There’s no doubt about it – a great ebook cover is an essential key to selling your ebook. If you’re not a graphic designer and you know how important an ebook cover design is to the success of your ebook – then you’re got a problem.
Fortunately -the web has a solution. It’s called “crowdsourcing.”
Crowdsourcing is a web 2.0 term coined to describe the process of allowing hundreds of graphic design artists to “compete” for the chance to create an ebook cover for you.
If you don’t have an established relationship with a professional graphic artist – then crowdsourcing is probably the best way to make this valuable connection with an up and coming graphic designer.
Notice how I qualified the above statement by using the term “up and coming graphic designer”. There are many graphic designers who HATE crowdsourcing with the passion of a thousand blood thirsty pirates.
The reason some graphic artists HATE crowdsourcing is that it reduces the participating artists to performing work on “spec”. Working on “spec” means that the graphic artist only gets paid for his/her work if you choose their design. It’s possible for a designer to spend several hours designing a cover for your ebook – only to have you choose another artist’s submission.
Now – as an ebook author – you may be thinking, “Hey! I’m working on spec as well. I mean – I don’t get paid for my writing work unless people purchase my ebook.”
If you’re thinking that – good for you. That’s a very “entrepreneurial” point of view and one that will serve you well as an ebook author.
For the record, “entrepreneurial” thinking seems to “clash” with artistic gifts so don’t say that to any graphic artist who chastises you for using a crowdsourcing site to create your ebook cover. Love the artists for what they are – artists not business people.
How to crowdsource your ebook cover design:
The way crowdsourcing works is you post your project to the site and designers submit their work. The “winning” design is the one who gets paid. You determine upfront how much that payment is. Of course, the more you offer to pay – the more artists you’ll have competing for your ebook cover.
Before you post a “contest” on any of the various crowdsourcing design sites – here’s what you can expect:
1. You will find various levels of skill and talent at any given site.
There is no filter on who can enter your design contest. Some designers are there because they are gifted graphic designers but just getting started. Others are there because they are gifted graphic designers and they want to build their client list. Some who are there are not gifted – and aren’t even really graphic designers. They are there because they happen to own a pirated copy of Photoshop 4.0 and they are in need of quick and easy cash.
2. You will need to know the specifics about your target audience.
Is your target audience men or women? Young and hip? Old and sickly? The more information you can give the participating artists about your project – the better job they can do interpreting what your ebook cover design needs are.
Remember – these people are working on spec – so by posting a contest which basically says “I have no idea what I really want – I’ll know it when I see it” is not going to attract the brightest and best graphic artists to your crowdsourcing contest.
Give as much direction as possible in your contest description. If the cover NEEDS to match your website – be sure to include a link to your website so participants can see what you’re already using. If you don’t have a website yet for your ebook – let them know that as well.
3. More often than not – you’ll get exactly what you asked for in your contest description.
I say this because a while ago, I had a client who posted a contest on a crowdsourcing site. She was very specific about what she wanted in her ebook cover design. She specified cool colors and wanted a “grunge” look for the cover. She then contacted me in tears because she absolutely HATED every design submitted in her contest – and she was going to have to pick – and pay – a winner.
In the end- the proper description of what she REALLY wanted could only be described as “warm and fuzzy” not “cool and grungy.”
In her case – she contacted me BEFORE the contest closed – so she was able to give feedback to the artists and let them know she hadn’t communicated what she wanted clearly.
If you launch a design contest – and see that everything is WAY off the mark – be sure to communicate with the participating designers.
One of the GREAT things about crowdsourcing is the ability to work with these designers as the contest is going on. Many artists WANT your feedback. They want to know what you like – and don’t like – about their design. Their business is pleasing clients – and many of them are participating in these contests to win new clients!
4. You’ll get much more quality than you paid for on your ebook cover design by using crowdsourcing design sites.
There’s no doubt about it – when you use crowdsourcing design sites to design the cover of your ebook – you’ll be getting a lot more “quality” than you will any other way. Just remember to respect these gifted artists time and talent – which they’re sharing freely with you in hopes of getting paid. When you pick a winner – and if the cover helps propel your ebook to best seller status – be sure to write a glowing testimonials for the artist. It’s the least you can do.
Keep in mind as you price your ebook cover design contest on the various crowdsourcing sites that you’re asking for a design which in the end will be making YOU a handsome profit.
