

So if you make your book cover look out of its genre readers just browsing might pass it over.Ĭ) Write down the most important points that you want your cover to convey. Keep in mind that although you want to avoid cliché, most people expect certain types of books to look a certain way. So with that in mind, here are some tips:Ī) Ask people you trust to read your book, and then brainstorm with them on ideas for what would make a compelling cover.ī) Search bookstores for similar type books and find out what type of colors and images are typically used for your genre. Remember, time is money and a designer’s time, like yours, is valuable. I learned this lesson the hard and costly way. That means you’ll pay for more concepts, significantly increasing the price of your cover. Many book cover designers charge by the “concept” – meaning if you don’t have an idea and simply ask the designer to send you concepts, you’re going to pay for each one (or however many are included in your package) and it is possible that none of them will meet your needs. Most of us want too much information on the cover and as a result the cover turns out too busy and confusing. You might “get it” but readers could be turned off by the complexity. The reality is it is difficult to come up with a simple idea for a book cover that conveys the meaning of your book as a whole. I know what you are thinking: If you wrote the book then of course you have an idea. It always makes me cautious when there is only one or two book covers in the portfolio. etc.) Is a 3d cover included for display on your website? Also available on the site should be a portfolio of completed projects. The website should detail in an easy to read manner what all is included in the design, what factors could increase costs during the project and what type of files you will receive at completion. Who doesn’t want to talk about their book? You’ll want to know if the designer is easy to work with, open to ideas, reliable (responsive and meets deadlines) and are the authors happy with the services rendered and final product?ģ) Is the designer’s website professionally designed? If the website doesn’t look professional then how can you trust that the book covers will? Visit the designer’s portfolio, get a couple author names, visit their websites and send inquiries. This could mean: a) Visiting several different designers and comparing their portfolios or b) Hiring a designer who created a cover that impressed you (maybe you saw it on Amazon or it was a cover of a fellow writer’s book).Ģ) Testimonials. I recommend sending inquiries to authors who had book covers designed by the designer you are considering. Here are three to consider:ġ) Hire someone who has a proven track record. This is one of the most difficult decisions to make and everyone has different factors that play a role in their choice.
#Coverdesigner professional
It can be expensive, but with research and a little scrutiny, you can get an affordable, professional book cover that stands out and makes a statement.
#Coverdesigner for free
So if you’re not a designer and are thinking of doing it yourself or somehow getting one for free or very cheap, you might want to reconsider.Ī professional designer’s expertise can mean the difference between selling lots of books and not selling very many. When I uploaded my last book on Amazon there was a “warning” that book covers are important because readers do judge a book by its cover. Next time I won’t make the same mistakes and I will hire Ana again …Ī professionally designed book cover makes a difference, and according to Amazon it makes a big difference.

I love the final product, but to get it I had to pay more than the original quote. My new book “Happy Every Day” (coming soon) was designed by the wonderful, easy to work with Ana at. Are you in the market for a book cover design? If you are, this post could save you time, frustration, and MONEY!
