Book Cover Design

Book cover design is one of the most important aspects of self publishing a book. As an independent publisher, you have complete control over this important book element.  I've heard many stories from authors who hated the covers that their publishing houses chose.

But this won't be a problem for you as a self publisher.  You can hire someone to design a book cover or you can do it yourself.  

If you want to hire someone, googling cover design will net you many sources for cover designers. Many of the print on demand companies offer cover design resources as well.

In my opinion, it’s worth it to get a professional involved as your book cover will have the greatest effect on your book sales.  A good cover can mean the difference between selling or not selling books.

Covers can come in various formats:  hardcover, paperback, glued, saddle stitched, and plastic coiled are just some of the choices.

For print books, the cover image spans the entire width of the back of book. It includes the back cover, the spine and the front cover of the book. 

Creating a Book Cover Design That Sells

An example of a cover design

Front Cover

It can't be said enough that the front cover of your book is really important. On successful book covers, the typography and any images are specifically designed to evoke an emotional response from the reader. These elements can give the potential reader an idea of the adventure they may want to take or the knowledge they might gain by reading your book.

The front cover will include the book title and tagline, the author's name and any other information the author wants to share, usually laid over or incorporated into a compelling image that helps sell the book.

Another element to consider is whether your front book cover will translate well if it is changed to various smaller images. You want it to be readable if your sales platform presents in a small image.

The Back Cover

On the back cover, the information included could be an author bio, and an action-provoking book blurb to tell the reader what the book is about.  A testimonial, the author’s website, the publisher and the ISBN barcode may also be included on the back of the book.

The Book Spine

The book spine is another book cover design area that should be thought out carefully, since it may be the first thing the reader sees at a retail store.

Now that you have the basics of a book cover down, let's go over some book cover design ideas.