Cover Design Tips

Obviously you want your book to succeed, so making a lasting impression with an attractive, well-designed cover is important. It's the first element of your book which attracts a viewer's interest: so think carefully about how to make your book stand out from the rest.

Having your book cover design by a professional is the best option. If you are hiring a designer: find one with experience

But, whether you are designing your own cover, or hiring a professional, here are a few simple tips to help you in the design process.

1. Know your market
   
   Study similar titles by going to bookstores (psychical and online), compare layout and visibility (on shelf and online). You don't want to copy ideas but you need to understand the market to design a cover that stands out. Identifying your market helps you refine the message of your cover, guiding your choice of words and the correct images, fonts and colors.
   
   
2. Keep it simple.
   
   Less is more when it comes to book covers. You want the eye to be drawn to the title and an image that makes an impact on the viewer. You don't want a cover with so many competing elements that the eye doesn't know where to look first.
   
   The title is critical in selling your book; the title should be short, catchy and descriptive. 
   
   When displayed at the bookstore, the spine is often all people see of your book. So, it should be easy to read.
   
   It is very likely that most of the people who see your book are going to do so via the web and they're going to see a thumbnail version of the cover (think postage stamp). So your design needs to work on a very small scale, if it's a busy design that may make it hard to view online. 
   
   
3. A picture is worth a....
   
   If you need an image for your cover design do not just find one you like on the web and use it. It may be copyrighted and most likely its resolution will be too low for printing purposes. Instead, check out public domain, royalty free graphics web sites or subscription based online services. Subscription sites usually have a price per download option as well. Make sure you understand their policy on image usage. Your images need to be 300 dpi (dots per inch).
   
   
4. Back cover info
   
   Decide what you want on the back cover. This may include a book summary, reviews, and author bio. Summarize what the book is about and describe how your book will benefit the reader. Most books also have a picture of the author on the back cover as well. 
   
   Decide if you would like to purchase an ISBN Number and Bar Code. All published books need a tracking method for sales in the USA and abroad. That's where barcodes come in, they are necessary for sales of the finished book.
   
   
5. Choosing a printer/publisher
   
   Have you talked with your printer/publisher about print specifications for your project? It's important to determine trim size (final size of a printed piece), binding, bleeds (the area of a graphic or photo that extends beyond the edge of the trimmed sheet), colors and paper stock before you even begin your design. 
   
   You want your cover to help sell your book; you need it to deliver your message to the marketplace. These are just a few tips to aid you, designing your cover is a complex process and you may need help along the way.