January 24, 2019
hOW TO DESIGN A Sell Sheet TO SELL YOUR BOOK
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When I first entered the film and television industry, I was awe-struck when I saw one pagers for films and screenplays. Then I realized the power behind them and why screenwriters used them. The one thing that bothered me was the expense to create them when I wrote my first screenplay. I soon learned after analyzing more than 1,000 one pagers, I could create them myself. In fact, I wrote a book for screenwriters called How to Design and Create a One Pager that is a perfect learning tool for novelist to create their sell sheets. The tool came in very handy when I began to write and publish both fiction and non-fiction books. I quickly learned that a one pager is to a screenplay as a sell sheet is to a book. These tools are marketing strategies and are a must when launching your new book. Why? In one place, the information for your book is easily found. In fact, these sell sheets become your business card for you to send to reporters, media outlets, bookstores, conferences and who can double-down by including it with a press release. Without a doubt, a sell sheet is an essential part of your book promotion toolkit.
HOW TO DESIGN A ONE SHEET FOR YOU NOVEL
Personally, I use a graphic design program called Art Publisher Pro. It has everything I need to create, and design book covers, sell sheets, business cards, flyers etc. that make up my marketing toolkit. You don’t have to go that route because your Microsoft Word, Pages, or OpenOffice can do the same thing. Also, Canva provides multiple templates you can download and modify to your needs. Type in “Author One Sheets” into your search bar and you’ll see hundreds of examples. Here are three of my sell sheets. Notice how I rearranged the placement of the information on the two examples for The Keystroke Killer and added graphics that directly branded each book. In other words, I don't simply use a white background. The goal isn’t where you place the information, but that you include it.
AND A DIFFERENT FORMAT FOR THE KEYSTROKE KILLER
ELEMENTS OF AN AUTHOR ONE SHEET
Here is where your creativity should shine. Your one sheet isn’t the time for a simple Word document, you need graphics, headlines, creative blocks to distinguish the following elements:
Ø Your Name
Ø Author Photograph
Ø Book Title (Note: I usually use my book's logo)
Ø Book Cover
Ø Book Synopsis
Ø Book Product Detail (format, size, number of pages, ISBN, publisher information, category, genre)
Ø Reviews or What Others Have Said
Ø Link to Purchase and price
Ø Your Website Address
Ø Your Email Address
Ø Your Phone Number
Here is a sample template I created for you to use.
WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR ONE SHEET
Remember your one sheet is a marketing tool; so, use it in that way. Post it and tweet it and make it visible anywhere you can. Let people see it. The obvious choice to post is on your website and to your blog. I have mine posted on my website under the press and my media kit. I make it available as a download; so, journalists have access to it along with two bios. One bio is a short version.
Once you’ve posted it take the offense and email it to a journalist, bookstores, reviewers, and bloggers. You might want to send it along with an advanced review copy.
If you need a sell sheet for your novel and would like for me to create one for you, contact me at drmelcaudle@gmail.com.
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EDITING SERVICES FROM DR. MELISSA CAUDLE
Email me at: drmelcaudle@gmail.com
I provide a free sample edit and tracked changes.
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