There are eight tips/guidelines for authors that will help to ensure your book cover is the most
effective it can be. That does not mean that book covers that do not follow the rules will not be
effective. These are simply guidelines to maximize the effectiveness of your cover.
Why is this important?
Because a professional, effective book cover can make all the difference in whether it is showcased
during your PR campaigns. All of my author clients’ book covers have been used in the media
interviews I secured for them in their campaigns – whether it’s television, online media, print
publications or event pages. Why, because I have ensured that their covers follow most of the
guidelines identified below. Some of the cover designs were created by my graphic design team,
others have utilized a designer of their own.
For authors who have not yet designed their book covers, my advice is to research at least three
traditionally-published authors book covers in your genre who have been published in the last 3-5
years and Imitate Don’t Duplicate!
The covers designed by traditionally published authors are the result of market research done my
their traditional publishers and are usually on point in catering to what readers seek when
purchasing a book in the specific genre. Big publishing companies have the dollars to do the
research, so pay attention to what they do! Also check out chapter 3 (https://eclecticpr.com/store/)
in my PR guide to learn more about book covers.
Here are the 8 tips:
- The title is big and easy to read / The author’s name stands out
- There are only two to three fonts used on the cover
- The cover artwork (if applicable) looks professional – some covers only use words
- It is easy to identify the book’s genre from the cover – (fiction, nonfiction, poetry)
- The book price is on the back cover in the bar code
- The author’s headshot/short bio is on the back cover or the inside cover – especially if you
are a new writer / not all authors add their headshots - There is a testimonial(s) on the front, back cover or in the first two pages – from someone
of note/expert on your book topic, a celebrity, another author, etc. - The name of the book is visible on the spine – for shorter books (usually under 100 pages,
this is not applicable).