do ebooks need graphical covers?by Zsolt KerekesFebruary 29, 2024Does an ebook for a novel really need any cover at all?
That's what I said in a provocative tweet recently.Many of the 200+ authors who saw it in the first 24 hours probably thought I wasn't serious. Some kindly commented because of their concern that I might want to do it because I couldn't afford the cost of designing a custom graphic, and I'm sure would've generously suggested free tools if I had asked. For me - this is Not about saving money on design. It's a marketing experiment. I wonder if excluding graphics from the cover, and using an information packed text design, will make books stand out compared to splashy cover designs. A matter which needs testing - is how much text is ideal? Should it be...
When I was publishing computer journals online (1996 to 2019) I had my own ad platform and was involved in around 4,000 ad iterations. One way of thinking about book covers is they are just ads. I always told my customers, if you don't know where to start, then start with white space. Hey, the White Album worked for the Beatles didn't it? Although everyone has personal preferences about what attracts them to books, I think the "conventional wisdom" on book cover design simply results in too many samey looking products in a crowded market. If you come back to these pages, I'll report on how the experiment is progressing. |
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Barnes & Noble | Hoopla | Libby | Smashwords |
my books and publication dates
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The Remote - Dec 2025 |
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the Goblins are Coming! - Oct 2024 |
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Jamie and the Tree Troll - Aug 23 |
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My Pact with the Goblin Queen - Oct 2023 |
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Alexander Woyte and the Goblins - Feb 2023 |
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Alexander Woyte and the Pirates (and Goblins) - Apr 2023 |
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Princess Laura and the Unsuitable Dragon Suitors - May 2023 |