Self-publishing is not the automatic stamp of “nobody wants my book so I have to publish it myself” it once was. Its respectability grows by leaps every month. I’m seriously considering going that route myself, so I asked Vicki about one of the many really important aspects of self-publishing. This week and next, she gives us her take on….. Indie Book Covers: Three Seconds to Success or Failure
Employers decide within seven seconds if they want to hire you or not. If you give a good first impression, the rest of the interview is spent re-affirming that desire to hire you. If not, the rest of the time is spent trying to overcome their bias. I assert that the same is true for books, although I don’t think it takes a whole seven seconds. People decide almost immediately if they think they would like your book. If you don’t grab them in the first three seconds, you lose a sale.
People make assumptions about your book at first glance. If they don’t like your cover, they will assume they won’t like the text. If the cover looks sloppy, people will assume the book isn’t edited. If your cover communicates the wrong genre, people will assume the book isn't what they are looking for. Be sure your book cover is giving people the right impressions.
Mark Coker said something important when he came to speak at my local writer’s guild conference. He said, “A good book cover makes a promise to the reader.” He’s right. I’ll even take that further and say a bad book cover makes a promise to the reader also. You’re just promising the wrong things.
------> Come back next Saturday for Vicki’s list of six things to avoid when creating a book cover. Trust me, you will want to see that!
So glad to 'see' a familiar face on your blog! Victorine is a great resource for new writers. She knows what works and what doesn't for ebooks!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Yes, Vicky is so helpful and humble. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, Christina and Rachelle, Vicki gets my vote for "most helpful to other writers 2012" :D
ReplyDeleteAwe, thanks, guys! :) You sure know how to make someone's day. And thank you, Owllady, for allowing me to post on your blog!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. As always, Vicki rocks out when it comes to sharing what she's learned. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to 'Never judge a book by its cover'? Sorry just had to get that one in. Yes the packaging on any product is carefully thought out, companies spend heaps of money on that kind of thing. I love designing my covers (partly because I'm running away from editing the novels yet again).Many covers seem to be the same as the next, one that stands out and enchants is usually the one that goes in the basket... Providing the blurb doesn't say 'It a book, weed it'.
ReplyDelete*laff*
DeleteAnd yeah, writers are kings of procrastination!
Excellent post! Pretty covers make me want to pet them and then read what's inside. :)
ReplyDeleteI sure do agree with this!
DeleteGreat post. And I will be back to read the next post. I want to know what the six are. :-) Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa. I appreciate you coming by. I think you'll like my six.:D
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