:: What is an Index?

Increase Book Sales

Ask yourself: How much is the book index worth to you in terms of book sales, royalties,
reviews, text adoptions, peer approval, personal satisfaction? The index is the road map to every pertinent sentence you have written!

• Book readers look for good quality indexes, because indexes quickly and efficiently direct
  them to information that they are seeking within the book.
  

• Bookstore buyers and point-of-sale browsers compare books before buying to
  check for the inclusion of the secondary topics not mentioned in the chapter headings.
  
  
• Amazon.com knows that potential buyers look for indexes to compare similar books for
  relevant content, to help them decide which book to buy. Amazon now includes indexes in
  the "Look Inside" feature to let customers compare book content before buying.
  
  
• Librarians and library associations make decisions about which books to purchase
  and say that books with indexes are definitely preferred.
  
  
• Educators and institutions recognize that professors choose textbooks that have
  citations of their own work in the index. Imagine the sales you could lose by alienating
  this particular group of readers by not including citations in an index.
  
  
• Peer recognition. Indexes give an indication of authors' pride in their own work, and
  their regard for fellow researchers in the citations of the index.
  
  
• Book reviews frequently draw attention to whether a book has or does not have
  an index. An index is invaluable for reviewers assessing a book's contents.
  

The professional book indexer also adds value during book production. The book
indexer is the "last set of eyes" to read the book thoroughly and carefully just prior
to sending the book to print. Frequently the indexer catches last-minute typographical
errors and typos that would otherwise be missed.