But speaking in general terms, authors can usually trust their publisher to give them a cover that will result in book sales—which, many people forget, is pretty much the sole purpose of a book cover.

Why do so many book covers look the same? It’s a classic rule of marketing: The more touch points a potential reader has with a particular book — the more times they see a cover posted by an account they trust — the more likely they are to buy.

Also, What color book covers sell best? In addition to black and white, which work great for copy, most book covers look best with two or three colors.



Best Colors for Book Covers.

Red Energy, enthusiasm, emotion, power
Blue Dependability, trust, thoughtfulness, calm
Dark Blue Deep sincerity, intuition, truth

How do I choose a book cover?


HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOOK COVER

  1. The genre needs to be clear at a GLANCE. …
  2. It should look like other INDIE books. …
  3. It should convey the IDEA rather than the LITERAL story. …
  4. Should stand out in the RIGHT way. …
  5. Make sure it’s CURRENT. …
  6. Don’t try to squeeze too much TEXT on the cover.

25 Related Questions and Answers

Should I put a novel on my book cover?

As the genre became more and more experimental, publishers put “A Novel” on book covers to reassure people that they were approaching something familiar, while simultaneously stretching the definition of what a novel could be. … “It indicated that the novel was a growing genre.” This use case has persisted.

Where can I find picture covers for books?


20 Royalty-Free Stock Image Sites for an Amazing Book Cover Picture

  • Pixabay.
  • Pexels.
  • Unsplash.
  • Stockvault.net.
  • Canva.
  • Reshot.
  • Stocksnap.io.
  • New Old Stock.

How can I design my own book cover?


The book design process in 7 steps



  1. Understand the elements of a cover. …
  2. Research the market. …
  3. Choose a design direction. …
  4. Figure out what the design needs to emphasize. …
  5. Choose graphics and fonts. …
  6. Collect feedback. …
  7. Know what the printer needs.

How important is the cover of a book?

A book cover is the book’s billboard, and even without the reader or author knowing, it causes expectation. … The book cover’s purpose has evolved from protection to promotion, which highlights its importance to be designed well in order to fill its purpose – draw more readers in.

What attracts readers to a book cover?


Let’s dive into book cover design tips that attract a greater audience.

  • Make your title the focal point. …
  • Select fonts and colors to make reading easier. …
  • Declutter the cover. …
  • Play the genre game. …
  • Feature a key thematic element from your book.

Do cover artists read the books?

In this instance, it is up to the designer to speak to the book’s editor or, better still, the author to build a sense of the book’s tone and temperature. I am most certainly in the reading the book camp; the cover is there to serve the content, so the content has to be taken into account.

How much does a professional book cover cost?

A professional book cover designer typically costs about $500-$800 for a single project. However, a simpler cover from a less-experienced designer would cost less, while an elaborate cover from a Big 5 designer would cost quite a bit more.

How do I find a different book cover?


How Do I Find a Specific Book Cover?

  1. Search by ISBN. Using the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for your preferred book is a great start for refining your search – but it is only a start. …
  2. Filter out ‘Stock Photos’ …
  3. Search by Publishing Date. …
  4. Read Bookseller Descriptions. …
  5. Ask the Bookseller.

How do you come up with a good book cover?


When selecting a cover, follow this five-point checklist:

  1. Get to know the author. If the author has an established look or feel from previous publications, stick with it to build brand recognition. …
  2. Understand the content. …
  3. Identify key themes. …
  4. Acknowledge the genre. …
  5. Consider where the book will be sold.

What are book covers called?

The dust jacket (sometimes book jacket, dust wrapper or dust cover) of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations.

What should be included in a book cover?

The essential elements of a front cover include title and author name. Optional elements include the subtitle (if there is one) and photos, background images or graphics.

What should go on the back of a book cover?

A book blurb (also called a “back-cover blurb” or a “book description”) is a short description of the book’s 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.

What is the point of a book cover?

The purpose of a book cover is to convey the theme or purpose of your story in a distinctive manner. But, this does not mean that your cover needs to scream your entire story in flashy fonts and eloquent imagery. Authors sometimes ruin their own story by adding too much information on the cover.

Can you use a Google image for a book cover?

They may be free, they may be not. In 99% of the cases, they’re not, and you might get sued for the right to use that image. … Copyright law is a real thing, and unless you’re savvy on the different degrees of creative commons licenses, you should refrain from just taking stuff of Google images.

Can I use free stock photos for a book cover?

Fortunately (or unfortunately), these days major publishing houses can’t either, which means everybody is using stock photography. Stock photos are royalty-free images you pay to download, that you can use for book cover designs or other projects.

Can you use a stock photo for a book cover?

Stock photos are cheap, but not appropriate for use on book covers. If you use a stock photo, you’ll end up with a less original and impactful cover, you’ll be legally and financially vulnerable, and you’ll run the risk of your image appearing on a competing book.

What software is used to design book covers?

The best tools that you can use in order to design a book cover is Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Spark.

What makes a book cover stand out?

Introduce your main characters, and simply outline the plot. Then entice the reader with an emotional hook, and allude to the journey the characters will go on – what they stand to achieve or lose. Make sure the blurb conveys the tone of your book; if it’s humorous, readers will think your book is too.

What are the different types of book covers?


Choosing a cover type

  • Paperback.
  • Hardcover Case Wrap.
  • Hardcover Dust Jacket.

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