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What is needed to be successful in book cover design?

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Book covers are the first thing readers see when they want to read a book. This means that it is one of the most important aspects of marketing a book. If the cover is not well designed, there won't be many sales.

For a successful book cover design, you need to capture a reader's attention. You can do this by applying different techniques such as colour harmonies, contrast, bold fonts, and more. It is also important to take into account the image you use on the covers. Using stock photos might make it look like you didn't put much thought or care into the cover if it was not designed well. While illustrations can give a unique and distinctive look.
Nevertheless, a book cover must communicate to the reader that the book is worth their time and attention.

In terms of being successful in the job profession, Masterclass talked about this in their article:

1. Be in the right place. Freelancers can live just about anywhere, but it still helps to be located in publishing capitals like New York or London. It can really benefit you to meet your employer face-to-face.
2. Take your workspace seriously. No matter where you’re located, it’s best to set up a personal design studio, whether that’s rented office space, a room in your house, or just a corner of your bedroom. Producing a professional cover requires careful attention to detail, so give yourself a space where you can reasonably succeed.
4. Network with independent authors. Most major publishing houses won’t give you a break until you have a few titles to your name. A sensible way to get a great cover in your portfolio is to collaborate with authors who are self-publishing.
4. Work selflessly. A novel, anthology, or nonfiction book does not exist to serve the expression of the book designer. These books are foremost about their authors.
5. Treat every client with respect. The first time you get hired to design a book cover, you are unlikely to find yourself working on a bestselling novel. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do everything in your power to create a great book cover. If you choose to phone it in with a bunch of stock images and a bland font for the title and author's name, it reflects poorly on both the author and you personally. Design every book as though it were going on your own personal bookshelf. Such professionalism will be rewarded in the long run.
6. Get online and market yourself. You may not be the type to brag, but self-promotion is necessary in today’s economy. Get on social media or build your own website and show the world the great covers you’ve been designing. Unless you have an exclusive deal with a publishing house, it’s quite likely your next client will be looking for you online, and you want to be ready when they find you.