Authors know that a well-written manuscript is not always enough to make them stand out in their genre. Other important aspects, such as a great book cover, play a crucial role in determining the success of their work in the eyes of the intended audience.
Creating an exceptional book cover can be challenging, so here are some essential tips to consider if you are struggling to create a masterpiece.
1. Understand Your Audience
When creating a book cover, it is crucial to shift your mindset from that of an author to that of a reader. Thinking like a reader will enable you to create a book cover that your audience will love. Hence, it is always a good idea to take some time and study your audience beforehand.
Authors have a deep understanding of their audience from research for writing a book, but understanding their preference for the book cover may be different.
You can learn more about this aspect by looking at other books in your genre. Analyze the best sellers in your genre and observe how their book covers have contributed to their overall success. This bit of information can help you get started.
2. Focus on the Visuals
A book cover can never be successful if it is not eye-catching. Using bold colors and striking imagery can make a book cover stand out in heaps of books. If you are not sure how that works, visit a bookstore and look at the books that catch your eye in an instant. Take some time to determine what makes them so attractive.
Remember, you are not the only author trying to make their presence known in a genre by their audience. Overlooking aspects as important as the book cover can make it hard for your book to stand out among its competitors.
3. Prioritize Simplicity
Making your book cover eye-catching does not mean that you must go overboard with the color, design, or typography. The creation of a brilliant book cover relies on a balance between making it simple and eye-catching simultaneously. While it may sound challenging, it is easier than you think.
The most important rule to keep your book cover simple is to avoid making it cluttered. Make sure that you do not add a lot of text or images to your book cover.
If you are struggling to find this balance, it is always a good idea to get in touch with a professional. Skilled cover artists for hire know exactly how to excite the readers about your book cover without overwhelming them.
4. Remember the Spine
One of the biggest injustices you can do to your book cover is to take the spine for granted. Just like a backbone is important for every human, the spine of your book cannot be overlooked either.
The spine of a book is essential for visibility, identification, and durability. It displays crucial information like the title and author and contributes to the book’s overall design and structural integrity. While you can let creativity roam free when it comes to the spine, make sure that you use the same font and design elements from the front cover for a cohesive look.
5. Ask a Professional
If you have been trying to design your book cover by yourself, you may have realized by now that it is not as easy as people may have you thinking. It takes a complex mix of creativity, industry knowledge, and skill to create an eye-catching book cover.
If you are struggling to design your own book cover, you are not alone. Several authors trust professional book cover designers for this job, and you can do the same.
When hiring the best book cover designers, take your time to consider all your options. Use reliable mediums to look for a book cover designer. Once you find the best match that offers services within your budget, be sure to read their reviews and testimonials before hiring them.
6. Use Quality Images
Not every author wants their book cover to be based on illustrations. Some authors envision their book covers to have images. If you are also considering the same for your book cover, know that it is not as easy as downloading a royalty-free image from the internet, resizing it, and applying it to your book cover.
Your book cover must have a unique and high-quality image. Low-quality images can make your cover appear amateurish and unprofessional. Therefore, it is always a good idea to ask a professional photographer to create custom and high-quality images for your book cover.
7. Pick the Right Font
In addition to the images or art and colors, the font on your book cover can also play a significant role in making or breaking your book cover and winning over the heart of your target audience. This applies to e-books and print books equally.
An intelligent author understands that different fonts convey a different tone to the readers. Use a font that matches the tone of your book and conveys its genre. Fonts such as Creepster, Rock Salt, and Special Elite are ideal for horror book covers.
You should consider choosing fonts that best represent your genre to attract readers and make your book stand out among other options in the bookstore.
8. Create a Survey
You can study research papers and look at the works of other authors in the genre. Every step you take towards learning more about your audience brings you closer to understanding them better. However, the best way to learn more is to ask them yourself.
Of course, it is impossible for you to meet every potential reader and ask them what they want. However, you can create a survey and ask people in your target demographic what they think of your design before finalizing your book cover design. Use their feedback to make any necessary changes.
Their valuable book cover design can help you head in the right direction and make the best decisions for your book.
