Did you know that it takes less than 3 seconds for a reader to decide if your e-book is worth reading or not? Three seconds is about the length of time it has taken you to read the previous sentence. I think you will agree with me, 3 seconds is not a lot of time in which to engage your reader.
Your e-book may be full of riveting content, but if it doesn’t have a hook to engage your reader, then all your eloquent prose will be for nothing.
What is a hook? I hear you ask. A hook is something that attracts your reader’s attention and will compel them to delve further into your e-book to see what you have to offer. And remember, you only have 3 seconds for your hook to work.
Three seconds… tick, tick, tick. That is all the time you have to entice your reader into reading your e-book. If you are employing the same tired techniques from yesteryear to hook your readers, then the chances are you’ll hear click, click, click. Your readers will have flown never to return.
Whilst one should never judge a book by its cover, readers of your work will, however, make value judgments of your e-book offering based on title and imagery. A long complex title on a blank page will most certainly drive away your readers.
The key to engaging readers is to use a short title of fifty characters or less superimposed over an attractive image. The image must relate to the title and convey some sense of your e-book’s content.
It is a fact of life that imagery plays a vital role in how we perceive the world around us. Images, as they say, can convey a thousand words in the blink of an eye. And that is why a good front cover on your e-book is more likely to engage your reader than a blank page or a dull and unrelated image that bears no relationship to the title or content of your e-book.
Using symbolic imagery for your e-book cover is fine, but do not make it too complex. When creating your e-book cover, try to keep in mind that your readers will only give you 3 seconds in which to engage them. A complex image that doesn't strike a chord with your readers immediately will simply drive them away.
Some authors prefer to use expensive software to create attractive front covers for their e-books. E-book cover generators certainly add a touch of professionalism to your work. However, if your budget is limited, then you can use any number of open source e-book cover generators which are available on the Internet. Alternatively, you can also use existing software which is available on your computer.
For example, the e-book cover at the head of this article was created using Powerpoint and Paint, software that comes as standard with most PC’s. On this occasion I have used symbolic imagery to get my message across; the koala bear being a symbol of the bemusement experienced by most newbie authors as they struggle to understand the nuances of the e-book industry. The image is not 3D but it is attractive and endearing to those who want to know more about becoming a successful newbie e-book author.
A clear and succinct title accompanied by an attractive e-book cover is essential to your success as an e-book author. If you value the content of your e-book and want others to read it, then you might want to think about getting creative with your e-book covers.
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