Judging an Ebook By Its Cover

People do judge a book by its cover, especially in the online world. Potential customers have no other way of judging your ebook before buying it except by appearance. They can't pick it up and handle it. They can't taste it or smell it. They can't hear it. They can only see it.

The more you can give them to see, and the better those components look, the more you establish credibility in the minds of buyers.

Don't take my word for it.

Listen to the folks at Consumer Reports WebWatch who noted that "looking good is often interpreted as being good." One of their recent studies revealed that almost half of web surfers judge credibility by the design of a thing. In fact, design far outranked all 17 of the other credibility measures, including information usefulness and accuracy.

A cover is the single biggest visual cue for an ebook. Thankfully, creating professional and attractive 2D and 3D ebook covers is not hard to do. You have three main options.

Do-It-Yourself Software: The leading product in this category is, arguably, eCover Generator. It's a downloadable software program that automatically creates various covers from the text and images you specify. The software comes with a library of 44 stock images but you can also import your own images to avoid looking like everyone else who uses the software. With just a one-time charge of $97 to buy the software, the advantage is that you can save big bucks if you have a lot covers to create.

Hire A Cover Design Service: There are a number of graphic designers who specialize in ebook covers and offer their services online. Generally speaking, these services are cost-effective and offer fast turnaround times. Reputable suppliers include KillerCovers.com.

Work with Your Existing Designer, if you have one. Although you may find in the end that it's faster and easier to order from one of the specialists, it's worth asking your own designer what they can do for you. If you'll be creating a number of covers, they may be willing to negotiate a volume rate. The advantage of working with your own designer is that they will have an historical sense of your brand and existing materials that can help ensure consistency.

With these inexpensive options at your disposal, there's no reason not to have a professional looking cover for your ebook. After all, looks sell books! Make sure you're sending the right visual cues.