5 Cover Design Mistakes That Cost Indie Authors Sales (And How to Fix Them)

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 reader needs to recognize the genre and emotional tone in one glance.

Fix: Look at the top 20 books in your genre. Identify common visual threads—typeface, color, imagery. Your cover doesn’t have to copy them, but it does need to feel like it belongs on the same shelf.

2. Using the wrong fonts

Bad fonts scream "DIY." So do good fonts used badly.

Common sins:

• Script fonts that are hard to read

• Mixing too many typefaces

• No hierarchy—everything is the same size and weight

Fix: Stick to 1–2 fonts max. Prioritize readability. Make sure your title is the visual anchor. If your name is bigger than your title and you’re not famous… fix it.

3. Treating the cover like a summary

Your cover is not your blurb. It doesn’t need to show everything.

Cramming in too many symbols, background elements, character poses—it just turns into noise.

Fix: Focus on a single concept or mood. One strong visual idea does more than a cluttered montage. Think clarity, not complexity.

4. Ignoring thumbnail view

Most readers see your book first as a tiny square on Amazon. If your cover doesn’t hold up at thumbnail size, it won’t convert.

Fix: Zoom out. Shrink your design to 150 px wide. Can you still read the title? Does the image still make sense? If not—adjust.

5. Hiring the wrong designer

We’ve seen covers made by talented graphic designers… that completely missed the mark for books. Book cover design is a specific skill. It’s not the same as branding, web design, or digital art.

Fix: Hire someone who understands the market, genre expectations, and publishing platforms. Ask to see covers they’ve done in your genre. Ask about print specs and distribution.

Bottom line

Your book cover doesn’t need to be flashy. It needs to be strategic.

It’s not just art—it’s a tool to grab attention and drive clicks.

If you want a cover that sells your book, we can help.

We know what works, we won’t waste your time, and we actually reply to emails.

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