You can pour your heart into writing a book, spend months (or years) perfecting your manuscript, and still watch sales fall flat. Why? Because readers never even gave your story a chance.
It’s not always the writing that holds a book back. More often than not, it’s the cover.
Your book cover is the first thing a reader sees, and if it doesn’t connect instantly, they’ll scroll past to the next title. Unfortunately, many self-published authors make simple but deadly mistakes with their covers — mistakes that can sabotage sales before a reader even clicks “Look Inside.”
In this post, I’ll walk you through 5 common book cover mistakes that turn readers away, and how to avoid them so your book has the best chance of success.
Mistake 1: Hard-to-Read Fonts
A common issue I see on DIY covers is fonts that look stylish but are impossible to read, especially in small thumbnail form on Amazon.
Imagine scrolling through dozens of book listings. If the title looks fuzzy, overly decorative, or blends into the background, you won’t stop to figure it out — you’ll just keep scrolling.
Why this kills sales:
✦ Readers can’t identify the book at a glance.
✦ It looks unprofessional and lowers trust.
How to fix it:
Choose fonts that are clean, genre-appropriate, and readable at both full size and thumbnail size. A professional designer understands how typography guides the eye and makes sure your title and author name stand out.
Mistake 2: Cluttered Design
Another mistake authors make is trying to put everything from their story onto the cover — multiple characters, settings, symbols, and a tagline. The result is a cover that looks busy and confusing.
Great covers are like great billboards. They make one bold statement that sticks with the viewer.
Why this kills sales:
✦ Readers can’t tell what the book is about.
✦ A cluttered design looks amateur and overwhelming.
How to fix it:
Less is more. A professional cover often has one strong focal point — a single striking image, clean typography, and a design that sparks curiosity without giving everything away.
Mistake 3: Wrong Genre Signals
Every genre has visual cues that readers subconsciously recognize. A fantasy cover often has rich colors, dramatic typography, and epic landscapes. A romance cover might feature soft lighting, warm tones, and intimate imagery. A thriller usually leans on darker palettes, sharp fonts, and bold contrasts.
When a book cover doesn’t match the genre, readers get confused — or worse, they assume the book isn’t what they’re looking for.
Why this kills sales:
✦ Misleading signals cause the wrong audience to click.
✦ The right audience never finds your book.
How to fix it:
Study the top-selling covers in your genre. Notice the patterns in colors, typography, and imagery. A professional designer will know these conventions and help you stand out while still fitting within reader expectations.
Mistake 4: Poor Image Quality or Stocky Feel
Low-resolution images, awkward Photoshop edits, or unedited stock photos are another common trap. Even if readers can’t articulate what’s wrong, they can sense when something looks “off.”
The worst offenders are covers that look like clip art or use the exact same stock images as dozens of other books. That instantly signals “amateur” to potential readers.
Why this kills sales:
✦ Readers assume the writing quality matches the low-quality design.
✦ Your book looks like countless others.
How to fix it:
A professional designer doesn’t just grab stock photos. They blend, retouch, and manipulate images so they look unique and cohesive. High-resolution images ensure your cover looks sharp on screens and in print.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Print Specs
Even if an ebook cover looks fine, many authors get tripped up when creating paperback versions. Print requires precise dimensions, spine width, bleed settings, and high-resolution files.
If those details aren’t right, Amazon KDP or IngramSpark will reject your file — or worse, your printed book will arrive with misaligned text and blurry graphics.
Why this kills sales:
✦ Delays in publishing because files get rejected.
✦ Poor-quality print books that turn off buyers.
How to fix it:
Work with a designer who understands technical requirements and delivers files that are 100% ready for print and ebook. This saves you frustration and ensures your book looks polished everywhere it appears.
How to Avoid All of These Mistakes
The simplest solution is to work with a professional book cover designer. Instead of struggling with fonts, images, and specs, you get a cover that:
✔ Speaks directly to your genre’s audience
✔ Stands out visually among competitors
✔ Meets all ebook and print requirements
✔ Builds credibility and reader trust instantly
Your book deserves to be judged on the quality of its writing, not dismissed because of a weak cover.
Mini FAQ: Book Cover Mistakes
✦ Do fonts really matter that much?
Yes. Fonts carry emotion, tone, and readability. A font that looks great in fantasy might be totally wrong for a romance.
✦ Can’t I just use free stock photos?
You can, but the risk is that other authors are using the same image. Without professional editing, your book won’t look unique.
✦ What’s the best way to test a cover?
Compare it side-by-side with the top 10 books in your genre. If it doesn’t look like it belongs among them, it probably won’t sell.
Ready to Avoid These Mistakes?
If you want a cover that grabs attention, matches your genre, and sets your book up for success, I can help.
I’ve designed covers for USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors, and I know what it takes to make a book stand out in a crowded market.
✦ Browse my portfolio here: https://pallabipattanaik.com/portfolio/
✦ Get in touch about your project: https://pallabipattanaik.com/contact/
Your story deserves a cover that sells — let’s create one together.