Your book's title should usually be the main keyword you're going to target.
The subtitle however...
It's a little trickier one.
Here's a simple 4-step framework you can use to craft the PERFECT subtitle for your book...
//THREAD//
🧵🧵
The subtitle however...
It's a little trickier one.
Here's a simple 4-step framework you can use to craft the PERFECT subtitle for your book...
//THREAD//
🧵🧵
It's true.
People judge a book by it's cover.
But what if you already have an amazing cover?
The next thing your potential readers will look at are your book's title and subtitle.
Picking the book title is easy:
It should simply be the main keyword you're going to target.
People judge a book by it's cover.
But what if you already have an amazing cover?
The next thing your potential readers will look at are your book's title and subtitle.
Picking the book title is easy:
It should simply be the main keyword you're going to target.
When it comes to picking the subtitle, well...
It's a little trickier.
Your subtitle should clearly communicate the main benefits of your book while being effective SEO-wise.
The phrase above is the one you should write down.
Actually, let me repeat it...
It's a little trickier.
Your subtitle should clearly communicate the main benefits of your book while being effective SEO-wise.
The phrase above is the one you should write down.
Actually, let me repeat it...
Your book's subtitle should CLEARLY communicate the MAIN BENEFITS of your book WHILE being effective SEO-wise.
That one sentence perfectly sums up what your subtitle should be like.
But how do you exactly create it?
Let's dive deeper...
But how do you exactly create it?
Let's dive deeper...
When it comes to creating subtitles, I have four rules:
1. Use one or a few secondary keywords you’re willing to target
2. State how the book is going to solve the main problem your customer has
3. Keep it simple and clear
4. Make it appeal to customer’s emotions
1. Use one or a few secondary keywords you’re willing to target
2. State how the book is going to solve the main problem your customer has
3. Keep it simple and clear
4. Make it appeal to customer’s emotions
1. Use one or a few secondary keywords
When doing keyword research, you might notice there are plenty of self-published books with extremely long subtitles including almost every keyword there is related to the particular topic.
When doing keyword research, you might notice there are plenty of self-published books with extremely long subtitles including almost every keyword there is related to the particular topic.
That’s called keyword stuffing and I advise that you should never do that.
Now you may be asking:
"Why? Isn’t it better to target as many keywords as I possibly could?"
Well, yes, but it isn’t that simple.
Now you may be asking:
"Why? Isn’t it better to target as many keywords as I possibly could?"
Well, yes, but it isn’t that simple.
The thing is, Amazon’s algorithm doesn’t like keyword stuffing AND
the keyword stuffing on the subtitle is a big turn-off for the customer.
That means keyword stuffing your subtitle will most likely only do harm to your book.
the keyword stuffing on the subtitle is a big turn-off for the customer.
That means keyword stuffing your subtitle will most likely only do harm to your book.
So, what should you do?
Pick only one or a few secondary keywords you want to include in your subtitle.
Those few usually become clear when you do keyword research for secondary keywords.
Pick only one or a few secondary keywords you want to include in your subtitle.
Those few usually become clear when you do keyword research for secondary keywords.
If you're interested in how to find great secondary keywords for your book, check out my previous thread:
Additionally, if you don't know how Amazon's keyword targeting works, it would be beneficial to read this thread before you continue:
2. State how the book is going to solve the main problem your customer has
As you remember, your subtitle should communicate the main benefits of your book.
The main benefit of your book is (almost always) how the book is going to solve the problem your customers have.
As you remember, your subtitle should communicate the main benefits of your book.
The main benefit of your book is (almost always) how the book is going to solve the problem your customers have.
This one can be best understood through examples:
Example 1.
Book topic: RV living guide for beginners
Main Problem: How to get started with RV living
Solution: Follow-along plan to easily get started with RV living
Example 1.
Book topic: RV living guide for beginners
Main Problem: How to get started with RV living
Solution: Follow-along plan to easily get started with RV living
Example 2.
Book topic: Bodybuilding as a vegan
Main Problem: How to effectively build muscle as a vegan
Solution: How to gain 10 lbs of muscle in 3 months as a vegan, meal plans and recipes included
(Just came up with some numbers lol)
Book topic: Bodybuilding as a vegan
Main Problem: How to effectively build muscle as a vegan
Solution: How to gain 10 lbs of muscle in 3 months as a vegan, meal plans and recipes included
(Just came up with some numbers lol)
Example 3.
Book topic: Affiliate Marketing
Main Problem: How to make money with affiliate marketing
Solution: Step-by-step plan to get started and make your first $1k in 30 days or less with affiliate marketing
Book topic: Affiliate Marketing
Main Problem: How to make money with affiliate marketing
Solution: Step-by-step plan to get started and make your first $1k in 30 days or less with affiliate marketing
At this point, it's enough if you can write down how your book solves the main problem.
The problem is that many KDP publishers don't even know what problem their book solves.
Don't be one of them.
Know your product.
The problem is that many KDP publishers don't even know what problem their book solves.
Don't be one of them.
Know your product.
3. Keep it simple and clear
I can't believe I have to write this but...
Your subtitle has to make sense.
Let's have a look at two examples:
I can't believe I have to write this but...
Your subtitle has to make sense.
Let's have a look at two examples:
Which one is more appealing?
I bet the second one (Would You Rather).
First of all, the subtitle of the first book is so long Amazon doesn’t even show it completely.
Secondly, it makes zero sense.
Whereas the second one is pretty short, flows nicely and makes perfect sense.
I bet the second one (Would You Rather).
First of all, the subtitle of the first book is so long Amazon doesn’t even show it completely.
Secondly, it makes zero sense.
Whereas the second one is pretty short, flows nicely and makes perfect sense.
With that being said, here's a rule of thumb to follow:
The shorter your subtitle, the better.
But don't get me wrong.
The shorter your subtitle, while CLEARLY communicating the main benefit of your book while being effective SEO-wise, the better.
The shorter your subtitle, the better.
But don't get me wrong.
The shorter your subtitle, while CLEARLY communicating the main benefit of your book while being effective SEO-wise, the better.
4. Make it appeal to customer’s emotions
I like to think that the subtitle is a part of the sales copy of my book.
Its purpose is to make the customer click my book and enter the sales page.
That’s the only way I’ll make sales.
That's why it should appeal to emotions.
I like to think that the subtitle is a part of the sales copy of my book.
Its purpose is to make the customer click my book and enter the sales page.
That’s the only way I’ll make sales.
That's why it should appeal to emotions.
Appealing to emotions can basically be achieved by doing these two things:
1. By addressing the dream outcome
2. Using words that appeal to emotions
Let's combine all the four rules you've learned by finishing the three examples we used earlier...
1. By addressing the dream outcome
2. Using words that appeal to emotions
Let's combine all the four rules you've learned by finishing the three examples we used earlier...
Example 1.
Book topic: RV living guide for beginners
Main Problem: How to get started with RV living
Dream outcome: Living stress-free life in a RV
Solution: Follow-along plan to get started with RV living
Secondary Keyword: RV living for seniors
Book topic: RV living guide for beginners
Main Problem: How to get started with RV living
Dream outcome: Living stress-free life in a RV
Solution: Follow-along plan to get started with RV living
Secondary Keyword: RV living for seniors
Subtitle: Step-by-step plan to RV living for seniors to easily get started with the new stress-free way of life
Can you see how the subtitle communicates the main benefit of the book, appeals to emotions and uses the secondary keyword while still being clear?
Can you see how the subtitle communicates the main benefit of the book, appeals to emotions and uses the secondary keyword while still being clear?
Example 2.
Book topic: Bodybuilding as a vegan
Main Problem: How to effectively build muscle as a vegan
Dream outcome: Big muscles ;)
Solution: How to gain 10 lbs of muscle in 3 months as a vegan, meal plans and recipes included
Secondary Keyword: Vegan bodybuilding recipes
Book topic: Bodybuilding as a vegan
Main Problem: How to effectively build muscle as a vegan
Dream outcome: Big muscles ;)
Solution: How to gain 10 lbs of muscle in 3 months as a vegan, meal plans and recipes included
Secondary Keyword: Vegan bodybuilding recipes
Subtitle: Vegan bodybuilding recipes and a 90-day meal plan to gain up to 10 lbs of muscle in 3 months
This subtitle works if the book relies heavily on the recipes and meal plan (as expected in this example).
This subtitle works if the book relies heavily on the recipes and meal plan (as expected in this example).
Example 3.
Book topic: Affiliate Marketing
Main Problem: How to make money with affiliate marketing
Dream Outcome: To make a living with affiliate marketing
Solution: Step-by-step plan to get started and make your first $1k in 30 days or less with affiliate marketing
Book topic: Affiliate Marketing
Main Problem: How to make money with affiliate marketing
Dream Outcome: To make a living with affiliate marketing
Solution: Step-by-step plan to get started and make your first $1k in 30 days or less with affiliate marketing
Secondary Keywords: Affiliate marketing secrets, affiliate marketing for beginners
Subtitle: Affiliate marketing secrets for beginners to start making your living with it including a simple follow-along plan to make your first $1k in 30 days or less
Subtitle: Affiliate marketing secrets for beginners to start making your living with it including a simple follow-along plan to make your first $1k in 30 days or less
The last one already turned out to be pretty long.
But here's a nice challenge:
Can you make that shorter while still using the framework you learned?
But here's a nice challenge:
Can you make that shorter while still using the framework you learned?
Let's get back to beginning.
Your book's subtitle should CLEARLY communicate the MAIN BENEFITS of your book WHILE being effective SEO-wise.
Now you should understand what that sentence means.
Your book's subtitle should CLEARLY communicate the MAIN BENEFITS of your book WHILE being effective SEO-wise.
Now you should understand what that sentence means.
Additionally, you might have noticed that writing good subtitles became pretty straightforward when you understood the meaning of that exact phrase.
By following the simple 4-step framework you learned, you'll always be able to craft subtitles that fulfill that sentence.
By following the simple 4-step framework you learned, you'll always be able to craft subtitles that fulfill that sentence.
That's a wrap!
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Bookmark this thread for future reference
2. Follow me @NextToWealth for more of these
3. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Bookmark this thread for future reference
2. Follow me @NextToWealth for more of these
3. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
If you want to learn more about Amazon KDP, check out my Rags to Riches with Amazon KDP publishing course👇
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