The key elements that make for a successful coffee table book
What makes a successful coffee table book is one of the most popular search terms by would-be authors. And, with the time, energy and cost that goes into the publishing process, it’s understandable that you want to get it right by knowing the key elements of production that matter.
Here is a list of several factors that contribute to a successful coffee table book:
1. A unique selling point and a well-researched topic
Your book needs to appeal to your target reader, and people buy coffee table books for their look and the subject matter. Whether introducing a topic that has not been covered before or bringing a new perspective to an existing topic, you must ensure that your book is well-researched and meets the expectations of your intended audience.
2. There is a market for the book
A common publishing mistake is assuming there is an audience for a book. Research into your topic must extend to identifying and understanding the audience your published book will cater to. No audience means no sales, and knowing whether or not there is an audience for your coffee table book will help you decide if investing in the publishing process makes personal and financial sense.
3. A strong visual narrative and high-quality images
The main selling point of a coffee table book is its visual appeal. The images you use in your book must be high-quality and high-resolution to ensure they retain clarity and detail when printed. A coffee table book typically tells its stories through images. A successful book is carefully curated, meaning the images and accompanying written texts are thoughtfully chosen to reflect the theme of the book.
4. Professional editing
An error-free book enhances the reader’s experience and denotes quality and professionalism. Achieve this by getting your book edited. Editing is a must, not an option. Taking the time to edit your book helps correct mistakes, check for things like colour reproduction and image quality before it is printed. This step ensures that the content, visuals and written word look their best on the pages.
5. An appealing cover design and a compelling title
The coffee table book market is a crowded space. Your book needs to stand out from others in the market to catch the customer’s eye, and the cover is usually the first thing that grabs the viewer’s attention. The cover design should entice the viewer to pick up your book. After the cover has captured the viewer’s attention, their focus moves onto the title. The title gives the reader an idea of what the book is about. The title needs to pique interest, making the reader curious to learn more about the book.
6. Strong book description
The front cover and title draw the reader in, but a description convinces the reader to buy the book. A book description is a short paragraph of text on the back of the book cover that tells the reader what the book is about. This promotional copy is known as a ‘blurb‘. A blurb needs to include the key points that summarise the content. The blurb encourages the reader to open the book and flip through the pages.
7. A well-thought-out interior layout
The design and layout of the book’s interior pages must also match what the cover and blurb have promised, so as not to disappoint the reader. The interior layout needs to be well-designed to enhance the reading experience by making the most of the images and text. The interior layout helps the story you are telling through visuals and text flow cohesively from page to page, creating a pleasant reading experience.
8. High-quality print and finishing
The desirability of coffee table books is in the quality of their look and feel. High-quality paper and finishes help turn a book into a work of art. The more tactile the book, the greater the chance of the viewer creating an emotional connection to it.
8. Competitive Pricing
A coffee table book published to sell is a commodity, and needs to be priced according to what the market expects. Market expectations are the prices that books in the same category and covering a similar topic as your book are selling for. Your market research and publishing costs will inform the price of your published book.
9. Marketing your coffee table book
Marketing is a key part of the publishing process, and is done to help make books successful sales-wise. While your coffee table book is still in production, you must start promoting it to build awareness and interest. Marketing creates the buzz that primes your targeted audience to purchase your book once it’s published.
If you want to publish a coffee table book and increase your chances of successfully doing so, get your copy of How to Publish a Coffee Table Book, my definitive guide that shows you exactly what you need to do to make it happen.
– Tapiwa Matsinde
[Image credits: The images shown are copyright Karolina Kaboompics via Pexels. If downloaded and used elsewhere, please credit accordingly.]
