book cover design for publishing

What if we told you that your book cover design could be the secret to skyrocketing your sales? Yes, you read it right. The link between book design and sales is stronger than you might think.

First Impressions Matter

In the crowded book marketplace, first impressions matter—a lot. A professionally designed, eye-catching book cover can grab a potential reader’s attention, making them more likely to pick up your book and read the blurb. The more people who pick up your book, the more potential sales you could make.

Genre Conformity and Its Impact on Sales

Readers often have specific expectations for book covers in their preferred genre. A romance novel with a dark, grim cover or a horror book with a bright, cheerful design might turn readers away. A cover that fits genre expectations can immediately communicate to a potential reader, “This is the book you’re looking for.”

Design Elements That Drive Sales

Various design elements—color, typography, imagery—can influence a reader’s decision to purchase. For instance, the right color palette can evoke the mood of your book, the correct typography can set the tone, and a compelling image can hint at the story within. These elements, when used correctly, can compel a reader to buy your book.

The Role of Design in Marketing

A well-designed book cover isn’t just an advantage for sales—it’s also a boon for your marketing efforts. A striking cover is more shareable on social media, more noticeable in email newsletters, and more clickable in online advertisements. In other words, a good design can boost the effectiveness of your marketing strategies.

Professional vs. DIY Book Design

While it can be tempting to save money with a DIY cover, a professionally designed cover can have a much higher return on investment. A professional designer has the experience and skills to create a cover that stands out in the marketplace and appeals to your target audience, which can lead to higher sales. But since most books don’t make money, we also discourage over-investing in your first publishing project… that’s why we’ve spent a decade building an online cover creator tool so we can offer our budget cover design templates.

The link between book design and sales might not actually be that surprising, but it’s undeniable – the point is, even if you KNOW your cover matters, there’s a huge difference between a professional cover and a writer winging it by impulse, and most authors make easily predictable mistakes that will absolutely kill their books chances at success. By investing in a well-designed cover that creates a strong first impression, fits genre expectations, and supports your marketing efforts, you can boost your book sales and find more success as an author.

Stay tuned for more insights on writing, publishing, and book design. Until then, happy writing and designing!


Derek Murphy
Derek Murphy

Derek Murphy is a cover designing indie author enthusiast, finishing a PhD in Literature and shopping for a castle in Europe.