Books Are Judged By Their Cover…4 reasons why your cover is crucial

 by John Chandler, Chandler Book Design UK

Like it or not books are initially judged by what they look like. Most readers will not experience the wonders to be found in even the most brilliant of books if the cover does not invite them in. And really, this is how it has to be if you think about it. Imagine if all books had the same plain cover – how would you ever know which book to pick up from the thousands in your local bookshop?

Every author needs to think seriously about what their book looks like.  And here are four reasons why:

1)    Covers are packaging: On your weekly trip to the supermarket you know what to expect of the well-known household brands, but you are also enticed to try a new product by its packaging. In a bookshop a customer looking for a new read will look out for books by authors they know or have been recommended, but they may also have their attention grabbed by a well-designed cover. A cover has a purpose and that purpose is to generate sales.

2)    Covers create expectations: In a single glance a shopper expects to learn what a book is about. A romance novel will have an illustration of two people in a passionate embrace, a book on golf will have a photo of a person playing golf on it.  If you want to defy expectations, go right ahead, but understand why you are doing it, what you hope to achieve and that there is a real risk to doing so. Often even a small variation from the usual can make a big difference – for better or for worse.

3)    Audience matters - templates and bespoke covers: Book covers can be created by using template layouts, which are relatively easy to do, or they can be professionally created from scratch by a designer. If your book has been written for a small number of family and friends, say a family history, a standard template cover will be fine. It does not need to sell the book at all. If your book is a local history book that will be sold in a limited area with limited competition a little extra effort will suffice. However, if your book is aimed at a wide audience and is intended to be seen on the same bookshop shelves as those produced by the large publishers, you need to invest in a bespoke professional design.

4)    A cover is an opportunity, not an afterthought: Your book costs money to produce - either yours or a publisher’s. Failing to give your cover proper consideration could well undermine all of the effort and resources that have gone into it. But more positively, the inverse is also true - a cover is an opportunity, a great leveller, something that can make your book sing. Your cover can potentially be better than the competition from the large publishing houses. Put effort into your cover, think about it, spend a bit of money if it needs it and consider it an investment rather than a burden.

Chandler Book Design will create a book for you that is totally unique. They are experienced graphic designers so their designs are totally bespoke. They offer cover design and page layout for paperback novels to full colour illustrated coffee table books.  Chandler Book Design can guarantee that your final book will look and feel as professional as any published book on the shelf.  For more information about their services, please visit: www.chandlerbookdesign.co.uk.

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If you’re interested in discussing your project, please contact Corinne Liccketto, corinne@smithpublicity.com, www.smithpublicity.com or 856-489-8654 x309.

Contact information:

Corinne@smithpublicity.com

Smith Publicity, Inc.

856.489.8654 ext 309

www.smithpublicity.com