The title is one of the first impressions you get to make on readers with your book. That’s why it’s so important to get it just right. If your current title is in need of some TLC, we’ll help prepare you for the process of making some changes.
What makes a good book title?
A good book title will need to work overtime. It should fit well into your genre and resonate within your niche market. It should encapsulate the tone or emotional pull of your book without feeling too cliché. And overall, it should be unique and memorable.
How do I know if I need to change my title?
When your book title falls very short of these goals, it might be worthwhile to consider an upgrade. There are several reasons why a book title might need to be changed. A few that we’ve seen over the years include:
- The title isn’t a good fit for the genre
- It was received poorly by early reviewers
- It isn’t marketable, according to the publisher or industry experts
- It shares the same title as another popular book, movie, play, etc.
- It uses a celebrity name or trademark without permission
- It contains legal risk of any kind
- It contains something from KDP’s list of banned title keywords
The title, “At Night, I Dream of Blake Lively’s Closet,” for example, might get you into hot water with Lively’s legal team. And, even if they turn a blind eye, your book title will get lost on Google amidst the thousands of news articles related to Lively herself.
Additionally, “The Night of the Butcher” might be a great title for a horror or thriller novel. But if your book is a romance or a picture book for children, it would mislead readers entirely.
What steps should I take to make the editing process as smooth as possible?
If you’re still in the pre-publication stages, you’ll have a lot more wiggle room to change your book title without complications. If your book isn’t on Amazon or other distribution sites yet, you’ll simply need to focus on updating your social media, author website, email signature, and anywhere else your previous title was mentioned. You may also need to work with your designer to update your cover art if it has already been drafted.
If your book is already listed on Amazon, things get a bit trickier. There are certain pieces of information that essentially “lock in” after a book is published. This includes: book title, author name, publisher, and ISBN.
In our experience, you cannot change a book’s title once it has been fully published and is in distribution. If you want to change the title, you’ll need to look at creating a republication listing with a new ISBN.
Keep your retail listing in mind
Most of the time, we recommend considering the retail listing as it stands currently and the work you’ve already done to get it out there. If you’ve built up lots of positive Amazon reviews or have done extensive marketing/publicity work directing readers to the retail listing, you’ll lose all of that momentum. If you choose to change the title and use a new ASIN/ISBN, the new page won’t link back to your previous one, so it would be as though you’re starting from scratch.
According to Amazon, however, minor errors like capitalization or typos in a title can be easily fixed if you contact their customer service. If you need to make a major change to the book title, that’s when they require you to create a new book in their system. Your new listing will need to include a disclaimer in your description that says:
“Previously published as [book title] by [author name].”
When in doubt, contact Amazon customer service. Ask them to help keep your ISBN and reviews intact if at all possible.
Is changing my book title going to be worth the hassle?
I’m a firm believer in the adage “measure twice, cut once.” Knowing what the process of changing your book title entails, you should weigh out the pros and cons before diving in. Ask yourself: What about your old title is keeping you from reaching your goals? Is it a severe hindrance to your success? How will a new title help you to better connect with your readership?
Changing a book title is a stressful process. If you’re considering making the switch, it’s likely for a good reason. Keep in mind that once you’re “on the other side” you’ll have a better chance of reaching your target audience and getting your book into readers’ hands!
Jackie Karneth is a publicist with Books Forward is an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
Interested in what’s possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you.
