{"id":15012,"date":"2022-03-09T07:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/?p=15012"},"modified":"2023-12-07T21:34:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T21:34:17","slug":"why-diy-book-covers-kill-your-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandra.oddjar.com\/why-diy-book-covers-kill-your-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Why DIY book covers kill your sales and how to choose a professional designer who will hit the mark"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our guest blogger, Milan Manko, is a senior book cover designer at MiblArt<\/a>,<\/u> a book cover design company for self-published authors. MiblArt believes that book covers are your number one marketing tool, so the firm’s cover designers help authors get the most out of them. Connect with them on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and Twitter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Why DIY book covers kill your sales and how to choose a professional designer who will hit the mark<\/h2>\n

By Milan Manko<\/h3>\n

According to a Written Word Media<\/a> survey, 53% of indie authors work with a professional designer on their book covers. The data isn\u2019t surprising because in terms of return on investment, covers remain one of the most effective book marketing tools.<\/p>\n

Why is a book cover so important today? How can you find the best designer for your book?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s answer both questions so you can better manage your book investments and get a cover that will help you reach your readers.<\/p>\n

\"DIY<\/a><\/p>\n

Why is it important to have a professional book cover design?<\/h2>\n

A Panorama Project<\/a> survey concludes that to target the majority of U.S.-based avid readers, authors should focus on online marketing, family-friendly book events, and distributing their books to brick-and-mortar stores. And it won\u2019t be effective without a professional book cover.<\/p>\n

Here are a few reasons why you need to hire a professional book cover designer and not design a book cover by yourself:<\/p>\n

1. A designer knows how to create an unforgettable first impression.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The cover art should grab a reader\u2019s attention even before they\u2019re able to process the image. It\u2019s all about the initial impulse that will urge people to learn more about the book.<\/p>\n

2. A designer analyzes the book market and your genre.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Clear genre signaling is vital for marketing as people often look for new books by genre \u2013 and Panorama\u2019s survey proves it. So, a cover that quickly conveys its niche will be ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n

Each genre, each subgenre, and each particular author have unique audiences with unique preferences. And only with a professional book cover will you draw the audience you need.<\/p>\n

3. A designer knows how to work with typography.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bad typography can ruin even the most beautiful book cover art. DIY book covers often have inappropriate or unreadable fonts that clash with the art. A book cover designer knows how to make typography pop.<\/p>\n

[novashare_tweet tweet=”Bad typography can ruin even the most beautiful book cover art.” hide_hashtags=”true”]<\/p>\n

So, a professional book cover requires good knowledge of typography, composition, color theory, and industry trends, and the ability to create immersive visual storytelling.<\/p>\n

In other words, finding a beautiful stock photo and slapping a book title on top doesn\u2019t cut it. You need an experienced book cover designer for this job.<\/p>\n

How to find a good book cover designer<\/h2>\n

One of the most reliable ways to find a good designer is to ask your fellow indie authors with covers you admire who designed their covers. They won\u2019t leave you hanging!<\/p>\n

[novashare_tweet tweet=”One of the most reliable ways to find a good designer is to ask your fellow indie authors with covers you admire who designed their covers.” hide_hashtags=”true”]If you have nobody to ask, research is your only option. Create a list of companies or freelancers to choose from. And here\u2019s what to do next.<\/p>\n

Check customer reviews.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Experienced designers should have at least some customer reviews or testimonials from authors. If reviews are on social media pages, you can easily check whether the people who left them are real.<\/p>\n

View examples of book covers in your genre.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A designer who makes amazing romance covers may struggle with science fiction or fantasy. Or a designer can make dull romance covers but create gorgeous nonfiction designs. Ensure the designer\u2019s portfolio proves their savviness in your genre.<\/p>\n

Ask about their book cover design process.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The quality of the design process determines the quality of the result.<\/p>\n

For example, a good cover design process can look like this:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A call or a questionnaire to determine the author\u2019s requirements, references, story concept, and visions of the cover<\/li>\n
  2. Negotiating payment terms<\/li>\n
  3. The first draft<\/li>\n
  4. Several rounds of revisions<\/li>\n
  5. Final cover art<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    A good design process is systemic and deliberate.<\/p>\n

    Ask about the number of revisions (and whether they\u2019re included in the fee or extra).<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Like it or not, revisions are an integral part of the design process. Ask your designer about the number of revisions included in your fee and specify in what cases you have to pay extra for them.<\/p>\n

    Also, find out what exactly counts as a revision. For example, some designers do only minor revisions for free (such as changing the font, adjusting the text position, etc).<\/p>\n

    In most cases, designers are okay with more complex revisions too, as long as they come during first drafts when they\u2019re easy to make. So, it\u2019s your responsibility to spot any inconsistencies early.<\/p>\n

    Ask about copyrights, license, and source files.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    To avoid legal troubles, ensure that designer uses official sources for their visual materials so your future cover doesn\u2019t violate copyright laws.<\/p>\n

    In addition, you should ask what type of license you\u2019re purchasing and how many e-books and print books you can sell.<\/p>\n

    Also, ask if the designer gives you the source files. Note that most of the designers don\u2019t give source files or if they do, they charge a fee for them. Some designers can provide you with flattened source files with editable text in PSD format.<\/p>\n

    Agree on deadlines and payment.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    There are a few things you should ask about pricing policy and deadlines:<\/p>\n