Beautiful Cover art + Power of a Tagline

There is one fact every author knows to be 100 % truth, whether you are an independently published or a traditionally published author— Imagery sales. The power of a well designed cover is priceless.

We all know this as a fact because it is a large part of what controls our impulse to buy a product. When we like the look of a package through the wording used on the face of the product, the color scheme, the balance of objects in the designs we as consumers are pulled in which—if done properly— leads to a sale. Be it imagery for laundry soap, a new fragrance or, my favorite, a book.

Before I decided to take my web graphic designing skills and apply them to cover art, I studied what went into a well orchestrated cover. I also asked readers what they liked to see in a cover and to my surprise they were very open in what they wanted. Quality, uniqueness, and something to whet their appetites enough to make them want to read the book blurb.

 I found that last part interesting most of all. And so true. Readers love a hook, they want to be drawn into a story and if you can achieve this with one or two lines on the front cover, imagine how intrigued a reader would be after reading your blurb.

Give me something pretty to look at.
(AKA... Kick-ass cover to draw me in)
&
Make me want to read your book!
(AKA... awesome wordage to hook me)

Tall order? Not really. Paired with a quality cover design, a tagline also strengthenes the tone of your book by giving the reader a hint of what the book is about.

Okay everyone, put on your ‘reader’ hat for a moment and take a look at the below cover. I recently designed this cover for a client and she did use a tagline in the final product. However, in the below sample, I have removed the tagline so you can experience the effect of a cover with no hook. No call to action. Just the pretty design, title, and the author name.

While the cover art and the title are strong, do you feel the pull? Do you feel the 'I HAVE to read the blurb now' impulse? There's that final 'something' that would otherwise hold your attention.

Now, take a look at the below cover WITH the tagline. Feel the pull and itch to flip the book over and read the blurb, or scroll down and read the description on the book's sale page. This final detail caters to the read in a way that will make them want more of what you are offering. In this case, a story you want them to read.

The point of a cover is to pull the reader's eye toward your cover. If designed well to fit the genre and tone of your book, when readers are searching out their next read their eye will be pulled to your book. When that happens, give them something juicy to bite into. Use your skill with words and lure them into your story. Into the world and characters you've created just for them.

Now it's your turn. What kind of tagline could you write for these pre-mades? Are you a historical romance author? Or how about a paranormal romance author? MMA? Let's have some fun and create something to work with the designs to pull readers deeper into your worlds!

Get ready. Set. Go!

SPECIAL NOTICE: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ONE OF THESE PRE-MADE COVERS PLEASE EMAIL ME AT bookinitdesigns@yahoo.com WITH THE SALE OF EVERY PRE-MADE COVER FROM BOOKIN' IT DESIGNS, RECEIVE A FREE POSTCARD DESIGN WITH YOUR PURCHASE. (A VALUE OF $15.00)