By the way, Duncan, I loved your work.

C.F. Jackson:

K.S. you’re off to a great start with having a
vision to what you want it look like. Many others
just don’t have a clue.

GIMP or any other product can produce some great
results as long as the skills are there. And the pricing
varies from designer to designer.

Ask Duncan to help you K.S..

Thanks,
CF-

Unfortunately in this age of stock pictures and even illustration-free covers, books often present poorly and undoubtedly cause a lot of lost sales. A good cover illustration coupled with quality graphic design costs a little more, but they also make a lot more money in the long run, and give a book the edge it needs in today’s marketplace.

–Duncan Long
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Cover artist for HarperCollins’ Digital Artwork for the 21st Century.
See my book cover illustrations at: http://DuncanLong.com/art.html

The cover of text books probably plays little or no role for the people who pay for them, i.e. at college level student and at public schools, taxpayers. College professors are often influenced by the authors who taught them and/or who agree with their perspective (content). School boards are often influenced by political motivations and lobbyists activities.

The covers of “airport books” probably plays a major influence in the purchasing decision, not on the visual interest or excitement of the cover as much as pre existing standards of the purchaser, such as is the popular author’s name prominent and easily readable. ‘Pop style’ books are like hollywood movies, they have three or four themes and they use them over and over again and they are more likely to positively influence the purchasing decision when the cover designs fit the visual formula.

Popular nonfiction books benefit from a cover that visually makes the subject matter feel appealing. Cook books for example can arouse interest if the visual on the cover shows food that looks good to taste and smell or makes the subject matter exotic. Often just a good photograph can do this.

Fiction covers can interest the viewer on many levels, just as fiction is on many levels, from superficial popular themes to deeper philosophical and literary themes. The covers can reflect this.

In these latter two subject areas, I think there is also significant post purchase marketing work. Does the book get put in sight when guests come. While and after reading the book does the reader get a positive feeling about the meaning of the book and their relationship to it such that they
seek out the publisher for other books, and does the cover play a role in this. Grove Press for example, which had a niche market consistently used a design format for their books which was easily identified by their customers as well as visually appropriate for them.

Self learning books, especially in computer software, benefit from following a strict design format. “Books for Dummies” is a good example of how a visually uninteresting design consistently used can be very successful. Because the content of the books is usually good, customers respond positively to the display of their covers in the store, even though the actual design is not going to win any design awards if designers are the judges.

Sometimes we even see books like this displayed in book stores, not by subject matter,i.e. scattered throughout the store, but all books by the publisher in one place because the consistent visual look of the cover designs and the brand of the publisher draws customers to buy books.

The beginning question put forth by the blog author is probably the best place to start, “What lures your customer to buy your book.” However even though you may have an idea and the publisher finds it convenient to use your idea, it is best to think of it as a marketing decision. Your personal tastes on book covers may not reflect your customers and it might be beneficial to get some empirical and professional input about what influences your market.