Marketing: 13 Tips for building TEXT TEASERS

TEXT TEASERS are a fabulous way to entice readers to purchase your newest release.

Today’s author must write a great book . . . and then seduce the reader to opening the cover.

I’ve highlighted Paint for the purpose of this blog, but other numerous options for image-compiling Text Teaser are available. However, the process is what is crucial. Discipline yourself through these steps, and then whatever program you employ will work more effectively.

STEP 1 for building Text Teasers: Resize book cover to several different sizes. SAVE with actual pixel count in the title of each save.

This pixel count is 392 X 460. The original size from my design team was 1600 X 2560. Quite a size difference. But today’s authors work in different social media formats. Various cover art sizes are a necessity. Several online graphic programs will provide direct options: Twitter post, FaceBook post, Pinterest graphic, on so on. But often the actual book cover is just ONE part of the final design. By knowing – at a glance – the size of the artwork, it’s drastically cuts down on the copying & pasting, drag & drop, resize and alter . . . well, you get the point. Saving by pixel size was a lesson learned the hard way.

STEP 2 for building text teasers: Select side background picture for text teasers and paste as an addition beside your book cover.

You will need to work with the sizing. Again, I suggest saving in multiple sizes for different media releases. What works on Facebook and what works on Twitter require different sizes. Take the time – upfront – to resize and then mass media release is possible. Additionally, you can utilize a ‘blank or solid colored’ background if no particular picture reinforces your book. However, consider the multitude of free media images before you go with a blank slate. I chose several different ‘teaser’ options.

STEP 3 for building text teasers: Mine for writing gold. Choose a teaser that will still make sense when lifted out of context. Choose a teaser that emphasizes character conflict, sexual tension, or suspense/horror elements.

STEP 4 for building text teasers: Load text on side background picture.

STEP 5 for building text teasers: SAVE!

Step 6 for building text teasers: Oops! Won’t save???

Step 7 for building text teasers: Don’t PANIC. You’ve come this far. There is always a way to save your graphics work. Change side background picture, or adjust size of background picture, or save in a different format. PNG reflects best on social media platforms.

Step 8 for building text teasers: Save NOW!

Step 9 for building text teasers: Load select text on side background picture.

Okay, I realize when you look at this, it doesn’t seem centered, but remember this is your SIDE picture and will be compiled against your actual book cover.

Step 10 for building text teasers. Transparent? or Opaque? (Remember, this is inside of Paint.)

If utilizing transparent, is your text color easy to read? Sized correct? Is your text teaser too long? Too short? Remember, it needs to entice the reader. Should the sentences be set apart for more impact?
If opaque, what color? How does that effect the overall read-readiness of your text? Is the text color the right shade against the opaque background color?

Step 11 for building text teasers: SAVE!

Yes, there is a method to this madness. Save constantly. Back-up the work. Don’t wait for autosave. Continual save the different pieces of the puzzle. If you get to the end of the project, it’s much easier to pull it apart and rebuild if all the individual pieces have been saved. Set yourself up for success and keep the individual pieces saved.

Step 12 for building text teasers: Reopen & make certain that you like the look of the teaser, the overall sizing, et cetera.

This TEXT TEASER technique is perfect for uploading reviews of your book. Once the basic cover art is sized for multiple media release, changing text teasers to reviews, and then more reviews is a click of the mouse.

Step 13 for building text teasers: Upload – Everywhere.

Have fun with this process. The release of text teasers is the opportunity to showcase bits & pieces of your writing brilliance; to entice new readers; to share the story. In the end . . . that’s what being an author is all about.