How do I hire a cover designer?
- Hire a designer who already works in your genre.
- A clear brief with genre comps gets a cover that sells.
- Agree on scope, revisions, and final files before starting.
- Genre fit matters more than abstract beauty.
- A professional cover is among the highest-return indie investments.
Hire a cover designer by first finding ones who already design in your genre — their portfolio should look like books in your category. Give a clear brief: genre, comps you admire, mood, title, and any must-haves. Agree up front on scope (ebook vs print wrap), number of revisions, timeline, and the final files you will receive. Budget for a professional; the cover is what sells the book at a glance.
Chapter i·Why it matters
The cover is the single most important marketing asset a self-published book has — readers genuinely judge by it, and a cover that does not match genre conventions signals "amateur" instantly. Hiring well is mostly about genre fit and a clear brief; vague direction or a designer outside your category produces a cover that looks nice but does not sell. Getting this right returns more than almost any other production dollar.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A designer with a genre-matched portfolio.
- A brief with comps, mood, and must-haves.
- Agreed scope: ebook only or full print wrap.
- Revision rounds and timeline settled up front.
- The exact final files you will receive (with spine for print).
- A budget set for professional quality.
Chapter iii·Example
A romance author shortlists three designers whose portfolios are full of romance covers, sends the chosen one a brief with five comps and the mood she wants, and agrees on two revision rounds plus print-wrap files. The result looks like it belongs on the genre's bestseller shelf — which is exactly the point.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom's Sell studio keeps your cover brief, comps, and files in one place, so working with a designer stays organized.
See the Sell studio