book cover design blog

Key tips for book cover design

You shouldn’t judge a book by its front cover, but unfortunately your prospective readers will. As an independent author, the design of your book cover is one of the most important elements of your book’s overall marketing strategy. A well-designed cover can help your book stand out from the competition and attract potential readers. However, designing a book cover on your own can be a tricky process, We would always recommend that you utilise the work of professionals for the best results. Enlisting help from freelancers is nothing to be ashamed of, and can be a great way to get your ideas developed further by an expert. To find the right person for the job you could use sites like Reedsy (https://reedsy.com/design/book-cover-design) or Fiverr (https://www.fiverr.com/?source=top_nav)
Here are a few key things to keep in mind to ensure that your cover is effective. Read on for the Do’s and don’ts of book cover design…

Do's

Keep it simple:

The most common mistake that authors make with their book cover design is overcrowding their design. Designs with all the bells and whistles may seem like the right idea, but often this style can detract from the book itself. A simple, clean design is often the most effective. Avoid using too many elements or fonts, and instead, focus on creating a clean, polished look.
Our surroundings can have an impact on the work we put out into the world, it can be an effective strategy to stay on the move, whether you write in a new café in town or write in a different room at home, changing your writing location can give you that extra creative boost.

Use high-resolution images:

Nothing will make your book look amateur faster than it being enveloped with a pixelated image. High-resolution images will ensure that your cover looks crisp and professional, regardless of the size or format of the book.

Use appropriate colours:

When considering your cover design you should choose colours that are appropriate for your book’s genre and target audience. For example, a thriller might use dark, moody colours, while a children’s book might use bright, cheerful colours. It is important to understand what books in your genre generally look like otherwise, your target audience may overlook your title as it defies the genre status quo.

Use typography effectively:

Much like the colours you use, the fonts on your book cover design can influence perception a great deal. The font you use for your title and author name can have a big impact on the overall look of your cover. This means you’ll likely have to avoid comic sans and choose a font that is easy to read and appropriate for your book’s genre. Scribe Media talk about this in greater depth here: (https://scribemedia.com/book-cover-fonts/)

Get feedback:

Before finalizing your book cover design, it’s important to test it with your target audience. show it to some beta readers, fellow authors or even friends. Having a fresh set of eyes on your cover can help highlight weak points, and identify areas of improvement.

Don'ts

Use stock images:

Stock images can be easily recognizable and may look generic. Instead, use your own original images or work with a professional illustrator to create custom art for your cover. This is where you may want to look for help on the aforementioned sites.

Overly small text:

The size of your book covers’ text can be tricky to perfect, you want this text to be eye-catching, but not obnoxiously large. You will of course need to ensure that the text on your cover is large enough to be easily read. It is also key to mention that the colour of this text needs to contrast well with the colour of the cover so that it pops.

Copyrighted material:

It is the safest practice to ensure that you have the right to use any images or text that appear on your cover. Using copyrighted material without permission can result in legal issues.

Neglect the back cover and spine:

Many people also judge a book by its back cover and spine, so make sure to design them well too. It’s key to try and maintain continuity between the 3 sections of your cover, taking into account colours and fonts. Your cover should deliver a consistent message 

Above all don’t be afraid to ask for help. As a self published author you can fall into the habit of having to be an expert in a range of areas. If you’re not confident in your design skills, consider working with professional designers from freelance sites or the provided Reedsy list.

By following these do’s and don’ts, you can create a book cover that will help your book stand out and attract potential readers. Remember that your cover is the first thing that a potential reader will see, so invest time and effort into creating a cover that will make them want to pick up your book and read it.

author avatar
Luca Melero

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