach. 

You can take advantage of current trends and hone your marketing skills, but nothing beats good content, authenticity, and connection with your readers. Below we’ll discuss how you can stop stressing over things beyond your control, and start building your audience with a sustainable and more organic approach to book marketing. 

Readers Want Community, So Seek Opportunities to Grow One Around Your Book

Book clubs have always been popular with avid readers because it brings people who share a common interest together. Now these types of communities are even more popular with readers. People are craving a reason to get together to avoid the sense of isolation that solo fandom brings and they’re looking for new reads through existing communities. You can take this opportunity to build your reader audience by making it easy for people to form a community around your books. How can you do this?

• Reach out to book clubs directly and suggest your book for their next read. 

• Organize a book reading or signing event and host a Q&A session. You can do this as part of your book launch extravaganza.

You can also encourage readers to create their own events by offering value-added items such as:

• Creating a conversation guide for book clubs or discussion groups. Add this to your website as a printable PDF, as a list on your book page, or even include it in the back pages of your book.

• Curating and sharing a themed playlist that relates to your book. 

• Offer recipe cards for book themed cocktails, mocktails, or snacks to make for discussion groups and book clubs.

• Creating a book discussion forum online or offering topic prompts on your website or your social media platforms. 

Other ideas, such as topic-based group chats and AMAs done via Zoom or even a Discord channel allow you to be accessible and connect with your readers without shouting into a social media void. 

These are all opportunities to build your reader audience because they get people talking about your book and/or they’re a chance for you to directly connect with fans of your book. The better you know your audience and what they want, the better prepared you are to give it to them.

Build Your Reader Audience Through Direct, Personal Connections

If figuring out the constantly shifting strategies and rules of social and ad algorithms sounds exhausting, you have other options. AI’s integration into search algorithms, social platforms, and even Amazon means you have less control over your discoverability without cracking these new codes. But here’s the thing. These AI algorithms are in flux, and it’s no longer guaranteed any formula will be the key because of this. Of course, they’re designed with the intention of helping readers find what they’re looking for, but an algorithm gets to decide what that means. How can you keep up then? Well, by not relying solely on these shifting algorithms to build your reader audience. 

Instead, you can do this by reaching readers your directly. This requires harnessing the power of your own channels, where you maintain control of your reach and your content. Here is where you still have control over your discoverability too. 

There’s an Advantage to These Changes in Search Functions Though

Remember, these new AI algorithms are designed with the user in mind and they get more sophisticated and tailored to the user the more they’re accessed. There are definite flaws, but there are also advantages. Because these AI-powered search engines and LLMs, including the now ubiquitous AI overviews in search results are based on user intent, this means that  if you’re creating the content your audience wants, there’s a higher likelihood they’ll be able to find it. 

Overview results are now bringing up links to online conversation forums and social platforms. They’re integrating snippets of blogs that answer readers’ questions. This means that if people are having conversations about your book online, or your blog content is deeply related to your book’s topics and themes, the algorithms will help you build your reader audience by showing this relevant content. 

Read about how SEO is evolving due to these changes (and what that means for you) here. 

An Authoritative Website Tells Search Engines Your Content Matters

An authoritative website, by search engine standards, is one that regularly adds quality and relevant content. If your website has good SEO, meaning your keywords and metadata are in sync with the on page content, you’ll build your reader audience because search engines will prioritize it in search results. You can read more about optimizing your website here.  

And remember, your website is the one place online where you have total control of the content and how your visitors experience that content. If your website is on brand, and speaks to them, readers will keep returning. Your website is your platform and it’s a great tool for connection.

Newsletters and Blog Feeds Don’t Rely on Algorithms to Be Seen

Social media algorithms are fickle and they don’t always reward quality content. Because of this, you may put a ton of energy into creating posts that will never be seen. But you have other options to build your reader audience and to keep them engaged. 

A regular newsletter or blog feed that arrives directly in your audience’s inbox means the hard work you put in to creating content has a bigger payoff because it has a better chance of actually being seen. It’s also a tool for more intimate connection, and you can even target emails and tailor them to specific groups for a more personal touch.

Of course, you need to build your email list first. You can read about how to do that here. We also wrote a blog about choosing between a blog feed or newsletter, to help you decide which is best for you. 

Relevant and Consistent Blog Posting Will Build Your Reader Audience

We’ve said this so many times before, and we keep saying it. Because despite all the changes in how search engines work, or how effective active marketing( like promo posts or paid ads) is or isn’t, quality content is still king.

Writing relevant and consistent blog posts as a way to build your reader audience ties in with the above two strategies. This will increase your website’s authority, and you’ll have something to send to your email list recipients. If you’re writing about the stuff your audience wants to read, you’ll also be giving them what they want. Doing this increases engagement and builds loyalty and connection. 

Need ideas for your author blog topics? Read our post on that here. 

Build Your Reader Audience with Authenticity, Not by Overworking Yourself 

You have to ask yourself, do you want to spend your time and energy focused on learning tricks to beat these ever-changing algorithms and chasing the latest trends, or do you want to focus on building your reader audience by giving them what they want? 

Remember, your marketing plan needs to be sustainable and it shouldn’t be a source of stress. So, maybe instead of doing promos on social media or spending all your time figuring out ad testing, you could take the time to write blog posts, host an AMA, or reach out to a book club or your local book store to see if they’d be interested in collaboration? 

By worrying less about being visible on social media, or if your ads are doing well, you can focus your energy on real conversations with your audience, and creating the content that speaks to them. Because, now more than ever, readers are seeking trust, connection and authenticity. They want to read books they really love and build community around that. And you can’t build community through ads and promos, and trying to outsmart algorithms. Community happens through genuine connection and engagement.   

The post How to Build Your Reader Audience Through Authenticity and Connection appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

Well, how do you do this? By including information and sharing it in a way that resonates with your audience. There are five easy and actionable ways you can do this and we’ll share them below.  

An Intimate and Honest About Page

Memoir is a popular genre among readers because it can be transformative and well, because it’s a peek into the author’s private realm. Many writers of memoir write because they have a story they need to share or a topic they want to shine light on.

Because it can be such an intimate and sometimes vulnerable genre, a memoir author’s website needs to reflect that intimacy. Readers want memoirists to share and expose themselves, and this exposure becomes necessary when you don’t have an instantly recognizable name. 

The tone of an memoirists About page is usually that of openness and honesty and they share a little more than a fiction author’s might. So, making connections to your past, your journey, and where you are now is important here. 

You can build relatability and trust when you:

• Share intimate details about who you are and why you wrote your memoir
• Explain how your journey was transformative
• Aren’t afraid to show vulnerability
• Speak from a place of honesty

Memorabilia Shared on a Memoir Author’s Website Builds Connection and Trust Too

Memoirists straddle a fine line between fiction and facts. Though it’s generally acknowledged that memoirists are not investigative journalists (unless, of course, an investigative journalist is writing a memoir) and memoir is not a biography, there is still skepticism associated with the genre. This is thanks to many high profile cases of authors caught embellishing details or even making them up entirely. Think James Frey and, more recently, Amy Griffin.

But your memoir author’s website doesn’t need to provide evidence or records as proof that your story is true. Sharing concrete things like memorabilia is more about making connections and building trust in who you are and where you come from. Adding content such as old family or childhood photos, personal mementos, and archival documents helps weave a narrative and creates a documentary feel to your website. This allows you to separate your experience from fiction. It also creates a more intimate connection with your readers. 

Connect your past and present and increase your reliability by:

• Adding old photos of moments detailed in your memoir
• Sharing family or group photos that feature important people in your life and memoir
• Including old photos of significant documents or places

A Focus on Growth Shows Readers What They Can Learn from Your Experience

When a memoir author’s website focuses on growth, it shows readers that they can learn from your experience. It can also provide inspiration and hope. After all, memoir is not just a biography, but a transformative journey full of insight and pivotal events.

 When memoirists share how their experiences shaped them and what they learned from it, people empathize. You can demonstrate this growth by creating a “Then and Now” section on your About page, for example, or in the above mentioned photo content. You could also simply make note of your transformation with a quote on a webpage header, or blog about your journey and what you’ve learned.  

A Memoir Author’s Website Can Also Include Reflection on the Subjectivity of Memory

 Many memoirists will acknowledge the subjectivity of the genre in their book somewhere, like in the introduction. But it doesn’t hurt to make note of it on your website too. This ensures that anyone who lands on your website, whether they bought your book or not, is clear where you stand. 

You don’t have to do this, but it’s a reminder that memoir is a genre of personal memories and those are subjective. A simple acknowledgement on a memoir author’s website can clarify that there are no claims to absolute facts, which can help resolve potential conflicts or doubts, and remind readers that this is your journey from your perspective. This can be especially important when your memoir involves family, friends, or events that others may remember differently. It reminds readers that, like them, you have your own story to tell.  

A Personal Blog that Relates to Your Memoir Builds a Stronger Connection

As with every website, a regular blog is a cornerstone of your book marketing strategy. But a blog on a memoir author’s website needs to go deep and personal to really harness that marketing power. But luckily, there is a goldmine of content you can share there. 

Remember, there are many themes in the genre, but the author is always the center of the story in memoir. So is the outcome. You can blog about what you’ve overcome to inspire your readers. Writing on the topic or themes of your memoir can help build your credibility. You can even leverage this experience to secure podcast interviews, or to get speaking gigs too. The more quality content you offer and the more consistent it is, the more you open up engagement and communication with your audience. 

As a memoirist, you can use your blog to:

• Expand on themes and moments in the book
• Add details you left, or edited, out for whatever reason
• Share your expertise on your topic of focus
• Inspire readers with your growth journey

Now, you don’t have to include ALL of this, but you get the idea. A memoir author’s website can continue where their book left off, which allows continued transparency and trust. Sharing openly and honestly about how your experience shaped you, or  transformed you or the world, builds credibility. Remember, you can even leverage your experience to get promotional opportunities like interviews and speaking gigs. Just be yourself and be willing to share at least as much as you did in your memoir and it will resonate with your audience. 

Here are a Few Memoir Author’s Websites We Designed. Maybe They’ll Inspire You?

Bonnie Comfort is an author and psychologist whose memoir deals with a difficult marriage and sticking it out to the end. 

Michael Long is an advocate for people with disabilities and his memoir is centered on defying people’s expectations.

Jennifer Gasner is a memoirist who shares the story of her Friedreich’s Ataxia diagnosis and how she overcame her fear to live a bigger life than she expected. 

The post 5 Things to Include on a Memoir Author’s Website appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

Do Book Descriptions Really Matter? Can’t I Just Summarize the Plot? 

Did you know readers decide if they want to read your book or not within a few seconds? Yes, a few seconds! Once the cover pulls them in, the next thing they do is flip the book over to read the back. This is why you want an attention-grabbing book description. It needs to grip them right away. 

This is not the place to summarize the plot. It’s not the place to add unnecessary details. This is where you capture the essence of your book in a concise, easily-scannable chunk of text that conveys what the reader will experience when reading your book. This will involve plot, themes, and ideas within your book. And, you have to do this in less than 200 words. 

Does this sound vague or complicated? It’s really not if you follow a formula and a few tested tactics.

1-An Attention-Grabbing Book Description Needs a Hook

The first line is the most important. In the industry, we call this a hook. Your hook needs to stop them in their tracks and compel them to continue reading. 

The Hook:

• Grabs the readers attention.
• Can be in the form of a question, or a bold or intriguing statement. 
• The point is to trigger an emotional response. 

Please note, that in order to successfully pull this off, you have to know your audience! If you don’t know your audience, how will you know how to speak to them? You’ll also need to understand your genre and its conventions to write an attention-grabbing book description that will leave your readers wanting more. I highly recommend taking a look at your comparable titles first, to see how their book descriptions look so you can get an idea for where to start. 

What’s a comparable title? You can read about comparable titles here. 

Here are some examples of hooks I’ve written to give you an idea of what this looks like:

• For a middle-grade novel: A Story of Resilience, Love, and Redemption

• A woman’s memoir about the CIA: Ever wonder what it’s like to be in the CIA?

• A Business book: Do you know you can be more productive but just can’t figure out how? 

Notice how you might use different style hooks for different genres and audiences? Keep this in mind when you write your hook. 

2-The Body of the Book Description: Add the Compelling Details, But Not Too Many!

Remember, an attention-grabbing book description won’t be a simple summary of the plot, or details about the characters. It may seem like the more details you give, the more interesting it will be. But book descriptions are meant to entice the reader, not list information. 

The body of your book description should introduce the main character, the themes, the stakes and the setting. When you add these elements, you are essentially giving an overview of the plot and the story arch but you need to do it creatively. What does this mean? 

I’ll use the following example from the middle-grade novel, Talking to Dolphins and contrast it with just a summary of details so you can spot the difference between a book description and a plot summary.

The Difference Between a Plot Summary and an Attention-Grabbing Book Description: Showing VS Telling

A plot summary of the middle-grade novel, Talking to Dolphins might read like this:

In ancient Polynesia a young boy named Makai defies his father and makes a mistake, which gets him and his family in trouble. The High Kahuna decides that Makai and his family have to go live on an Island by themselves. This island is a scary and cursed place, and Makai and his family go through many hardships and learn many lessons while there. All the while, he is hoping to be welcomed back to the village and to get a chance to prove himself. Eventually, he does this and he regains his status among his people. 

Here is the book description:

THE HOOK: A Story of Resilience, Love, and Redemption

THE BODY: Makai, a young boy in ancient Polynesia, makes a rash decision that sets into motion a chain of events that will change his, and his family’s lives forever. Decreed by their village High Kahuna to be cursed by the gods, he is banished from his home island, along with his mother and grandfather. Now they must fight to survive in a hostile and desolate place to bring honor back to their family.

THE PROMISE: Despite all the misfortune placed on him, Makai still believes he is destined to be a legendary warrior and hero. But will he overcome the many adversities and rise to the occasion? Will he restore his family’s honor and his father’s legacy?

Did you notice the emotional language used in the book description compared to the plot summary? The plot is still there, but it’s more than a linear summary. Of course, different genres will require a slightly different approach, but you get the idea. 

The body of the description:

• Introduces the main character.
• Includes the inciting event.
• Shows the stakes.
• Touches on the impact on the protagonist.
• It tells the reader that they’ll be experiencing a journey and/ or growth.
• The word usage evokes emotions and a sense of urgency ( or other tonal indicators).

3-An Attention-Grabbing Book Description Finishes with a Promise

Notice those last lines of the above text? Below, I’ll go over the importance of open-ended declarations, and questions asked directly to the reader as a way to make them want to know more. This is kind of like your second hook, or dangling a carrot. It’s the promise of a reward. 

Just as with the hook draws the reader in, an attention-grabbing book description needs to end with a bang. 

The Promise:

• What will the reader get out of it?
• Or what does the reader not know, that reading the book will tell them? 
• It shows the reader that they need to know more, or it tells them, though not explicitly, what to expect. 

Let’s look at the conclusion again:

“Despite all the misfortune placed on him, Makai still believes he is destined to be a legendary warrior and hero. But will he overcome the many adversities and rise to the occasion? Will he restore his family’s honor and his father’s legacy?”

This conclusion from Talking to Dolphins is speaking to the curiosity of the reader. They know the stakes and they are now invested in discovering the outcome. It also implies that yes, Makai will achieve those things, because the questions are positive in their tone. But how will he do it? The reader then wants to find out. 

A Successful Book Description is Simply a Formula

Essentially, an attention-grabbing book description is a pretty simple formula. Know your audience and speak to them in their language. Be familiar with genre conventions to convey the proper tone, and use emotional, and powerful descriptive language instead of generic statements. Hit the major plot points, themes, and ideas rather than drafting a summary of events. 

Remember, a standard book description is only about 150 words but can be up to 300 max. This will depend on how much space you have, the genre, and other factors. 

Then, just follow the three part structure to create an attention-grabbing book description:

1.The hook. This should be one or two sentences that draw the reader in. Ask a question, or make a powerful declaration.

2. The body. This is where you add the details, but not too many. Remember, it’s not a plot summary. Hit on all the main themes, ideas and plot points and use emotional and powerful adjectives here. Show there are stakes. 

3. The Conclusion. This is the promise, the second hook, or where you dangle a carrot for the reader. It can be a question or a cliffhanger. It should be only a few sentences but the purpose is to leave the reader wanting more. 

You can read more details about book descriptions HERE. Want more guidance and tips on all things author marketing? Subscribe to Monkey C Media’s weekly blog to get them delivered straight to your inbox.  

The post How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Book Description appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.

It may seem snobbish to insist that this is the case, or it may feel like a burden to authors with few resources, but that’s not the goal of keeping professional standards.  

Below, we’ll go over what these standards are and why they matter for authors and the industry. 

 A Brief History of Self-Publishing 

Self-publishing as we recognize it today is is becoming more and more common and the industry outside of traditional publishing and the Big Five is growing every year. 

But did you know that as far back as the mid 1800s, authors were self-publishing for the same reason they are today? They wanted their work out in the world and they may have not had access to traditional publishing due to their lack of renown or connections. They also self-published to have creative control, or to seek a better pay off than the royalties offered by publishing houses.

Even Charles Dickens self-published A Christmas Carol! 

Unlike today, those authors, like Dickens, didn’t have a whole industry behind them. The modern day boom in self-publishing started in the 1970s and figures like the late Dan Poynter led this revolution in the industry. Through shared knowledge, access to technology, and the increase in availability of resources, self-publishing has only grown since. 

Professional Standards Matter in Self-Publishing for the Industry as a Whole

Though the industry is growing and thriving, self-publishing still struggles to be taken seriously. That’s why organizations such as the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) and others formed. There was a need to set a standard and establish self-publishing as a legitimate industry. They recognized that if the industry was going to get the respect and recognition that it deserves, then they would need to follow professional standards. This is why professional standards matter for self-publishing as whole.

The ecosystem that makes up the indie publishing industry, from small-presses to author-publishers, and even author services providers, all know that gaining the recognition and respect for this alternative to the traditional would require producing books of equal quality. 

The self-publishing industry also understands that besides validation, it’s also about access. This is why so many resources are now available to aspiring authors. Self-publishing seeks to remove those barriers put in place by the traditional world and to show that just because you may not have connections or a massive platform, you too, can be a published author. 

We’ve also learned that there is a wide audience of readers out there, eager to get their hands on books they really want to read. But that doesn’t mean they should be subpar. They should hold their own against any traditionally published book! We owe that to our audience.

These Professional Standards Also Matter for You, as an Author

Professional standards matter in self-publishing as an industry and for you, as an author. Remember, indie publishing is an ecosystem and authors are an integral part of it. Imagine, if a big publishing house suddenly started putting out low quality books, with subpar covers and did little to promote them. They would die off! Authors would get no respect. And readers would be very disappointed. But, putting all that aside, let’s move on to why these professional standards matter for authors!

Why Authors Need to Follow Professional Publishing Standards 

These professional standards matter in self-publishing because they don’t only mean having a quality book that looks nice. These standards include important elements such as metadata, BISAC codes, and other requirements which make your book sellable and discoverable. 

These standards exist because:

• Book retailers and libraries won’t stock substandard books
• Without these standards, your book won’t even be discovered by booksellers and libraries
• You won’t be taken seriously as an author and your reputation will suffer if you overlook them
• Your audience won’t find your book either because it won’t be discoverable
• A book lost in the abyss will be a waste of time, money and effort

Remember too, professional standards matter in self-publishing to the industry as a whole, but it’s an ecosystem. When you produce a professional quality book as a self-published author, you lift up the industry as a whole. This benefits you as well. Because it’s less likely that you’ll be snubbed as a ‘self-published author’ of a ‘self-published book’ when the industry has the respect and legitimacy it deserves. After all, the modern indie publishing industry is what made it possible for you to publish your book. 

So, What Do We Mean by ‘Professional Standards in Self-Publishing’?

The professional standards that matter in self-publishing are all the standards that traditional publishers abide by. They include everything from a professional-looking cover that fits genre conventions to a fully polished and edited book. But they also include all of the things the traditional publishers use to make your book sellable and discoverable.

These important details matter as much as the book’s quality:

• Keyword and category research
• Accurate metadata
• BISAC codes
• ISBNs
• Slick marketing copy
• Human readable price
• Registration with LOC ( library of congress)

Below is more info on the details of professional publishing standards. Click on a topic to read about it.

Okay, So Professional Standards Matter in Self-Publishing, But is it Ever Okay Ignore Them? 

By now, you probably see why professional standards matter in self-publishing but you may also see them as a burden, a formality, or even as further gatekeeping. But this is not the case. 

Can we think of any situation when it’s okay to ignore these standards? Yes. There is one: If you are publishing a book for yourself, or your close family and friends and don’t plan on distributing it or selling it beyond that. That’s about it, honestly. 

But here’s the deal. When we talk of professional standards we are not judging your work, or how much money you spent. We are talking about things you can do on your own with time, education and dedication. Or things you can get help with when you really can’t pull it off alone. 

For instance, you may not be able to edit your own book to professional standards, but you can make it better. You may not possess the skills and knowledge or talent to design your own book cover, but you can budget for a designer if it’s important. Mostly, it’s not about how fancy your cover looks, but that it fits conventions. It’s not about a cool title, but your metadata and BISAC code choices.

It’s about making a quality book that is sellable and discoverable!  

You Can Self-Publish a Book to Professional Standards No Matter Your Budget!

If you don’t have a big budget, there are a ton of resources out there in the indie author ecosystem to help. You just have to take the time to look and learn. Some self-published  authors get creative and build their audience through short-form publishing platforms like Substack. Other fundraise their publishing costs on funding platforms such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe. 

Whether your budget is big or small, following professional publishing standards is just a matter of education and resources and your own dedication. 

Here at Monkey C Media, we aim to be a resource, not just our clients, but all aspiring authors. In fact, below are some posts specifically aimed at the DIY-minded authors out there. Our whole blog is full of information on industry standards, book marketing and more, and we share this because we want every author to succeed, not just the ones we work with. Browse our blog to find topics you want to know more about. And sign up so you don’t miss our latest posts! 

Here’s that list for the DIYers out there:

These Standards Exist for a Reason

Ultimately, professional standards matter in self-publishing not just for individual authors, but for the industry as a whole. You are part of that indie author industry as an author-publisher and you owe it to yourself, your book, your audience, and the industry that made self-publishing possible to put out the best book you can. And you do that by following the professional standards that help make these books a success. Yes, self-publishing is hard work, but it it’s totally worth the effort if you do it right! 

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If you’ve never given these tactics a shot, maybe 2026 is the year to do that? 

1. Conferences: Active Book Marketing that Comes with Educational and Networking Benefits

Writers and publishing industry conferences are great places for education and networking opportunities. They can also be a great place to promote your book and gain new readers. Have you ever considered renting a booth? When you have a dedicated space for yourself and your book it’s harder to get overlooked and easier to be brave. This isn’t just a book marketing idea for 2026. Like others on this list, you can try next year, or many years from now, because writers conferences will likely always be around.  

Tip: The best place to spend your marketing budget on a booth rental is at conferences focused on readers, and even better, at conferences built around your genre.

Here’s a list of upcoming writers conferences. Maybe one is right for you?

2. Ask for Reviews (Even if Your Book Has Been Out for Awhile)

The best time to get reviews is before your book is even published. But whether you already have reviews or not, getting new ones, even for a book that’s been out for awhile, can breathe some fresh life into your book promotion efforts. It’s really never too late for a good review. 

Seek out reviews. Share them on social! Use these new reviews in your ongoing promo posts. Remember, even if your book didn’t come out this year, you can still use this book marketing idea for 2026 and beyond. Heck, you can even solicit reviews on a regular schedule. After all, new readers are always finding your book, so it’s new to them. 

You can read all about getting reviews here. 

3. A Book Marketing Idea for 2026 Specifically: Submit to an Award

If you’re planning on publishing this year, why not submit your book for an award in 2026? We know a lot of new authors are a bit shy about their work, and many don’t even know book awards for self-published authors exist. But they do! And you can’t win an award if you don’t submit!

Nothing gives your book the social proof it needs like winning a book award. If your book will publish this year, submit to an award! But first, do your research because the better the fit, the bigger your chance is of winning. 

Here is a list of book awards with upcoming 2026 deadlines.

This is an evergreen list of indie author book awards. 

4. Write More in 2026 to Draw in Readers

Content is still king and writing regularly on your own platforms or publishing elsewhere increases your visibility and can help new fans discover you through different avenues besides your book. 

The key to successfully building an audience of loyal fans is consistency. Publish as often as you can. Keep up on your blogging schedule. And equally as important, you want to write what your audience wants and expects. Create good content and maintain a way to access it regularly, and you’ll make your audience happy and keep them engaged.

Read this post on the topic. Wondering how to keep up on your creative endeavors?  This article has some tips.

5. Bring an Old Cover Back to Life with this Book Marketing Idea for 2026!

If your book is older, this book marketing idea for 2026 may be just what you need to bring it back into the spotlight this year. 

If you have a book that’s languishing in obscurity, you may want to consider a cover redesign. Cover redesigns can garner new interest in your book by giving it the cover it deserves. 

Sometimes a book’s cover can be what’s holding it back, despite all your best efforts. If it looks dated, doesn’t speak to your audience, or follow professional cover conventions, it will likely be overlooked, despite what’s inside. So, think about it. Does your cover need a redesign?

Don’t forget to refresh your back cover copy (book description) along with it. These are your books biggest selling points!

Was your first book a flop? Did you know you can even put out a new edition? Edit the whole book! Update it along with your cover and get it out into the world again in 2026. But with a makeover. 

You can read about cover redesign here. 

6. Write Your Next Book! 

There’s a well-known saying in the industry that your second book sells your first book. If you’ve been putting off an idea, or have a half-finished manuscript lying around gathering dust, maybe 2026 is the year to push yourself to finish it. This is especially important if you’re the author of a series or an expert on a topic. Don’t delay. Too much time between releases means readers lose interest. This book marketing idea for 2026 can start now! Make it a goal to at least begin your manuscript and wade into those premarketing waters. 

Some Book Marketing Ideas for 2026 Specifically: What’s Working for Authors Now

The above book marketing ideas for 2026 aren’t exactly new, as we mentioned. But they are tried and true and have stood the test of time. And maybe they’re new to you! If you’re a new author it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the possible book marketing tactics out there, but trying proven methods is always a good approach.

With that said, there are some new trends in book marketing that are working for authors now. 

Because reader engagement is always shifting, and new avenues for reaching your audience are always popping up, you do have to be willing to adapt. 

What’s Working Now, and What Readers Want

• Short-form video content shared in the spaces where your readers are. This requires knowing your audience, and learning from other authors in your space. 

• Being engaged and authentic. Posting regularly and sharing behind the scenes moments of your process, your experiences, and insight into your inspiration and your characters is especially popular right now. 

• Interactive experiences. Virtual workshops, readings, and Q&A sessions bring you face to face with your audience and build trust and loyalty. 

• Print marketing and merch with QR codes. Update your print materials such as bookmarks, stickers and flyers(even one sheets) with a QR code instead of a written website address. This allows direct and instant access to your website where they’ll find bonus materials, book previews, and links to buy. 

• Custom Newsletters for Your Biggest Fans. A newsletter that directly speaks to your biggest fans and keeps them engaged and updated will create a sense of intimacy. Audiences like that feeling of being in a niche group. Let them in on exclusives and offer something special. 

You can read about 2026 social media trends in this post from Jane Freidman’s blog. 

Much of this list of book marketing ideas for 2026 is evergreen, but it is important to stay on top of in-the-moment trends too. Just be sure to check in on what’s working and what’s not. Be willing to move to new platforms or create new types of content, because audiences are fickle and they know what they want. 

Remember, though, book marketing is a multi-level effort and you’re playing the long game. No one tactic will bring you success, but a sustained and consistent effort will pay off. 

Have questions about a topic you don’t see answered on our blog? Head over to Jeniffer’s to check out all the great info she shares. Or better yet, let us know what you’d like to read about in the comments!

The post 6 Book Marketing Ideas for 2026 You May Not Have Tried Before appeared first on Monkey C Media | Author website and book marketing.