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Increase Sales of Your New Book via Structure and a Good Book Index

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Readers care about the structure of your book – Good structure can increase sales!

Book buyers considering two well-written books on the same subject will make their decision based the structure of the book and the accessibility of key terms and concepts. Having a simple but organized layout, with easy to navigate sections and a reader friendly index helps you gain an edge over other books in your field. 

Many authors view book indexing as an intimidating obstacle, while it actually provides a great opportunity for you to strengthen the appeal of your work. 

A well-written, clear, and concise book index is a pivotal factor in its structure. The index must be clear and accurate. When key ideas and concepts are difficult to find, your book, although high in potential, will not receive the attention it deserves. Most critics and librarians will simply ignore a book that lacks a good index. 

Important Ideas on How to Structure Your Book 

• An index is not a rewritten table of contents.

• Authors often struggle to create an index for their book. Yes, the author is the expert. Still, being so close to the material, they may be tempted to rewrite the book in the index.

• The purpose of the index is to increase the usability of the book. Readers are not as familiar with the terms and subject, so the index must be easily understandable.

• Computer software can list terms in alphabetical order. A true index requires human reasoning to identify relationships between concepts and synonymous passages. The index must list terms in a way that reflects the connection between key ideas, and categorize terms to help readers quickly find information.

• A professional, polished index can dramatically improve the quality and reception of your book. Having a clear and organized index will allow your readers to isolate concepts and navigate the text without hassle. The result is more readers and more sales.

Takeaway

Consider a book indexing service to bring a fresh perspective and professional touch to your work.

Book authors are often surprised to learn that their editors and publishers expect more than just a great book. Publishers often ask authors to create an index or find a book indexer. If you've never created an index before, it can really be time consuming.

The key to success is not only the book writing process itself, but paying attention to the index as well.

 Image credit: art_es_anna