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How to Write a Book: Do Your Chapter Titles Sizzle or Stink?
by Ronda Del Boccio
When someone is one of my mentoring students, I ask to look through their book before they
publish. I’m looking for things like:
book title book subtitle
cover back cover material
endorsements and testimonials stories
book structure optin
call to action
My observation is that the chapter titles are the orphan children of the book. The author
gets caught up in the content of the book, but forgets that before a potential buyer
reads a word, she’s likely to first read the table of contents.
I remember helping my friend and student Lasse Rouhiainen with his first book, Smart Social
Media. He said, “I never thought much about the chapter titles until you pointed them
out to me.” Most of his did their job well, but I helped him add some hot sauce to a few.
It’s ok to have boring chapter titles ONLY to keep them as placeholders. Go back and
spice them up before you publish.
Copywriters often spend a large amount of time on headlines and subheads, which are
their equivalent of the book title and chapter titles.
Model your own chapter titles after successful books. The 4–Hour Workweek is one excellent
example. Here is an image showing some of the chapter titles from the book:
Three Things NOT to Do when Crafting Chapter Titles
Here’s some helpful guidance about chapter titles from another article.
How to Write a Book: Writing Chapter Titles that Turn Browsers into Buyers
by Ronda Del Boccio, NABBW’s Entrepreneurial Authoring Expert
One of the most neglected considerations for how to write a book is the chapter titles.
Yet perusing chapter titles is a critical step a book browser makes when deciding whether
or not to buy a book.
If the front and back cover (or cover and book description online) make the browser
look inside the book, guess what they’ll see first?
That’s right, the chapter titles!
So here are 3 things NOT TO DO as you write your chapter titles.
DO NOT overlook the importance of the chapter titles. A potential buyer takes 4 steps before
making their decision: front cover, back cover, chapter titles, and a peek inside.
DO NOT be boring. “The ABCs of design” is a boring title. Even a chapter title should
make you want to know what the chapter will convey.
DO NOT shrink. Be bold. Write captivating titles that arrest the reader’s attention.
Three Things TO Do when Crafting Chapter Titles
Look at the table of contents’ of books and make note of those which ignite your curiosity.
Another excellent model for chapter titles is YES by Robert Cialdini.
Think like a copywriter. Take inspiration from Prevention magazine or The National Inquirer.
.They KNOW how to grab attention. Sell the Sizzle. Titles should make you want
to read more. Fascinate the reader and she’ll click the buy now button.
This video shows the principles in action, using The 4–Hour Workweek as an example:
Watch the video now.
Put some spark into your chapter titles and you can turn browsers into buyers.
Putting Your Book in Context
Writing a book is only 1 of 5 key aspects of your journey as an author.
Before you write a word, it’s important to get clear on your bigger purpose.
The system I teach is called e BLISS Butterfly Plan, and you’ll l earn all about it as
a FREE participant in the 30 Day Awakened Author Challenge.
Share
your message - follow your B.L.I.S.S!:
want more help with how to write a book? The FREE 30 Day Awakened Author Challenge walks
you through everything from identifying your purpose and vision to writing, publishing
and promoting your book.
Become a free member now at www.WriteOnPurpose.com/challenge, and be sure to watch for a chance to get ongoing
help from me when you upgrade to Level 2 GOLD Member at a very low tuition.
Will you be the next author to follow your BLISS? I hope so!
Ronda Del Boccio, the Story Lady
#1 bestselling nonfiction and fantasy author and Celebrity Author Mentor
Creator of the BLISS Butterfly and the Awakened Author Challenge
See the original article source. http://writeonpurpose.com/1541/how-to-write-a-book-2/how-to-write-a-book-do-your-chapter-titles-sizzle-or-stink