Your Book’s Back Matter MATTERS!
Important Tips for Book Marketing Effectiveness
Important Tips for Book Marketing Effectiveness
The End
You’ve written an excellent book and your excited readers are thinking: “What happens now?” Your readers want more, but if all they see at the end of your book are blank pages, you are missing big book marketing opportunities and your readers are actually sad because they want more and don’t know how to get more of what you gave them in the book they just finished.
This is where the back matter of your book becomes so important. The information you add in the back of your book can help you to connect with your reader and keep them coming to you for your next book.
What is the Back Matter of a Book?
Your book’s back matter is the group of all of the pages that come after the last line of your book, and with a little work on your part, you can make it into a very powerful tool for growing your email list, for turning your current readers in fans, and for selling more books.
If your book is published by a traditional publisher, you, as the author, will have to prepare and submit your back matter information beforehand, and convince your traditional publisher to add more pages (and more cost) to your book.
If you are an independent author, you have the ability to easily add, update, and edit your back matter information before your book is published, and even after it has been released.
Your Book’s Front Matter MATTERS!
Important Tips for the Formatting Your Bookmedium.com
Elements To Add to Your Back Matter
You do not need to include all of these components to your back matter; actually, you really shouldn’t add all of these. Choose the ones that are relevant to your book, to your target readers, and to your particular marketing situation.
Acknowledgments and credits. These are often included as part of the front matter of your book. It is your choice. Review other books in your genre to help you to decide.
The titles of your other books, those previously published, and especially those to come.
The appendix, index, and if applicable, notes and references.
Your photo and your bio.
Other resources that can be helpful to your reader, especially if your book is nonfiction, a business book, or a self-help type book.
The first chapter of your next book.
A request for reviews.
Links to your website, your blog, and your social media networks.
Why Your Back Matter MATTERS
People pay attention to reviews. Having a link in your eBook that leads to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple (you’ll need a link for each outlet) will help prospective buyers of your book to make a positive decision. It is also recommended that you ask for reviews on Goodreads and Bookbub.
The best way to sell more of your first book is to have your next book ready for release. On Amazon and other online book outlets, list all of your books together.
Your readers want to be able to communicate with you, and you want to develop your “fan tribe.” Word of mouth by people who love your book(s) is one of your most powerful marketing tools. Make sure that your contact info and social media networks are listed.
Your photo and author bio (which should also be on Goodreads and Amazon) also connect you with your readers. They want to see you and know you as a “real person.”
You want to have actionable next steps for your readers and make it as quick and easy for them as possible to follow up with you and your book(s). Asking them to join your email list and to be ready to buy your next book without having to wait for your next newsletter or do a web search is the best way to time this opportunity.
Completing your manuscript is just the first step in planning for the sale of your book. Whether your goal is to sell a lot of books or to use your book as a platform for other activities and opportunities, you, as the author, must do the work necessary to market your book consistently to reach your goals. Having a complete and informational back matter section will be an important part of your marketing plans.
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