I Have No Design Skills and No Money to Pay a Designer

The cover is a crucial factor in the success (or failure) of your e-book. A great-looking cover gives readers confidence in the quality of your work, and a shoddy, amateurish cover waves a red flag that warns them to stay away. Even a decent-looking cover that doesn’t fit your genre or topic well can turn off readers — most crime fans won’t pick up a novel that looks like a romance. Color and typography play a big role in cover design.

Regardless of the size of your e-book publishing budget, spend it on cover design to get the most impact for your money. If you’re truly cash-strapped, follow these tips:

Design your own cover (by following the advice in Chapter 5). If you lack visual-design skills, make several covers, and ask your readers to vote on which one they prefer. (This strategy helps generate excitement about your upcoming book.)

Call in a favor from a friend. Someone with an artistic bent might be willing to design your cover inexpensively or as a gift or in return for a favor. For example, you could help the friend write his résumé.

Ask your writer contacts to recommend a student designer or a graduate who’s starting out as a freelancer. This person may be willing to design your cover for a reasonable rate, especially if you’re happy to provide a testimonial.

Launch your e-book with a basic cover you’ve created. Use the first $200 of revenue to pay a designer. You should be able to easily update the cover image on Amazon, Smashwords, and your own site.