Just like a person, we judge a book by its cover. Admit it! We like anything that stimulates our senses. That's consumerism for you. We like pretty things, depending on what pretty means to you. It applies to everything. Cars, men, women, clothes... books. You're not going to buy something that's not packaged beautifully.
If it pleases our eyes, we give it value. Worth owning... worth wasting time on.
If it pleases our eyes, we give it value. Worth owning... worth wasting time on.
When we browse a book catalog, with the thousands of books available there, what we see are the Book Covers. Being restless browsers, a reader is fickle, scanning quickly and passing over those that are not pleasing to their eyes. The uninteresting. The BLAH. Could your book be one of those that are bypassed because you didn't take time to have a beautiful eye-catching cover made?
I have improved many books' ranking just by changing the cover. If needed, I will change it several times to see how it affects the book's page views. This is real, guys. Don't let a bad cover get in the way of a good book.
I have improved many books' ranking just by changing the cover. If needed, I will change it several times to see how it affects the book's page views. This is real, guys. Don't let a bad cover get in the way of a good book.
Managing perceptions is important in business, and everyone who sells something needs to know how to do it. Writing is not the end of the self publishing process, it's only the beginning. Once the manuscript is finished, the next item on the agenda is the conceptualization of a stunning cover which will be the face of the book.
I remember telling an author once that she needed to change her cover. She never spoke to me again. Hahahaha! Yeah, I find it hard not to state the obvious. In fact, I'm sorely tempted to post bad covers here as examples. But we want to be nice, right?
I feel sorry for great content with crappy covers. It speaks of poor judgement and arrogance, to think that a book will sell regardless of the cover. But I also understand that sometimes, an author simply doesn't understand good design, or is working with a vanity publisher who doesn't know how to design, or doesn't have the budget. I do most of my pro bono work for authors in this predicament.
When you're famous, you can slap a blank cover on your book with only your name on it and it'll sell itself. But if you're a self pub, with the millions of self pub books out there? Let's be realistic and put on our business hats. You need to know what your book needs, and do what you need to do, to convince readers to take a chance.
I feel sorry for great content with crappy covers. It speaks of poor judgement and arrogance, to think that a book will sell regardless of the cover. But I also understand that sometimes, an author simply doesn't understand good design, or is working with a vanity publisher who doesn't know how to design, or doesn't have the budget. I do most of my pro bono work for authors in this predicament.
When you're famous, you can slap a blank cover on your book with only your name on it and it'll sell itself. But if you're a self pub, with the millions of self pub books out there? Let's be realistic and put on our business hats. You need to know what your book needs, and do what you need to do, to convince readers to take a chance.
For those who want their books to be read, take the time to come up with an original, eye catching, interesting and appropriate cover. It doesn't have to be that expensive. You just have to find the right cover designer who can deliver what you need. Even Fiverr is better than designing the cover yourself, if you're not a graphic designer.
Here are some things to consider while coming up with a book cover:
- Does the cover clearly convey the book's genre?
It should match what the book is about. Browse other books in your genre. You don't want to copy their covers. But you don't want to be too different either. Get a taste of how other authors are presenting their books.
- What image should you put on the cover?
Whatever you choose, don't crowd the cover. Just put enough images to represent your story. And make sure they're copyright free.
- There should only be 2 font types used
Anything more and the cover will look cluttered.
- Your child's drawing is not cute.... No, it's really not. Not on the Book Cover.
Even for a children's book, covers should look professional. It may be cute for you since it has a personal meaning, but to a buyer...
- What color theme will you use?
We want to make the book stand out... not look like the work of a crazy loon. Choose colors that merge well together and looks pleasing to the eyes.
YOUR COVER is your FIRST HANDSHAKE with a PROSPECTIVE READER.
MAKE IT COUNT!
DON'T STAND IN THE WAY OF YOUR BOOK'S SUCCESS.
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