Top 5 Book Cover Design Mistakes That Are Killing Your Sales | Low-Content Books

STOP MAKING THESE SALES KILLING BOOK COVER DESIGN MISTAKES!
▶ DOWNLOAD MY FREE GUIDE: 3 Steps to Publishing Your First Low-Content Book in Less Than a Day: bit.ly/3H24S1J
When it comes to the success of your individual low-content books, and the ultimate success of your low-content publishing business as a whole, design matters. Too often I see publishers focus hard on the research only to treat design as an afterthought, and subsequently experiencing little to no sales. This is so common I even see other KZbinrs in this space bragging about how bad their designs are-all while insisting that ads are an absolute must to generate any sales in this business.
And while sound research might bring a parade of eyeballs to your books, an appealing design is what ultimately gets the customer to pull out his or her wallet.
At best a poor cover design will minimize your sales. At worst, it will kill your sales completely, putting all of that solid research to waste.
Don’t let this be you! Better design WILL improve your sales. So, let’s look at some examples of the top 5 book cover design mistakes I see when browsing the virtual low-content book shelves, and what to do instead.
__________
LINKS DISCUSSED:
Beginning Graphic Design Fundamentals:
• Beginning Graphic Desi...
XCMmQ&index=3
Beginning Graphic Design: Layout & Composition:
• Beginning Graphic Desi...
XCMmQ&index=7
Beginning Graphic Design: Typography:
• Beginning Graphic Desi...
__________
MORE LOW-CONTENT PUBLISHING TIPS: www.rachelharrisonsund.com/
FREE PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP: bit.ly/2kSTsaZ
__________
Say hi on social:
Facebook: rachelharris...
Instagram: / rachel_harrisonsund
__________
#bookcoverdesign #lowcontentbooks #rachelharrisonsund
• Top 5 Book Cover Desig...

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Are you guilty of making any of these book cover design mistakes? Let me know which mistake you’re most guilty of making in the comments below !

[@KanchanSingh-qo5vd]

You are beautiful.

[@Violetrueblue]

so guilty

[@shaleiigavesti4510]

Excellent points. Thx 4 the vid. I started self publishing low content books for passive income but always looking 2 learn and improve in book designs. Appreciate your info!

[@erikako1030]

Almost. Plan to do so but change my mind after seeing your video. Thank you :D

[@Novilia17]

I try to design for the story. The story is for an intended target.

[@krystalanderson5186]

I know this is off topic but can we talk about your hair for a moment? It looks FANTASTIC!

[@velvetbees]

She's probably part mermaid. They can get their hair wet and it always ends up beautiful anyhow.

[@Terika-]

Yes, agreed. Her hair got me distracted a few times! :)

[@danielmyers5338]

Indeed, her hair does look fantastic but it's overshadowed somehow by that "thing" growing off her nose. It may be the latest fashion or trend, but it's a bit over the top and clutters up an otherwise beautiful work of art, that being her face....JMHO

[@akale2620]

Said no guy ever

[@moniquedeplanche8309]

I'm guilty of not niching down enough and trying to create a cover that appeals to EVERYONE which is impossible. I'll keep this in mind now!

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

It can be counterintuitive, for sure! It's easy to try to create something that appeals to as many people as possible in the name of more sales, but it usually doesn't work that way.

[@noraamaala]

Hey Rachel, thanks for this video! I am guilty of mistake number 1.🤦🏾‍♀️ The very first journal that I published is very bland and boring. I'm working on an amazing coloring book right now, (I surprised myself with my design lol) and I find that I really enjoy creating colorful, fun designs.

[@eyadshelton2059]

Sometimes I find myself rushing to upload a book before I do a good quality check leading to misalignment of the image on the cover. I will delete them, fix and reupload. Great content.

[@ruchaabhyankar]

Very informative and helpful, Rachel. Thank you!

[@Res_ER]

This was very helpful for my kdp notebooks and now I know what to work on. Thanks a bunch !

[@Earthtraveler968]

Thank you so much for this great information Rachel. It really helps a lot for a beginner like me.

[@KathleenRenninger]

Loved the tip on creating matching journals, notebooks, planners. Thanks!

[@Pedro-hi8tm]

Excellent tips .. thank you. I loved the links to the graphics videos too.

[@gingerturner0000]

Am I the only one who loved that simple, black book used for the first example? It's way more my style than that flowery one.

[@madelinewesterhoff7184]

All of the "good" examples she showed were colorful florals. She should have at least compared them to a similar style that was better executed instead of making you feel like every book should be floral.

[@judywall576]

Agree. Can see the dull boring cover is entirely appropriate for a dull boring law or accounting office. 😆

[@bowtiesarecool9782]

Yes. I was thinking, I would totally buy that for myself over the flower vomit one.

[@AL6198]

Yes me too, I like that uniform, simple, marbled cover. I detest this flowery concept being automatically for women, may be it's often true and yet... The other one 'three year planner' with the cemetery in the background, who knows, perfect for a serial killer, there seem to be so many!

[@romabourke9842]

Thank you so much Rachel, great examples, I have definitely made more than one error! The fundamentals are great also. Only started with KDP in April 22. only have a few books just 14, a couple of journals, log book etc. Only one or 2 are showing in search for my keywords, so I have a lot to learn. It is a massive learning curve, but I enjoy creating;-)

[@rogerbello4649]

Great information. The Beginning Graphic Design videos suggested are awesome. What a great source of training in this series of 6 minute snippets, very informative. Thank you for sharing these.

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

You're very welcome!

[@hypolyxa7207]

Just found your channel as I was searching for some stuff as my good friend is releasing a book. I will definitely stay tuned even though I knew what this video had in it (but nice to hear it presented so well), you seem to have a lot of great content I can use in the future. :) As a simple sidenote, a simple take it or leave it compliment, you are absolutely stunning. Keep up the great work and take care. :)

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Thank you so much!

[@theritaradar]

I am glad to hear I am doing something right. My books look nothing alike. I am still not sure why I have very few sales. Thank you for all your videos. I find real value in what you say.

[@tarawalker7193]

As one who is new to LCB creation, this is very helpful. Thank you for sharing!

[@rejuvenatingsoul3498]

I watched a 5:11 min ad half way through as a compensation for the info I'm borrowing.

[@kimgeiger7940]

Rachel, thank you so very much for all of your helpful videos!! My problem is with centering. When centering a title on the KDP template, should that center in the white space or between the dotted lines? I am not sure which option will center the title correctly once the book is printed.

[@madelinewesterhoff7184]

It seems like you just really like bright, colorful florals. Every single example of a mistake you showed us was compared to a bright, bubbly floral book except maybe the kids' books at the end. You should've taken the time to show different kinds of designs and not ones geared towards the exact same audience (which is you in this case?)

[@jasonmendoza2044]

I felt that exact sentiment, it is an awesome video regardless, but you have to be able to recognize peoples bias towards or against things when taking in their information 👌🏽

[@bookcoverguide]

which niches are you interested in?

[@amkire65]

Just planning my cover design at the moment, so this is a very well timed and useful video.

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Glad it was helpful!

[@samystick_on]

Amazing content, I love it 👍🏻❤

[@bigblue6917]

They say never judge a book by its cover. But that is exactly what we do. And for good reason. If you see a good book cover you are more tempted to buy the book because they have made the effort to make it desirable. If you see a poor book cover you are more likely to think the contents are equally poor. And if you are going to use a poor design and then spend money on advertising all you are doing is wasting money. The only thing I can say is that the person putting forward that idea is that they have no idea of how to design covers and are pretending it does not matter. Worse still the money they are wasting on ads would be better spent on somewhere like Fiverr getting some covers made. I am interested in your thoughts on making a matching office sets for planners, diaries et cetera as I am planning to do this. I thought by producing such sets people will be tempted to buy all of them and it would increase sales. As more people are working from home at the moment, and it looks like many business will continue using this model, I am going to explore the idea of having home office stationary. Something a little less formal but still looking smart.

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Great points! Matching sets are a great idea. I do this sometimes as well-usually planners with a matching notebook. Then, in the description, I tell customers that they can find the matching book on my Author Page.

[@EddieMars]

Hi Rachel! Great vid! I think “A+” may help me a lot. I didn’t know what it was or how to use it until I saw this video. Btw, the “Look Inside” feature is available on mobile when I switch to “Desktop View” in my “Chrome” browser. Maybe it wasn’t when you published. Thanks for a great video that’s going to grow my marketing skills.

[@jasonmendoza2044]

✨ Thank you for the awesome free info ✨

[@Kittenmama24]

I'm guilty of just switching out backgrounds. While getting experience in LC publishing, i put out 3 or 4 journals with different backgrounds. I was never happy with them and now I know why. Thanks for this great video!

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Thanks for sharing, Stephanie; glad to help!!

[@nonscreenactivitiesforkids]

Me too although I've been careful not to do too many. Food for thought from Rachel! Thanks x

[@traceycarayol]

Love your channel!!!!

[@vanburn777]

Very useful! Thank you!

[@rikfeeney1651]

Awesome content. You da bomb Rachel.

[@gantimurty]

Thank you Rachel, as usual best content. Would like to learn from you about matching fonts ( some good references and links will also help) be safe

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Great suggestion! Thanks for watching, Ganti!

[@jennywhisconier7777]

Great vid!

[@Drathaar01]

Awesome tips, thanks!

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Glad it was helpful!

[@md.khalid.hasan10]

Love you and your work from Bnagladesh. BTW gorgeous hair 🔥🔥

[@TheMatrixSeer]

Hi Rachel, Thanx for all your advice. I wonder if you could make a video on how many pages the different LCBooks should have. I know that it varies of course. Just as a guideline please 😊

[@mickeyc2137]

great idea!

[@zoomyourlife]

I have just started. I have no such guilt yet . Thanks to pre informing me.

[@Stand4Israel]

The first design cover looks like the design on one of my grandparents tiles on the floor!

[@Flooofster]

I'm 100% guilty of reusing elements and patterns across the board. Same face syndrome x10000. Time to go back to the drawing board!!! Thank you for your channel!

[@thesundancekid1974]

Definitely was interested in publishing ebooks and a like having recently been exposed to the opportunity and realized that like with eBay way back in the day a lot of success depended on when you got started and I could see from one this form of passive income publishing excetera has so much potential

[@mohamedrashidey8027]

your content is great and very useful

[@wajrhatachraf7181]

Great Content

[@serahmasiello]

Hey Rachel, thank you so much for this video! You explain things clearly and go straight to the point - I love that. However, one thing I must say is I don't know if I completely agree on the first cover you showed on not being targeted for any particular audience. I guess it was intended for someone who likes a more minimal design. Although I wasn't''t particularly fond of the font used on the cover, I reckon it wasn't too bad. I might be biased because I own a lot of things with a marble design. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Love, Sara x

[@mickeyc2137]

I thought the same thing that the target audience might be someone who is a white collar professional/minimalist/modernist and most likely male but it could possibly appeal to a minimalist female as well

[@msarmadi]

Thanks Rachel Harrison-Sund for the super helpful video. I have also a wondering, maybe you can help me. Since paper back KDP does is not covered with functions and options like KDP select, I was looking for a way to show the price of a paperback KDP is reduced to make the customer more interested in the item in amazon store. Do you know how we can make it like that? Imagine there is a buy button and shows "Buy new:$8.49 List Price: $15.00 Details Save: $6.51 (43%)" Hope that make sense. Thanks in advance

[@davidallenbaugh4271]

As someone considering this avenue of income and also a beginner, which would you recommend BookBolt or Canva?

[@tlenattawoot-9816]

Thank you So much, I come from Thailand, I practice translate English yet. I think this your video important for me, I will attempt.

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dogscratchedoor]

Very useful, thank you. I thought life was hard, then someone mentioned fonts and typography. There is no hope.

[@bookcoverguide]

if you had a set of go to fonts/pairings in your niche, would that help you?

[@sarajanim223]

my mistake was I didn't tell the important info about that book precisely on the cover....just appointment book hahha going to fix them up.....Thanks Rachel

[@peaseinapodtreasures4469]

Thank you so much for the great tips. I'm just starting on my journey. I'm going to watch all your videos before I really get going so I can avoid many mistakes. I have a question: Is it okay for each book you publish to be for a different audience? Or should you have a whole catalog for one audience?

[@mickeyc2137]

IMO, either way. Figure out if you would rather target just one audience or do a variety.

[@TheZINSAM]

Good new look of summer 🖒

[@hka1625]

Thank You

[@efficacioussounds7620]

I made the newbie mistake of making 50 of the same book cover...in different colors. Well, now that that's done, I can work on trying to make higher quality designs.

[@InvestWithQueenie]

Great content it was really enjoyable 😊

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mania7927]

Hi Rachel, I am facing an issue with covers and colours for kdp. Unless I convert RBG to CMYK the colours are getting very matt and ugly after I publish it on kdp. No idea how to fix this. I use an online tool to convert RBG to CMYK. Any advice for that ?

[@Voartist]

I just started in publishing LC books so I'm not guilty of re-using a design - yet. :) In your "Modern Kid Press" example I wonder if they're a little TOO busy. I just published a Sudoku book yesterday and it's far less filled (I won't say cluttered). But I'm not really criticising the kid book covers. I'm wanting to know, should most book covers be as busy as these? I know puzzle books tend to use red and yellow colors, and have a lot of flash, but with my first of 3-in-a-series of Sudoku books I've tended to go for the elegant look. "Elegant" is a bit of an overstatement, but something a little tamer than the typical puzzle book cover. Also, I'm not a very artsy person so it's hard for me to create a design that will draw attention and be unique. I'm wondering if anyone contracts out book cover designs to a graphics artist? Thank you for your videos Rachel. They're too the point and I like to listen to you talk.

[@happytrails3]

Yes, Rachel has mentioned "outsourcing" your design process if you're not inclined to work on visual design. Also, I'm with you on preferring the more 'elegant' to the 'busy'.

[@AlanDenman13]

Thanks

[@private7419]

Rachel, what was your career prior to LCB publishing? Specifically, did you have a graphic design background in any way?

[@LovingLioness]

Not sure I agree with your last point. I loved the set of books that had the similar look and feel that you thought were too similar. Each was differentiated from the other by the detail on the page. If I bought one book from them, I would be very happy to get something similar for a different occassion. I guess it is often a matter of personal taste.

[@jasonmendoza2044]

Also, all of the “good” examples seem to be the same type of style/theme just different titles, then says to steer clear of that at the end 😅 great and informative video none the less 📓

[@jadatoady]

Fabulous content but oh, the relentless inappropriate ads 😢

[@silktownsart]

My first 6 low content book is just gone live but how do we get look inside future please? expecially important for buyers to see the back of the cover 😟

[@mtolivesecurityshipping5455]

It's important for writers to understand that design is a profession and readers do judge a book by its cover. Put the storyline on the cover, take what happens in the book that changed events.

[@iainmackenzieUK]

looks like flowery patterns tend to work for LCP :) (Good quality ones of course)

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

They're definitely popular!

[@iainmackenzieUK]

@@RachelHarrisonSund :)

[@Now6674]

I’ve been using my photographs from my travels as a book cover design for composition notebooks . it’s not a bad idea?

[@sevenstaramat]

the example with the black marble looks like a tombstone :(

[@drmanzarsarfraz]

I am planning to upload ten books of crossword puzzles to Amazon. Can I have same background theme (ten different background colors with same design) and say like Book 1, Book 2, etc? Kindly suggest PS: I am a newbie in this field!

[@MJ-cy6fh]

Can I make different books covers for the same lined notebook, I mean one design of interior and different covers!

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Yes! Just be sure that each cover is unique, so that you don't end up with a wall of very similar-looking books.

[@BenevaMcfarland]

Do you have any advice on using your real name as the author? I just finished my first low content book and added it to Amazon this morning. I'm having second thoughts on using my real name.

[@zoomyourlife]

I have a question. Can we change or alter title, subtitle, description or cover and keywords after the book is published on Amazon?

[@dude988]

Title and subtitle not, but the description, keywords, cover and even interior yes.

[@ChrisHartPrivateInvestigator]

Hi Rachel. My book is a memoir about my life as a Private eye working for the press and meeting two serial killers. I want it to reach Young Adult as my voice is quite young. Not the hard boiled true crime audience. I'm unsure of target audience and genre.

[@alfieeexx]

Not really about this video but I have a good idea for people illustrating a children’s book: If there is a crowd and the main character is in it, or if he/she is walking down the street and people look the same, colour in the main character.

[@rlwhite55]

In finding your target market, how does one determine that market? That's something that still confuses me. I don't ever think about fashion, or age groups so I have no idea where to start.

[@Digityz]

Think of hobbies, It is best if you promote what you love the most that way you tend to know the ins and outs of it , like gardening, sewing, cooking/recipes etc.

[@rathernotdisclose8064]

I see paperback from KDP being a problematic book type for a lot of the types of books you'd typically see in the low content category...

[@lisarobinson3521]

Please explain.

[@apaiiyui8488]

First time I see one of your videos and it's really helpfull ! So thank you 😊 I'm actually working on a school project and have to do a book cover by using only a few colors to familiarize with the cold/hot/complementary etc colors ☺️ But I think the book is kinda for any age, because it can be read from teens to really older persons. We also have to express the fact that it's a book from Finland 😂 So I just wanted to thank you because you answered some of my questions that I had, I still don't know exactly which Typo to use but I think it will be a bolder one with a thinner one for the author name and traduction phrase 😊 If you have any advices I would take them with pleasure ☺️ Also it's amazing because of you and a k-drama I would like soo much to work for a book design studio in the future 😭but I don't think there are much here in my country Also, thank you so so much for sharing how we can sell notebooks, even if maybe it's not directed for people living in Switzerland because maybe it's not available.. but I always asked some casual artists and they never wanted to tell me how I could begin a little shop with my designs.. so thanks alot ! 😊

[@rinaprindiana8933]

I give this job to my brother who is really good at designing and hes even going to design the interior so it wouldnt be boring.

[@CarosLines]

My design seemed to be centred before I uploaded it... no idea how to make it look right once its been processed...

[@martharamirezdelacruz5106]

Your face reminds me of the lead actress in the show When Calls the Heart. You are her, her sister or doppelganger. You could be her double in movies and tv shows if you are an actress, and then do your own thing. Hollywood has a few actors and actresses that people confuse because they look like twins or have similar facial features.

[@michikoyao898]

Do you have a design course?

[@taxslasher]

Do you recommend using the same design to brand a series of high content books in the business, finance and tax markets?

[@bookcoverguide]

always follow your niche but yes they should be cohesive

[@mickeyc2137]

I just started making low content books. Only one that has been approved so far from KDP and I have 3 more currently in review. Do you use Canva, Rachel? I'm still getting the swing of canva. So far I've been making journals for a younger to middle aged woman that likes fun and interesting yet more simple designs but that doesn't have design throw up on the page lol.I'm a journal junkie myself so basically so far I've been designing with people like me in mind who like to collect journals. Some of my designs are purposely asymetrical to make them a bit different. I THINK my title/font is centered, it looks centered to me but I would love it if someone can tell me if that is not the case and how to center it in Canva

[@AL6198]

I like asymmetry myself, annoyed by this 'must be centered' dictatorship. So many seem to use Canva, Paul Marles and The HomeBoss often show how to do it on Canva. Raydog says not to use Canva, looks cheap, but like with everything, if you have a graphic eye Canva can do wonders. Rachel interviewed Janice who makes six figures yearly with KDP and she uses Canva, saying she can't master Affinity Designer, so there's hope!

[@WritingTheActs]

Sales? What sales? :)

[@truthseeker4490]

If i export as ‘pdf print’ from canva it shows the pdf is 96 dpi.. but kdp recommends 300 dpi? Did u face the same problem? How can u fix it? I thought exporting as ‘pdf print’ should do the work

[@littleskipperdaycare]

There is a free DPI converter online. upload your 96 dpi image to this site and it will send 300 dpi image to your download file on your computer. I have corrected many, many pictures this way. convert.town/image-dpi

[@djedjeyelhafaia1220]

Are you using the free version? Because I've been using Canva Pro for a while and have never faced this problem.

[@dianapilozo3807]

do it 400% scale

[@jonamess4597]

Hello there i want to know the new niches i can work on ore how to find some new one's

[@RachelHarrisonSund]

Hi Jona, I have a couple videos on my channel all about profitable niches.

[@crystalpresence3632]

Did you say that the authors name NEED to be on the cover. I have used my business domain name, Bringing Forth The Best In Our Kids, because we have had a team making the book,

[@kayleneneslen]

I'm doing a children's book series with a farm theme. Each cover will have a different farm animal to fo with the book character.(stuffed animal to match). Included on each cover will be a boarder of plaid. ((like a picnic feel). With each book, this plaid will be different color. Do you think that is too similar and will get confusing?

[@cringeproof100]

That sounds really cute!

[@SchoolforHackers]

This sounds brilliant to me.

[@judywall576]

Sounds good. The repetitive elements show it's a similar theme, variants distinguish it from the others.

[@judywall576]

The poor Graduation signing book at the end - I couldn't really see the unfocused print quality on my phone or with my bad eyesight. I was much more repelled by the dark, somber color for what should have been a bright, happy event.

[@aqibraju4418]

can you help me about the low content book cover w

[@LovingLioness]

Great video, but it would have been even better to see more examples (example of each of the issues before you showed the Bee Gratitude). thanks

[@jeanettajohnson2079]

I haven't started yet.

[@sports7008]

Good luck

[@studentoftheword6115]

I wrote a book on 1 Corinthians 14..verse by verse. Do you have a company that can give me a Christian point of view for my cover of my book? I was happily surprised that you are a Christian.

[@nayjavu]

Basically what I got from this is that the message being given by everyone suggesting we do this saying you need no design experience...you are absolutely telling people to get some skills in design first. Thanks. I'd appreciate it if you'd just said that. Lol the typical person cannot design like the way you're saying. SMH

[@12thDecember]

Skip the intro and go to 2:13 for the relevant content.

[@AL6198]

I plead the fifth!

[@gsmabdou4254]

I m guilty of 4 different mistakes hhh. Punch me hard on my face to fix those miserable designs.

[@benhurstevenson]

Will you design a cover page?

[@amygorman5267]

Great, thank you! Apparently, my designs suck and I’m going back to fix them! Very glad to receive the help. I find it so sad that after such great content, a listener wrote about your hair. Would they say that if you were a guy? It drives me crazy when women go to comments on looks over brains. Rock on girl.

[@MS-go6yv]

Calm down sister. Her hair looked great while presenting a great video with lots of helpful information. You don't always have to be negative about compliments.

[@samrak9459]

liiiike

[@talyacami]

I can see u like floral designs basically lol

[@ArgentoRAWRz]

Cheesy photography? Lmao

[@VoxGlobalView]

i am making design mistakes to mismatch with audience

[@e.y.c1519]

I’m guilty of not having a target audience when I create my designs so far!

[@Nileshborase]

So I'm this is New book design

[@lavvy2585]

I hope you got permission to use people's creations because your critique is quite harsh. I think the graduation guestbook is beautiful