Choosing the Right Cover for Your Book (and budget!)

Okay, let's be honest. Your book cover is the first thing readers see, and it's a huge factor in whether they'll pick up your book or scroll right past it. 

In a world of endless choices, you need a cover that screams “READ ME!” 

But if you're on a tight timeline, you might be wondering how to get a great cover without taking months… 

Don’t worry, it’s possible! This guide will walk you through the options, from DIY to hiring a pro, and help you understand what makes a cover work.

Your Cover: More Than Just a Pretty Picture

Before we dive into the “how,” let's talk about the “what.” A book cover isn’t just a pretty picture; it's a marketing tool. It communicates your genre, tone, and the promise of an amazing story. Here's what goes into a good cover:

• The Image: This is the visual focal point. It should be relevant to your story, high-quality, and eye-catching. You can use photos, illustrations, or abstract designs. 
• The Fonts: Fonts communicate tone. A horror novel will use different fonts than a cozy mystery. Choose fonts that are legible and fit your genre. Don’t use too many different fonts. Two or three is plenty. 
• The Colors: Colors affect emotion. Consider the mood you want to create and choose colors that align with your story. Don’t use too many colors. Three or four is a good guideline. 
• The Layout: How you arrange the elements is important. Make sure the title is prominent, the author's name is visible, and the cover is easy to read at thumbnail size (especially for online stores). 

Cover Creation Options: Choose Your Adventure

Now, let’s look at the different ways you can get your cover made, and the pros and cons of each:

Do-It-Yourself (DIY):

• How: Using online tools like Canva or Book Brush, or editing tools like Photoshop or InDesign, or even slideshow tools like Keynote or PowerPoint. These platforms offer templates, stock images, and font options. 
• Pros: Fastest, cheapest, and gives you complete control. Great for super tight budgets and timelines. 
• Cons: Can look amateur if not done carefully. Requires you to learn the platform and be willing to spend time. 
• Time Estimate: A few hours to a day, depending on your design skills. 
• Our Take: If you're on a super tight schedule, this is your go to. Focus on choosing a good template and not trying to reinvent the wheel. 
• Need Help? Check out our trainings on Book Design in Canva and in Affinity Publisher.

Using a Pre-Made Cover:

• How: Buying a cover that has already been designed from a marketplace such as Book Cover Zone or The Book Cover Designer. Many websites offer premade covers, often with the option to change the title and author name. 
• Pros: Faster than DIY, more professional-looking than a basic DIY, and often more affordable than a custom design. 
• Cons: May not be unique to your book and might not perfectly capture your story’s essence. 
• Time Estimate: A few hours to find and purchase a cover. A few hours to a few days for final edits.
• Our Take: A good middle ground if you aren't confident in your design skills but still need to move quickly. Also good if you are looking for inspiration for a future story.
• Not Sure Where to Start? Check out our trainings on Book Covers that Sell and Professional Cover Design Strategies so you know what to look for.

Using a Cover Template:

• How: Finding or purchasing a template from a design site such as Desygner or DIY Book Covers and customizing it. 
• Pros: More unique than a premade, while being faster than a fully custom design. 
• Cons: Can still look generic if not customized well. 
• Time Estimate: A few hours or a day or two depending on how long it takes to find a template and how familiar you are with updating the format the template comes in. 
• Our Take: Another solid option if you want something a little more unique than a pre-made cover but will have good font and color combinations to work with.
• Need a Template to Start With? Apex Authors have access to our Push Button Book Cover Templates, the Book Ninja Fiction Cover Templates, plus some Bonus Pro Cover Templates, all right here in your membership!

Hiring a Professional Designer:

• How: Finding a freelance designer who specializes in book covers. You'll share your vision, and they'll create a custom cover for you. The best way is through word of mouth or by looking at who the cover designers are for your favorite comparable titles, but you can also find professional designers in marketplaces like Reedsy or Upwork.
• Pros: Most professional results, perfectly tailored to your book, and you get the expertise of a designer. 
• Cons: Most expensive option, and can take the longest amount of time. 
• Time Estimate: Two to six weeks on average, but some designers can do it faster. The best designers, however, have a waiting list and may not be able to start on your book for weeks or even months.
• Our Take: If time and budget allows, this is a great option. However, you'll want to ensure your designer can work to your timeline. 
• First Time Working with a Professional Designer? Check out our trainings on Book Covers that Sell and Professional Cover Design Strategies so you understand what to ask for and how to communicate your needs.

Crowd-Sourced Design:

• How: Using a contest-based design site like 99Designs or DesignCrowd, you post a brief outlining your book, genre, and cover preferences. Multiple designers then submit concepts, and you choose the one you like best. There may even be multiple rounds of edits as part of the contest.
• Pros: You get to see multiple designs to choose from, which can be great for brainstorming and discovering unexpected ideas. The contest format can often yield results faster than searching for and hiring an individual designer, especially if you need a quick turnaround, with a deadline when you know it will be complete. The contest format can also help you get a good price, as designers are competing for your business.
• Cons: You need to spend time creating a detailed brief to ensure the designers understand what you're looking for. Not all of the designs you receive will be good. You may have to sift through quite a few before you find a winner. You also won't work as closely with the designer as you would with a one-on-one hire, which can make it harder to refine the design exactly to your vision. Although faster than hiring an individual designer, it is not as fast as doing it yourself or buying a premade cover.
• Time Estimate: 1-2 weeks for the contest process, depending on the platform and your budget.
• Our Take: This is a good option if you have a bit more budget and time than DIY allows, and you want a more unique design than a pre-made cover offers. The variety of options can really help you find a cover that works for your book, but it's essential to make sure your brief is clear and concise. Be prepared to provide feedback throughout the process to guide the designers toward the cover you want.
• Want to See it In Action? We have a case study with one of our authors who crowd-sourced his cover design.

Making Your Decision

The best cover option for you depends on your budget, timeline, and design skills.

• Tight Budget & Time: DIY or a pre-made cover is your best bet. 
• Moderate Budget & Time: Template. 
• Budget & Time To Spare: Hire a professional designer or crowd-source a contest. 

If you plan on publishing your book and getting it into the hands of readers by the end of this challenge, then aim for “good enough” to get your book out there. You can always update your cover later. 

No matter how you create your cover, prioritize clarity and ensure your title and author name are easy to read. Your cover should should be genre-appropriate and fit the expectations of your readers. 

Test your cover and get feedback from your target audience before finalizing your cover. 

Your book cover is the first impression you make on potential readers. With a little planning and the right approach, you can create a cover that helps your book stand out and get discovered, even on a tight deadline. 

Now go get that cover done!