Cover Design That Sells: Professional vs. DIY Design for Indie Authors
Your cover design can make or break your book's success. Read on to learn more about what a professional cover designer can do for you, and don't miss our interview on Unleash Her Podcast.
Cover Design That Sells: Professional vs. DIY Design for Indie Authors
You’ve poured your heart and soul into crafting your manuscript and now you’re finally ready to prepare it for publishing. There are still many steps ahead, including editing and interior design, but one of the most crucial elements you must attend to is cover design.
In today’s visually-driven market, your cover is your book’s first—and, often, only—chance to grab a potential reader’s attention. This leads to a critical question for indie authors: Should you invest in a professional cover designer, or can you effectively create a cover yourself?
Let’s be honest, the lure of saving money by taking the DIY route is strong, especially when you’re self-funding your publishing journey. However, the potential pitfalls of a DIY cover often outweigh the initial cost savings, and you may find yourself losing money in the long run.
Readers first judge books by their covers. A poorly designed cover can signal amateurism, making your book appear unprofessional and ultimately deterring potential buyers. In a sea of professionally designed covers, you need to ensure your book stands out—and not for the wrong reasons.
What an Expert Cover Designer Has to Offer
You may pay more up front for professional cover design, but as long as you work with a designer who has the knowledge and experience to make your book shine, this investment can pay off in the long run, as it helps drive sales. Here are some areas where experts shine.
Market Understanding
Professional designers are immersed in the book market. They understand genre conventions, current trends in cover aesthetics, and what visually resonates with target audiences. They know which fonts, colors, and imagery are effective for your specific genre.
Technical Proficiency
Designers have the skills and software to create high-resolution, visually appealing covers that meet the technical specifications of various publishing platforms. If your cover file doesn’t meet these specifications, it will be rejected, and your book release will be delayed. Designers also understand composition, typography, and color theory—elements that can elevate a cover from looking amateurish to polished and professional.
Objectivity and Fresh Perspective
As the author, you’re deeply connected to your story. This can make it difficult to be objective about the visual representation. A designer brings a fresh perspective, focusing on what will attract readers rather than just reflecting your personal preferences.
Time Savings
Designing a cover correctly takes time and effort. By outsourcing this task, you can focus on other concerns, such as writing your next book or planning a marketing strategy for your upcoming release.
Increased Credibility
A well-designed cover instantly lends credibility to your work. It signals to readers that you’ve invested in your book, are serious about your craft, and that their hard-earned money will be well-spent on your product.
When DIY Might Be a Viable Option
We don’t recommend it, but there is ONE case when designing your own cover may be fine:
If you are publishing only for sentimental reasons—that is, if profit isn’t a concern, you don’t care how many copies you sell, and you aren’t worried about the impression you make on potential customers—then a DIY cover may suffice (again, as long as you follow the necessary technical requirements). If you ever do decide to heavily market your book and try to improve sales, you should invest in expert cover design.
Again, creating a great cover takes significant time. Time is money. What you save up front by DIY-ing it may be lost later on as you struggle to get the cover right—more so if your printer rejects your files. Hiring an expert from the start will help prevent delays, stress, and wasted time.
AI in Cover Design
AI may seem to be a tempting option for budget-conscious authors, but there are caveats:
AI is guided by your commands. If your prompts are unclear or if you don’t have the design knowledge to ensure your prompts create a good cover, it won’t work. AI is just a tool, and the skill of the wielder drives its effectiveness.
AI can introduce errors that wouldn’t come into play with an experienced human cover designer. If you rely on AI, you will need to thoroughly review its output to ensure everything is as it should be (no missing hands, distorted shapes, etc.).
Not all AI image generators will grant you permission to use their output commercially. As with anything else, you need to ensure you have the right to use the generated AI image, otherwise, you may face legal consequences.
AI generally does not produce the high-resolution files necessary for quality printing, and may, in fact, be stealing the past work of illustrators and designers without their permission (just as it is openly stealing content from writers as you read this—but that’s a subject for another post).
Platforms like IngramSpark and KDP require users to disclose whether any book content was generated with AI. IngramSpark’s Catalog Integrity Guidelines state that they may reject content created by automated means, including AI. KDP, for now, seems more lax when it comes to AI, but that may change as laws and sentiments evolve.
The Verdict
While the DIY route might seem appealing initially, investing in a professional cover designer is the wiser choice.
Your cover is a crucial marketing tool – it’s the first impression you make on potential readers. A well-designed cover not only attracts attention but also communicates the genre and tone of your book, ultimately leading to more clicks, reads, and sales. Think of it not as an expense, but as a vital investment in your author career.
1106 Design offers a wide range of services, including custom cover design, for serious indie authors who are committed to quality. For a small taste of what we have to offer, check out our cover design gallery, and if you’d like to learn more about how we can help, contact us today.
In case you missed it…
Beyond Words on a Page: Unveiling the Art and Science of Book Typesetting
Click here to learn more about typesetting and the impact it has on your book.
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