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jmm
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 11:52 pm
Post subject: ebook covers
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Timely topic on ebook creation since I'm just ready to convert my book into a final pdf.
My question is:
I have a beautiful ebook cover in jpeg that a client created for me. I would like to use this cover. Can I use this for my pdf final version?
Is it necessary to use such a fancy cover (very colorful)? Maybe this needs to be used to presell on my website only. What do you think?
Thanks for the input,
Judy
www.menopause-tips.com |
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DatabaseDesigner
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:40 am
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Why not ?
I use a large version of my covers as the frontpage (index.html) along with the title and copyright notes for the eBook. |
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Charlie
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:16 pm
Post subject: Re: ebook covers
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Hello Judy.
| jmm wrote: | | I have a beautiful ebook cover in jpeg that a client created for me. I would like to use this cover. Can I use this for my pdf final version? |
I know your ebook might be very "real" to you (and you'd probably like your customers to think of it that way), but let's not get carried away here... 
PDF is just a way of making your "virtual" masterpiece readable by the masses. The cover is a graphic to help people visualise a more tangible product! The cover graphic will probably never be "shipped" with the PDF. It's a more a way of reassuring potential buyers than packaging.
| Quote: | | Is it necessary to use such a fancy cover (very colorful)? |
Having a happy, attractive person on the cover often works well.
Regardless, ebook covers work well in most areas. It's only marketing where they sometimes don't work quite as well as they used to.
Hope this helps,
Charlie.
_________________
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- Groucho Marx |
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onlineleben
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 4:02 pm
Post subject: Re: ebook covers
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| Charlie wrote: | It's a more a way of reassuring potential buyers than packaging.
....
ebook covers work well in most areas. It's only marketing where they sometimes don't work quite as well as they used to.
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Charlie, do you have any experience (split testing ?) on how an ebook sells
a) with cover
b) just with a link ?
Any insights are very much appreciated.
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Charlie
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:03 pm
Post subject: Re: ebook covers
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| onlineleben wrote: | Charlie, do you have any experience (split testing ?) on how an ebook sells
a) with cover
b) just with a link ? |
It's hardly scientific, but some time ago (a year?) I did promote a certain marketing ebook as an affiliate. At the time, the cover wasn't ready, so I just ran with a text link after a brief review.
Once the cover was available, I added this and clickthroughs increased. Sales CR seemed unaltered, but there were more sales as result of the extra clickthroughs.
Since then, I have heard others (who are merchants) saying that the ebook covers are now a little "overused" and have lost their appeal. I have not any numbers, since my marketing affiliate program revenues come from a very fragmented group of small traffic sources - hundreds of small sites, redirects and direct types. The samples are too small (and variable) to make much sense of, in most cases.
Away from marketing, I would guess covers carry more weight, since people are not so bombarded with them. Either way, I would still use an ebook cover as a merchant. Nothing to lose, and probably still something to gain.
Sorry can't be more specific,
Charlie.
_________________
"Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx |
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onlineleben
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Lea
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 8:14 am
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Our website sells quite a few ebooks - we also have a selection of "free" ebook downloads on offer.
Our experience is this:
--Of the free ebooks on offer on the website, those with links only receive almost no attention. Those with covers still receive lots of clicks and lots of downloads. HOWEVER, those with 3D covers are far more active than those with 2D covers. (almost 2-to-1)
-- Of the ebooks we sell, only two have 2D covers. The other 4 have 3D covers. The 3D covers outsell the other 2 hands down. I'm working on getting 3D covers made for them now. (more than 3-to-1)
-- When we promote the ebooks in our newsletter or in articles, then all sales are from just links only - no covers in our email newsletter or in a text-based article at all - and we make quite a few sales from these.
Just my two cents worth.
Lea |
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Charlie
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 11:07 am
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Lea,
What niche are you in, if you don't mind me asking?
I only ask, since I think ebook covers are not (quite) as effective as they once were for areas like "internet marketing", say.
Thanks,
Charlie.
_________________
"Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx |
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Lea
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 10:58 pm
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I run an ezine devoted to writers - how to write, how to improve your writing, how to increase impact/conflict in fiction, how to get an agent/publisher, how to get people to buy fiction books, how to do it better/correctly/etc, etc, etc...
So, our ebooks are also devoted specifically to the narrow niche of Fiction Writers and the specific needs of those people.
Lea |
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DatabaseDesigner
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 12:58 am
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Lea,
As I am also into eBooks; Could you please update yur profile so we all could see your site? That is a request also on behalf on the other participants here, I think. Would be nice to see your business.
I really enjoy this forum: There is a lot of really nice, friendly people participating here. In an earnest, helping modus, I would like to help some of you eBook writers a little. I recently bought some eBook cover software, it helps me making very nice 3D covers; see my site, www.databasedesign-resource.com, the Lectures section If anyone of you are really stuck on presenting your eBook, maybe I can help you with a coverlayout, free of charge, of course, I am thankful to many of you guys and girls here (yes Debs, absolutely you). If it doesn't take too much time, maybe I could help you out as a starter for your first book. |
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Charlie
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 11:03 am
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Hello again.
| Lea wrote: | | our ebooks are also devoted specifically to the narrow niche of Fiction Writers and the specific needs of those people. |
Sorry, I'm sure you've told us that before, but I'd forgotten.
Either that or the dreaded "deja lu" again.
I suppose yours is a special case in some ways. I would guess people interested in publishing (real?) books of their own might be particularly interested in "physical-looking" books.
Still, glad to see they're working for you.
| DatabaseDesigner wrote: | | Could you please update yur profile so we all could see your site? That is a request also on behalf on the other participants here, I think. Would be nice to see your business. |
I bet it would.
The problem is, many people (of which I am one) are not prepared to do it. This is "free" help (which you can heed or ignore as is your wont), but you have to draw the line somewhere.
Besides, when it comes to good examples, why not start with the sites you have bought from? They worked on you, so they must be doing something right.
| DatabaseDesigner wrote: | | If anyone of you are really stuck on presenting your eBook, maybe I can help you with a coverlayout |
That's a nice offer. Just watch out for the tidal wave.
All the best,
Charlie.
_________________
"Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx |
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DatabaseDesigner
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 12:46 pm
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No tidal wave, thank you: Just if you are desperate, Charlie 
But 3D covers looks great though. I don't understand how some sites can charge up to 100 $ to make you one single cover when software to do it cost from 30-60$ (I paid 60 for mine; well worth it) and it is it very easy to do it with the templates that follows most packages. |
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Lea
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 11:25 pm
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| Charlie wrote: | | I'm sure you've told us this before |
Yep - I'm pretty sure I have, too. But you're not expected to remember every member of the forum and everything about everyone, so it's no problem.
We also have plenty of non-fiction (real-life stuff) about writing fiction, oddly enough. Both genres sell very well - to OUR audience, anyway - but you're right. My little niche is filled with people who are using ebooks and the internet only as a way to further their "real" publishing careers, to establish an audience base, and to get the attention of the 'real' publishers.
| DatabaseDesigner wrote: | | But 3D covers looks great though. I don't understand how some sites can charge up to 100 $ to make you one single cover when software to do it cost from 30-60$ (I paid 60 for mine; well worth it) and it is it very easy to do it with the templates that follows most packages. |
When we began, we were on a really tight budget. We downloaded one of those 'freebie' 3D cover template packs. I happened to have Paint Shop Pro 7 installed, and we created covers ourselves. They came out looking quite professional. Some of the templates we used already had images of books or people or computers on them - we only needed to add text.
Since then, we've paid to have one made, and honestly, I think the freebies we struggled to make look better!
Lea |
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Lea
Joined:
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 11:33 pm
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| DatabaseDesigner wrote: | Lea,
As I am also into eBooks; Could you please update yur profile so we all could see your site? That is a request also on behalf on the other participants here, I think. Would be nice to see your business. |
When I first started in this forum, there was a case getting around where someone had actively stolen and copied someone else's thriving niche site. A couple of people advised that I remove any reference to the site, in the name of safety, but I'm starting to wonder about the logic behind it all now.
You see, I built the site for people to read, not to hide it from the world. And if anyone wants to copy 3 1/2 years of my work, what's to say that someone just cruising in from a Google search couldn't do that anyway?
Besides, we are not one of the "super affiliate" sites. We're just a little niche, so I'm thinking the safety measures might be a little unnecessary for us. We make enough to keep us running and turn a little profit. Hardly reason to panic about.
So here's our freebies index page:
http://www.fictionfactor.com/freebies.html
That page links to five differenty types of freebies, all donated by other authors and free ebook or software providers.
| Quote: | | I really enjoy this forum: There is a lot of really nice, friendly people participating here. In an earnest, helping modus, I would like to help some of you eBook writers a little. I recently bought some eBook cover software, it helps me making very nice 3D covers; see my site, www.databasedesign-resource.com, the Lectures section If anyone of you are really stuck on presenting your eBook, maybe I can help you with a coverlayout, free of charge, of course, I am thankful to many of you guys and girls here (yes Debs, absolutely you). If it doesn't take too much time, maybe I could help you out as a starter for your first book. |
That's a really nice offer. Do you believe in karma? You get back in life ten times what you give out to others.
Here's hoping your kindness is repaid ten-fold.
Lea |
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DatabaseDesigner
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 11:39 pm
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Actually, I am so satisfied with my 3D covers that I have taken the software into my site on an affiliate basis. This is really worth the money; at least to me. It produces exactly the results I'm looking for: One more worry gone....
Yeah, Lea; I think all is coming back in due time. That's why I like this forum; I someone was really stuck, I would try to help; others here has helped me...) |
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