When I first started publishing finance books, I was excited to take on the creative challenge of designing my own covers. As a Canva Pro member, I had access to a wealth of tools and images that made the process both accessible and enjoyable. For someone like me, who finds joy in creative outlets, book cover design became a satisfying endeavor, even if my initial goal was simple: create cohesive covers that were easily repeatable across my series.
But, as I soon realized, enjoying the process doesn’t necessarily equate to producing industry-standard results.
The Transition to Professional Design
Looking back at my original covers, I see the passion and effort I poured into them. But I also see something else: they simply didn’t stack up to the competition in the finance genre. Once I was able to set aside my bias for my own creations, it became clear that they lacked the professional polish readers expect when browsing shelves or scrolling online marketplaces.
That’s when I decided to make the leap and outsource my cover designs. After some research, I chose Getcovers.com—a service known for creating affordable, professional-quality book covers. The process was refreshingly straightforward: fill out a form, provide details about the book, and let their team work their magic. They returned with a design that not only exceeded my expectations but also elevated my books to the level of professionalism I had hoped for.
Why Getcovers Worked for Me
There are a few reasons why I found Getcovers to be the perfect solution for my finance books:
- Ease of Use: Their process is seamless. Once you submit your form, they provide drafts quickly and are responsive to feedback.
- Cost-Effective: For non-fiction books, their reliance on clipart and stock photography works well and keeps costs low.
- Quality Upgrade: Everything—style, typography, and imagery—was a significant improvement over my DIY attempts.
Lessons Learned
For any author debating whether to design their own covers or outsource, here’s what I’ve learned:
- DIY Design Has Its Place: If you enjoy the process and are working on a project where budget constraints or creative control are priorities (like I’ve done for copyright-expired books), Canva Pro is a fantastic tool. It’s particularly useful for creating covers that are simple yet effective in niche markets.
- Know Your Limits: It’s important to be honest about your skills and to compare your work to what’s standard in your genre. For me, realizing that my DIY designs didn’t meet industry standards was a humbling but necessary step.
- Consider Your Genre: For non-fiction, services like Getcovers are an excellent middle ground, offering quality designs at a reasonable price. However, for fiction, where custom art can make a significant impact, investing in a dedicated artist may be worth considering (more on this in a future post!).
Before and After
To illustrate the difference, I’ll include before-and-after images of my covers. Seeing the transformation side-by-side has been a rewarding reminder of why outsourcing was the right decision for me.
A Balance of Creativity and Professionalism
While I’ve embraced outsourcing for many of my books, there’s still a place for DIY in my repertoire. I continue to use Canva Pro for certain projects, especially when working on republished classics or when the simplicity of the design aligns with the book’s purpose. It’s about finding the right balance—knowing when to step back and let professionals take over and when to enjoy the creative process myself.
I hope this insight into my journey inspires other authors to evaluate their own cover design process. Whether you’re crafting a DIY masterpiece or working with a professional team, the key is to ensure your book’s exterior reflects the effort and value within its pages.
White Pine Publishing 
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