Background image licensed through Shutterstock.com
Cover Design
The book’s cover is an important part of a book’s marketability:
- A highly effective cover attracts the specific target audience.
- It can help a book get discovered and drive traffic to the product page.
- The image on the cover plays a significant role in branding an image.
- An appealing cover can renew a reader’s interest in the book between sittings.
Where to Begin?
- Before you publish your book, check out the “Cover Design Checklist.”
- The “Indie Cover Mistakes” and “Cover Art Critics” articles also list several pitfalls.
- Learn how to use color effectively in “The Importance of Color in Cover Design.”
- “The Benefits of a Fantastic Cover: Worth the Cost?” may be helpful if you’re undecided about hiring a cover designer.
- Browse through the free articles to see which topics may interest you, such as why readers judge books by their covers.
Free Articles:
Cover Design Checklist
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/cover-design-checklist/
Which Fonts Should You Use?
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/which-font-should-you-use-for-your-book-pubtips/
Finding and Using Stock Photos
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/shutterstock-and-other-stock-photo-collections/
Recommendations for Book Covers
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/recommendations-for-book-covers/
How to Remove the Background from an Object in PhotoShop
What Does a Good Cover Do?
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/what-does-a-good-cover-do/
The Importance of Color in Cover Design
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/the-importance-of-color-in-cover-design/
The Benefits of a Fantastic Cover: Worth the Cost?
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/book-cover-design-benefits-cost/
Cover Fonts
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/cover-fonts/
The Importance of Facial Expressions for Authors
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/the-importance-of-facial-expressions-for-authors/
How to Find and Hire a Cover Artist
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/how-to-find-a-cover-artist/
What Size Is Best for the Kindle Book Cover?
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/what-size-is-best-for-the-kindle-book-cover/
Kerning Fonts
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/kerning-in-microsoft-word/
How to Draw Golf, Silver, Brass…
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/how-to-draw-gold-silver-brass/
Feedback on Cover Design
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/feedback-on-cover-design/
Cover Art Critics
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/cover-art-critics/
Judging a Book by Its Cover
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/judging-a-book-by-its-cover/
Indie Cover Mistakes
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/indie-cover-mistakes/
Book Fashion – Judging a Book’s Clothing
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/book-fashion-judging-a-books-clothing/
Getting Squeezed (images on the new Author Central page at Amazon)
What’s the Deal with Mannequin Covers?
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/whats-the-deal-with-mannequin-covers/
Challenging How Big the Author’s Name Should Be
https://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/how-big-should-author-name-be/
chrismcmullen 
Some pretty helpful links thanks
You’re welcome. I hope you find them useful. 🙂
Is the cover that important on Kindle sales?
Absolutely. Kindle customers click on a thumbnail of the cover from a list before they ever reach the product page.
Hi Chris – great site, awesome information!
for a faith-based non-fiction book, do you think that having the author’s photo (prominently displayed) on the front cover is more effective?
That depends. If the author is well-known among the potential readership, it would be more effective. Or if the author expects most of the sales to come from personal interactions and marketing on a more personal level. Or if the photo clearly conveys the content or a relevant sense of expertise — such as a picture of a reverend in formal attire for a faith-based book.
Otherwise, I would lean towards a cover with a relevant religious symbol or a strong heavenly image (which is a challenge to pull off, but can be done).
Good luck.
I was looking for inspiration and found your blog. I have been designing covers but mostly software box and non-fiction ebook. I will try to integrate what I’ve learned in my design at https://www.fiverr.com/goliwog/designing-awesome-ebook-cover. Thanks for the great article.
Great info, Your cover is one of the top two or three things a book needs to succeed!
Thanks
Cary