Abouts Books

By Kareen Ross

The most important part of a book is the cover... ahhhh, maybe. Sometimes the cover stinks but if the book is about a subject a person needs to know about, what then? Just what is it that motivates the purchase? Is it the cover title, color, image. How congruent it is as a piece of art? Is it the typeface and content on the back cover? The authors fame or expertise?

I believe all these are determining factors in the customer attraction of your book and cover design.

From my professional view point, I first look at the cover, yes, taking it apart graphically in my mind for a few seconds then I release that judgment and proceed to what information I'm looking for... so I turn the book over. Yes, this is the standard sequence. Then for me I look at the Table of Contents. Why? So I see if you are covering the information I'm looking for... for me, the Table of Contents tells me the story. It tells me your thought process and if I can relate to how you will present the information that I'll be reading. Keep in mind this is all happening in a split second. Then I start flipping the pages stopping every so often to read a paragraph here and there to see if it catches my attention. IS this the type of subject I'm interested in.

So now back to the first attention getter... the subject. Is it timely, does your book give me new information? Your customers will be looking for new ways and info to move them forward. Now is when the title and cover come into their view. Do you stand out from the rest? Does your title say 'new' in the terms it uses or is it exact or approaches from a question position? What do you want your customer to do? Sometimes just putting your subject on the cover in a big word will make a difference other times you'll need the little motivators to move the customer along.

Moving on from the title to the image and colors we go deeper in the ways people are motivated and how covers get noticed. Having a great topic related title helps make the image of the cover an even more powerful tool. Enhance your subject in simple to the point visuals and in a pleasent tone so the buyer feels comfort and trust.

Finally to content and my favorite the Table of Contents. I know that if you have a cohesive list of what your chapters are about, the information you are presenting, your buyer will relate to this on a subconscious level and begin to feel they know you and that there is a common understanding here. I suggest that in naming your chapters you take this into consideration.

So, now we've learned that motivating is not only from the cover, however it is the carrot that is put in front of the horse, the information, and does need to be fresh, clean and desirable for the reader to want more.

And now that you are going to rewrite your Table of Contents, you can give me a call to discuss any other issues you have with getting your book ready for the design step. As a professional graphic designer my book design services offer you helpful guidance, creative concept discussion, book cover and interior design and formatting services, marketing and PR consulting, website and e-book design.

To gain more knowledge on how to begin your book cover experience and create artful covers for your books, bookmark Kareen Ross at website http://www.BookCoverDesigner.com and get access to my 10 Free Quick Tips E-booklet download when you subscribe to my Book Design, Marketing, PR Tips and Newsletter. Find out more about what information is included at http://www.bookcoverdesigner.com/10-free-quick-tips-ebook.html