What Do You Need to Know Before Hiring a Fantasy Book Cover Designer?

You’ve finished editing your fantasy novel and deciding to self-publish your masterpiece. So, now you have two choices; should you spend the money on a professional book cover designer, or should you design your cover? Don’t worry! Thousands of authors have been in your shoes at one point or another.

Every author knows that they are a significant aspect of conveying the book’s message. Even readers believe that book covers are crucial in purchasing a book. Your book will be up against thousands of other books with similar prices, almost all of which will have professionally designed covers. Even if you save money in the short term by designing your book jacket with design tools, you may lose out in the long run in terms of book sales and your brand as an author.

So how do you ensure that your book cover attracts readers and generates sales that you desire? All you need to do is hire a fantasy book cover designer to do the task.

As an author, it is your responsibility to concentrate on your ideal reader. Ensure that your book appeals to them on the inside and the outside. That is why you need to hire a book cover designer who can improve the visual appeal of your book so that you can devote your time and energy to what you do best: writing the best stories.

This article is dedicated to assisting you in creating the cover that your book deserves, so let’s get started.

Research Your Target Audience

Consider your target audience before you start thinking about what kind of design you want for your book. Your audiences are the ones who will be purchasing and reading your book, so it is critical to consider what will draw them in when designing a book cover.

Make a thorough assessment of what your target audience enjoys. Keep a list of potential readers you are familiar with to make this process easier. If you already have an email list, select the most dedicated subscribers to your cause if you have a few close friends or colleagues that enjoy your genre, including them on your list.

You can also look for top reviewers from similar authors and message them to see if they would be kind enough to assist you in exchange for a free copy of your book. If you don’t have any reliable contacts in your network, you can always search online.

Find Inspiration for Your Design 

It is unnecessary to delegate your creative tasks to your professional collaborators simply because you are working with them. Remember, this is your book, so it’s a good idea to come to the designer with some clear ideas of what you’d like it to look like.  

Find book covers within your category that inspire you and spend a few minutes looking at them. After all, it’s your book, and you’ll want to have an idea in mind about what style of cover would be appropriate for your subject matter or storyline before you begin.

Once you understand what is currently available on the market, your next step will be to identify a designer capable of working within the parameters of industry trends while also creating something unique and suited to your book.

Find the Best Cover Designer 

This step is the quickest and most straightforward one in the procedure. There are thousands of designers available, each with their unique style and level of experience. There are even marketplace sites dedicated to author services, with book cover designers and illustrators on hand to put their artistic talents to work for the author.

Although there are many good book cover designers out there, finding one who is the right fit for your project might be challenging to come by. When selecting book cover designers, there are five points to consider:

• Agreeableness: You must determine if the designer “fits” you. Share your vision and see if the designer has the same opinion. You must feel comfortable talking to them.
• Level of Expertise: What are the designers’ abilities? Have they previously worked on the same genre as yours? Do they have good reviews from their clients?
• Timeline: How long will it take to deliver? Does it fit your timeframe?
• Price: How much are they charging. Is their service cost within your budget?
• Audience Appeal: Would your audience like the designs? Reach out to your audience and get their opinion.

Hire Your Book Cover Designer 

Once you have made all the considerations, it is time to make a final selection and initiate the hiring process. At this time, there should be no doubt about who is the perfect choice for your fantasy book cover. You should choose the designer who has been the most responsive if you are torn between two or more candidates (or pick your favorite).  

Any of your high-potential employees will do a fantastic job because you already know how talented all designers are. Alternatively, if you have the resources, you may hire multiple designers and see which design comes out the best. 

Some pointers you may want to keep in mind while hiring a fantasy book cover designer for your book: 

• Don’t let yourself get caught up with trends. Create a cover that will appeal to the people reading it.
• Before you begin, make a list of potential readers who can share their unbiased opinion.
• Make a list of novels that inspire you.
• You can pay for a premium service or choose from a list of freelancers.
• When you hire a designer, treat them as if they are the experts. Consider what they have to say. Don’t put them on the spot. You’ve chosen a professional; now it’s time to respect their judgment.
• Select a designer that understands and supports your vision for your book.
• Try not to be concerned about the price or the timeline, but consider them.
• Create a list of ten excellent designers, cut them down to two or three, and then reach out to your readers for their opinion.
• When in doubt, consult with your target audience.

The Bottom Line

As mentioned above, it isn’t easy to overstate the significance of a well-designed book cover in attracting readers. The unfortunate reality is that cover design is a component of self-publishing a book that many authors find challenging to master. People have successfully dealt with this issue by hiring professional book cover designers to help them out. In most cases, this is a simple and highly effective approach; if you communicate effectively with your designer, the odds are good that you will end up with a wonderfully created cover that accurately portrays your book.