Marketing Blurb Examples: How to Write Back Cover Copy That Sells

Book marketing isn’t only about promoting your new title on social media, earning online reviews, and coordinating a book launch party. It also requires learning how to write back cover copy that entices readers to buy your book. Great blurbs matter, and they’re crucial to taking your title from the back of the shelf to the bestseller list.

Why great back cover copy matters

As all indie authors quickly learn, effective book marketing copy sells more books. As eager readers scroll through online marketplaces or peruse the shelves at their local bookstore, their eyes are first caught by your book’s cover design. As long as the look is compelling, they’ll proceed to the back cover copy…and that’s when they choose whether to make a purchase.

Your back cover copy offers the reader a glimpse into what’s contained within your book’s pages: the story, the characters, their conflict, and your voice and style. If your book blurb falls flat or isn’t compelling enough to draw readers in, you’ll lose out on book sales—so it’s vital that you understand how to write back cover copy that leaves readers wanting more.

Tips for writing back cover copy that boosts book sales

Because your back cover copy is such a vital component of your book marketing strategy, and also because the cover can be difficult to change on both e-books and printed copies, it’s important to get the copy right the first time. Here are some tips from wordsmithing professionals who excel in crafting back cover text for indie authors.

Start with a great hook

Your book blurb’s first sentence needs to hook readers so they’ll continue reading and be drawn into your story. The hook can be a question, a statement, or an exclamation, but it needs to capture the essence of your book and pique your audience’s curiosity.

To get started on writing your back cover copy, ask yourself: In fifteen words or less, how can you convince someone to read the rest of your blurb? You’ll have the rest of the back cover text to close the deal and earn the sale, but the reader won’t see it if they’re not drawn in by a great hook.

Continue with a brief description of the story’s main conflict

Once you’ve hooked your readers, give them an idea of what your book is actually about. This portion of your back cover copy will vary depending on your book’s type and genre. For example:

• Fiction books should briefly describe the main characters and allude to the central conflict.
• Nonfiction publications, including industry-changing business books, can introduce the innovations or ideas you’ve written about.

By the time the reader has absorbed your hook and a brief but captivating book description, they should have a firm understanding of your genre, voice, and story.

Finish with a cliff-hanger

The final piece of a great book blurb is the cliff-hanger. Your audience has already invested a little bit of their time in reading the rest of your blurb, and now it’s time to bring home the sale with an irresistible final sentence or two that convinces the reader to buy your book.

A good cliff-hanger will inspire excitement in your audience. It can be a statement that builds intrigue or a question the reader absolutely must know the answer to. Either way, it should leave a potential reader wanting more.

Be true to your voice and genre

Throughout your book blurb, make sure you’re using your own voice and writing in a tone that makes sense for your genre. Remember: Your book blurb gives the reader a sense of your story and a feel for how you write. Consistency between your blurb and your book builds credibility and reader trust, and getting to know your style in the back cover copy helps the reader determine whether they want to read your full book.

Keep it concise

One of the most important parts of knowing how to write back cover copy is understanding that less is often more. You don’t have to give away too much of your story; just give readers the essence of the book’s contents. In most cases, about 150 words is an ideal length for your book blurb.

Where to find examples of great book blurbs

You can find examples of great book blurbs written by experts who truly know how to craft back cover copy just about everywhere. In addition to online bookstores, there are probably several examples on your very own bookshelf at home!

Another helpful source for effective book blurbs is the bestseller list. Peruse some of the most popular authors and gain inspiration from their back cover text. It’s okay if they’re not in your genre (after all, you’re just looking for ideas), but understanding what other authors have had success with can really help you boost your back cover copy. And if you’re not sure of the best way to boil your book down to a short blurb, just call in the experts.

Not sure how to write back cover copy? Elite Authors is here to help.

For many indie authors, writing back cover copy can be more challenging than writing the full book. Since a good book blurb is such a crucial aspect of your book’s success, it deserves close attention from book marketing professionals.

Want to reach more readers and grow your book sales with impactful back cover copy? We’ll send you a quick, friendly message to explore how we can best support you—no pressure, just insights.