Book Covers Matter

Unfortunately, despite the platitude ‘don't judge a book by its cover’, that is exactly what everyone does. It's the outside packaging that sells the product inside. Your cover has to survive ‘the glance test’.

Assuming that the spine was good enough to attract a potential buyer to pull it from the shelf in the first place – on average they will spend just 8 seconds on the front cover and 15 seconds on the back cover. You need to have a visually intriguing cover wrap that stands out from the rest.

Readers, retailers and wholesalers do not read a book first – they select the book via its cover. A strong cover wrap is your greatest marketing tool and the best advertisement for your book, so make it a good one!

In today's changing markets covers are more important than ever. More publications are being purchased sight unseen. Online bookstores, mail order catalogues, and even eBooks – it all depends on the cover and the ‘back blurb’.

Too often authors and publishers don't give a book cover wrap the time or attention it deserves. The cover is crucial if you want to sell your book. Not only should the cover wrap reflect the content of the book, there are other considerations as well. Who is the target market? Where will the book be distributed? etc

Publication Design

Close examination of the target market, the overall content of each publication and how it is to be 'delivered' is crucial to the design of its interior and cover. Is it to be produced in hard copy or delivered electronically and read on screen? Many other factors are also considered such as: proportions, formating, binding, interactive functionality, typefaces and colours to be used, margins and visual relief. All of these elements and more are directly related to the final production or delivery method to be used.

High impact conveying the essence of the book needs to be imposed on the customer in a matter of seconds!

Debbie Angel has extensive experience in the publishing industry. She has worked in it since 1990 and been designing books since 1996. One of her key passions is books and reading. Australian poetry, history and educational publications are her speciality.