Cover Design Insight for Self-Publishers
The Importance of Book Covers Online
At Acutrack, we print books for all kinds of self-publishers and fulfill their online orders. As a result, we see who succeeds (and who doesn’t) and can say without hesitation that well-designed book covers are essential for successful self-published books – covers matter just as much online as they do in stores.
Wherever they shop, book buyers today are overwhelmed with choices. Your book’s cover is your best chance to draw readers’ attention. Even if you’re a DIY-minded person, consider working with an expert cover designer to give your book an edge. Their knowledge of what works in your genre is priceless.
Strong Visual Content Wins Every Time
This means your cover design must be eye-catching and understandable for various sizes, including “thumbnail” ratios for online pages. Experienced designers help you cover all these bases.
- Attract attention
- Interest target readers
- Represent your book’s content
- Understandable imagery
- Appropriate color for your genre
If you have a friend or relative with design skills, think twice before letting them use your cover as a learning project. Success-minded self-publishers are wise to work with a pro who designs successful covers.
The Cover and Title Must Work Together
Details matter with book covers; one of them is the typeface you choose for the title and subtitle. Different fonts express specific emotions and the one you select needs to connect with your title and cover art. It must also be easily readable because people will pass over anything hard to understand.
Also, take the time and its design seriously because it matters significantly for physical copies of your book. If you sell in stores and are shelved with other titles, the spine needs to help you grab people’s attention initially. The goal is to entice them to pick up a copy of your book.
Quality Book Printing Also Helps Covers
You want your physical books to look good and feel of higher quality in the customer’s hands, which means selecting a full-service printer has advantages. Going with print-on-demand limits your options and can affect quality. Our “just in time” printing model at Acutrack, paired with our book fulfillment, gives you many more cover options.
- Options for heavier weight cover stock
- Embossing and foiling on hardcover editions
- A broad range of trim sizes
Our affordable digital printing has low minimum quantities, and if you forecast higher sales and want to bring down your per-copy cost, an economical offset printing service is available.
Conclusion: Cover Design Always Matters
No matter how you look at it, strong cover design is crucial for your book’s success. Whether you post your cover image on social media or someone picks up a copy of your book in a store, it makes the first impression about your book – you’ll either catch readers’ attention or be passed over.
When you keep in mind the fundamentals, the path to a better cover is clear. First, ensure it is visually appealing, understandable, and attention-grabbing. Second, find or create imagery that connects to your book’s content and makes sense to buyers. Lastly, pay attention to details like the title’s typeface, which works well with the image. You’ll have a cover that makes your book successful when you do.
