Well my friends…I’ve chosen a book cover for my second book.
And I’m not gonna lie: it definitely wasn’t the one I wanted to choose, at first.
I liked the other version – more creative, I felt. More fun and clever and the kind of design I like.
But after getting feedback from over 270 accountants – both clients and prospects – via LinkedIn and email and whatsapp and just about every way I could ask for feedback, it was clear that this was the cover most preferred by those who I most wanted to read it.
Overwhelmingly, the other cover was preferred by designers. Content writers. People in marketing. People who already consider themselves ‘creative’, and – this was critical – weren’t accountants.
I did get messages from long time clients and friends, people who knew me really well, who liked the other cover too. But again: those people already consider themselves creative, already know me and are familiar with my messages.
And the point of a book cover is to help appeal to those you want to read it. To help them think, “Oh, this could be good” or at least “I understand what this book is about”.
I was dithering to a ridiculous level – going back and forth for ages as though it was the world’s biggest decision. And ultimately i decided I needed to take my own advice: and remember that marketing is not for me. A book I’ve written is not for me.
It’s for the people I want to connect with.
And sometimes that means picking something which wasn’t your first choice.
Fortunately – as I suspected would happen – I’m really coming round to this new cover. We’re working on social posts and videos and graphics and the audiobook cover, and it’s starting to feel real and exciting. And ultimately, people will read it. Which is the entire point.
So keep your eyes open for the pre-orders with special bonuses – coming in a few weeks’ time. Including a creativity workbook, the first full chapter, and a sneak preview of the audiobook.
