“First impression is the last impression”- we’ve all heard of this proverb, right? Well, this is the essence of book titles and probably the best way to describe what purpose they serve. Book titles are what compel readers to choose your book from among the many available on the market. They are the first thing a potential reader notices when they lay eyes on a book. A good book title can capture people’s attention and significantly increase sales. So, if you’re a writer struggling to create a good title for your book, keep reading, as we’ll be covering how to come up with the perfect title for your book in this post.
Understand the Goal of Your Book
The first and foremost thing you need to do is understand the goal of your book before coming up with a title. It should reflect the book’s content, themes, and core message. The title of your book is determined by the goal or purpose of creating it, as the title should ultimately justify the purpose of the book. Determine the objective of your book, whether it is to serve as a work of fiction or to offer a solution to a particular problem. Your book’s title should be very clear about what your readers will get from reading it. This allows you to design a title that accurately represents your work.
Identify Your Audience
As stated before, the first thing that attracts readers is an evocative book title. Identifying your target audience is thus one of the best strategies for deciding on a book title. For example, if your book is targeted at children, the title of your book can’t be complex and will have to be simple and direct. You must figure out who would be interested in the topic your book covers. Besides, you can connect with people on various social media platforms, pitch ideas for your book, and decide on a title based on the responses you get.
Use Relevant Keywords
Another crucial factor to keep in mind while coming up with a title for your book is to be mindful of the keywords you use in the title. Use keywords that will make your book easily discoverable in online searches. This will increase visibility and improve search engine optimisation (SEO) to help your book rank higher in search results.
Avoid Using One-Word Titles
The number of words you use in your title can have a major impact on the success of your book. It is recommended that you keep the title short. However, you should avoid using one-word titles. Rather, limit your title to five words or less. Instead of making your book more discoverable, one-word titles make it difficult to find and sell. When consumers search for a one-word title, they may come across numerous other books in addition to yours. As a result, their attention may be diverted, and your book may not receive as many readers as you had hoped.
Generate Curiosity
Your book title has the power to generate buzz around your book. Therefore, you must come up with a title that will pique the readers’ interest. Using metaphors and symbols related to the theme of your book is one way to go about it. Your title should intrigue the readers enough to make them want to know what the book has in store for them. Curiosity, however, does not imply that you reveal the plot of your book. The element of surprise should be maintained, or else your book won’t sell that well. In the case of a fantasy novel, for example, design a title that invites readers to let their imaginations run wild, so they look forward to reading your work.
Timing of the Launch
Last but not least, you should make note of the time of the launch of your book. If you plan to release your book around a festival, having a title related to the event can increase your chances of selling more copies. By aligning the title with popular trends and topics at the time of release, the book can grab more attention and appeal to its target audience. Your title and book can stand out from others available on the market if you properly plan the launch of your book, which enhances relevance and marketing effectiveness.
Final Words
The title is one of the most important elements of a book. Consulting with an editor can help you come up with the perfect title for your book. From helping you select relevant keywords for the title to creating a title that can generate curiosity among the readers, an editor can help you come up with a title that best represents your work and thus significantly increase its sales. Therefore, creating the perfect title for your book is a battle half won.
Please share your views on this post by leaving a reply in the comments section. Also, check out our recent post on “How Does Goodreads Help You to Connect With Readers?“
