We all know the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but we also know that, when it comes to book sales, the cover is exactly how books are judged. While a great cover won’t guarantee your book to fly off the e-shelves, a bad cover will almost certainly contribute to poor sales.
Your book cover is the first thing anyone will see. It gives the potential reader a whole host of information, but if your cover design isn’t sending the right messages, or the message it’s sending is a negative one, your book will not draw much interest. Or worse, it will draw the wrong kind of interest.
7 Winning Tips
1. Don’t skimp on design.
In the modern world of self-publishing, you can learn to do many things yourself. And many authors are looking for cheaper ways to do things. But your cover is not one of the places where you want to cut corners. When prioritizing your book promotion budget, your cover should be high on your list.
2. Avoid legal pitfalls.
Spend the money to pay for licenses on high-quality artwork. High-quality images are a must, but they will need to be purchased – improper use and attribution can cause serious legal headaches. Don’t risk your good name and financial well being by using images you don’t have rights to, and be sure you understand the requirements for attribution.
Better yet, hire a pro. Let this be their headache. Be sure you ask where potential designers licenses their images, and satisfy yourself that your designer understands copyright and fair use laws.
3. Know what you’re paying for.
You should also understand who will hold the copyrights on your book cover design once it is completed. A fee for services rendered should also grant you the copyrights to the design once your fees have been paid.
Some design services allow you to purchase a premade template but will retain the ultimate copyrights on the design of your book cover. This will limit how you’re able to use the book cover image for your own promotions. Know what you’re paying for.
4. Keep it simple.
If you really must design your own cover and cannot hire a professional, keep your design simple. Don’t overdo the embellishments. Use clear, legible fonts and be sure you understand your printer’s specifications and adhere to them for print covers.
5. Get the genre right.
Every genre has its norms and tastes. Whether your book is romance, mystery or epic fantasy, the design should feel right for the market. Pay attention to what other books in your niche are doing. Be aware of the conventions of your genre or market niche.
6. Set the mood.
Use fonts, colors and images to set the mood. If your book is hopeful or inspiring, you will want it to have a different look and feel than a book that is dark and frightening.
7. Get help with back cover text.
Writing the synopsis and short author bio for your book cover can be tremendously difficult. Get help from friends. Ask a trusted beta reader to help you. You want to be sure your blurb matches your book.
The world of self-publishing has come a long way in recent years. Self-published authors are seeing barriers removed, making it easier than ever for someone to write a book and take it to publication on their own. If you’re self-publishing, you have to prioritize your budget, and your book cover should be one of your highest priorities. A good-looking, well-designed cover tells readers you’re a serious professional.