Many authors who publish their work independently have editing, cover design, and book publicity services top of mind. But excellent book design is also crucial to a professional presentation of your work. When readers pick up a book and consider buying it, or when a reviewer reads it, an interior layout that's neat and easy to read is essential. Self-published titles compete against ones from traditional publishers with design and marketing support. To put your work on an equal footing, you need to match them in many areas, and design is one. First impressions can be made or broken.

Good book design goes beyond looking nice; it's about readability and a concise presentation. If you've ever tried to read a poorly designed book, you probably recall the frustration. When you come across mistakes or rough spots, people can lose respect for the author's content regardless of its intelligence. It's why giving your book the benefit of professional content preparation services is essential. When you have them, you'll be competitive with traditionally published books that benefit from the resources of the publisher's in-house capabilities. They make a noticeable improvement.

Make sure you approach the process of book design professionally. It's wise to have a written agreement describing the services and what you'll pay for them, including the project deadline. If you make arrangements casually, it can result in miscommunications that may be stressful to resolve. Most good book designers are working on more than one project, and you want your due date to be honored. Because you'll be working closely with the designers at times, pay attention to your rapport before signing on the dotted line. You want a collaborator who relates well to you and your book.

The cover design is one of the most crucial aspects of preparing your book. It will be the first thing buyers see if you produce and sell physical copies of your book. Thumbnail size images of your cover also appear prominently on the pages of online booksellers. You need an eye-catching design that relates to your book and its topic. You may prefer something abstract that is visually impactful or a literal representation of your book's content. For example, if you've written a book on gardening, showing images of gorgeous flowers will undoubtedly attract attention and help spark sales.