Great writing doesn’t matter if no one picks up the book. And the #1 reason a reader scrolls past you? A bad cover. We’ve designed hundreds of covers. We’ve seen the mistakes that quietly kill sales—even when the book inside is fantastic. Here’s what to avoid (and how to fix it). 1. Designing for yourself, not your reader Biggest mistake by far. You’re proud of your book. You want the cover to reflect your taste. But the cover isn’t for you. It’s for your reader—and your read