Your blog provides an essential tool in your book-marketing toolbox. However, to use your blog to help promote your book, you need a “book page” on your website. Not only that, your book page needs some essential elements to help it effectively sell books.
What’s a book page? It’s a page on your website or blog dedicated to your book. The purpose of this page revolves around providing information to help readers decide to purchase a copy. Basically, it’s a sales page. Here’s an example:
Essential Book Page Elements
To help encourage your blog visitors to make the decision to hit the “buy” button or click on a link to an online bookseller, like Amazon, you must know what to include on this page.The following four items represents book page “musts.” Without these elements, you’ll have a difficult time convincing blog visitors to become book buyers.
- Purchase Links or Buttons: This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be amazed at home many people forget to give site visitors a way to buy their books. Include a “buy button” or links to an online bookstore in several places on your page. A good place to include such a link is at the top of the book page along with the book cover (and link the cover, too). Also, provide the link or buy button at least one more time (three times total is better) on the page, including at the end of your content block. Some book pages even include a pop-up advertisement that encourages readers as they leave the page not to forget to purchase.
- Book Cover Image: Show off your book cover! Include it at the top of your book page followed by and linked to buy buttons or links. You want readers to recognize your book when they see it, especially if they don’t choose to purchase it the first time they visit the book page. If they notice it in a bookstore or on another site that has reviewed it, they should immediately remember that you wrote it—and want to purchase it. (You also can include the cover in a widget so it appears in your site’s sidebar; link this back to the book page or a purchase link.)
- Book Description: Think of your website like a mini bookstore. You wouldn’t go to Amazon.com and find a book listed in the online bookstore without a description of the book’s content. That’s why your site also needs to feature a description of your book. You can use the same one you composed for online bookstores or elaborate on that one since you have more space—a whole page! Be sure your description targets your ideal reader—explains for whom the book is written—and details the benefits readers gain when they delve into its pages.
- Testimonials or Blurbs: Hopefully, you spent time obtaining testimonials, also known as “blurbs,” for your book from highly respected people. Just like reviews from readers, when someone influential says a book is worth reading, potential readers are more likely to become book buyers. Post these testimonials prominently on your book page—and use them all! Don’t skimp. If you have ten or twenty of them, use them all!
Here’s an example of all four elements in place. I didn’t call out the book cover because its an obvious one.
Additionally, you could place coupons or bonus offers on a book page. Many nonfiction authors today sell their books along with a free course, for example. And if you self-publish and place your ebook on Smashwords, you can create coupons. You also could advertise a Goodreads.com giveaway or anything else you feel will stimulate sales.
Have you put unique and effective elements on your book page? If so, tell me about it in a comment below.
Amir’s recommendations are very useful for me in designing a website.
Nina, I’m finding your advise very helpful as I’m putting together a website. I’ve noticed that Hugh Howie has a button on his book page that says, “Already read it? Donate!” I think this is clever and useful. How could I get a button like this?
Thanks!
With PayPal…or any other provider!