In todays show, derek and tom discuss what it takes to create a bestselling book cover for ebooks and physical books, and what to look for in a professional cover. Jane dixonsmith, author of the importance of book cover design, is always being asked about what makes the perfect cover. I just launched a book cover contest, and i was hoping i could get some of your design brilliance in there. Did you know your book cover has to do more than just look good. Book cover design that sells 10 tips star print brokers. And while its possible to design your own book cover thats good enough to publish, investing in a professional cover will absolutely boost sales and make marketing so much easier not to. Claudia, who is also a photographer and a poet, has a remarkable sense for what works for the cover of a book and what doesnt.
We pay you 70% of the sale price which you set yourself. Our artists will give your ebook the professional, eyepopping look it. Mar 05, 2018 matching your book cover text to the feel of your book. Getting a great ebook cover design is incredible important if you want higher sales. I was going through some book cover designs and noticed yours in a couple of contests. If you want to figure out how to sell books, make sure every word and design choice you make on your back cover convinces your reader she wont want to put your book down. Thousands of authors visit the book cover designer every month looking for premade book covers from romance to horror. As a selfpublisher without the support of a publishing house, its crucial to have a welldesigned cover to increase sales and appeal to customers. May 01, 2014 interview with book cover designer claudia carlson. If you think youve found the perfect book idea, you will only get so far. A cover design specifically for your ebook is essential to make it stand out on the retail page. Save your cover image, and then download it for printing or attaching to your ebook. Design a book cover that sells author secrets 1 kindle edition by ross, charmaine.
Whether you take on cover design yourself or engage the services of a designer, you need to know book cover basics to ensure your book cover markets your book well. This is especially important for self published authors who want to. This is where the cream of the crop go to list their services. How to design a book cover that sells books mary mackey. Increasing potential book sales requires strategic things you can do to help it along. Unfortunately, the adage dont judge a book by its cover doesnt work online. Online retailers like amazon do not distinguish between traditional and selfpublished books which means independent authors are often competing again big 5 publishers. This month im interviewing claudia carlson who is a genius at designing book covers that sell books. The designer whose cover i chose contacted me right away. If the idea of saving oodles of time and frustration excites you, you wont want to miss this. How to design a book cover that sells lisa i was struck by that. If youd like help creating your book cover or want to ask us for advice, check out our design packages here.
Its the easiest way for authors to create highquality advertising graphics hands down. A great book cover design gives a glimpse of what is to come. Create covers that look professional rather than amateurish. How to sell books by optimizing your book cover design. Book cover design is a complex balance of images, text, and information and you need someone who understands how each of these elements interacts with the others to best sell your book. Our book cover maker allows you to choose from hundreds of layouts, making it easier than ever to create a memorable cover.
Templates are available in a variety of sizes and styles, and with licensing options that. I hope these tips help you design a cover that sells more books. Youve done the hard work and created an amazing book. Having a professional book cover design ensures that your book stands out in a very crowded environment and sells, people do judge books by their covers and so you should make sure that. This bestselling novel by michael crichton drew readers in with a simple yet effective book cover design by chip kidd.
Book brush is one of the most exciting book marketing tools ive seen in years. What a challenging and almost an impossible request. As a designer, there are several things you can do to help the author reach their full marketing potential with a single image. The dominant colors in an image influence mood and play a role in creating the contrast necessary to draw attention to the design. While a book cover maker decides the size and shape of the book and binds it in a style, a book cover design makes the book visually impressive for the potential buyers. The book cover whisperer big 5 book cover design and book marketing. Book design templates for microsoft word designed especially for doityourself authors who want to format their books in the software they already own and know how to usemicrosoft word. People often ask me what goes into a bestselling book cover and to recommend a cover designer. Your ebook cover has to stand out from the hundreds of other books online. You can create a professional cover that looks like it was designed by a professional designer. Publish your cover for the world to see finally, your cover art is finished and ready to share. This article will walk you through how to design a book cover for your selfpublished title. A professionally designed cover will instantly and attractively convey the essence of what your book is about.
The ultimate purpose of your book cover is to help sell your book. If your book stands a chance at succeeding, its design has to match or, if possible, exceed what the. You might have trouble selling premade covers, but you can definitely use them in a portfolio to attract commissions from selfpublishing authors. Ive helped design over book covers, including hundreds of bestsellers download my free book to learn all the insider secrets i use to sell more books. A great book cover design, at its most basic level, is something that will help readers take you and your book seriously. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. That s why we have over 10,000 covers you can choose from, with prices to suit all budgets.
Canvas book cover maker makes designing book covers amazingly simple even for nondesigners. Apr 09, 2016 and while its possible to design your own book cover that s good enough to publish, investing in a professional cover will absolutely boost sales and make marketing so much easier not to. Our knowledgeable team has years of experience in print design in a wide variety of genres. This is pretty fair to you both if you do sell so well, the photographer. A free 7 day video course thatll help you gain clarity on your book topic, create a table of contents and formulate a writing strategy to get your book published in 60 days. These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn.
I was struck by that statement, which reinforced the importance of a book cover. Welcome to the people who make books happen interview series. Earn money selling premade book covers to authors toughnickel. Looking for a way to earn cash but dont want to invest too much time or money. Make sure it sells out by creating an awesome cover design.
Sep 09, 2016 a cover is your books single most valuable asset in that people will decide if theyre interested in it within a second or two of seeing it. How to design a fiction book cover that sells tips. Discover what difference is and how to make it sell more books. I just launched a book cover contest, and i was hoping i could get some of your design brilliance in there hope to see your work in there. One of the issues with book covers is deciding which one you think will sell best. Dimension requirements your ebook cover design must follow to sell online. Book cover design book cover designs online designhill. You can also spread your cover across social media to attract attention for your actual book release. A designer who specializes in book jackets understands how readers respond to layout and typography. Color plays a big role in creating the look and feel of any book cover design. In addition to black and white, which work great for copy, most book covers look best with two or. A book cover plays a key role in selling more copies of any book. Blurb distinct from the back book cover blurb is this 12 line endorsement of a book by a celebrity or another author that sits on the books front cover.
It covers the basics of work with a designer, but misses some of the important stuff what is a cover that sells. Designing beautiful ebook covers that sell with derek murphy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Create professional book covers that sell for free udemy. Most designers will also be happy to make small changes to colours, fonts, etc. Every sunday we send out payments to our designers who have made sales via paypal. How to design a book cover that sells apex authors. Just add a note to your order specifying the details. A hardback books pages are sewn or glued into a case made of.
If your front cover is your books first impression, your back cover is where youll close the sale. It is a representation of the content, the author, and foretells the experience that could be had by a. How to design a book cover that sells the book refinery. It is the calculated and markettested combination of title, images, fonts, colors, and descriptive wording. Lets slow down and dissect what goes into a cover to make it a book cover design that sells your books. Most successful authors hire a cover designer to make sure your book has the best shot at grabbing attention and getting readers to buy. Every element of the cover is an accurate reflection of the words written inside. The handwritten style works well here because of the personal and intimate nature of the story. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading book cover design secrets. Thats why we have over 10,000 covers you can choose from, with prices to suit all budgets. Here is a list of book cover designers as well as tips for finding and working. Design book covers with canvas free book cover maker. A book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually between 100 and 200 words, that traditionally is included on the inside cover or on the back of a book. They also offer ideas and inspiration we can use to guide our own work.
The 3d cover templates are awesome, and so is the team behind it. If you think youve found the perfect book idea, you will only get so. A paperback books pages are glued together with a paper cover and then cut to size. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. Dec 20, 2016 a book cover is oftentimes an authors first interaction with a reader, so the cover has to be particularly eyestriking to get readers to move down the sales funnel and purchase the book. The perspective and the positioning of the images and text make this cover pop off the screen. A great book cover design is important for every author who wants to be successful, this is true for both indie authors and the big names that youd expect to see within the new york times best sellers list. Bringing the characters and scenes in your imagination to life is fun and rewarding, but at the end of the day your book is a commercial product that needs to be sold. While this author isnt in the erotic a genre, he uses a very consistent ebook cover design and sells very well. In this authors quick course, we describe how to create a book cover that sells, including design essentials, advanced design, and software demos. The cover of this book is simply a photograph of handdrawn images on loose leaf paper. A book provides an additional revenue stream, increased publicity, and can be used as a hook for invitations to media events and speaking gigs. Youve already established who your target reader is, so your cover is where youll put the marketing into place to sell to them.
The best tools, tricks, and tutorials to create your book cover art yourself. All you have to do is upload your covers and we take care of the rest. Book cover design design a creative book cover online. I thought they were really awesome, youre an awesome designer. Design book cover for free with online templates adobe spark. Learn about 3 websites where you can use your designing skills to create and sell engaging book cover designs to authors and publishers. How to design a book cover that sells successful soughtafter speakers usually have a book to back their brand, expertise and credibility in their chosen fields. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. In addition to black and white, which work great for copy, most book covers look best.
Authors spend money and time getting their book just right, and often there is little left in the budget to spend on a cover. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. Since many selfpublishing authors are starting out on a very small budget however, homemade, diy book covers are still a popular choice. Easily get design ideas that will attract readers like bees to honey. I used the book cover designer for a premade cover. A book provides an additional revenue stream, increased publicity, and can be used as a. Having a professional book cover design ensures that your book stands out in a very crowded environment and sells, people do judge.
122 1342 89 148 59 231 984 1348 355 795 1172 1036 939 1060 825 1583 1272 972 1190 189 1301 576 102 561 93 1175 604 780 573 185 231 427 140 1378 761 577 380 48 1375