Judging a Book by Its Cover

One of the biggest mistakes that self-published authors make is failing to realize the importance of book covers. Even if your book will be sold primarily online, the front cover makes a vital first impression, and it needs to be readable and attractive in thumbnail size.

For today's guest post, I'm delighted to have publishing and marketing expert Gail Kearns share some tips for creating an effective book cover, along with some samples of good cover design.  

A majority of booksellers agree that the cover design is the single most important element of a book. The truth is, a book is judged first and foremost by its cover.

If you want your book to have a fighting chance among the more than 400,000 new books published each year, your cover must trigger an instant response. And it's not just customers who are influenced by your book cover. A well-designed book can help you secure positive reviews, establish your credibility as an expert in your field, win awards and hopefully generate many book sales. That means your cover must be designed compellingly. How is that accomplished? 

• Target your audience. Who is your ideal buyer? Who is your competition and what sets you apart? Relate answers to these questions to your book cover designer.

• Create a compelling, unique title and subtitle, which relate to your defined market.

• Use an experienced professional designer. A veteran cover designer will ensure quality results and a cost-effective process through their design experience.

  "Eight seconds … this is the time a normal person spends on a book cover before either looking further or going on," says Peri-Poloni-Gabriel of Knockout Books. "That is the time you have to typographically and visually communicate your book. This is even more critical in the online marketplace where the covers are just thumbnails to begin with. The key factors in a cover are readability, concept, genre appropriateness, overall impact and wow factor.

Why hire a professional book cover designer rather than your graphic designer friend, you ask? Professional cover designers speak the same language as prepress, printers, and manufacturers and will take care of all the worrisome details. They know how to use color functionally and integrate the front cover, spine and back cover. In short, a cover designer who designs book covers day in and day out will save you from many pitfalls unbeknownst to most graphic designers.

An additional word of caution: Be careful not to be persuaded by your own personal taste. Keep in mind who your target audience is. This may not be your mother, spouse or best friend. A well-designed cover that speaks to the buyer is vital when it comes to the success of your book.

Here’s to your making your book a hit!

About the Author

Gail Kearns and her team at To Press & Beyond are experts in book publishing consulting and support services who will take your book project and shepherd it through writing, editing, design & layout, printing, distribution, sales and promotion, both in trade and niche markets and on the Internet. They have worked with over 300 authors and independent publishers as far away as London, Switzerland, Egypt and Thailand. Learn more at www.ToPressandBeyond.com.

 

Comments

[Dave Rogers]

I agree on most accounts except maybe a few notes you may have missed. If one is a Christian author there are two additional crucial steps to note.

The first step—
Remember: "all God needs is a stick wielded in faith"
I have made my living for over 30 years creating advertising and design services to help others sell. Everything you have said is true, but one who is His can not ever forget the importance of walking in Him. If He says type is enough, then type is enough.

The second step—
Find a world class cover designer who "gets it". One who listens to the Lord and can put the ideas of your heart into visuals. Then TRUST them to do what they do best.

Here at Lamb Creek creative services we are actively searching for authors and publishers who not only understand the need for good design, but who comprehend these two points as well.

[Ascensionforyou]

Excellent info and also comments too from Dave Rodgers. Good luck to all. Dave AscensionForYou Knight

[Cynthia Briggs]

Good advice. Where would one find a cover designer who knows what they're doing? The average author can review samples of the designers work and not know if the cover speaks to the average person browsing the book shelves. My specialty is writing nostalgia and comfort food or heirloom recipes, which converts to a not-so-flashy subject and it's difficult to dress the subjects up so they'll catch attention or create interest.

Thanks!
Cynthia Briggs
http://www.cynthiabriggsbooks.com

[Dana Lynn Smith]

Cynthia, to get a top-notch cover, it’s important to hire an experienced book cover designer, rather than a general graphic artist. You should be able to gauge a designer’s expertise from the samples on their website, and also look for author testimonials and book design awards.

If you see a book cover in a bookstore that speaks to you, look for the designer’s name on the back cover or in the acknowledgments in the front of the book. You can also find cover designers by networking with other authors and searching online. Several good cover designers advertise in industry publications, such as The Independent, published by the Independent Book Publishers Association.

Here are a couple of designers whose work I admire:
http://www.tlcgraphics.com
http://1106design.com

As in most fields, the top cover designers tend to charge higher fees. My general rule of thumb is that the amount of money invested in book production and marketing should be proportional to the sales potential of a book.

One more thought: For many potential customers, the first time they see a book cover will be in small thumbnail size on your website or on Amazon, so it’s important that the book cover look good (and the title be readable) in small size.