keywords

The Browser Bar and the Rule of Three

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Sometimes a good subtitles can be the difference between your book selling and it being ignored in the marketplace. 

A title may get all of the attention, but a subtitle hooks the reader because it gives added information, such as whether the book will be humorous, scholarly, etc. It helps readers decide whether to purchase your book—or not. But, most importantly, it should contain KEYWORDS that potential readers type into their browser bars to FIND YOUR BOOK. 

TITLES ARE OFTEN VAGUE.

KEYWORDS ARE SPECIFIC.

Since brain research tells us that humans best remember things in groups of threes, experts suggest subtitles use the “Groups of Three” rule. For example: Finding Happiness: List here three ways that are covered in your book.

Sound easy? It’s not. Especially for fiction writers. There are often not three recognizable keywords. That’s the nature of the beast. So, for us fiction writers we need concentrate on those keywords.

I’m going to purchase a vanity light for my bathroom today. The browser bar is my friend. I type in the size (23-25 inches), the number of lights (2-3), and color (matte black). Once I do that, I end up with photos of lights that should be similar to what I want. Then, I can whittle down my list further by price, manufacturer, and style.

Remember: Readers are first shoppers. And this is what shoppers do every day. 

Make the browser bar your best friend by feeding it KEYWORDS.

Remember Me: A Sonnet for Marigold

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I’ve blogged to readers and writers about book covers, “Hooks,” keywords, suspense, punctuation, back cover blurbs, choosing one’s audience, marketing, pen names, and so on. 

Can any one single book can possibly deliver on all fronts?

This one comes close. From cover-to-cover, Remember Me: A Sonnet for Marigold, was written with each aspect of the writing process in mind.

Here are excerpts from the back cover copy and blurb, along with the stunning cover. Who wouldn’t be drawn into this story?

Does true love really last forever? Author Mia Michaels creates a world where all reason is lost to the magic of love.

From the moment Mike’s plane crashes, Natalie’s world is turned upside down. As she struggles to remember the details of her life after suffering a brain injury in the same crash that killed Mike, a shocking revelation about an affair with the handsome pilot surfaces, leaving her questioning everything. 

Almost losing Natalie in the horrific incident gives Paul a wake-up call. He is determined to be the husband she needs, but at every turn, someone tries to sabotage their new commitment to one another. Who is sending her gifts, trying to turn her heart away from Paul? And what is the role of Mari and Pierre, two mysterious figures who seem to be connected to this love triangle?

 If only Natalie’s memory would return, perhaps she and Paul could rebuild their relationship before it’s too late.

Just when you think you’ve figured out the truth behind this love triangle, author Mia Michaels throws in an unexpected twist in this gripping Romantic Suspense novel. Remember Me will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Sprinkled with humor and a dash of fantasy, you’ll find everything you like—and more—in this modern breakout novel.

Don’t miss this unpredictable journey of true love. BUY NOW on Amazon.com

Do You Know About Publisher Rocket?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

The Rocket icon sits patiently on the dock of my Apple Computer. Nearing the end of each book I write, I put it to good use. It is one of the most useful applications I know of.

It helps me choose the optimum categories and seven keywords required. It analyzes data of all kinds to help me identify my competition and see what has—and hasn’t—worked to get them their high ranking. 

The rocket is simple to navigate, easy to understand, and affordable. It is regularly updated, so decisions I make regarding advertising and promotions are based on accurate information.

If you are nearing publication, you owe it to yourself to Google Publisher Rocket and read about it in-depth.

**I will be taking some time away to work on a renovation project for the next few weeks. I should be back to the keyboard in April. Easter Blessings to each of you!

Know Your Definitions

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I made a promise last week to do some research on pre-launches. I talked to a friend who definitely recommended one of the two pre-launch styles I mentioned. He feels the extra work is worth it—in both sales and publicity.

But, remember, you must be 100% ready before you do so. Meaning you have your keywords and categories chosen (which is what we were discussing last week, too.)

The thing I learned about categories is that I needed to know the definitions of words I already thought I understood. For example, should I choose religious or spiritual? They are two separate categories.

Religious refers to an outward expression of inward faith, whereas spirituality means an inward connection to God (or another “higher-power) which affects the way one lives their everyday life. And knowing that distinction will help me when choosing my book’s categories.

There are quite a few other categories that may require a look in the old dictionary. So, have fun!

Choosing Your Subtitle

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

A subtitle should tell the consumer additional information that cannot be conveyed by the title alone.

You’ll want to choose one, if possible, because it gives you an additional chance to add more keywords on Amazon.

Keywords are simply the words a person would type in the search bar to identify the kind of book they are looking for.

Authors are allowed to choose ten keywords. These will come from the title, subtitle, back cover blurb, and book description you write for your Amazon sales page.

I wrote down dozens of ideas for the subtitle for my soon-to-be-released book, Justice for Jessie. I decided on Forgiving the Unforgivable because it further described my book, along with being “catchy”—at least to me. It was also short and sweet, making it more memorable. 

Remember: Your subtitle should represent the genre in which you write, mine being Christian Suspense.

The Right Words Are “Key”

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

businessman with a cup of coffeeAs we continue to take actions to drive sales to our sites, our discussion naturally turns to keywords.

Simply put, keywords are the words a prospective reader would type into the search bar in order to find a book on a topic or in the specific genre they are looking for.

If you have included these words into your headline, description copy, and your pages, your book will be “found.”

If you don’t include searchable keywords, the feisty little web crawlers will, in essence, crawl right on by and continue to search until they have discovered someone else’s website, book page, etc. Yikes!

The suggestion is that we narrow down a list of 5-7 keywords and insert them in our copy everywhere—and as often as—we can.

Some day, we may not have to do this. Some day, we may be famous and have a following–readers who require nothing more than typing in our names as they search for our latest books.

But for now, those 5-7 well-chosen words are key.