Why DIY Book Covers Could Harm Your Sales and Reputation – Self Publishing

Hi,

Hope you’re well, this subject is close to my heart as we have designed our own covers and we have invested in our covers (at varying costs).

We definitely recommend you spend some time and money on your book covers, and here’s why…

As an author, you know that the cover of your book is the first thing that potential readers see. It’s what draws them in and makes them want to learn more about your book.

While it’s tempting to save money by designing the cover yourself, DIY book cover design (using something like Canva can actually harm your sales and reputation.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the risks of DIY book cover design, the impact it can have on sales and reputation, and why it’s worth investing in professional book cover design. We’ll also offer some resources for finding design inspiration

The cover of a book is more than just a protective layer for the pages inside. It’s the first thing that potential readers see when they come across your book, and it plays a huge role in whether or not they choose to pick it up and learn more about it.

A well-designed cover can grab a reader’s attention, convey the mood and theme of the book, and entice them to take a closer look. On the other hand, a poorly designed or unprofessional cover can turn readers off and make them less likely to give your book a chance.

Put yourself in your readers’ shoes, if they see your poorly designed book cover, they are likely to think ‘If you as the author haven’t even invested in a book cover, why should I spend my money on your book when it’s highly likely the rest of the book will also be of low quality…”

As an author, you want to make sure that your book’s cover is as attractive and effective as possible, and that means investing in professional design.

While it may be tempting to save money by designing the cover yourself, doing so can actually harm your sales and reputation. In the highly competitive world of publishing, a poorly designed cover can make your book blend in with the hundreds of thousands of other books on the market, rather than standing out and catching the eye of potential readers.

In our Novel Outline Workbooks, we cover this in a whole section as to how to ensure your book covers stand out and appeal to your readers.

So, why is the book cover so important in attracting readers?

Here are a few reasons:

It’s the first thing a reader sees: As mentioned earlier, the cover is often the first thing that a reader sees when they come across your book. It’s what they use to make a first impression, and it can either draw them in or turn them off.

It sets the tone for the book: The cover of a book can give potential readers an idea of what to expect from the book’s content. A well-designed cover can convey the mood and theme of the book, helping readers determine whether or not it’s something they’d be interested in.

It can make your book stand out: With so many books on the market, it can be hard for a book to stand out. A professional, eye-catching cover can help your book stand out from the competition and catch the attention of potential readers.

In short, the cover of a book is a crucial element in attracting readers. Investing in professional design can make a big difference in how your book is perceived by potential readers, and can ultimately lead to increased sales and a better reputation as an author.

As an author, you know that publishing a book can be a costly endeavour. From editing and formatting to marketing and promotion, there are many expenses that can add up quickly.

It’s understandable, then, that you might be tempted to save money wherever you can, including on the design of your book cover.

Designing your own book cover might seem like a simple and cost-effective solution, but it can actually do more harm than good in the long run. While it might save you a few dollars in the short term, the risks of DIY book cover design can ultimately hurt your sales and reputation.

Here are a few reasons why authors might be tempted to design their own book covers:

They have design skills: Some authors might have a background in design or feel confident in their design abilities. They might see book cover design as a simple task that they can handle themselves. Some authors may use Canva (which is a website I highly recommend for things like social media posts, thumbnails etc.

They want to save money: As mentioned earlier, the cost of publishing a book can add up quickly. Designing the cover themselves might seem like a simple way to cut costs.

They want complete control: Some authors might want complete control over every aspect of their book, including the cover design. They might feel more comfortable designing it themselves rather than relying on someone else.

While it’s understandable to want to save money and have control over your book’s design, the temptation to design your own book cover can ultimately harm your sales and reputation.

In the highly competitive world of publishing, a poorly designed or unprofessional cover can turn readers off and make your book blend in with the hundreds of thousands of other books on the market. It’s worth investing in professional book cover design to ensure that your book stands out and attracts the right audience.

In summary:

The risks of DIY book cover design

The impact on sales and reputation

Ok, so where do I get my Book Covers designed?

Most affordable: Fiverr ($5+)

Next affordable: 99 Designs ($150+)

Most expensive (but well worth it): Books Covered ($500+)

Conclusion

A poorly designed or unprofessional cover can turn readers off and make them less likely to give your book a chance. In the competitive world of publishing, a poorly designed cover can make your book blend in with the hundreds of thousands of other books on the market, rather than standing out and catching the eye of potential readers. Investing in professional book cover design can lead to increased sales and a better reputation as an author. While it may be tempting to save money by designing the cover yourself, the risks of DIY book cover design, such as lack of design skills and knowledge, poor quality or unprofessional appearance, and inability to convey the right mood or theme, can ultimately hurt your sales and reputation. It’s worth investing in a professional book cover designer to ensure that your book stands out and attracts the right audience.

See you in the next one,

Vicky and Claire x