If you read the title and thought, “What in the world is annotation,” don’t worry; I’m about to explain.
Annotation is often referred to as the wholesaler’s summary because it is the description of your book that is sent to distributors and wholesalers. This summary influences whether or not a distributor buys your book. It also determines if readers purchase your book, particularly readers who shop online. For instance, if a reader is looking at your book on Amazon.com, he or she will see the annotation under product description. By reading that description, the person will decide if the book sounds interesting and is worth buying.
Many times, the annotation is the same as the copy on the back cover of your book. However, you may want to consider writing different copy for the two texts. This is especially true for authors who plan to sell primarily online. When writing an annotation, remember these three tips.
1) Keywords, Keywords, Keywords – Online shoppers often find books through search engines such as google or the search option on a store website. The words in your annotation determine when your book will appear in the search results. You want to the consider the types of words being used as well as the number of times specific words appear. However, you don’t want the copy to read as if it was written for a search engine. You still want the text to flow naturally.
2)Proofread, Several Times – Self-publishing companies will use your annotation exactly as you send it. They do not proofread it for you, unless you pay for copyediting services. Therefore, it is extremely important that you double-check your work. Make sure there are no spelling and grammar errors. You want this text to look and sound professional.
3) Make Sure It is Complete – The annotation must summarize your entire book and convince the reader to purchase it. It is recommended that your annotation be between 3,000 and 3,400 characters, so you have plenty space to fully explain your book and persuade your readers. For non-fiction books, focus on the problem that your book solves. For fiction books, focus on the entertainment value of your book, but be sure not to give away the entire book. You want to entice the reader to buy the book to find out more.
Think about the product descriptions you read when shopping online. What makes you want to purchase a product? What makes you not want to purchase product? The same factors apply to book annotations, so take the time to write to a clear, persuasive, and professional annotation.
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ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably. |
