Your eBook Cover: First Impressions Count

by Will Viharo

They say you can't judge a book by its cover. That may be true once you've actually read it. But enticing a reader to choose your eBook out of literally thousands on the marketplace requires an immediate positive response. 

And what's the one aspect within your power that can instantly grab and hold a prospective buyer's attention long enough for them to take a chance and peek inside? Yup. 

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Face it: Our culture operates largely on a superficial basis. Visual appeal often matters more than actual substance, at least initially. A lot of this has to do with the fact consumers are both busy and overwhelmed by too many choices.

This is why even your eBook must have a strategically designed cover image, no matter what the content or genre. Regardless, your competition is going to be intense. And readers only have so much time and money to spare, especially when it comes to investing in an unproven commodity (namely you). Even books that have the benefit of a professional ad campaign must have attractive, distinctive covers in order to stand out in this increasingly crowded field.

The challenge for most indie authors is a lack of production funds. This is why many can't even afford an editor. Understandable. But whether you hire a professional, talk an artistically talented friend into doing you a big favor in exchange for love and exposure and maybe some free pizza, or just wind up doing it yourself via your own limited technical resources, here are some points to keep in mind:

• If you're creating your own image out of “spare parts,” make sure the image you choose is in the public domain, even if you take “creative license” with its re-design.
  
• If you're on a strict budget, as most of us are, offer a professional artist a cut of the profits – if the cover winds up drawing in a lot of buyers, everybody wins! Having a stake in the profits may also give the artist more motivation and inspiration to come up with a doozy.
  
• Try to succinctly but seductively sum up the basic appeal of the book. Nothing too busy or complex. Just keep it as simple, but as unique and aesthetically pleasing, as possible.
  
• You don't have to necessarily depict an actual scene or character from the book. The idea is to evoke the overall mood and/or agenda of the piece.
  

Basically, think of your eBook as your profile on a dating site. The first thing anyone surfing such a site will see is one's physical appearance. You're literally putting on your best face to a diverse audience of potential “partners.”

They (whoever “they” are) also say a picture is a worth a thousand words. And if your picture is successful, maybe even a thousand sold copies, too!

What type of cover draws you in, and what turns you off? 

PHOTO: WILL VIHARO