Regardless of where you intend to sell your book, its cover matters. From catching people’s attention to communicating about the content, covers have a role to play. Learning how to market your book requires understanding many aspects and opportunities. Together, they help you reach target readers and persuade them to become interested. In the days of online bookselling, some might conclude the cover is less important, but nothing could be further from the truth. A compelling visual is one of the most effective ways to attract attention from browsers. Color and design each communicate something.
If you’re a first-time author self-publishing your work, you may weigh the merits of hiring an expert book designer. Friends or relatives with graphic design skills may be offering to help, but the fact is book design is a unique specialty. There will be norms for your genre and proven effective ways to design something that appeals to target readers. Letting someone learn those lessons using your book as a guinea pig may cost you sales in the long run. On the other hand, working with a seasoned pro can improve your chances of success. When your cover makes an excellent first impression, it always helps.
One choice you’ll face is whether to be literal or abstract. Designers will have advice about what’s best for your book and how it fits your genre. Trends for abstraction come and go, and ensuring you meet the current tastes is helpful. It also depends on your topic or story and whether it lends itself well to one or the other. The typography chosen for the title and back cover text also matters. Highly stylized type may be an excellent idea for some, but it’s not universally desirable. You and your book are unique and need a specific visual identity, and the cover provides it. When it’s well done, it’s a significant asset.
Benchmarking is helpful in any business endeavor, and book covers are no exception. Looking at other successful titles in your genre is always instructive. The trick is to do something understandable to your readers. Creativity always reigns supreme but must be skillfully applied to avoid becoming esoteric. You can find many examples of great ideas that fell flat because the audience didn’t respond or understand the concept. It’s one of the ways to make a case for an experienced designer. Nothing replaces experience for learning what works. You want a design that will be an asset in print copies and online.