Self-publishing has become so quick and easy that many authors are tricked into satisfying their urge for instant gratification instead of being encouraged to take a step back and look at their book as more than just a commodity to thrust into the marketplace with a computer-generated cover and a computer-generated interior. After all, it probably took you months or even years to write your book; don’t rob yourself of the satisfaction of distributing something truly amazing just because some sites allow you to “publish” it in minutes. Computers don’t know what makes a good cover. Cover designers do.
When it comes to deciding on the cover for your self-published book, there is a simple rule of thumb: The easier it is, the worse it will be. If all you have to do to “generate” a cover for your book is click an “ok” button, you are doing your book and your writing career a huge disservice. The cover of your book is arguably the most important element. It plays a role in your promotion and marketing. It entices buyers on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It attracts people at author events and book fairs. But it only does those things if it’s good. And a good cover is never created by simply clicking an “ok” button.
Most self-publishing service providers offer authors a choice when it comes to book covers. They typically provide “free” cover options, and they typically provide “custom” cover options for an additional fee that ranges from $400-$1200 depending upon your service provider. Most of the “free” publishing websites don’t offer custom cover designs, but instead, point you in the direction of 3rd party cover designers. Their “free” selections are typically limited to words on a plain background. You may be able to customize the font and the background color, but that’s usually it. Full-service self-publishers typically offer “templates” that can be customized with colors, fonts, and even images, usually for free. They all offer custom cover design options, too.
A custom cover is always the best option, but if a custom cover design is outside of your budget, there are still some important considerations when it comes to using one of the “free” covers provided by your publishing provider.
- Never accept the default. Just about every self-publishing provider will provide you with a “free” cover that you can accept without lifting a finger. Don’t! Remember the simple rule of thumb a few paragraphs up? The easier it is, the worse it will be. That’s not to say the default cover is bad – it might be very nice. But hundreds or even thousands of authors have already selected it. You want to make sure your cover stands out. Change the background cover. Choose a different image. Change the font.
- Speaking of background cover, give it some thought. In all likelihood, the majority of your sales are going to occur from Amazon. Do some competitive research. Go to Amazon and type a keyword or key phrase into the search box that someone might type to find your book. Look at the results. Look at the colors of the books that appear in the results. Is there a common color? Do you notice any books that really stand-out? What color could you choose that would increase the chances of browsers noticing your book among all those competitive books? That’s the background color you want.
- If your self-publisher allows you to change the default image of your cover for something else, you should definitely do it. Again, the rule of thumb is to avoid what is easiest. It may take some time to locate the image you want, but it is time well spent. You don’t want your book looking like all the other books that were published by authors who chose the default cover, do you? Even if you feel the default image works for your book, it is worth the effort to find a unique image instead. In most cases, your self-publisher will allow you to swap the image without an additional charge, but even if you have to purchase the rights to an image on a stock photography site, it’s still worth doing.
- Most self-publishers will allow you to change the font on your free cover, and if they do, you should take advantage of that option (since most authors won’t). Look at the font choices that are available and select a font that represents the genre of your book. Romance book covers typically feature flowing script. Sci-fi fonts, on the other hand, are typically large and blocky. Conduct another search on Amazon to see the types of fonts that are used on books similar to yours. Stay within the vein of your genre while still being unique.
These concepts are second-nature to most professional book cover designers, which is why a custom designed cover by a professional is always the best option. After all, what’s the point of publishing a book if your cover isn’t going to attract anyone to it?
