We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
Well, we’ve got some news for you—people do this all the time. And it’s not because people are judgmental.
It’s because people process images faster than words.
If a book cover has a great design, we’ll have a gut emotional reaction to it. A great cover also promises that the author is professional, and it makes the book easier to market.
If you’re looking for some help, check out this guide to discover the top book cover design tips that will help paint a picture of your story.
Find Inspiration
In addition to being able to execute your design, the other most important part of a book cover is its ability to connect with its target market—that is, the people who are likely to enjoy your kind of writing.
Therefore, when searching for inspiration for your book cover, the first place you should begin is with other books in your genre. Take a look at some of the best-selling titles in your genre and make note of what visual elements you see popping up again and again.
To find book covers in your genre, you can check out Pinterest, Amazon, or other major bookseller websites. You can also check out this guide for some of the top book cover design ideas.
Make Sure the Cover Has a Clear Focus
Once you’ve found some inspiration for your book cover, it’s time to establish a principal focus.
Your book is about something, and it’s important that your cover reflects that one idea clearly. Focus on finding one element that takes control and will command the overwhelming majority of attention, space, and emphasis.
When figuring out the most important element of your book, ask yourself:
- What is it that makes this book unique?
- Is it a character or the style of writing?
- Or is it the setting of the book or the historical time period it covers?
If your book is similar to a huge blockbuster, think of ways you can subtly evoke that title imagery without creating a cheap copy.
Don’t Treat the Cover Like a Billboard
Remember, the purpose of a cover is to entice the reader, not to give them everything they need to know about the contents of the book.
Even if your book has several different elements going on, it’s very important that you don’t treat it like a billboard and attempt to cover every inch of space. Doing so will just overwhelm and confuse your readers.
As we said earlier, your cover should really just focus on one element.
Book Cover Design Tips: Are You Ready to Design Your Book Cover?
Now that you have these book cover design tips handy, it’s time to begin designing your own book cover. Before you know it, you’ll have a cover that helps sell out your book.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more design tips and tricks.
