The Cover MATTERS!

Don’t let the cliché, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ sway you. Everything is judged by its cover, whether it’s an object or a person! The presentation of a product for sale is important.  If you’ve ever been attracted to a particular product while shopping, 9 out of 10 times it had everything to do with the presentation.  However, the contents are equally important, but this article will focus on what’s on the outside. 

I went to a small business workshop a few months ago and the instructor recommended a book by Paco Underhill, WHY WE BUY.   It’s worth the read and it’s available in audio book.  It was helpful and reinforced aspects of marketing that I already knew.  As an independent publisher/author, I devote as much time to choosing a cover as I do to writing.  Without a cover that represents the essence of your story, you are simply nailing your foot in the “No Name Brand,” market.  I think we all have a sense of how people feel about “No Name Brand” products….low grade, cheap, imitation…you get the idea. 

When your cover has the presence of attracting the naked eye, the odds are, they will move in and investigate the product.   If the Blurb grabs them, you caught one! However, you had to get their attention first!  It took two weeks to find the cover for IN THE VALLEY OF MUD AND WORMS, but I knew it was ‘the one’ when I saw it. It represented the character and the story, but you wouldn’t know until you read it. I was not as lucky with finding a cover for NO STRAYS ALLOWED, so I illustrated it myself. The optical illusion tricks the eye to think that something is wrong.  The effect …you move in closer to see if your eyes can correct the error, but there is none. It’s effective because the potential customer interacts with the product.  Finally, the cover for THIN SKIN SOUL PINNED took three mind-numbing weeks to find, but it was worth it! 

You can purchase In The Valley of Mud and Worms at the following link: 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Valley-Mud-And-Worms/dp/097941721X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371073703&sr=8-1&keywords=in+the+valley+of+mud+and+worms

So by all means, judge a book by its cover.  It is something we do unconsciously and it plays a major factor into what we buy.  Also, I could have easily included examples of covers that aren’t the best representation of a book, but it is not my desire to muddy anyone’s hard work. Instead, I will provide an avenue where you can obtain photos that will improve your chances of finding the PERFECT cover!  Bigstock.com is an excellent site and one of the easiest to use.  http://bigstock.com

Marketing a product is not an easy task.  The next time you go shopping, think about why you buy something.  I am interested to hear your thoughts on this subject. 

You can purchase Thin Skin Soul Pinned at the following link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=thin+skin+soul+pinned

From My Lips To Your Ears

I had an interesting vegetarian style lunch over the Veterans Day weekend and I would like to share it with my readers. Everyone loves a good sandwich and many love Bacon, but not everyone can eat it.  So, I used morning griller vegetarian bacon, but you can use turkey.

Veggie-Bacon Sandwich

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp oil

 

 1 tsp butter

 

Spinach (handful)

 

Morning Griller, bacon

 

Pillsbury French bread (freshly baked taste better)

 

Swiss cheese

 

Utensils

 

Frying pan

 

Spatula

 

Directions

 

Bake, Pillsbury French bread.

 

Add oil in a pan on low heat, sate Morning Griller bacon in for 1 minute on each side on low heat, add 1 tsp butter, and then add spinach.  Stir until the spinach has steamed, and continue cooking for 2 minutes on medium heat. Slice an opening in the side of the French bread and insert the ingredients.

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For starters, much of what we try in society is based on a recommendation from someone we know.   Nowadays with the internet, we rely on reviews when deciding to make purchases.  I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a laggard when it comes to the latest gadgets.   So, I rely on reviews when deciding on making a purchase.  

 

There is a science to everything we do and it includes shopping.  Teams of scientist have dedicated studies to learn how and why we buy.  Though there are many aspects that go into marketing a product, presentation plays a big part in the process.  During my journey of making my book ready for print, I developed a newfound appreciation for what it takes to make a product attractive to the public.  The audience plays crucial role in considering packaging.   For example, the cover of my children’s book, IN THE VALLEY OF MUD AND WORMS is visually appealing to parents and children. 

It took me awhile to find the perfect fit but it was worth the effort.   So, the next time you buy a product think about why you made that choice.  Reflecting on your actions can aide you in presentation of your own business ventures.

 

I am curious, why do you buy a product that is not a necessity?