Choosing the perfect title has the same pains that choosing the perfect topic has. There are so many to choose from, and you are never sure which one is the perfect one! There is one difference, though. Choosing a title is even more difficult since you have to sell the book with it. It has to be catchy enough to appeal to the reader, and should tell the reader what it is about, as well. It’s a difficult choice to make, isn’t it? Well, we are happy to help. Here are the tips that will help you name your book in the best possible way.
Ask yourself—what is the book really about?
You need to delve into the essence of the book. Ask yourself this question what your book is about, and more often than not, you will come up with a title already! You might have several answers to your title, as well. Sometimes, it may take you days to come up with the answer, which is all right. Take your time. You don’t need to rush into choosing a title, because your title is what will appeal to the reader. You have to make sure that it is the perfect one so that it sells your book. Remember that the first thing that a reader will read is the title of your book, so you can afford to take your time in choosing the perfect one.
Choose from the common four styles of titles
Once you know what the essence of your book is, you can simply choose from the four styles of titles:
- The promise title
- The intrigue title
- The need for change title
- The simple statement title
Now what are these, you may ask. Here’s a basic explanation of each of these four titles:
The promise title promises a solution to a problem. For example: Paul McKenna’s “I Can Make You Sleep”. This title shows exactly what the book is about, while attracting the readers who need this solution.
The intrigue title sparks up the curiosity of the reader, yearning them to read more. An excellent example of this is Tim Ferriss’ “4-Hour Work Week” which leaves the reader wondering what the secret is to a 4-hour work week.
The need for change title taps into the pressure point(s) of a group of people and promises to provide salvation. One example is the book called “Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear” by Max Lucado.
The statement title is exactly what it sounds like. It is a simple statement describing what the book is about. E.g., The Autobiography of Mark Twain. It is clear and straightforward. If you are interested in the works of Mark Twain, you would like to read the autobiography of Mark Twain, as well.
Mould the title according to your target audience
Know your target audience and mould your title according to it. E.g., if you have a younger audience, you can choose a humorous title or use slang or common phrases that would catch their attention.
Get some feedback
Once you have some titles, ask people what they think about them. It’s easy to think you have struck gold when you’re deciding on a title on your own, only to find no one else quite undertands what you meant.
