Who do you think makes the best Ebook covers?

eBook Cover Creator | Free Online eCover Design is an extremely easy to use point-and-click online software to create ebook covers without the need for expensive software like photoshop and plugins to create stunning 3D eCovers

I use fiverr,
some good designers over there

Fiverr is the place for this kind of graphics work. it will cost only $5 but you will have to make sure you get the right gig.

Fiverr is the worst place to get your book covers. Most are using unauthorized copyright images that can end up getting you sued.

Title Design: Make your title a different color than your background.Add effects like a drop shadow.Make the title large and use a nice bold font.
Art and Photos: Make sure all images or artwork you use are 300 dpi.Beware of copyright. Think about going custom.

Branding: When you're selecting the photographs, titles, fonts and background for your eBook cowl, you will need to contemplate what you presently have in situ in your business

Study what Works: Start staring at what's presently on the market in your genre. What pictures draw you in? What styles flip you off? begin taking notes. whenever you're close to a store raise yourself these queries and jot titles of books that have covers you wish and why.

Beware the Template: Many web marketers have started merchandising Photoshop and gimpiness templates they claim can build it super simple for you to form knowledgeable eBook cowl and skip "high fees" related to knowledgeable designer. These templates do manufacture pretty covers.

Give me a shout. I can design one for you.

Thanks

Huw
skype - huwboy2

I can't believe Fiverr is being recommended. I don't think national bestsellers had their cover work done by some guy on Fiverr.

Honestly there are far too many good designers to pick out the best one. I've seen a lot of good ones on this forum.

You're right. They are cheaper but you have no surety that they won't get you into any copyright issues later on.

Thanks for the recommendation, Lance, I hope you're well.

I've not been around much, so I'm not sure what the marketplace around WF is like (for buyers and vendors) - however, I do see some of the same answers from a couple of years back.

If anyone is going to use Fiverr - caveat emptor... ask for samples, and make sure you ask for proof of where the photos used in your cover come from - typically, a licensed stock photo from Bigstock, iStock etc will set a designer back at least $2-$3... you can imagine it's tempting for someone charging $5-$10 to cut corners and use images they find on Google. They might get lucky and find some Creative Commons images that might entitle you to use them in commercial work - however, even Creative Commons images have limitations (attribution, lack of model release etc). With that said, you might get a good deal on there, someone who is looking to build up their portfolio in a pool of people who, despite not wanting to pay much, will pay.

Then, there's the question of 'who is best'.

That is definitely subjective, and depends on what you require.

- Good
- Fast
- Cheap

You know how the saying goes...

But more important... does the designer understand the purpose of the cover? Will the cover do its job?

Ultimately, the cover has one purpose... to make people buy your book. Whether it's sitting on a shelf in a bookstore, hidden among other books in a grid served up by an Amazon search, or on your website among your webcopy.

Some will advise you to find the cheapest designer - someone cheap often can't spend the time thinking about what's best for you... they have to move on to the next job, and the next, and the next because:

a) everyone likes cheap, so they're busy

b) they've probably got 30 people all waiting (sometimes longer than promised, because that's how it goes)

Often, the kind of designer above can't sustain the workload that being cheap brings them and either:

1) gives up designing because it's too much hassle for too little pay

2) lets people down and eventually loses their customers and their reputation

Very few people can sustain a living on $15 ebook covers and $97 salespage graphics.

The question I have is - what is a designer who offers 'design for marketers' doing competing on price? If they understand marketing (they should, if they're offering that service), that's the last thing they should be competing on.

Many people treat their site graphics (and layout) as an afterthought, after getting their copy they look for a designer 2 days from launch and want to pay the absolute minimum, saving maybe 4-5x the cost of their own product... you can get results this way if you're not expecting many sales - but saving $200 - $250 up front can cost you in the long term.

This is true for anything your potential customer sees... website, book cover, flyers etc. Treat your cover like it's possibly the only point of contact between you and the prospective buyer.

That's why Brent Turner (formerly ecoverfrog) and Sean Lowery (minisitegraphics) *ARE* the best in this market - they don't design stuff to be pretty, they design it to SELL.

I'm pretty good, but I'm not taking on new clients at the moment... only existing clients and direct referrals.

*** Also, sorry for the bump - this came through as a google alert and I didn't notice the last post date ***

I do outsource for graphic artists from oDesk and i can assure you there are talents there.
You just need to do your recruitment/vetting right and all that follows will be a value for your $$$.
All the best!