Book Marketing Tip #32 – Upgrade your cover image

NOTE:  In January 2018, an updated and expanded edition of The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide was released, offering 65 book marketing ideas and new "Deep Dives" sections exploring social media strategy, how to work with beta readers, and how to earn free press coverage. 

To download the new Smashwords Book Marketing Guide for free, here are the coordinates:

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The new 2018 edition of The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide is also available as a serialized podcast on the SMART AUTHOR podcast, starting with Episode 10.

Click here to access all SMART AUTHOR podcast episodes.






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The information that follows on this page is from the 2013 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide, which will remain here for historical purposes only.


Book Marketing Tip #32 – Upgrade your cover image

Your cover image is the first impression you make on a prospective reader.  A great cover image makes a promise to the reader.  It tells the reader, “I’m the book you’re looking for.”  Click over to Barnes & Noble, the Apple iBookstore or Amazon, and study the bestseller lists for your genre or topic.  Does your cover stand toe to toe with these covers?  Does your cover look as good or better than the cover images produced by large NY publishers?  If the answer is “no,” then consider upgrading your cover image.

I’ve seen multiple examples where an upgraded cover doubled or tripled book sales.  In one case, Smashwords author R.L. Mathewson upgraded her cover image and it helped catapult her all the way to the New York Times bestseller list.  Read her fascinating story here:  http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/07/author-r-l-mathewson-on-some-of-secrets.html in the Smashwords blog.

Great covers need not be expensive.  There are hundreds of great cover designers on the web, and most cost under $300.  If they can create a cover that looks as good or better than what’s put out by a big NY publisher, the small cost is one of the best investments you can make in your book (other than professional editing, which is much more expensive).  I maintain a list of low-cost cover designers (all fellow Smashwords authors) who provide covers for between $35 and $100.  All have online portfolios so you can review the quality of their work before you hire them.  Get the list via instant autoresponder simply by sending an email to list@smashwords.com.  These are all independent freelancers, and I don’t receive a commission or referral fee if you hire them.  They’re on the list because they’ve done great work for other Smashwords authors.  After you receive your new cover, click to your Smashwords Dashboard, click Settings, then upload it.