Introduction

Sell ​​sheets have a simple mission. To Sell More Books. They are really just a way to show the benefits of your book in a concise and compelling way. And if your sales sheet is skillfully created and used, it can become a powerful marketing tool: especially when included as part of your media kit. But despite the fact that it has a simple mission, is only 8.5″ x 11″, and isn’t too difficult to create, a lot of the sell sheets I see still aren’t very good.

So here’s how to get started creating a winning sell sheet for your book:

Step 1. Look at the sell sheets for other books

It’s easy to search Google Images to find sell sheets to look at. If your book is nonfiction, for example, look for nonfiction book sell sheets. Try to find books that are similar to yours. See what images, colors and prints are being used. How are you communicating your message about the book you are selling? How many images are you using? How big are those images on the page? How much white space is on the page? What are the hot spots in your book that you spend the most time on?

Are they using bullet points? How are they displaying the information? Is the author’s headshot included? Is there any testimonial? Are they using a one line benefit statement at the top of the page? How is your contact information displayed? By answering these questions, you’ll begin to learn the differences between an ineffective sell sheet and one that has the ability to grab a reader’s attention and sell more books.

Step 2. Keep the reader in mind

Identifying and addressing reader needs is the most fundamental concept in book marketing. Your sell sheet will be a complete flop if your needs are not convincingly discussed. The reader must truly believe that you have the answers they are looking for. You will not sell books without achieving this. Your sell sheet should address these needs quickly and directly. Readers don’t have the time or patience for flowery, wordy sentences.

And they do not tolerate ambiguous or misleading language. Readers are too sophisticated for this. They want to quickly understand how your book will benefit them. If you really did the research for your book and indeed understand your topic, you will no doubt understand who your book’s readers are. Therefore, you should be able to easily write copy that shows readers that you understand them and that you are the one who can help them solve their problems. This will definitely help you establish an emotional connection with the reader, which will help you sell more books.

Step 3. Include a great cover image

Having a nice, eye-catching book cover is important for many different reasons. Most of the marketing reasons are probably already obvious to you. But including a picture of your book cover can also help make the book seem more real, genuine, and authentic. It is concrete evidence to your reader that you have created a finished book. The cover image also allows the reader to project their own hopes and wishes onto your book.

This might help them read more into your book offering than their own copy might give them. All of this can make it easier for the reader to justify in their own mind that your book is worth buying. And probably the most important reason of all is that your book cover is one of the best ways to establish an emotional connection with the reader. So you better have an amazing, well-designed and well-thought-out cover. This will improve the effectiveness of your sell sheet and help you sell more books.

conclusion

While simple and straightforward, putting together a good sell sheet with skill and careful attention to detail takes time and planning. But once you’ve put the effort into creating a winning sell sheet and making it an integral part of your media kit, you’ll reap the benefits for a long time to come. Your sales form will continue to be your selling point, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That’s a surefire way to help you sell more books and give you a steady stream of income.

Tags: #self-publishing #bookmarketing