Olatunde Oladele asked:


 

Do not for a moment think that an ebook does not require a cover. Ebook covers are an important tool for selling your ebook. It can be a challenge to market products that people can’t see. If you’re going to sell your ebook to the public, go the extra half mile and get some great cover art for it.

Of course your ebook, discusses a sought-after topic, was prepared by a solid ghostwriter, and was edited and approved by you yourself. Customers should be able to read about you on the Internet, click on a text link, and buy your book. Write it and they will come. Right? Wrong. Even online, people continue to judge books by their covers. We are referring here to a 3-dimensional representation of a book or software box, not mere flat, 2D images.

By showing an image of your product, you can instill confidence and entice people to buy, which leads to increase in sales. Here are some of the many benefits of 3D ebook covers:

1. Attract attention to your ebook. No matter how good a book is, it must be nicely packaged. Likewise, an ebook’s sale-ability and appeal is exponentially increased when it is packaged with an appropriate cover.

In order to sell well, the 3d ebook cover should appear to be professionally designed with eye-catching displays, color, catchy text, and shiny spines. Consumers want to see a picture of what they’re getting. And that picture has to look good. It has to make them say, “Wow, that looks like an incredible book!” You have only a second or two to grab their attention. You must do it with a picture. And the picture must be as good as it can possibly be!

2. Increase perceived value.

3. Boost credibility and trust.

4. Provide a visual representation of your product or services.

5. Support your sales message. It gives Internet surfers an immediate image of your book when they’re glancing at a web page. People only spend a few seconds scanning on the web, so your picture can make or break a sale when there’s hardly time to read the rest of your sales pitch.

6. Increase ebook sales. Double, even triple your ebook sales with quality, custom-designed ebook covers, CD covers, and software boxes.

In addition, if you are thinking of offering your ebook as a free gift for visiting your web site, subscribing to your newsletter, or as a bonus for purchase of something else, then the artwork is less important. But still, there is no excuse. If a book is worth the effort of writing and marketing to consumers, then it is worth getting great cover art to package it with.

There are tons of ebooks on the web. Make yours stand out above all the rest with a unique 3d ebook cover. Check out the website below.



Ecover Design

Jo Han Mok asked:


When it comes to graphics, most Internet marketers shy away from using graphic templates whether it’s ebook covers, website layouts or promotional banners because they firmly believe that by using graphic templates, they are tarnishing their own business. They want to own a unique identity and hence will always find a professional graphic designer to do the job. Well, you’re in for a big surprise!

When you purchase a graphic template, you will be able to customize it to an extent or even build a totally new design based on it! What’s the point of using the template then, you say? Well, it serves as a source of inspiration and ideas for a totally new design. You can’t derive anything from a blank canvas, right?

On top of that, you are actually saving a lot of precious time that you can otherwise spend on more important matters like developing new products or market your products. When you buy a pre-made template, you only need to edit a thing or two to give it an identity of your own, and that gives you more time and flexibility to work on other stuff.

Okay, let’s say you argue that hiring a designer to do the job is equally fast. That may be true but don’t forget, hiring a professional designer to do a custom design for you will cost you a lot of money. Unless you need a totally unique identity that you are aiming to establish firmly in your niche market, you don’t need to get a designer to design it for you.

Not all graphic templates are suitable, so you have to be careful when choosing one. Consider quality over the price, and you’re on your way to creating a positive image for your business while saving more time for more productive chores!

A lot of online business owners start with no money. They have to do everything themselves — the preparation of a product, the development of a marketing strategy, the actual building of a website to cater to their product’s marketing needs. As their business expands over time, they will find that their simple “homemade” site might not be enough to cover everything, and they will have to take a day or two away to simply dedicate that to the website expansion.

Sounds familiar? Chances are, you’re someone who started everything with no money too, so you’re pretty skeptical when it comes to giving away your money in exchange for something that you could have done yourself. However, there is a lot more to hiring a designer than just finishing up a job that you don’t want to do.

When you hire a web designer to do your job for you, you are doing more than just handing over the “dirty job” to someone else. In fact, by paying a little money, you can let the designer worry about the little annoyances that always evade the main picture and only come haunting when you’re halfway through the job. That way, you will be more focused and have more time to spend on your actual business strategy.

On the other hand, the designers you hire a professionals so they are good at what they do. By outsourcing your web design jobs to them, you won’t have to worry when problems surface because you can always get them to fix it for you. Again, they will be able to pin point the problem and fix it faster than you probably will be able to.

Also, the work you pay for will turn out more professional than what you can achieve because the designers have been doing it longer than you have. After all, they do it for a living so they have to be good!

So, remember to not just work your business, but grow your business too!



Ebook Cover Design

Olatunde Oladele asked:


Ebook cover graphics. They are an essential marketing and selling tool for your ebooks. As I’m sure you’ve been told before, they must be unique. They must give an accurate representation of your ebook. They must also make use of the right colors and images in order to be effective. Sounds like a daunting task, doesn’t it?

Do not fear, I’m going to reveal some insider design tips on how to create ebook covers that get result, regardless of whether you do-it-yourself or hire a professional.

1. Make it unique: For effective branding purposes, your ebook cover graphic needs to be one-of-a-kind. With so many common and free-for-all graphics available on the Web, it’s tempting to fall into the freebie trap when creating your ebook cover.

Using the same pictures and colors that other ebooks are using doesn’t allow you to uniquely brand your ebook. Viewers may associate your “copycat” cover with someone else’s ebook and quickly disregard it – or else find it uninteresting. Although the basic book shape can be similar, or even the same as other ebook covers, the images and graphics must be original.

2. Say it with colors: Colors can make us feel different emotions, and they can even trigger a physical reaction. Therefore, the color you use for your ebook cover is a strong factor in how the potential buyer will react to it. Here are some guidelines to help you choose colors for your ebook cover graphic. Do keep in mind that these are guidelines only, and are not hard and fast rules.

Red is an action color, therefore it is a good color to use if your ebook is about taking action. “Eliminate Debt!” “Make More Money!” and “How To” -type titles urge the reader to take action, and would do well with a red cover.

Blue is a confidence color. If your ebook is about job hunting, sales strategies, getting a raise, etc, consider using a blue cover.

Green reminds us of money and prosperity. Green would work well for ebooks about investment strategies, starting a new business, or saving money.

Orange has been known to stimulate the appetite and represents health and vitality. An ebook about cooking or recipes would do well with an orange cover. (But be sure to stay away from blue, which is known to be an appetite suppressant!)

3. Pictures tell it as it is: Be sure to use pictures or graphics that represent the subject of your ebook. The potential buyer should be able to get at least a general idea of what your ebook is about by simply glancing at the cover.

4. Finally, be sure that your ebook cover looks professional. It should have smooth – not jagged – edges, the title and words should be easy to read, and the graphics should be crisp and clear.

As with traditional paper books, the cover is just as important as the content. Following these guidelines will result in an ebook cover that stands out in the crowd and gets noticed! After all, if your book never gets any attention, how then can you sell it ?



Ebook Cover Design

Kathryn Lively asked:


It was quite a sight seven years ago, at the first and only Writer’s Festival held at Franciscan University of Steubenville. As the moderator of an online writer’s forum and a fledgling publisher of electronic books, I had been asked to speak on the future of eBook publication and distribution. While the concept of eBooks was still quite new at the time, my speech was blessedly short. Yet, I felt I offered an optimistic view of the industry, one that inspired the authors who came to hear me talk. Many had been writing for years, discouraged by constant rejection from the top publishers.

The most interesting part of the conference for me happened shortly afterward, when a young girl happened upon my booth. I had several eBook discs on display, along with a PDA reader and a laptop. She took one look and snorted, “I’d rather read a real book.” My explanation that these were real books fell on deaf ears, and I am ashamed to admit my growing anger during the exchange. It got so bad that I had to excuse myself and leave the building.

Since then, I have been published in print format, though I continue to work in the eBook publishing industry. I am also to say I am very mellow these days when people turn their noses up at eBooks. Perhaps it is because I have seen the industry grow exponentially since that writer’s conference, and have come into contact with authors who were able to quit their jobs and sustain themselves with eBook royalties. I know a few print-only authors who can’t claim that!

Is eBook publishing an option for all authors? That I cannot answer with certainty, as different authors have different needs. Some authors do very well by self-publishing because they also possess the marketing savvy to sell their books. A less inclined author, by comparison, may be suited more toward traditional publishing if he can get “The Call,” as it is commonly known. For others, taking the alternative route of electronic publishing may be beneficial in the long run, yet I believe the final decision should be up to the author.

To this end, I am happy to provide a list of the pros and cons related to publishing a book, be it fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, in electronic format. This article will focus on the PROS.

1) An eBook can be your springboard.

At the 2006 Romantic Times conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, I met a few editors with the top romance publishers, all of whom were seeking out romance eBook authors. As eBook sales and productions rises in the romance and erotic romance genres, these editors are aware of the great sales potential involved in bringing eBook authors with high readership into their catalogs. Go to your favorite bookstore and look up authors Sherrilyn Kenyon, Angela Knight, and Sylvia Day. What do they have in common aside from being bestselling authors? Their earliest titles were originally published in eBook format!

Depending upon the genre you write and the following you develop, your eBook success can be a springboard to commercial publishing accomplishments. Make the sales and the big players will notice, regardless of whether or not your book is on paper.

2) Faster Turnaround

Do you know how long it takes for a book to see print, from submission to release? Various factors play into a final answer. A small university press may not take as long as a well-known New York house. A book could take anywhere from several months to several years before it is made available for sale.

With eBooks, that time frame might not be as long. This is not, mind you, because eBooks go through a sloppy editing process. While some eBooks may appear to have been rushed (more on that below), there are many eBook publishers that have professional editors on staff to ensure a quality end product. eBook production may be quicker than traditional print publication due to a number of factors. Formatting does not take long to do, for one, and cover art needs are drastically reduced. You can produce a great cover that sells and not have to worry about sizing or color bleeds for print. A good number of eBook romance publishers offer a turnaround from acceptance as quick as three months!

While some authors wait for their books, an eBook author can have two or three out in the same amount of time.

3) Higher Percentage of Royalties

I once read an article by the late Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard, who wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and authored more than twenty books. He wrote that despite all the books and columns under his belt, he was not a rich man. Knowing how some publishers deal with author royalties, this statement no longer surprises me!

Depending upon your status as author, and the budget of the publishing house, you could make as much as ten to twenty percent of the net sales of your book. Some houses will raise the percentage once you reach a certain benchmark, like a thousand or more copies. However, since the average book in the United States sells five hundred, it is safe to say thousands of authors may never get that raise. Unless you are the rare J.K Rowling or Stephen King (both of whom, to be fair, do profit on subsidiary sales), you may not be rolling immediately in the millions.

eBook publication, however, offers the opportunity to make some decent money, more so if you gain a strong readership. Because of the low resources involved in eBook production, there is more opportunity to pay royalties on sales. Most eBook publishers offer as much as thirty to fifty percent of net sales. An author with a strong following can make several hundred dollars a month!

4) Same good book, less waste

Next time you are at the bookstore, take a look at the bargain bin. Many hardcover books, some probably touted as bestsellers, are marked down significantly to clear away inventory. What is not sold is eventually recycled. I know of one author whose book was heavily “remaindered,” as it is called. What was not sold, he said wistfully, was turned into toilet paper!

In this respect, eBook production is very environmentally sound. Because the books are produced digitally, no trees are harmed. An eBook may be read on a computer or handheld personal digital assistant, both of which can store several books for your enjoyment. With a PDA full of eBooks, there is less to carry when you go on vacation!

5) More control

Do you have an idea for typesetting over cover art for your book? Chances are if you sign with a major publisher, you may not have much creative input. With my first novel, I was allowed some input, but my ideas were ultimately not used for the cover art. The same might be said with the marketing of your book. Publishers have budgets to meet, and may not be able to satisfy every author’s desires.

eBook publishers in recent years, however, may be very author friendly. Closer contact with staff may allow an author to have more input in production and design. Some eBook publishers may allow authors to design their own covers. Whether or not this is a good thing remains to be seen, but the fact remains that the lines of communication between authors and staff are open wide. The author is permitted to be very active throughout editing and production, and it turn it may inspire the author to be more productive.

More opportunity for money, more input, and more support are among the benefits of producing your manuscript through electronic means. As we further delve into a new age of publishing, eBooks lead the charge into a new dimension of entertainment for readers and productivity for writers.



Ebook Cover Design

Leva Duell asked:


Here’s part II providing more marketing strategies to skyrocket your ebook sales.

• Keep search engines in mind when designing your site. Include ALT tags in your images. Search engines can’t read images. Alt tags tell them what the image is about. Use your main keyword in your ALT tags.

• Design your Web site based on your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Why should prospects buy from you instead of your competition? What sets you apart? What makes your products and services unique, better, and more desirable? Do you provide hard-to-find expertise, the best customer service, lowest prices, highest quality, fastest service, or strongest guarantee? Back up your claims with testimonials, statistics, results of studies, and other data. Stand out from your competition. Offer more. Make your offers unique. Be original.

• Put the benefits of your site and your USP right on top of your home page. Many Web visitors never scroll down past the first screen of information. Give your potential buyers the information they need as quickly as possible.

• Include an “Opt-in” form to collect your visitors’ email addresses. An opt-in form captures the email addresses of interested prospects and gives you permission to email them. Getting your visitors’ e-mail addresses and building opt-in email lists is essential to staying in touch with your prospects and turning your visitors into buyers. Offer something valuable to get your potential buyers’ email addresses such as a free report, newsletter, consultation, discount, or special offer.

• Stay in touch. Visitors rarely purchase the first time they visit a site. They want to get to know you before they are willing to spend money. Communicate consistently with your prospects through online newsletters and email messages. Give potential buyers reasons to return. Provide valuable information in your ezine. Mention what’s new on your site. Provide special offers and discounts to your subscribers. Invite them to visit your Web site again and again. These techniques work. Try them and watch your prospects become buyers.

• Ask for feedback. Find out what potential buyers want. Use feedback forms and email surveys to conduct market research. Ask what products and information they’re interested in. What benefits are most appealing. What price they would pay. Analyze the feedback and adapt your site as needed.

• Include keywords and META tags in your Web pages to improve your ranking with search engines.

Take a look at your Web site and see how many of these elements are missing. Implement these proven direct marketing strategies now to increase your online sales.



Ebook Cover Design

Amanda Vlahakis asked:


First of all what is a graphic designer?

A graphic designer works to provide businesses with any visual communications they may require.

This includes logo design, layout design for printed items such as signage, stationery, and marketing materials (brochures, flyers and so on) for example.

In today’s Internet age a graphic designer is often also able to design electronic communications such as e-newsletters, websites and more.

Not all graphic designers cover all service areas mentioned, however a skilled and experienced graphic designer is worth their weight in gold.

Hiring a graphic designer who has a few years of experience working with business owners to create memorable visual communications has some distinct advantages over working with newer designers.

These Include to name just a few

1. Speed & Efficiency – An experienced designer is often used to working on many different projects at once; managing their time effectively, and delivering your project to agreed timescales.

If you are hiring your designer on an hourly rate basis rather than being quoted ‘for the job’ an experienced designer quoting you a higher rate per hour might actually bill you for less at the end of the project if they are quicker than a designer quoting less per hour.

It’s always good to get an estimate from your designer as to how long they expect the task to take, or even better try and get them to quote ‘for the job’ regardless of how long it takes them. Don’t forget to ask if revisions are included in the ‘for the job’ price.

2. Printing Pitfalls – There are several print layout design pitfalls a designer can fall into if they don’t know their trade inside out. These include;

Print Bleed: Any document laid out for print must have a few mm’s of bleed overlapping the edge of the document size (i.e. the designers document must be bigger than the actual printed item) – each print firm has a different requirement for how many mm’s that should be. An experienced graphic designer will understand the need to find out before they start designing, and hopefully be proactive enough to get in touch with the print firm themselves to find out.

Not offering correct dpi for images: Everyone knows that if you are offering a printing firm an image type that is made up of pixels such as TIFF or JPEG, that the image must be a minimum of 300 dpi (dots per inch)…. or do they all know this? Is your designer aware of this?

Likewise if you are offering the print firm a vector image such as EPS, or AI…. that pixels are irrelevant because scalable vector images output by professional design software, are not made up of pixels.

Thin Lines in Graphics: Any line used in a graphical image is made up of a ‘line point size’, this can vary from as tiny as 0.10 all the way up to 1,2,3, or even 10 point size and higher. The bigger the point size the fatter the line is and vice versa.

An inexperienced designer – perhaps one who has produced a detailed illustration with much in the way of fine details – may not realise that you must never hand any design over to a printing firm that contains a line size smaller than 0.25 – printing presses simply cannot print lines any thinner than 0.25 points.

Colours: What is a hex colour? What is a Pantone Colour? What are CMYK colours? Never mind what they are, how does one choose between each colour method available to them before their lovely designs are printed? Your designer should know this, but not all inexperienced designers fully understand the methods required for selecting print colours and this can lead to unexpected print results.

So that just gives you a very brief overview of why experience counts in graphic design, and to ensure that your designer is sufficiently experienced to take care of the essential practical aspects of designing for your business.



Ebook Cover Design

Eric Yeo asked:


At present, businesses are not only bound to grocery stores, shops, and malls. You may create a business right from your computer and from any place with an Internet connection. Internet offers a window of opportunities for various lucrative online businesses. One such lucrative online business is to create and promote digital products via the Internet. For example, offering information on people and organizations nowadays can bring you good money from the comfort of your home.

 

For marketing certain digital products, it is extremely vital to create an attractive minisite graphic design and e-book cover design. Next, packaging is a prime component in marketing that you need to concentrate on, because it plays a crucial role in producing income. It helps you to allow people or visitors to easily view what your product actually is. Apart from that, e-book covers and graphic design packages are well known to attract people’s attention, particularly in developing a direct marketing web site (minisite).

 

One more benefit of e-cover graphic design is that, you do not have to take printouts of your designs always, because this virtual design intends to promote your product and for easy downloading by your customers.

 

Here, one important tip is, alike any other product packaging, it is vital for you to select an appropriate e-cover graphic design to draw adequate attention as compared to the attention drawn by other online products. 

 

To simplify, e-books need to have a stylish and professional appearing e-cover, so that online visitors will develop an interest to buy them instantly. However, the content of an e-book is yet the number one factor, which entices visitors to buy it or not, but a good e-cover graphic design will certainly attract more number of people to buy it. This ultimately leads to increased sales and profit.

 

In recent days, there is a huge range of e-cover graphic designing products available, including, e-cover graphic design for e-books, DVD cases, software box, CD-ROMs, binder covers, and spiral bound special reports.

 

3D E-cover Graphic Design:

 

3D e-cover graphic designs for your digital product will definitely give you an advantage over the usual 2D e-cover graphic designs. The outstanding and professional look for your digital product with a 3D e-cover graphic design gives a reliable, apparent, and influential impression to the customers for what they are paying. 

 

You simply need to select the best e-cover graphic design that defines your product well. Next, graphic designers will then develop the best possible virtual or graphical presentation for your digital product whether it is for an e-book, minisite, a video, an audio, or software.

 

Therefore, with 3D e-cover graphic designs, there is no space for low quality images. Modern technological innovations and software programs make sure to give you attractive, catchy, and yet professional e-cover graphic designs for minisite and e-book covers.

 

If you present your products in a 3D graphic design, it will not only boost your minisite enormously via visual effect, but also will certainly create an eye-catching and outstanding look.



Ecover Design

Pinaki Ghosh asked:


By Pinaki Ghosh

Though you can never sell your second hand car at first hand price, you can however do that with ebooks by selling them on eBay. The best thing about ebooks is that they are resalable at first hand price, and still no one will sue you for breaking copyright laws.

You just have to customize them by changing certain information like the name of the publisher, writer, etc. Many ebooks come with master resell rights, which means, you are

given permission to resell them and keep the full profits for yourself. No royalty to share

with anyone. Or, you can get a tailor-made ebook written by an economical ghostwriter. For $300 – $ 1000 (depending on the number of pages) you can have an ebook ghostwritten. You can try services like www.123writer.com.

Ebooks on business, success, stress-management, travel and leisure, understanding

human psychology, relationship development sell extremely well on eBay. Prices of

books range from $1.95 to $79.95 (real good books on making huge money). The prices of most ebooks are around $29.95 (travel, success formula, stress management, relationship-development, understanding human psychology and technical). Let’ s find out how you can make real profits by selling ebooks on eBay.

1. Do your research before you start selling

Before you actually dive as an eBay seller, do some amount of research about eBay,

and how things work on eBay. In a matter of days you will come to identify your

potential competitors and at what price they are offering their ebooks. There are 2

ways to sell: (a) selling to the highest bidder (b) fixed price selling (advisable for

selling ebooks).

2. Write a strong sales copy

Step two is writing a strong, creative sales copy to be used for eBay listings that really works. If you are not good at copywriting, hire a copywriter for this purpose, because, you will constantly need the help of this person for your various ebooks. A convincing copy will attract your potential buyers’ attention towards your product. Not only should the sales copy be attractive, but it should be SEO friendly; which means, keyword rich. That will make your product search-engine-friendly.

3. Invest on a good ebook cover

If you want to do business, do not save on the ebook cover. Experts like Brent Turner

(CEO of eCover Frog) say that 40% buyers are attracted

towards ebooks by the image (ebook cover). Place an order with a professional

designer to get a first grade ebook cover design. Rates start from $30 upwards. Use

this image (or images) in the eBay listings of your ebook.

4. Offer multiple payment options

Offer your buyers / bidders multiple options for paying. In fact, offer them as many

options as possible. This will increase your chances of selling more.

5. Add shipping costs

Shipping costs do not come into consideration if you offer an option of direct

download on payment, but if you opt to send your ebooks in compact discs by snail

mail; you must calculate and include the shipping cost.

6. Maintain professionalism

Maintain a professionalism right from the beginning, and be 100% businesslike, if

you want to stay in the long run. Be very prompt, and give the best possible customer

service, charge necessary taxes, and preferably, register your business with the

government.

7. Feedback

There is a system of feedback exchange with your buyer on eBay. The feedback

speaks of the trustworthiness of the buyer and the seller. It is like complimenting each

other. Other buyers will see the feedback about you before they buy. The 3 types of

feedback that can be given are: (a) positive (b) neutral, and (c) negative. You should

leave a positive feedback for a good buyer. Don’ t hesitate to leave a negative

feedback for a buyer who was nasty or crafty. It is advisable sometimes not to leave a

feedback at all, rather than leave a neutral feedback for your buyer, as that can attract

a negative for you.

Initially, how good is business on eBay? Effortless and slow in the beginning, picks up

gradually and finally shoots up like a rocket. In a matter of days or weeks you can

recover the money you invested on the ebook and for selling on eBay.



Cover Designer

David jackson asked:


 

A luxurious and stylish car like the Alfa Romeo deserves the best in everything; let it be seat covers, car cover, floor mats or dash cover. Alfa Romeo dashboard cover is a necessary accessory to protect your stylish car’s dashboard from the sun glare, dust, any kind of spills etc. With the help of a good dashboard cover not only will you be able to protect your dashboard you’ll also be able to customize the interiors of your Alfa Romeo. You can choose different designer prints if you go for Designer Velour from Coverking. You can choose from Hawaiian Prints in black, red and blue, Flames, Pinup Girls, Cheetah, Leopard, and Zebra. Give the look that suits your personality.

The fit and appearance of the dashboard covers is the most important aspect. You have to make sure that it gives a perfect fit. There should be no space left open between the cover and dashboard cover, because then this space will attract dust. The dashboard cover should also not cover up any important functions of your dashboard. Your Alfa Romeo has a very complex dashboard with subtle contours and a definite design. If you get just any dashboard cover then you might end up with a cover that covers up the contours, doesn’t provide access to many important functions.

But at Coverking the custom dashboard covers are custom made for your Alfa Romeo. They are customized to fit your Alfa Romeo’s dashboard. So it will give you a perfect fit, and you won’t face any hindrance while accessing the various functions.

You can take your pick from Poly Carpet, Velour, Designer Velour and Molded Carpet. You can choose the one that suits you best. If its style then you can choose Velour and Designer Velour, if you are looking for ultimate protection then you have the Poly Carpet material and if you want the perfect fit for life along with ultimate protection we have the Molded Carpet material for you.

Coverking is the top most company when it comes to automotive accessories. If you are looking for the best dash cover for your Alfa Romeo’s dashboard, then it should definitely be the custom dashboard cover from Coverking.

Visit www.covers4auto.com to find the dash covers for the Alfa Romeo and other automobiles.



Ebook Cover Design

Mario R. Churchill asked:


For some people, a cover letter is something that though is truly worth doing, is actually quite stressful and even daunting.

Usually, a cover letter is something one would attach to a resume.’ A cover letter could make or break your opportunity to score an interview. It makes sense therefore to devote serious effort and time in writing a cover letter that is good and effective.

Basically, cover letters should always complement but never duplicate a resume. The purpose of cover letters is interpret the resume – which is usually factual and focused solely on data – and give it a very personal and soft touch.

Cover letters are basically an employer’s first impression of you.

Cover letter types

There are basically three types of cover letters. The application letter is a type of cover letter which is made in order to respond to a particular job opening.

Another type of cover letter is a prospecting letter. The purpose of this cover letter is to inquire on possible job positions available.

A networking cover letter meanwhile has the purpose of requesting assistance and information in one’s search for a job.

Cover letter design

The cover letter must be created and designed particularly for your specific purpose. It is not advisable to design and write a uniform cover letter and sending it out to all your preferred employers. This is how junk mail works, remember?

A cover letter to be effective needs to explain your specific reasons for getting interested in a particular job and an organization.

It is also best that you identify all your relevant work experiences and skills, these should all make your prospective employer interested in you.

Cover letter example tips

As much as possible, try keeping the paragraphs in your cover letters as short as possible. Remember that employers receive not just your cover letters but a slew of other cover letters.

Keeping your letter short, sweet and straightforward makes it easy for employers to read through it.

Cover letters should also be printed on a standard size paper, preferably on a laser quality bond paper.

Also make sure to double check your letter for any punctuation, spelling or grammar errors.

An appropriate margin is one inch. Letters should only be a page long. Paragraphs found on the page must also look balanced.

When beginning a cover letter, address a specific individual and do not forget to include this person’s title or designation.

To be able to know who to address and how, it is best to research. Check the web site of the company. You could also try to call the company and ask for a specific title or name.

You could also try looking at trade publications, directories or guides as found in a library’s reference area.

Cover letter example

The cover letter should basically “cover” the following points: the letter’s first paragraph must indicate the purpose of your letter, the second paragraph should indicate what you could offer, the concluding paragraph must detail the follow-up you will make later on.

All in all, a cover letter is the first step of getting your foot at the door.

It is also best to mention a contact that you and the employer mutually and positively know of. Highlight your positive qualities but always be honest.

Doing so speaks much of your integrity as a person and as a potential employee.



Cover Designer