This document provides tips for designing effective covers for digital snippets. It recommends keeping designs simple with minimal fonts, colors, and imagery that communicate the key message or lesson in 1-4 words. Covers should entice readers based on their expectations for the genre. Reference the market and check resources for inspiration, but develop unique designs. The cover is critical for sales and should set the right tone for the reader's first impression.

1. Thoughts on Effective Design
for Snippet Writers

2. Head of Design
Ben De Rienzo ben@thesnippetapp.com
@derienzo777
Changing the way we share
stories, ideas and expertise

3. The Snippet Design
Manifesto
Have the most beautiful and engaging
platform on the planet.
Every Snippet can be beautiful.

5. First Thoughts
Cover design is critical for sales
Poor design can repel and confusion
Consider investing in professional design

6. Deconstructing a
Snippet’s Design

7. Deconstructing a Snippet’s Design
Cover TOC Header Chapter Header Chapter Cover

8. Design with the
Store in Mind

9. Bold Title.
Legible Name.
Think Small.

10. What’s the
Takeaway?

11. What’s the Takeaway?
Even if you cover a lot of different things, what
is the one constant in your Snippet?
What is the lesson, or message you are
passing onto your reader?
Summarize your story or Snippet in one
sentence, or in 4 words?
Communicate that with the cover.

12. Set the tone
The cover is the reader’s first impression
of what the Snippet is all about

13. Texture Warm Organic
Comfy Rich Earthy
Clean Cold Polished
Hard Fresh
Modern Sterile

14. What should a
reader feel if they
only saw your cover?

15. Keep it Simple

16. http://bookcoverarchive.com
• COLOR
• FONTS
• IMAGERY
Simplicity in:

17. FONTS
• easy to read
• minimal font palette
• reliable fonts
Simplicity in:

18. Some Reliable Fonts:
DIN
AVENIR
BASKERVILLE
TRAJAN PRO
http://booksat.scarlettrugers.com/bookcoverdesign/what-font-or-type-
faces-should-i-use-on-my-book-cover/

19. Free Fonts?
http://theultralinx.com/2013/07/
top-50-free-fonts.html

20. COLOR
• great contrast
• minimal color palette
• no gradients
Simplicity in:

21. Color Theory
http://abt.cm/1ah4dN
Color Psychology

22. IMAGERY
• doesn’t interfere with legibility
• communicate much with little
• represents overall theme
Simplicity in:

23. Photo resources
Stock: Veer, Getty, Fotolia, iStockphoto
Editors: Photoshop, Gimp, Pixlr,
Aviary, Picnik

24. Check Out the Market

25. Check Out the Market
• Look at books in your genre
• How do they use/choose imagery, text & fonts?
• If a reader is looking for something in a genre, they
might be browsing covers based on their expectations

26. Good Designers Copy,
Great Designers Steal
—Picasso

27. Additional Resources
http://booksat.scarlettrugers.com/bookcoverdesign/
http://www.chipkidd.com/gallery.html
Info/Tips
Amazing
Designers http://mattlehmanstudio.com/Publishing
http://thefutureofink.com/killer-ebook-cover/
Blogs http://bookcoverarchive.com/
http://bookcoversanonymous.blogspot.com/

28. thesnippetapp.com