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Small Business & Online Marketing
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Alternative Ways to Create Ebook Cover Images
Alternative Ways to Create Ebook Cover Imagesby Rick Hendershot, The Linknet Creative Resource LibraryWe've all seen those snappy ebook covers and software boxes that are supposed to represent digital products. Of course these images have nothing to do with the products themselves, since they are always downloaded in digital form. But they can be very important marketing tools. By some estimations an impressively designed cover or box graphic can increase product sales by up to 300%.
At least that's what the hypsters say. I think you would have to agree that the perception of quality and substance that comes with a professionally designed cover graphic can be very important when it comes to digital products, since you never really get to see or handle the products themselves. MaxCovers.com - This is another designer selling his services online. Max Rylski promises 72 hour turnaround and a price of just $149 for a complete "graphic bundle" that will let you outfit your dedicated ebook minisite. That includes the ebook cover in three sizes, header and footer panels, and a few other graphics thrown in for good measure. Sounds like a bargain to me, if you don't have the tools or imagination to do it yourself. Ebook Cover Software Ebook and Box Cover Creator - This software provides you with 25 generic templates into which you can import your own image. You then add your own title text and presto! you've got your cover. One reviewer was impressed by the fact that this product is relatively cheap, and was prepared to put up with its limitations. Price: $59.95. ECover Generator - This is another product brought to you by a well-known internet "guru" — in this case Armand Morin. The primary claim made for this product is that it does not need any other software (like PhotoShop) to function. It is a completely self-contained, dedicated cover generating application that comes with 25 graphics and 3 styles to choose from. I don't know if you can import more graphics into the program. I suspect you can, but it doesn't say so. This product is $97.00 — but only until midnight tonight! — and they will throw in hundreds of dollars worth of "valuable" free bonus gifts you'll be sure never to look at. Wait, one of the bonus gifts is 19 more images. You'll probably look at those since 25 isn't going to get you very far. Isn't marketing hype great. Cover Software Pro - This is a professional design tool that "... actually bridges the gap between beginners who are forced to use 'push button easy' solutions that are limited in function ability, and professionals who use tools such as Adobe Photoshop." For designers who are serious about making good looking covers and boxes, this is definitely the tool to have. Unfortunately, you need Photoshop, since this program is essentially just an extension (an "action script") to Photoshop — but a darned impressive one. Add your own images, your own special fonts, logos ... you name it. If you are comfortable with Photoshop, this is definitely the one to get. But you must have Photoshop! Price is $97.00. Jason Bradley is the creator of Cover Software Pro. He also throws in a bunch of useless ebooks and other "valuable" stuff. My advice... Lose the freebies Jason. You don't need them. Nobody wants this crap. You've been listening to too many gurus whose products are empty hype. FREE STUFF DEGRADES A GOOD PRODUCT. Other Reviews of Cover Software Pro: The Linknet Network is a library of resource materials spread across more than 25 websites and a number of blogs. You can place your link text on up to 50 pages spread out over at least 25 different sites for one small annual fee. For more information go to the Linknet Network website. |