The Biggest Book Cover Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Sales

The Biggest Book Cover Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Sales (And How to Fix Them)

They say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but let’s be honest—readers do it all the time! Your book cover is your first impression, and in today’s competitive market, a bad cover design can significantly hurt your sales.

As an author, your story might be amazing, but if your cover isn’t attracting readers, they may never get the chance to read it. In this post, we’ll go over the biggest book cover mistakes authors make and how you can fix them to boost your book’s visibility and sales.

1. Unprofessional Design That Screams “Amateur”

A book cover designed without professional skills or a clear creative vision can instantly make your book look self-published in the worst way possible. Readers may assume the writing inside is just as unpolished as the cover.

Common Signs of an Unprofessional Cover:

 Overcrowded with too many elements.
 Poor-quality images or pixelation.
 Basic, default fonts.
 No alignment or structure in layout.

How to Fix It:

Hire a professional book cover designer. Investing in a well-designed cover can increase your book’s credibility and appeal to more readers.
Use high-resolution images that don’t look blurry or stretched.
Keep it clean and simple—a cluttered cover confuses potential buyers.

Pro Tip: A professional book cover designer knows how to balance visuals, typography, and colors to create a cover that resonates with your audience.

2. Genre Confusion: Your Cover Doesn’t Match Your Book’s Content

Your book cover should instantly signal what genre your book belongs to. If a reader can’t tell whether your book is a romance, thriller, or fantasy, they won’t take the risk of buying it.

Examples of Genre Confusion:

 A horror novel with a lighthearted cartoon illustration.
 A romance novel with dark, gritty colors and a crime-thriller font.
 A sci-fi book with an overly elegant script font meant for poetry.

How to Fix It:

Research your genre. Look at bestsellers in your category to see common design elements.
Use the right color palette, imagery, and typography to match the mood of your book.
Get feedback from potential readers. Ask if your cover looks like it belongs in your genre.

Pro Tip: A book cover designer who specializes in your genre can help ensure your cover meets reader expectations while still standing out.

3. Poor Typography Choices That Ruin Readability

Your book title needs to be clear and readable at any size, whether it’s in a full-sized print edition or a tiny thumbnail on Amazon. Bad font choices can ruin your book’s readability and make it look unprofessional.

Common Typography Mistakes:

Overly decorative fonts that are hard to read.
Tiny font sizes that disappear in thumbnails.
Too many fonts (e.g., mixing five different styles).
Wrong font pairing that doesn’t match the genre.

How to Fix It:

Choose bold, readable fonts that look professional.
Ensure readability at different sizes. Always test your cover as a thumbnail.
Limit your font selection to two complementary fonts.

Pro Tip: A professional book cover designer understands font psychology and will select typography that fits both the genre and the tone of your book.

4. Overly Complex or Cluttered Book Cover Designs

Less is often more when it comes to book covers. If your design has too many elements, it can overwhelm readers instead of attracting them.

Signs of a Cluttered Cover:

 Too many characters, objects, or symbols in one design.
 Backgrounds that are too busy, making text unreadable.
 Multiple images are poorly blended together.

How to Fix It:

Focus on one main visual element. A single striking image is often more effective.
Use negative space wisely. Let the design “breathe” instead of cramming in too much.
Ensure text contrasts with the background. Your title should always be easy to read.

Pro Tip: A book cover designer understands visual hierarchy and knows how to highlight key elements without making the cover feel overcrowded.

5. Using Generic or Overused Stock Images in your Book Cover

Many self-published books look alike because they use the same generic stock photos. If readers see a cover that looks too familiar, they might assume it’s just another copycat book.

Common Stock Image Mistakes:

 Overused images that appear on multiple book covers.
 Poorly cropped or stretched stock photos.
 Generic imagery that doesn’t relate directly to the story.

How to Fix It:

Use unique, custom-designed artwork whenever possible.
While using stock images, modify them creatively to make them unique.
Invest in high-quality, exclusive images that aren’t seen everywhere.

Pro Tip: A custom book cover designer ensures your cover is original, eye-catching, and not another stock photo cliché.

6. Ignoring the Importance of Branding (For Series & Authors)

For authors writing book series, maintaining a consistent theme across multiple covers helps with branding and reader recognition.

Branding Mistakes:

 Book covers that look completely different across a series.
 No connection between book cover and author brand.
 Inconsistent fonts, colors, or styles.

How to Fix It:

Maintain a uniform style for all books in a series (color schemes, fonts, layout).
Work with a professional book cover designer to create a recognizable author brand.
Use similar branding across your website, social media, and marketing materials.

Pro Tip: Readers love visually cohesive book series. If your covers look consistent and professional, they’re more likely to buy the whole series!

Final Thoughts: Get Your Book Cover Right & Boost Your Sales

Your cover is your #1 marketing tool—if it doesn’t look professional, it won’t sell. Avoiding these common mistakes and working with a professional book cover designer can dramatically improve your book’s visibility and success.

Key Takeaways:

Invest in professional book cover design. It pays off!
Make sure your cover matches your genre.
Keep typography readable and visually appealing.
Avoid cluttered layouts—less is more!
Use high-quality, unique images.
Maintain branding consistency for book series.

By fixing these mistakes, you’ll increase reader interest, improve book sales, and elevate your author brand. Don’t let a bad cover hold your book back!