Display advertising can be an incredibly effective way to reach new readers and sell more books. But you only have a couple of seconds once a reader sees your ad to capture their attention — which is why your ad needs a compelling hook that will catch their eye and get them to click.
We’ve gathered 14 ideas for hooks you can use in your ad images and examples from advertisers who used them well — which of these hooks can you use in your own ads?
1. Advertise the discount price
As many advertisers know, BookBub readers love a deal — so promoting a discount price is one of the most consistently effective ways to get BookBub readers to click!
2. Promote the whole series
Who isn’t tempted when they learn they can get even more of a book they love? If your whole series is available for purchase (or, even better, on sale!), make that a key selling point in your ad image.
3. Appeal to fans of similar authors
What better way to get a reader’s attention than to call out parallels to an author they already know and love? If the book you’re promoting shares similarities with a well-known author in the genre, let that author’s fans know why they’ll love your book, too.
4. Compare your book to other popular media
The comparisons don’t have to end with authors — oftentimes, comparing your book to other kinds of popular media like TV, movies, or video games can pique the interest of readers who enjoy all kinds of content from the genre!
5. Share popular tropes
Describing the tropes in your book is like speaking shorthand to your readers and telling them exactly what they’re going to love about your story.
6. Emphasize the value
Right alongside a discount price, highlighting the volume of content you’re promoting — whether it’s the number of books in a box set or the hours of runtime in an audiobook — communicates to readers what a great value you’re offering them.
7. Include a quote from a great review
Let your happy readers speak for themselves! If your book already has great reviews, include a quote from one that will convince prospective buyers that your book is a good fit for them.
8. Include a blurb from a well-known author
BookBub readers love recommendations from their favorite authors, so including a quote from a popular author in your book’s genre can be an effective way of getting readers to click. (Bonus tip: target that author’s fans on BookBub with your ad!)
9. Share the story’s key hook
A good plot is one of the most important things BookBub readers look for when shopping for new books. Consider what element of your story is going to be most attractive to readers, and use it to craft your ad copy.
10. Speak directly to the audience
Why should readers pick up your book? What will they gain from reading it? Speak directly to those readers with your ad copy to capture the attention of the right audience!
11. Include social proof
Elements of social proof — like a book’s number of five-star ratings, copies sold, or well-known awards — can be seen by prospective readers as evidence that your book is worth checking out.
12. Advertise if the book is a new release
Picking up a new book fresh off the press can be exciting, especially to readers who already know and like your work! Call out that your book is a new release to entice those readers who want to be the first to pick up their copy.
13. Add humorous elements
Getting readers to laugh is a good way to get them to pay attention! If it makes sense for your book and your genre, use some copy and imagery that’s funny, surprising, or tongue-in-cheek to give readers a chuckle and get them to click.
14. Emphasize the genre or setting
Making the setting and genre of your story clear can help readers envision what feeling they can expect from reading your book — and sway them to give your ad a click.
