What's In A Name?

I'm following an avid reader on TikTok called Richie Reads - he devours books! His genre of choice is thriller but he does venture into other genres if he likes the look of the cover and title. I am fascinated when he is showing his charity book haul (this week he had 15 books!), all of which he pretty much chose without necessarily reading the blurb on the back or knowing anything about the author. He says "I liked the look of this one" and he gets followers to let him know whether they have read it. Once he's read the book, he'll give an honest review but he can finish a book in a day or two and he's not even on holiday!

This got me to thinking about the importance of a book title and it's something that has come up in a couple of recent conversations with clients where the manuscript is finished but they have several options for titles. Authors can become quite attached to a title - the story is their baby and they have chosen the name. However, the name might not actually be the best for the book, especially when it comes to being visible in the bookshop or online.

The title is the first connection you have with a reader. It sits on the spine, on search results, on social media feeds — and often it’s what makes someone click “read more.” Choosing the right title is not vanity: it’s marketing, metadata, and reader psychology rolled into three or four words. It's so easy to get it wrong and if you do, your hard work will be overlooked in favour of a book that readers 'get' when they see the title.

Why a title matters
Readers decide quickly. Surveys and market studies show that visual and headline cues dominate initial choice: many buyers report making reading decisions based on cover and headline-level cues more than blurbs or reviews. One consumer survey found that a majority of respondents had chosen a book solely because of its cover or immediate presentation, underlining the title’s role as part of that first impression. studyfinds.org

Other data remind authors that author recognition and recommendations are powerful—but that doesn’t negate the title’s role for new or unknown writers. A large reader survey found 82% of purchases came from authors readers already knew, and recommendations (friends, family, bookshops) were the next big driver — which means for debut authors the title and discoverability matter especially. Gigi Griffis | Official Website+1

Discoverability: title + subtitle = searchability
In the digital marketplace, your title is also what is called metadata. Search engines and bookstore algorithms use title and subtitle words to match queries. Industry guidance and metadata studies show that complete and accurate title/subtitle metadata improves discoverability and is connected to better sales performance — so the words you choose literally affect whether readers find you. Book Industry Communication+1

Fiction vs nonfiction: different jobs for a title
Fiction titles often trade on intrigue, mood, and memorability. Short, punchy titles are common among bestsellers because they’re repeatable and evocative. Nonfiction frequently benefits from a two-part approach: a memorable main title plus a clarifying subtitle that states the benefit, audience or topic. This is a great opportunity to be creative with a bit more description about the book.

Practical rules (based on data and industry practice)

• For fiction: aim for memorability and genre signal; 1–4 words often work well. Keep it easy to say and search. Medium
• For nonfiction: use a hooky main title + descriptive subtitle that includes keywords and the benefit to the reader. Subtitles help search and conversion. Jane Friedman gives some great guidance on this.
• Test your shortlist: use reader polls/click tests (PickFu/BookBub) to see which title + cover combos drive the best responses. Real reader feedback beats guesswork. pickfu.com+1
• Check metadata and uniqueness: search Amazon and Google to avoid being lost among identical titles; ensure your title/subtitle fields are correct in metadata feeds. Book Industry Communication
• Do your research about whether a place name might give your title some extra leverage - this happened to a client I was working with recently.
• Don't forget, if you already have a following on social media, you can use them to test out a title - get them to vote on which one they think is most effective and would compel them to buy! I know some authors are quite protective and superstitious about letting people know too early about the title but if you have been involving them in your writing journey and keeping them up to date with character development and basic plot, then it can be quite fun to involve them in this way.
• Ultimately, a brilliant title won’t replace strong marketing, good writing, or an author platform — but it will get you through the door. For unknown authors, title + subtitle + targeted testing are among the most cost-effective ways to increase your chances of being found and the chance a browsing reader will turn into a buyer.

If you are looking for support on your writing journey, whatever the stage, I’m here to help. Call me on 07702 808137 or email liz@brilliantfish.co.uk