Top 7 Ways to Choose a Book Subject That Sells

c. 2006

You may worry you don’t have a saleable topic. In reality, you probably have four-ten great topics and just aren’t sure where to go first. Many clients contact me after their first book doesn’t sell. They don’t want to market it. They want to write another one. The problem is, will they write the next one differently so it grabs their readers by the collar to stay the course, then recommend it to many.

Here’s Seven Ways to Choose a Saleable Subject

1.  Write what you are passionate about. Write what will still interest you in the next two years. Your book is an extension of you, your talks, your profession. If you don't love your topic, you won't be successful. One big mistake authors make is to put attention on writing another book before their first one has been promoted.   2.  Write down five topics you are passionate about. Ask your inner author which one should you pay attention to first. After choosing, gather and organize everything you already know and want to know about that topic.  Instead of researching books and web sites, send your prospective audience a survey asking what questions on your topic they would like answered. Format your chapters around these questions. When you answer them, you’ve made your reader happy. You already have the answers within. This kind of natural writing attracts your reader to keep reading because you include him or her. 3.   Write a book your audience needs or wants.  People want how to's and skills. They want better lives, more wealth, better relationships, and better communication. Even better, rethink your book and niche it toward a specific audience. Even the Chicken Soup books sold millions more with the particular audience slant. Instead of how to communicate with the opposite sex, choose an audience with areason to communicate—such as communicate better to create a life-long partnership. With a slant, it’s far easier to sell more copies than with general titles. Include your audience on the internet. They buy a lot of books.

4.  Research your target market.  Who is your preferred audience? Who will read and buy your book? Who will pay the $10-$25 price tag?  How many possible buyers are there? How does your book stack up to your competition?  What is your unique selling proposition? What benefits does your book bring its readers? How many in your audience?  Be sure to write your audience a letter and tell them what your book will do for them before you write a single chapter. Knowing this essential hot-selling point first makes your book much more focused, organized and easy to read.

5.  Compare your book with other reputable, good sellers. What way is your book like theirs? What way is your book unique from others? How?  How is your book better? If you think your book is the only one of its kind, it may be, but if so,  it will much more difficult to sell. Check out where your book fits by visiting your local bookstore. Ask the bookseller to help you. Turn to the back covers--look at the upper left side to see the two or three categories usually listed there. Which ones do your book fit under? Let your book develop a new angle on the problem to be solved. A book on breast feeding sold far more copies when the author aimed it at working mothers.  6.  Survey your market. Brainstorm with and ask for feedback from friends and associates. Let them vote on the best of ten titles and subtitles, chapter titles, back cover information.  While some get their title instantly and know it's the right one, many of us need help. When you use the synergy of more brain power, you receive so many more ideas. Don't be attached to your choices. Feedback helps build a better book.  7.  Create a winning vision for your book. Know that your book will be published. Specifically name the outcomes you will see, hear and feel. Place this winning vision in color on a card. Put it near your work station.  (Using today's date including the year) Now that my book (title and subtitle) is finished and is a huge seller. For example:

I see (lines of people waiting patiently to buy it)

I hear (applause from multiple audiences affirming it)

I  feel (exhilarated, confident and pleased it's such a hit)

Use these top seven ways to write a more saleable book. With just a little pre-writing organization, you increase your book’s chances of  being more influential as well as making you much more money.