WHY PEOPLE BUY BOOKS
1 January, 2015 | By Goldie Alexander
If you have ever wanted to know what makes a ‘best seller’, read the clever article written by Di Bates that appeared in ‘Buzzwords’: 1/1/2015
“People in the publishing industry are always interested to know what influences a consumer’s book-buying decision. More responses bear a common threat and many tend to include the following key topics: cover design, book blurb, positive reviews and book awards. Recently 200 people attending a festival in Chicago, USA, were polled. They included librarians, teachers and parents who were asked to state, in order of priority, the most important factors they consider when selecting a book. The results concluded that the following were most important in book selection:#1 – Awards#2 – Reviews#3 – Cove#4 – BlurbAsked if they were likely to chose a book with an award seal on the cover of a non-award winning book, 87% of the time, consumers said they would chose the award-winning book. This seems to be right. When my junior verse novel, Nobody’s Boy was awarded a 2013 CBCA Notable sticker, sales spiked so much that the publisher (Celapene Press) was forced to reprint the book.Ninety seven percent of those surveyed said that a favourable review printed on the front, back or inside of a book affected their decision to buy. When asked their views on cover design, 73% admitted they take the book’s appearance into consideration when considering a purchase.When asked if they would still purchase a book even if they particularly didn’t like the cover, 19% admitted they might not.When asked if awards and favourable reviews might change their mind about mind about purchasing a book with a cover they did not find appealing 82% stated they might be included to change their mind and purchase a book despite the cover, provided the book had won an award or had a favourable review.A startling 21% of people responding to the poll admitted to never reading the book’s blurb.It is surprising many respondents actually selected a book entirely based upon appearance along with the recommendations of others through awards and reviews.” |
This site certainly has all the info I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.