An author may invest all the time, effort, and fortune in writing, editing, and publishing a book, but leaves very little for the cover design forgetting that the cover is the reader’s first impression of the book. For well-known authors, their books may sell themselves since the author has over time established trust in his content on the part of most readers. But for a new writer, you need to create that first impression with your book cover. One of the best gifts to give yourself as an author is time to find a professional cover designer who understands designs and who can get your story and the message you need to impact your potential readers. There is a multitude of new books being published and, on the market, today, and this is why one of the most important factors which make a buyer pick a book from the bookshelf should also be considered.

Judging A Book By Its Cover

There has always been widespread of this popular idiom all over the world which reads “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” However, despite how true this might be in the realistic sense, the book industry is an ever-evolving one, and most of readers now use the cover of a book as a deciding factor in whether to buy the book.

First Impressions Matter

In the modern book industry today, first impressions matter, especially in books, where readers seem to have many options, including online ebooks. People have now resorted to the belief that “If you can’t judge a book by its cover, then someone’s not doing their job”. Currently, when people are browsing in a bookstore (either physical or online) and look at the book cover, they take some seconds to decide if it’s appealing. If so, they pick up the book, turn it over and read the back-cover copy. And if they are online (for e-books), they read the book description. But of course, you know what happens when such a book cover doesn’t appeal to them, they either drop or skip the book.

The First Sales Pitch

Therefore, with the growing number of books all over the world today, giving millions of books for readers to choose from, your first “sales pitch” is the quality and visual appeal of your book cover. Interestingly, even marketers believe a great book cover makes the book easier to sell and that is why most publishers today try to focus more on the quality of book covers.

A Balance of Art and Marketing Knowledge

Readers believe that if authors don’t dedicate time and effort to their book cover, then there will be doubt as to how much time they have put into the book itself.  So, for a book cover to have good marketing value, it must have a balance of art and marketing knowledge. It should contain a significant central image, and there should also be a balancing of colors, font, and space. It must recognize the current trends and should feel fresh and contemporary.

Many publishers know the power of a great book cover. While it’s hard to measure a book’s sales based on its cover alone, publishers have proven the value of a well-designed cover. Penguin’s Modern Classics series cover design experiment proved wildly successful, particularly among the under-25 demographic. In addition to its impact on book sales, a great book cover design also creates a powerful emotional connection with readers.

Motivating readers to buy a book

One of the best ways to motivate readers to buy a book is by creating a cover that attracts them with its cover design. The book cover must be as attractive as a postage stamp, or else it will be lost in a grid of other covers. As the first thing a reader sees when they decide whether or not to read a book, it should be as attractive as possible.

To motivate readers to buy a book, it should attract the attention of their target audience. A good cover image should resonate with the reader’s personality and tell their own story. It should also make the reader want to read more about the story inside the book. Fiction readers want a hint of action before they even open the cover. A great cover design should be able to capture the reader’s attention immediately.

For a law book, it is crucial to create a book cover that reflects the theme of the text and the subject matter of the book. Law books can be particularly sensitive, so it is important to find a cover that is suitable for this type of book. Some authors worry that they will be competing with other elements on the cover. A good book cover should have enough white space to draw the reader’s attention.

Creating a good book cover

While there’s no doubt that a book cover can be the most important aspect of marketing a book, there’s also a certain amount of complexity that must be avoided. Complex book covers were once acceptable in the heyday of music, when people bought records to look at gigantic album artworks. Today, however, readers expect a cover that is as straightforward as possible, without too many unnecessary details.

In addition to marketing purposes, a good book cover is also useful in a pre-launch campaign. For example, an author can include it in their newsletter header or email signature to create an emotional trigger. Additionally, many authors use book covers to promote pre-orders, which are pre-sales of the book before its actual release. Many create social media banners featuring the book cover as an image that catches the attention of people who would otherwise not be interested in the book.

However, it’s important to note that book cover designers vary in price. Some charge a lot more, while others offer lower prices and limit the use of stock photos. Some designers even offer extra bonuses, such as a 3D mock-up design. Others charge a lower price but limit the use of stock photos, or only deliver a digital version of the cover. However, if you’re not prepared to spend the time and money to create a beautiful cover, you can always opt for pre-made covers.

Choosing an image

When selecting an image for a book cover, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, you need to be sure to choose an image with high resolution. A high resolution image is one that measures 300 DPI or more. You can also opt for an authentic photograph, which can be especially significant for historical books. Make sure the photo is taken in high-resolution format, as a low-resolution photo will not be print-ready. Secondly, you should know the size of the book. Typically, Amazon requires a six-by-nine-inch cover. If you are choosing an image with low resolution, the picture may not look as good on the cover and would be better used on the interior pages.

Another important aspect of a book cover is the color. It has the potential to evoke strong emotions, and a vivid image may capture a reader’s attention. Lastly, a book cover will need to be unique, which means choosing an image that communicates the essence of the book. Remember, a great book cover should communicate a sense of anticipation and expectation, and it needs to be appealing to the eye.

You can also choose an image from stock images. Many stock images come with a car illustration, which works well for a finance-related book. Using a car image helps to catch the unconscious mind, which is what makes it such an effective choice for a book cover. By using a car image, the designer can make the cover look more stylish, as it captures the reader’s eye first. Moreover, stock images often have an equal chance of being duplicated.

Adding a trust symbol

Adding a trust symbol to a page is one way to increase the credibility of your brand. You can find such symbols on the app store. When you’re browsing a website or a store, you can see whether the software is available with a reputable company. Likewise, adding a trust symbol on the page will make the reader feel more confident about the quality of the information provided on the page.

The most effective use of trust symbols is in social media and book covers. Trust symbols provide consumers with peace of mind and reassure potential customers that they’re dealing with a legitimate company. They can be your own unique logo, or something that’s recognizable to many customers. In some cases, you can even add a logo from a major credit card company, like Visa or MasterCard. These are symbols that readers can easily recognize and can be trusted.

Adding a subhead

When writing a subtitle for a book, you have many options. Adding a subtitle will give your book an extra boost, and it can help your reader decide whether or not to purchase it. You can also make your subtitle searchable by including keywords that your target audience will be typing into search engines, or directly into Amazon. To get the most from this feature, here are some ways to create an effective subtitle.

One way to make your subtitle stand out is to include a small, simple image to emphasize the subject of your book. The following book cover makes use of a short subtitle, and it was a New York Times bestseller, selling over 2 million copies in the U.S. It’s a great way to add a touch of personality to a book, and it’s a good way to draw attention.

Another option is to add a small quote, if you have it. However, you shouldn’t use too many quotes. If they’re too small, they’ll stand out even more. You can also make use of tracking, which makes letters equal in width, and a font face that contrasts with the rest of the book. Make sure to use contrasting fonts for the subhead and title.

Adding a teaser

In order to get readers to buy your book, you must use a captivating teaser. Teasers can be a short quote, subtitle, or summary of the plot. Make sure the teaser is not too long and uses a powerful color palette. Try not to use more than two fonts, either. You can even use a graphic header to display the book cover.

Your teaser must introduce the main character of your book. It should give a brief summary of the book’s plot and major goal. For a self-help book, you can give a brief quote from a chapter. You can also use a quote from the book’s reviews or quotes from the plot. Your teaser should provoke interest but should not give away too much.

You can also create a dedicated Pinterest board for your book. The first few pins on her board were images of book covers. While Instagram does not offer cover photo features, you can use photos of your book cover to promote it. Regardless of your publishing choice, the cover should be engaging to readers. The more people see your book, the more likely they will buy it. When your book is released, you can also use Instagram as a tool to promote it.

If your book has an official release date, you can release a teaser blurb about it as soon as possible. The teaser blurb should give readers a flavor of the story before they buy it. It should also give readers a little bit of mystery. The blurb can be a quote from the book or a small paragraph to create intrigue. By adding a teaser to your book cover, you will be able to generate a buzz for the book.

Conclusion

The marketing impact that a good book cover would have on a book’s (whether Printed or eBook) sales cannot be over-emphasized. A compelling book cover will communicate the tone and content of your book and get more readers to buy or download it.  This, in turn, will improve your chances of making good sales for your book and attract more positive reviews and ratings which will send the right message to potential readers.