The cover of your book is like your face: people judge you on it before they even get to know you. You can’t change that, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing – if the cover doesn’t look appealing, then why would anyone pick up the book in the first place? A great cover design and an enticing copy will help draw readers to your book and encourage them to buy it.
However, just because you’re judged on the cover doesn’t mean you can’t make a statement about yourself or what kind of person is likely to read your work. The same way hiring a photographer provides a little insight into your personality, choosing a book cover designer for your new novel will say something about your book. If you’re searching for a designer who will help carry the image of your book, then knowing what you want to convey is half the battle.
How to Select the Right Design for Your Book
There are many ways to design your book cover, but it comes down to whatever best conveys what you’re trying to sell. If you want to appear intelligent, sophisticated, and confident, go for something simple with elegant lettering. On the other hand, if you’d like people to associate your book with youthfulness and adventure, choose a more experimental design.
For example, hire an upmarket designer if you want to convey sophistication and class with your book cover. If you’d like to appear less mainstream or more artistic, you should go for a designer who specializes in that thing.
If you’re just not sure what your book cover should convey, why not take a few bits and pieces from different covers you admire? If you want to appear cutting-edge but also intelligent, how about taking the bold typography from one book with the photo treatment from another? Sometimes using a few different elements to make something unique and attractive can be the easiest way to get what you want.
Tips to Ensure You Pick a Great Cover Design
Choose a designer who specializes in your genre. Don’t just pick the first person you come across: do some research and find out which designers specialize in book cover design. For instance, if you are finding a designer for a children’s book, then you can head over to illustration agencies like Advocate Art which has a huge database of the world’s best children’s book illustrators. It’s worth waiting to find someone who can make your novel stand out from the crowd, even if it means taking longer to get your cover done.
Give lots of feedback on the design process. Inform your designer as much as possible on what you like and dislike about book covers, so they can make your book stand out. They might even ask some questions back to you too, which will give them more ideas on how to proceed with the layout of the cover. Know exactly what you want – avoid leaving anything to chance.
Make sure you’re happy with the end product. You’ve put a lot of time into writing your book, so why should designing the cover be any different? Your designer will present you with their draft designs but don’t be afraid to ask for changes until you are 100% happy. It’s important to take your time to get this right because the cover is the first thing readers see of your book.
Practice what you preach. What better way to show off your cover than on social media? Get some good-quality images of the front and back covers, then share them across Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ to maximize your reach. It’s not about spamming people – it’s about letting your existing audience and potential new readers know what you’re up to.
Marketing
After your book cover is designed, it’s also worth knowing how to market it on social media. If you want to be seen as an authority in your niche, then guest blogging for other sites would be a great idea. Maybe you could offer to guest blog or contribute articles for free? This way, your name, and the book will appear on another website, and the exposure could be beneficial to you in the long run.
Also, don’t forget that people won’t know who you are or what your book is called unless they follow you on social media. So make sure you have profiles set up on all platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest, and add links to your blog. This way, when people follow you on social media, they can easily access your blog and learn more about your book.
Even if you’re not an avid social media user, it’s worth having a presence; at least set up an account with Facebook or Google+ and start following other book lovers who will hopefully follow you back. Never underestimate the power of social media because it could be your key to success.
