What key components go on the back cover of your book?
I recently saw a book cover diagram on Pinterest. It showed the back cover, spine and front cover with margins, and placement of elements. Overall, I agreed with the image. However, the diagram’s back cover repeated the book title, subtitle and author’s name. This caught my eye. Although it’s one way to do a back cover, I learned something different.
Many years ago, I read, Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual. There’s an excellent back cover diagram that still I follow and recommend today. He said: “Now you need an arresting headline addressed to potential buyers. … Do not simply repeat the title here; do not bore the potential buyer. You have already printed the title on the front.” In other words, write a very short compelling headline to attract readers. This approach works for any genre.
What do readers see on the back cover?
After the headline, a potential buyer will read the book description. Poynter emphasizes the importance of conciseness: “Concisely (in two to four sentences) state what the book is about. What will the reader gain?” Writing a book description, sometimes called a synopsis, can be challenging. I’ve worked with many authors who find this task difficult, so I often recommend Best Page Forward for professionally written descriptions.
Testimonials and endorsements
Adding testimonials or endorsements to the back cover is a great way to impress readers and potential buyers. I separate the testimonials from the book description by using a rule or extra space. Design-wise, I’ll enhance the endorsements with color, font or size. For more advice on gathering reviews, check out author David Wogahn, who says, “testimonials sell books.” I recommend his book, The Book Review Companion.
A different design idea
Philanthropy expert, Carol Weisman’s book, Becoming One of the Grateful Dead took a unique design approach. I was surprised and delighted when she had me design her covers and described her specific idea: The author’s photo is placed in the center with a large thought bubble above containing a two-sentence enticing hook. That was it!
Children’s example
When designing a children’s book, it’s important to make the back cover visually appealing. I used the primary character on the back cover of Savannah’s Savings Jar by Chelsea Addison. Her friendly and engaging illustration was reused from one of the interior pages, offering a cost-effective yet captivating design solution for the author.
Variety
I became curious about the other books on my shelf and noticed a wide range of back cover styles. Some feature only testimonials, while others, often older books, provide just a description with no eye-catching headline. A few focus entirely on images.
Other back cover elements
In addition to headlines, descriptions, and endorsements, here are other essential items to consider for the back cover:
- Category / genre
- Barcode with ISBN
- Book price
- Publisher’s name / logo and URL and/or social media
- City, State
Final Thoughts
Designing a book’s back cover is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about strategically presenting elements that will draw readers in and ultimately drive sales. Whether you follow traditional guidelines or experiment with creative layouts, always focus on engaging your audience and clearly conveying what your book has to offer. Remember, the back cover is your final pitch to the reader—make it count!
