Can you help me choose my book cover?

34 replies
I know which one I prefer but it's different to what my followers seem to be voting. Now I'm interested at what you lot think would be the best cover. Any extra suggestions and comments very welcome

#book #choose #cover
  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    #2 Spells out the value proposition of your book

    #1 is too vague/generic

    #3 is too confusing
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  • Profile picture of the author StephenGB
    None of them 2 and 3 are too busy with detail and 1 is generically awful. I am not sure about the title it is a bit clumsy. Why not just "Van Dog Traveler" as per your blog with "How I made my home on the Road".


    Do you have a dog it wasn't apparent on your blog.
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  • Profile picture of the author kazim
    My vote is for third one. It seems quite good to me.
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  • Profile picture of the author hudsonkraft
    Originally Posted by icoachu View Post

    #2 Spells out the value proposition of your book

    #1 is too vague/generic

    #3 is too confusing
    Yeah I get where you are coming from. I really like one from a design perspective though. Thanks.

    Originally Posted by StephenGB View Post

    None of them 2 and 3 are too busy with detail and 1 is generically awful. I am not sure about the title it is a bit clumsy. Why not just "Van Dog Traveler" as per your blog with "How I made my home on the Road".


    Do you have a dog it wasn't apparent on your blog.
    Cheers. The book is about how I converted the van and nothing about the travelling side of it - that's another book maybe.

    I know what you mean about the detail. It's quite difficult because I want to show the before and after with these photographs.

    No I don't have a dog in the van

    Originally Posted by kazim View Post

    My vote is for third one. It seems quite good to me.
    Thanks. This seems to be the most popular on fb.
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  • Profile picture of the author HDRider
    If any, 3 with a different font for Van to Home

    I would design some different covers to tell you the truth. Shouldn't the title be from Home to Van? Sounds like you went from living in a van to getting a home.

    By the way, really like your website and what you are doing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyler Pratt
    Just like the weight loss industry.

    A before and after photo will always out pull any other ad

    So #2 is the clear winner

    And I would have less text.

    Van Before, Van After
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    • Profile picture of the author DavidPSmith
      3 is nice, but I would definitely go with 2. It shows off more of the van. I think that being able to visualize more of the transformation would lead to more readers.
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  • Honestly, I would take the raw images from 2 and 3 (which I believe are the same) and send them to a professional graphics person so he/she can work with a few different fonts and layouts.

    Choosing between a so so cover, and a so so cover, is only going to result in a,
    well... so so cover. I think your project deserves better, don't you?

    As for any extra suggestions, you say your followers are "voting",
    but maybe you could also hold a contest amongst your followers for them to design it,
    (don't underestimate the skills of your followers),
    and include a deadline if you have one, to see who comes up with the best layout?

    You could give ten runners up a free copy, and the winner gets a cover design credit.
    Either way, these samples as they are, in my opinion do not look very pro.
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  • Profile picture of the author DWaters
    I like number one. The other two are rather "tabloid" like, they remind me of a reality TV show. Not appealing to me. Number one looks fun.
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  • Profile picture of the author zdebx
    1 is too simple, but either 2 or 3 will work.

    But don't get too hang up on the cover of your ebook.

    Have you researched the market? Are there really any people looking to pay for this kind of info? That's what matters...
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyler Hall
    I'm going against the popular opinion and choosing 1. I like the clean appeal. The others have too much going on and I don't know where to focus. The before and have is a good idea but I think it could be improved by having "less going on".
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  • Hey hudsonkraft

    no offense, the 2 and 3 can not be seen, only convey so much confusion, one can 'be a start but to improve a lot, in fact, the image must convey what you do and I do not see and do not understand it by looking at the 'picture but I have to read the text.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tulipanka
    I love number 2
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  • Profile picture of the author hudsonkraft
    Thanks everyone. It has been a lot of help.

    It's clear from my followers that they want my 'style' (some seem nearly a bit annoyed that I haven't done it myself) and they like the before and after shots of the van. It also seems like the logo should be kept in because people do know it and like it.

    I've come up with something else that is more my style. Yeah it's still mediocre but is it a bit better than the others?

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    • Originally Posted by hudsonkraft View Post

      Yeah it's still mediocre but is it a bit better than the others?
      If you still feel that way, then see my original post above.

      Why would you want to publish something that you feel is mediocre?

      You've probably spent way more time on this than you should have been,
      and you could have probably focused on other things
      while paying $5 to someone on Fiverr for a kick ass cover.
      (or here on the forum, but it would cost you more).

      Unless you have this need to do everything yourself, or you can't afford to outsource,
      then I understand. But in time you'll learn to not spend days on these tasks yourself.
      Having fun creating an eBook cover is.... well.... fun,
      but not necessarily a great business decision.

      I've learned that if I think someone else can do a better design job than me,
      let them do it, so I can focus on bigger tasks.
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      Arnold Stolting - Stolting Media Group
      "I LOVE The Song! The Vibe Is Positive And Firm!" - Kymani Marley. (Son of Bob Marley).

      "Very High Quality!" Jeremy Harding - Manager / Producer. Sean Paul.
      "They Are FANTASTIC!" - Willie Crawford.

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    • Profile picture of the author StephenGB
      Originally Posted by hudsonkraft View Post

      Thanks everyone. It has been a lot of help.

      It's clear from my followers that they want my 'style' (some seem nearly a bit annoyed that I haven't done it myself) and they like the before and after shots of the van. It also seems like the logo should be kept in because people do know it and like it.

      I've come up with something else that is more my style. Yeah it's still mediocre but is it a bit better than the others?

      The latest is better. I would work on that white scrawl. May just use simple font with main title and sub title centralised below. Leave clean horizontal band in middle for writing.
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  • hudsonkraft,

    this is a bit 'better, the writing does not convince me ... I'd do the smaller but more impressively, maybe try changing the colors, use something more heated as red or green.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vyc Volvo
    Banned
    1 is too simple
    3 is too confusing
    2 is the best!
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    I like #2 and your latest revision.

    Are you going to pitch your idea to HGTV and do a "Van Makeover" show? (Seriously...)

    I'm look forward to the followup book "Making $200/day as a Mobile Nomad", too...
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  • Profile picture of the author HDRider
    Like the new one the best
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  • Profile picture of the author alambd1963g
    I would like to choose the 1 number cover. I think it is the best one, you can choose this one without any confusion. Best of luck.
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    Best of luck.

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  • Profile picture of the author ncloud
    Definitely not #1 because it isn't that clear what it's about unless they read the small print which some people might not. The others are more clear since you see a picture of the van before and after. I like # 2 the best because the green line separating the two pictures gets your attention and makes it more likely that they will read those words. The latest one you did does look good, but I just think my attention was more drawn to the smaller print in the second one. Maybe if you change the black text on white background to white text on a colored background it will draw the eyes more. I would either do that or go with #2.
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    • Profile picture of the author hudsonkraft
      Thanks everyone. This has been really helpful for me. Arnold, you're right I don't need to do everything myself and nor do I want to. The first covers were from other people, it's just that they don't work. Since then I've learnt that my followers expect something more in my style, and something that I've actually created. I've learnt a lot for next time.

      And Barry, I hope so with the follow up book. I couldn't do TV though.

      Final Cover:
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  • Profile picture of the author LaunchPurveyor
    I actually like #1, it's less cluttered and simple but the font could be substituted with something more interesting like the font from #3.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I like #3. I used to dream about living in an RV. Not exactly a van (or even class B RV), but the lifestyle is friendly - and profitable. Well, not "profitable" per say, but you can save and stack ALOT of money.

    I failed at this lifestyle when i met my ex-fiancee. If this niche and market exists for it, this can be a great product to sell. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author GforceSage
    The best is a combination of what you have.

    The best design is #3, but beige and purple do not work with your photos. The Beige washes out with the inside of the van and purple with brown/beige is ugly.

    Take the layout for #3 and use the black letters and font trimmed in white that you did in your redo.

    Instead of beige for the middle band separating the two photos, use a lighter shade of green, like the lightest green you see in #1. Green is subconsciously a positive color, "going green" is a buzz trait.

    For the ribbon portion (How I made...) use a royal blue instead of purple or grey. A blue ribbon is a winning symbol and has a positive connotation.

    Best of Luck,
    GfS
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  • Profile picture of the author seven4
    I would choose #2 or #3.
    One is to generic, looks like a bad and cheap vector image.
    #3 has a retro feel, and #2 is somewhere in the middle.
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  • Profile picture of the author diogoim
    Originally Posted by hudsonkraft View Post

    I know which one I prefer but it's different to what my followers seem to be voting. Now I'm interested at what you lot think would be the best cover. Any extra suggestions and comments very welcome

    Hi,

    I would go for that final cover as well actually it is pretty good.

    Good job

    Diogo de Castro
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    • Profile picture of the author OmerFaruk
      Really your choose is beast.

      1/ Simple.
      2/ Perfect.
      3/ Confused.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamescanz
    Prefer #1 the best...

    Kinda reminds me of the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo
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  • Profile picture of the author ideasman
    I like the first rework. yes the pictures are a bit cluttered but for the likely buying audience it is gold as it visualises the real transformation.

    All the best with the book.
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  • Profile picture of the author Natasha1992
    First one for me is the best one. Another two are too overloaded with different elements and I got a little confused. The first one doesn't show completely the main idea of what you do, but I just read a text and for me it was ok.
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  • Profile picture of the author hudsonkraft
    Thanks again everyone. This is some really good advice. The cover has been chosen and the ebook is coming out on Monday! I'm parked up in the middle of nowhere in Croatia and getting prepared :-)

    I just need to have a go at doing the sales page now. I will probably do that and then pay someone when I get a few sales.
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