iUniverse on How to Make Irresistible Book Covers that Sell

A great book cover is one that would make you purchase your book. Well, that’s simple, you say. All I have to do is draw my cover myself or call up an artist and voilà-the perfect cover! If only it were that easy. Have you thought of typography, the overall visual feel, word weight, color breaks, intent, readability or posture? Those are just a few of the elements that go into the design of your cover’s image.

So how should you go about producing your book cover? How do you know your book cover will likely pull readers' attention enough to consider buying your book?

Here are a few pointers that will help you create a book that catches your readers’ attention and communicates a direct, clear message that the book has been written specifically for them.

1. Project the Contents of Your Book Outwardly

You want your readers to know that your book is of interest to them. But how do you do this without them actually opening and reading it? That’s the whole point of your cover: to tell them that the story they are looking for is found within.

Your readers already know what they want. Make your book cover simple but certainly not plain. Clear but not necessarily loud. Help them conclude that your book is clearly one that they shouldn't miss.

2. Your Cover’s Typography Should Tell a Story

Typography is the style and positioning of the words on your book’s cover. Every word should have a definite meaning and serve a specific function. That purpose is to tell your readers a succinct, concise story that will encourage them to buy your book.

Take note of the following typographical guidelines:

• Your choice of type face, font size, style, and color will make an impact on your cover’s design. The words must be a part of the overall image you are trying to create.

• Isolating a particular word or words immediately increases their significance. By doing so, you are calling the reader’s attention to them. This may be a good idea if you are a famous author and can sell books by your name alone. But in other cases it might dilute your cover’s intent.

• Positioning is crucial. The most important element of your message should be at the top of your book’s cover.

3. Each Element of Your Cover Should Work in Harmony with One Another

Typography, illustrations, design, size, positioning, color, and every other visual element of your book’s cover must be organized in a fashion that communicates their overall message to your reader clearly, quickly, and efficiently. Remember,

• The larger the size of the element, the greater its importance to the overall message.

• Use color to make a particular element pop.

• Position each element in a way that your reader’s eyes flow from one to the next as though they are being told a visual story.

For more book marketing tips, head over to the iUniverse Writers Tips and learn from the experience of iUniverse self-published authors.