Demystifying Book Covers - Part 2

A Guide for Indie Authors

To all of my indie authors: buckle up. 
In the 2nd part of my blog series on book cover design, I'm going to give you some high-level tips on creating the best covers for your books.
​Let's dive in.

​1. Find a Cover Designer
I know it’s tempting to make your own book cover. You can get the right software fairly cheaply (or for free), and with a few Youtube tutorials, you’re on your way. But I recommend against that. Hiring a good book cover designer can make all the difference in how well you attract potential readers.

Balancing the Numbers:
I think of it this way: I could probably figure out the software to make my own book cover, but I’ve never made one before. It would be frustrating and time consuming for me to try to make my own cover. Not to mention, the final result would probably be a bit lackluster (to say the least). I’d be much better off relying on someone who’s trained to design covers, has done it before, and knows what sells in my genre.
On the other hand, book cover designs can be pricey (around $500 - $800 per book). Do your homework ahead of time to find the right designer that balances professional quality with your target price range.

One marketing experiment showed that
professionally-designed book covers had an average of
​35% better marketability than covers that were designed by the indie authors (based on ad click-through rates). Click the link below to read the full blog post on the experiment by Reedsy:
Revealed: The Real Marketing Value of a Professional Book Cover

Finding the Right Fit:
Choosing the right book designer can be tricky, but it’s important to get it right. Your designer should have experience in your genre and a design style that resonates with you. 
Here are some tips on how to find the best designer for you and your project:

•  Some organizations and companies may provide lists of book cover designers that they recommend. I usually feel more comfortable going to these lists because they have been vetted by reputable sources. For instance, Ingram Sparks has a list of book cover design companies on their website: Click here to check it out
• You can also find cover designers through other self-published books. Find self-published books in your genre that are selling well and have cover designs that you like. Then, go to the copyright page to see who designed the cover (see the box below for an example)

The Search in Action: Hollen the Soulless by Denali Day

Let's revisit the example from Part 1 in this blog series to illustrate how you can find an indie author's cover designer:

• Take a look at the copyright page from Hollen the Soulless. The cover designer was Cover by Combs
• A quick Google search yielded their website where you can see some of their work and take a look at their services (i.e., packages, pricing, etc) https://www.coversbycombs.com/

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​​2. Refine Your Ideas
The cover of your book should convey the genre and essence of your book, so that your potential readers know what your book is about before they ever open it up.

Know Your Genre:
Different genres have distinct design cues and trends that signal to readers what kind of story they can expect. While it's essential to stand out, your cover should also fit within the expectations of your genre to attract the right audience.
 
Communicate the Essence of Your Story:
Make a list of the characters, settings, or symbols that capture the essence of your story. Consider the imagery, typography, and color palettes that evoke the emotions and atmosphere of your story. The goal is to give readers a glimpse at what they can expect when they crack into your book.

​What to Do:

Go to a bookstore or an online marketplace and review bestsellers in your genre. Make a note of the patterns, themes, and trends you see in those books. Take photos (or screenshots) of books that you like and books that you don’t like. Not only will this give you an idea of what you’re looking for, but it will help you communicate what you want to your cover designer

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Prepare for a discussion with your cover design by making a list of characters, settings, symbols, imagery, and colors that capture the essence of your story. This is a good time to use those photos you took of other books to really visualize what you’re looking for.

 3. Test and Perfect Your Design
Your designer will send you mockups of your cover to review. Don’t be afraid to send critiques, but remember to be polite and professional.
 
Provide Specific Feedback:
When you’re reviewing your cover, it helps your designer if you can specifically pinpoint what does and doesn’t work for you. Try breaking the cover down into components that you evaluate individually, such as the  title, author name, foreground, and background.
 
Get Other Opinions:
It may help to share mockups or early versions of your cover on social media, in writing forums, or with beta readers to gauge their reactions and identify areas that need improvement. Pay attention to feedback on visual appeal, clarity, and alignment with genre expectations, and be willing to iterate on your design based on constructive criticism.
 
Conclusion:
I hope you found this guide helpful. For more information, check out these resources:

• Find the perfect designer for your next book – a Reedsy blog post 
• How to Design a Book Cover: tips for Working With a Cover Designer by Natalia Leigh – a YouTube tutorial by an indie author and founder of Enchanted Ink Publishing
• The Essential Guie to Getting Your Book Published: how to Write it, Sell it, and Market it…Successfully! by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry – to read more, check out my blog post on this book: here