Are ebooks covers crucial?

You would want an attractive graphic if you feature the
ebook on your website - that graphic helps to generate
sales. If it's a freebie and the content is compelling, then
you should be able to forego the graphic but spruce up
your cover page with enlarged fancy fonts, borders and
an image of something that relates to the topic.

That would depend on how you write your sales copy but
most marketers like the good covers when promoting a product.
Literally, it's part of the package. Remember the first impression's lasts.

I haven't made an ebook yet, so I can't comment on the sellers' side of things, but I can comment from the buyers' view. I have bought several ebooks before, and I do think that content is the most important thing (99%). But the look and quality is important too. I am more likely to buy something that looks nice, since it seems like the person put more effort into it.

There is no reason you can't make a quality cover from Word. Use their templates or create your own. It may not look like a book cover that the ebook cover software generatem. but it will look very nice. I for one appreciate and respond to well laid-out material, but first there has to be interest in the topic.

I think it is the entire package that counts.

It is like bringing the customer through a buying experience.

Everything from the ecover, content page to the book content is important.

As for free ecovers, I am not sure where you can get it.

But it will be good if you can get a unique cover done just for your book.

Ask some Warriors for help and you can pay a fee for the cover to be done for you.

Cheers,
John

If I am "cruising" around and see something I like, I admit I am more apt to stop and read on. If the first thing I see is a really "cheesy" graphic I will rarely even take a second look. Yes, I admit, I do udge a book by its cover when it is a digital product. To me it shows an extra level of care and professionalism.

If you can create graphics that don't look "cheesy" and your budget forces you to use your time doing graphics, by all means do your own. If you have at least a little cash to put out... then outsource away!

There are MANY great guys who work for low fees. Karl Warren is a fellow warrior who does outstanding work. I know there are many more in here as well.

In the early days I did some of my own graphics but it did not take me long to realize my time was much better spent doing other things and to let the graphics guys do "their magic" so I could do other things.

You can create your own cover graphics for free at eCover Go - Online eCover and Graphic Generator

It's possible to produce some decent-looking covers but the limited selection of clipart means that unless you use your own images (and you can) your covers may look like those created by other people using the same service.

You can see three I made using the service on this blog post:
Home Business Ideas Made Easy - Creative Business Ideas Blog Archive Home Business Ideas: Prepare for Lift-off!

Kevin

Presentation is everything when it comes to sales, but you don't have to buy e-book covers. I use Adobe Photoshop and create my own covers from my pictures and create my own graphics. There is also a free e-book cover maker called e-cover magic that you can use with the AP.

if you are intend doing a lot of books its the way to go

God bless

Let me know what you want I will do a eCover for free

Richard Dean
Godfather of the Creation of Photo Shop Actions

Hi easysleazy,

If you're just doing up a report to give people who are already on your list, I think you shouldn't bother with the e-cover.

However, if you intend to use the report as a reward for opting-in, then yes, please have one. They improve conversion rates well. Outsource it if you have to, it'll be worth it.

Unfortunately, people do judge a book by its cover...

I think you should always go for an ecover, even if it's for a free book. Remember, people love getting something for nothing, and if it looks like they're getting something that looks like a paid for product, you'll get far more sign ups. You can design your own cover, but unless you are good at design or have the time to learn, your own work may not look professional, in which case I would recommend outsourcing - it's not expensive and it'll be worth the investment, providing your product/service is good!

KevinW -- It seems that free cover generating site isn't so free after all ($9/month).

yes people judge a book by its cover

if you don't have an ecover or can't create one, place a PDF icon

it won't pull the same results of course but it's better than nothing..

personally, my attention gets caught with e-books that has nice covers. but still, i prefer the content.

i guess it wouldn't hurt if you'll put nice and attractive covers for your e-book. good luck!

You can PM if you still need an e-cover done. And I can make a dirty low price for you!

Words sell. No graphic can right the wrong words. First get your words right, then worry about graphics.

A bad graphic can weaken your presentation. A good graphic can enhance it.

Forget about "free nice covers". You want a cover that's unique to your product, that enhances your product's image, not something generic just for the sake of having it.

Using no graphics at all is better than using poor graphics. If you can't afford a cover of high quality custom made for your product, go without until you can, or at least test the impact adding a cover has on your conversions.

If you really need cover for your product, please get a good one, by hiring a graphic designer, or get yourself photoshop and e-cover Photoshop Action (action scripts).

Otherwise, just focus on your copywriting.

Fairuz Talib

If you have a good web site maybe the cover is not so essential. I have sold a lot of books from my web sites before I did covers for them.

Make you site your shop and put an extract on material as a teaser. It works as well.

Karl & Living Colors just made a few well spoken points I'd like to add to from your questions.

I've seen crappy looking ecovers on sales pages, but the target market saw those as exeptional looking, and the offer sold well. For the most part, because the sales message was well-written.

There was a warrior here in the forum that was asking about his sales page, and what could be done about it, because his conversion rates were tanking.

After looking at it, there was LOTS of room for improvement, but his ecovers stood out. Too much.

They stood out so much, that they overpowered the headlines. Of course, the headlines were in a font size that was too small to begin with, and the wrong color. With this..

Don't expect your graphics to do all of the selling. Instead, write the copy first, make changes after, and then worry about graphics and image elements later.

I have Paul Myers to thank for that priceless tip.

Graphics on a page are suppose to SUPPORT the copy. Anyway..

The second problem with this Warriors ecovers, was that they were all the same color, and the titles of each ebook were very hard to read.

In fact, the only difference was the title of each ebook. The background and photograph on the front was the same.

He had one main ebook as the main product, and several ebook bonuses.

They all looked like the same ebook. So this variable distracted the reader away from the offer and confused the reader. At this point, the reader stops looking at the message, and spends time trying to figure out why all the books look the same..and the clock keeps ticking.

At this point, the reader clicks away to your competitor- sale lost.

Another variable is neglecting the kind of ecover STYLE and color that your target market is expecting.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but your target market owns the gallery.

What you might think is the bee's knees, I would consider crap, and what Norma might think looks great, Chris may call a sorry-looking waste of whitespace.

People are not just judging your ebook by its cover. They are judging your entire BUSINESS by how you are presenting it. They are also judging you.

Not just your ebook and what's inside.

I've rambled long enough. I hope this makes sense

Grant

Never judge a book by its cover, isn't that what "they" always say?

I think that the internet is different. You have to have killer sales copy AND a killer cover to bring in the sales.