What Should be Included in a Book's Front Matter?

When you’re updating or revising a book, the front matter is one of the smartest places to make strategic changes—it affects credibility, discoverability, and reader experience before page one even begins.

Here’s what you should review and potentially update:

1. Title Page

• Confirm title, subtitle, and author name are exactly as you want them marketed

• Update publisher name/logo if anything has changed

• Make sure subtitle reflects current positioning (this is often overlooked but very important for sales)

2. Copyright Page (Most Important to Update)

This is where many revisions must be reflected:

• New edition statement (e.g., “Second Edition,” “Revised Edition”)

• Updated copyright year

• ISBN (new edition = new ISBN)

• Publisher address/contact info

• Printing number line (if used)

• Any updated legal disclaimers

3. Dedication Page

• Optional to change, but sometimes authors:

  • Add a new dedication

  • Update for personal or marketing reasons

4. Table of Contents

• Must reflect:

  • New chapters

  • Removed sections

  • Renamed chapters

  • Updated page numbers

5. Foreword (if applicable)

• Consider adding one if you didn’t have it before

• Or replace with a stronger endorsement (celebrity, expert, influencer)

• A new foreword can reposition an older book as “relevant again”

6. Preface / Introduction

This is one of the best places to signal changes:

• Add a note like:

  
  

  “This revised edition includes…”

• Address:

  • What’s new

  • Why the update matters

  • Any changes in perspective or new developments

7. Acknowledgments

• Add new contributors, editors, or supporters

• Remove outdated references if necessary

8. About the Author

Highly recommended to update:

• New accomplishments

• Media appearances

• Awards

• Additional books

• Website / social media

👉 This is also a subtle marketing tool—keep it current and impressive.

9. Endorsements / Praise (if placed in front)

• Add stronger or more recent testimonials

• Remove weaker or outdated blurbs

• Reorder so the most impactful quotes come first

10. Series Page or “Also by the Author”

• Add newer titles

• Remove out-of-print or irrelevant ones

• Ensure consistency with current branding

11. Call to Action (Often Missing but Valuable)

Consider adding:

• Website link

• Newsletter signup

• QR code (in print editions)

• Invitation to leave a review

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