Here are a few things you might want to consider when selecting a cover for your next book. This is certainly not an exhaustive list but hopefully this will help you choose the best cover for your book.
Think like a reader.
What attracts you as a reader to certain covers? Is it a hunky man, the colors, the emotion the cover evokes? If you as a reader wouldn’t take a second glance, would anyone else?
Set the tone.
Is the book dark, funny, romantic (ooh la la), suspenseful, etc? Your cover should convey the book’s tone. Color plays a large role in determining tone. Also, the font used for the title can change a reader’s perception as well. I.e. Comic Sans (Well, this should never be used in my opinion) would not be a good choice for a dark romance.
Don’t play games.
Although, some guessing games can be fun. You don’t want readers to have to guess what the genre of your book is. Someone should know just by looking at it.
I.e. Should a cover for a suspense novel have smiling models or a pastel color theme?
Be a tease.
You might want to include a tagline on the cover to tease readers. Think about movie taglines that have drawn you in. What drew you to them? Here are a couple tagline examples to help you get thinking in the right direction.
Example 1:
“The longer you wait, the harder it gets.”
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
This double entendre gives you the sense this movie is funny and a little risqué.
Example 2:
“She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.”
Erin Brockovich (2000)
This tagline lets you know the movie is about triumph over adversity and has a strong heroine.
Size matters.
Yes, it really does. The title font should fit nicely on the page, be sized big enough to be read clearly, and be readable at thumbnail size since more books are sold digitally nowadays.
Branding is important.
Books in a series, whether they are standalones or part of a larger story arc, should all match in style, font, and title placement for the purposes of branding. With the goal here being series sell-through, branding a series will help readers easily recognize which of your books go together.
In conclusion, there are many things to consider when choosing a cover for your book. I hope this has made things a little easier. And if this all seems overwhelming, there are many, many talented professional cover designers you can hire to create a cover that’s just right for your book.
Connect with A.J. Norris for covers and marketing graphics at DeliciousNightsDesign.com.
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