Learn the Importance of Metadata in Book publishing.Writat.com
Making your book easy to categorize is one of the crucial elements of book marketing and sales strategy. Successful self-publishing authors are well informed on incorporating quality metadata suitable for the book and attract a potential audience. Before knowing about the interesting facts of metadata, understand the basic publishing terms.
What is a Metadata
Book metadata is data that explains your book that includes title, subtitle, price, publication date, ISBN, and other important information used by readers to find your book. Readers depend on the metadata to choose their next book to read. Metadata connects your content to the target readers and can also be known as the sales force of the book.
While writing metadata, ensure that it is as descriptive as possible and include:
- Details like the book’s genre.
- Narrating the story.
- Other information that appeals to the intended readers.
Using keywords like “coffee table book”, “beach read”, and “Chinese cookbook” will help the readers discover your book.
Your metadata should have,
- Key phrases and Keywords
- Book description using the keywords
- Author bio with keywords.
Other data used in Metadata are your ISBN record, website author page, book page, online interviews, guest blog posts and any other promotional appearances.
Metadata Directs Booksellers and Librarians Where to Shelve Your Book
Every metadata must have a BISAC code to identify the genre of the book. These codes designate sections to books that set the standard throughout the publishing industry. BISAC codes allow the librarians, booksellers and other online book stores to know where to keep your book or how to locate it online. You can use more than one BISAC code to target intended readers.
Choose the Right Keywords
Choosing the right keywords while writing the description is very important. Make a list all the keywords and phrases that you find appropriate but ensure that you don’t overdo it. Use only the keywords you can effortlessly incorporate in your book description, title, and website. Using keywords that describe the book’s main character, like “divorced father” or “single mom”, can earn a target audience.
Write an Accurate Book Description
Write intriguing book descriptions because they act as the quick pitch for your book. Formatting the book description by using bolded texts, paragraph breaks wherever appropriate. A book description is the most important aspect of the book sale. Book description helps your book achieve its most prominent and potential discoverability. A good book description tells the readers what the book is about. Your book description should have at least 150-200 words and must provide sufficient information to comprehend what the book is about and the key factors in deciding whether to buy your book or not.
Final Thoughts
If you want your book to be identified by the right readers:
- Write good metadata and formulate a perfect marketing strategy to target the audience.
- Keep your metadata as informative as possible so that your prospective readers discover and connect with your book.
Remember, your metadata determines whether your book has achieved a sale or has missed an opportunity to reach a potential reader.
