10 Tips on Creating a Cover for Your Ebook

• Does your book cover design matter for ebooks? 
Most potential readers of your ebook will first encounter it via an image – the book’s cover – rather than the wording. If that thumbnail doesn’t cause them to take a closer look at the accompanying text descriptions of your book, you are farther away from making a sale.

• Design your book cover to attract attention
You can’t judge a book by a cover goes the old cliché, but the reality is that people literally do so all of the time. That’s why you’ll want to spend some time coming up with an attractive cover for your paperback book.

• Guidelines for creating an ebook cover 
People will judge your book by its cover. As humans are visually-oriented, the first thing a potential buyer of your book will spot on a web page is your cover; almost always the words come later. In addition, that cover typically will just be a thumbnail. Given this, there are several principles of ebook cover design you should follow. 

• How to select artwork for your book cover 
If your book were being handled by a mainstream publisher, you’d have little or even no say about how your front cover looks. In self-publishing, since you’re essentially doing all of the work of an editor, marketing department head, and the publisher, you get all the say. As most of us aren’t artists or marketing experts, we’re often at a loss where designing a good front cover is concerned.

• Use stock art to create cover inexpensively 
When creating a cover for your self-published book, you’ll probably need a single, striking photograph or illustration that draws in readers. Since you’re a writer, not a photographer or illustrator, this can pose a problem. Where will you get such an image? Purchasing stock art can be a low-cost effective solution.

• Five tips for taking a book cover photo
If self-publishing your book, you may need to come up with a photo for your front cover. You can go about this in one of three ways: hire someone to design the cover for you and let that person look for the photo; purchase a photo, usually from an online stock photo provider; or take the photo yourself.

• Add tagline to boost interest in your book 
When designing your book cover, you may want to consider adding a tagline. A tagline is phrase or short sentence that aims to entice readers into reading the book or at least looking more at it by reading the blurb or a few pages.

• Attract attention by adding shout line to cover 
When designing your book cover, consider adding a shout line. A shout line is a compelling phrase or sentence that aims to intrigue the reader. 

• Market your book with endorsements
When promoting your book, you always should have a website, send out press releases to bloggers and mainstream media, and arrange book readings/signings to ensure the title is properly promoted. But those aren’t the only things you can do. In fact, they may not be enough. One marketing effort you might want to consider is obtaining endorsements.

• When are you a “bestselling author”?
You’ve undoubtedly seen the claim of being a “bestselling author” on book covers, online book blurbs, and promotional material. So what technically makes someone a bestselling author? And are those claims legit?