It’s no secret that books are judged by their covers. If you’ve ever walked down the aisles of a bookstore, you know how important it is for your book to have an eye-catching cover – after all, it’s the first thing people will see before they decide whether or not to pick up your book and take a look inside.
But did you know that the back cover is just as important as the front cover? The back cover can help readers decide if they should buy your book or at least give it a chance. So let’s discuss what goes into crafting a captivating back book cover for your book!
Table of Contents
What is a back book cover?
The back cover of a book usually contains critical information such as the title, author name, and synopsis. For fiction books, the back cover also includes reviews from well-known authors or critics. The back cover also contains other helpful information, such as when the book was first published, where it was printed (if applicable), and any awards or accolades received by the author or title. Sometimes, it may even contain artwork related to the story itself.
The back cover is important in helping readers decide if they want to buy your book. The description should be short but enticing enough to draw readers’ interest and encourage them to learn more about your story. Therefore, you must craft your words carefully and aim for brevity while still conveying enough information about your story to pique potential readers’ curiosity. Additionally, including reviews from other authors or reviewers can add credibility to your work and help build trust with potential readers before they commit to buying your book.
Seven essential elements of a back book cover
Whether publishing your first book or preparing a re-release, your back book cover must be as sharp and captivating as possible. A great back cover will attract readers’ attention, showcase the book’s plot, and convince them to buy or read it. Look at seven essential elements for crafting an adequate back book cover.
1. The blurb
This is often referred to as the “elevator pitch”—it should be short, snappy, and summarize your novel’s main plot. It should capture readers’ attention and give them a taste of what to expect from reading your book. When writing your blurb, think about what makes your story unique and intriguing—paint a vivid picture for potential readers!
2. Author photo & nio
Including an author’s photo on the back cover helps make your book look professional and gives readers an idea of who wrote it. Your author bio should provide information about you so potential readers can connect with you and feel more informed when deciding whether or not to purchase your book.
3. Genre badge & keywords
Labeling your genre will ensure that potential readers know what type of story they can expect if they buy or read your novel. Additionally, including keywords related to genre conventions will help search engines categorize your novel in its respective genre when people perform searches online related to that topic area. For example, if you write a horror novel, include words like “thriller” and “suspense” in addition to “horror” on the back cover of your book.
4. Ratings & reviews
Showcasing ratings and reviews from other readers is another way to show potential buyers that people have enjoyed reading it already—and this could encourage them to make a purchase or check out an excerpt online! You don’t need hundreds of reviews for this; even just one or two from trusted reviewers will do!
5. Call-to-action text
One key element for any effective marketing tool is a clear call-to-action text that encourages potential buyers to take immediate action; this could be something like “Buy Now!” or “Read Today!” Make sure it stands out visually so that it draws people in immediately!
6. Social media icons & links
Having social media icons on the bottom of the page with links makes it easy for interested parties to find out more information about both you (the author) and the book itself without having to leave the page they are currently viewing—it also encourages others to share their interest in the novel through social media platforms too!
7. Visual design elements
Last but certainly not least, pick visuals that represent the mood/tone/setting of your story accurately—you can use photos, illustrations, or anything else which catches people’s eye and gives them an idea about what kind of story they can expect if they decide purchase or read it! Remember, visuals are potent marketing tools, so choose ones that stand out!
Seven steps for creating a back book cover
Putting together a book cover is an essential step in creating a successful published work. After all, the cover is often the first thing potential readers will notice about your book. It can make or break their decision to buy it. That’s why designing an eye-catching and effective book cover is essential for any author or publisher. Here are seven steps to help you create a book cover that will grab attention and entice readers to pick up your book.
1. Set your goals
Before you start designing your book cover, take some time to consider what you want it to accomplish. Do you want it to communicate a specific message? Are there particular elements that need to be included? Knowing what you hope to achieve with your design will help guide your creative process and ensure that your final product meets all of your expectations.
2. Research your target audience
It’s also important to know who will be reading your book so that you can create a design that appeals directly to them. Consider their age, gender, interests, values, lifestyle, etc., and use this information as inspiration for the look of your cover. For example, if you’re targeting young adults, vibrant colors and bold fonts may work better than muted tones and traditional serif typefaces.
3. Choose fonts carefully
The fonts on your book cover can significantly impact how it looks and feels—as well as how people perceive the content inside of it. Serif fonts tend to convey sophistication and classiness, while sans serif typefaces are often seen as modern and contemporary; choose whichever style best fits the tone of your book. Additionally, be sure not to include too many different font styles or sizes, as this could make the design look busy and cluttered.
4. Select your color palette wisely
Pick one or two primary colors for your design, plus one or two accent hues for balance (three at most). Colors can evoke certain emotions, so think carefully about which would work best for communicating the mood of your story without being distracting or overwhelming for viewers. And when in doubt, black-and-white designs always look timelessly elegant!
5. Images can make or break your design
Images are powerful tools when used correctly—they can instantly draw viewers in by giving them visual cues about what’s inside the pages of your book! However, they should never overpower other elements like fonts or colors; instead, they should be used sparingly as accents (a single object or landscape shot works best). Additionally, ensure any images used are high quality, so they don’t detract from the overall appearance of the cover.
6. Decide on formatting options
The file size is also worth considering when designing a book cover—it needs to be large enough so that details aren’t lost during printing but small enough so that people can download it quickly if needed (most publishers recommend 300dpi resolution at 8×10 inches). Additionally, make sure yours is formatted for both print and digital so readers have multiple options for viewing it.
7. Test out different variations
Before settling on a single design, try out several variations using different color palettes/fonts/images/etc. This way, you can get an idea of which resonates most with viewers before committing fully! Plus, it never hurts to have multiple options from which people can choose; more choices usually mean more sales in the end.
Seven design tips for an excellent back book cover
A well-designed book cover can make all the difference when selling your book. It’s the first thing that potential readers see and the key to making a great first impression. But how do you create an eye-catching back book cover? Here are seven design tips that will help you create a show-stopping back book cover that stands out from the rest.
1. Utilize negative space
Negative space, also known as white space, is one of the most important elements of any design project. Using negative space strategically allows you to draw attention to specific elements and create contrast between different parts of the design. The best way to use negative space in your back book cover is by leaving some blank areas uncluttered and focusing on one or two standout elements such as illustrations, typography, or colors.
2. Pick a color scheme
Choosing an appropriate color scheme is essential for creating an eye-catching design. If you want your back book cover to stand out from the crowd, pick bold and vibrant colors instead of muted and dull ones. Make sure to pick colors that complement each other; consult a color wheel for inspiration if necessary.
3. Use eye-catching typography
Typography is vital in any design project, especially when creating a compelling back book cover. Choose fonts that are easy to read but still have enough personality to draw readers in – think about using custom fonts or combining multiple typefaces in unexpected ways.
4. Incorporate graphics & illustrations
Graphics and illustrations can take your back book cover design up a notch by adding visual interest and texture. Just make sure that whatever graphics or illustrations you choose actually complement your overall design instead of cluttering it up – stick with minimalistic yet impactful designs for maximum effect.
5. Add quotes & teasers
Quotes and teasers are great ways to pique potential readers’ curiosity and interest them in your work! If possible, try including quotes from reviews or blurbs written by industry professionals – this will lend even more credibility to your work.
6. Keep it simple
Don’t be afraid of simplicity – sometimes less is more when designing effective back book covers! Stick with simple yet impactful designs that feature only one or two main elements, such as illustrations, typography, colors, etc., so as not to overwhelm viewers with too much information at once.
7. Get feedback from your audience
Once you’ve created your back book cover design, don’t forget to get feedback from other people who might be interested in buying your work – after all, they’re the ones who will ultimately decide whether or not they want to purchase it! This will give you valuable insight into what works (and what doesn’t) when marketing your work effectively.
Seven common mistakes when designing a back book cover
As an author, you know the importance of a good book cover. It’s the first thing potential readers see when they stumble across your book online. A great book cover will draw them in, while a poorly designed one will have them quickly moving on. To avoid the latter, let’s look at some common mistakes authors make when designing their book covers and how to fix them.
1. Misalignment between title & image
A poorly aligned title and image are one of the most common mistakes when creating a book cover. Ensure your title is correctly placed and easily readable against your chosen background image. This may require some trial and error, but it’s worth your time to get it right!
2. Wrong font sizing & spacing
Another mistake often made is having fonts that are too small or too close together on the cover. Make sure you pick large enough fonts for readers to easily read what it says, as well as spacing between the font sizes, so everything looks neat. If in doubt, pick larger font sizes and more space between words. You can always make adjustments if needed later on.
3. Inadequate color contrast
When choosing colors for your book cover, you want to ensure enough contrast between elements, such as text and background images, so they don’t blend and become unreadable. Consider using complementary colors (opposite colors on the color wheel) for added contrast if needed. This helps ensure that all elements of your design stand out clearly against each other!
4. Poor quality images
The images used on your book cover should be high quality, so they don’t appear pixelated or blurry when people view it online or in print. Make sure to use only images from reputable stock photo websites or ones licensed for commercial use so you don’t run into any legal issues down the line!
5. Too much text
You want your design to be clean and simple with minimal text – no more than two lines at most! Too much text makes it hard for viewers to quickly identify what kind of content is contained within the book, which could lead them away from purchasing it instead of towards it!
6. Overuse of special effects/filters/textures
Using effects like drop shadows, gradients, textures, etc., can help enhance a design, but they should be used sparingly – too much can overwhelm viewers and distract from what matters: the content contained inside! Keep things simple with just one or two effects used throughout your design – this helps create an overall cohesive look without being too over-the-top or busy looking!
7. Misrepresenting your content/audience
Using inappropriate imagery that doesn’t accurately represent what’s inside the book is another common mistake many authors make when designing their covers; this could turn off potential readers, expecting something completely different when picking up your work! Be sure to check out other books similar to yours before starting work on yours so you can get an idea of what kind of imagery might be best suited for its contents – this will help ensure that everyone who picks up a copy knows precisely what they’re getting into beforehand!
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some of your frequently asked questions about creating a back book cover!
How long should the back book cover copy be?
Regarding the back book cover copy, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on what you want your audience to know and be able to take away upon reading it. Generally, the back book cover copy should focus on 3 key components; a brief description of the content inside the book, a few words about the author, and any awards or accolades the book has achieved. Research has found that back covers should typically range from 150-300 words – short enough to give readers just enough information without being too overwhelming and longwinded. Don’t forget; the back cover copy is an important marketing tool, so think it through!
What are the differences between paperbacks and hardcovers?
Here are the differences between a paperback and a hardcover:
Price tag
The most obvious difference between paperbacks and hardcovers is price. Generally speaking, paperback books cost less than their hardcover counterparts. This is because they use less expensive materials (paperback covers are typically made of cardstock while hardcovers use heavier cardboard) and because they don’t require as much labor in the binding process. This makes them an ideal choice if you’re looking for a low-cost option or if you plan on reading the book only once.
Durability
The other major difference between these two types of books is durability. Hardcover books are much sturdier than paperbacks, which can quickly become wrinkled or bent out of shape with minimal effort. They also tend to last longer since the covers are harder to tear or damage in any way. If you plan on keeping the book for many years or loaning it out to friends and family, then a hardcover might be the better option.
Size and weight
While size doesn’t necessarily matter when it comes to reading pleasure, it can be important depending on how and where you plan on using the book. Hardcover books tend to be bulkier and heavier than paperbacks due to their sturdier construction, making them less convenient for carrying around in your bag or backpack when compared with their smaller paperback counterparts. In addition, some books may not even come in paperback form due to their size; larger reference works like encyclopedias often come only as hardcovers since they require thicker pages that won’t bend easily under their weight.
How long should a blurb be?
The length of your blurb depends on its purpose. If it’s for a book jacket or magazine article, you may want to keep it to one sentence or two at most if there is room. This type of blurb needs to be concise while still conveying the gist of what the story is about. If it’s for an online advertisement or another digital format, you can give yourself some more room while ensuring it’s not too long. A good rule of thumb is that if your reader scrolls down to read all of your blurbs, it’s likely too long.
When writing blurbs, focus on key points and avoid using complex words and jargon unless necessary. Your goal here is to get people interested enough to click through and read more about your product or service without giving away too much information up front. You also want people reading your copy within 10 seconds, so they don’t lose interest before they even start reading. Keep in mind that many people are reading blurbs on their phones these days, so shorter blurbs are better suited for these devices since they take up less space on the screen.
Final words
Creating an attention-grabbing book cover is essential for any author looking to capture their audience’s interest from the beginning. By choosing a design style that fits with the tone of your work, including both title and author name in an easily identifiable location, and considering color theory when selecting colors for your design – you will be able to set yourself up for success by creating a captivating back book cover for your book! With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating an eye-catching cover that will make potential readers take notice!