Royalties, print vs ebook, print runs, covers, ISBNs, launches, audiobooks and rights — type your question and get a straight answer in seconds. The full detailed report costs less than a cup of coffee: $2.95.
A cover is not artwork — it is a sales device judged in the fraction of a second a shopper spends scrolling, usually at thumbnail size smaller than a postage stamp. The covers that work follow repeatable principles: they signal their genre instantly through imagery and colour, they keep the title readable at two inches wide, and they follow the visual language readers already associate with the category. Designers and pre-made cover shops charge anything from nothing to thousands of dollars, but the fundamentals — one strong focal image, correct genre cues, clear title hierarchy, and testing at thumbnail size — apply at every budget. This guide covers the decisions that matter before you spend a dollar on design.
Readers do judge books by their covers — the thumbnail is your entire sales pitch on a crowded page. The fundamentals of a cover that looks professional at two inches wide, without hiring a studio.
For text-led non-fiction, a clean DIY cover with strong typography on a licensed photo can absolutely compete. For illustrated genre fiction — romance, fantasy, thrillers — readers expect professional artwork, and a DIY cover will quietly cap your sales. Be honest about which camp you are in.
Quality freelance designers typically charge $300-$800+ for a custom cover, and premium pre-made covers run $50-$300. An agency cover can cost $1,500+. The cheapest option is rarely the most expensive mistake — a weak cover costs you sales on every single impression.
Shrink it to thumbnail size and check the title still reads, then compare it against the top 20 covers in your exact subgenre. Run a quick poll on your mailing list or an author group with two or three concepts — readers' instant reactions are surprisingly predictive.
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