Mistakes To Avoid When Designing A Book Cover
If you are an independent author or self- publisher, you should know that book cover design is an essential marketing tool for your book. And we all accept that marketing is crucial if you want to have successful book sales.
We have concluded that writers make some common mistakes when they endeavor to design a book cover. Here are six of the most frequent mistakes to avoid:
1. Attempting to DIY
This one is pretty obvious because when you attempt to design a book cover on your own the result is often a complete mess. Although writers may have strong opinions about their book cover design ideas, they are often not experienced designers. A professional touch is going to give your book cover the appearance it needs to make a difference among the competition. Another consideration is the fact that designing a quality book cover takes time. And time is money. As an author, your time is most likely be better spent focusing on other tasks. It is well worth the investment to pay for professional design.
2. Micro-Managing The Design Process
As the author, you certainly know more about your book than anyone else. You also probably have a clear image in your mind of what you would like your book cover to look like. While it is certainly beneficial for you to share your ideas and opinions, it can actually be detrimental to the design process for the author to be too involved. If you have hired professionals to design a book cover for you, give them the space they need to do their job.
3. Selecting The Wrong Image For The Book Cover
One of the worst mistakes you can make when designing a book cover is using the wrong image. It is important, of course, to avoid low-quality images and copyright protected pictures. Beyond that, though, it is also important to choose imagery that fits your book’s particular genre, that evokes the overall tone of the book, that peaks interest but does not give away too much, that has a clear point of view, and that is eye-catching both in person and in thumbnail format.
4. Neglecting Thumbnails
Not just the image, but the entire book cover should be attractive when viewed in thumbnail size. As a modern author it is important to consider the electronic formatting of your book cover as much of your potential audience will be searching for and purchasing your book that way. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the importance of the thumbnail image.
5. Using Too Many Contrasting Fonts
The general recommendation for good typography is to use no more than two contrasting fonts. In rare cases, a third font may be acceptable but only when used for informative support text.
Different book genres lend themselves to specific font types, and you must make sure that your custom book cover design fits the mold.
6. Not Taking Advantage of The Back Cover
The back cover of your book is one more place where you can entice a reader to buy. Instead of just providing author details or reader reviews, use the back cover as a place to stimulate your potential buyer’s curiosity.
Need Help?
If you want to learn more about book cover design and formatting, or if you’d like some professional help, contact Ebook Launch. With years of experience, Ebook Launch offers affordable book cover design and timely support. Reach out today!
