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You judged these books by their covers

Last week I suggested it would be fun to take a look at the differences between US and UK book covers for the same book. I gave a few examples and asked readers to vote for their favorites. Despite the fact that UK-based participants made up only about 45% of voters, the results showed a clear preference for UK covers with the only exception being Insurgent.

cover votes

The above chart is another example where an unscientific poll, using insufficient market data, can be used to generate statistically insignificant results. Doesn’t it make you want to vote in a US Primary Election?

Thanks so much to all who participated!  [I don’t know about you, but I feel an almost uncontrollable urge to make a Powerpoint deck… I have to go sit down.]

US version left, UK cover right [image credit: The Sequestered Nook] http://sequesterednook.booklikes.com/post/720669/rivers-of-london-or-midnight-riot

[image credit: The Sequestered Nook

Harry Potter Series: US next to UK covers [image credit: Sufficient Velocity] https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/us-covers-vs-foreign-covers.9453/page-2

[image credit: Sufficient Velocity]

Station Eleven: US cover left, UK cover right [Image credit: Rightly Designed] http://rightlydesigned.com/us-vs-uk-popular-book-cover-design-styles/

[Image credit: Rightly Designed]

Insurgent: left US cover, right UK cover [Image Credit: A Life Bound by Books]http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/book-wars-insurgent-divergent-2-by.html

[Image Credit: A Life Bound by Books]

Inferno, US cover on left, UK on right [image credit: August Wainwright] http://augustwainwright.com/us-vs-uk-book-covers/

[image credit: August Wainwright]

 

(Next week I’ll get back to a BUY/PASS challenge.)

Here is Rosie’s Friday Five Challenge. It only took five minutes and a couple more to write up, and was a ton of fun. I hope you’ll consider joining in. All Rosie asks is that you link back to her original post here so we can all join in viewing your challenge results.

AUTHORS – You often only have seconds to get a reader to buy your book, is your book cover and book bio up to it?

Rosie Amber's Friday Five Challenge. Get yourself a cuppa and give yourself 5 minutes.

Rosie Amber’s Friday Five Challenge. Get yourself a cuppa and give yourself 5 minutes.

My Friday Five Challenge is this….. IN ONLY FIVE MINUTES….

  1. Go to any online book supplier,
  2. Randomly choose a category,
  3. Speed through the book covers, choose one which has instantly appealed to your eye,
  4. Read the book Bio/ Description for this book, and any other details.
  5. If there are reviews, check out a couple,
  6. Make an instant decision, would you BUY or PASS?
  7. I’ll be back next week with another Friday Five Challenge, do feel free to join in.