Even the most seasoned authors need advice on which book covers attract their readers the most. Danielle Girard, author of 13 books — including several bestsellers and award-winners — created a PickFu poll to test book cover designs for her newest e-book series.

She asked 50 readers of e-books this question: “Which cover (and why) do you prefer for ‘Dead Center,’ the first book in the Gritty, Pulse-Pounding, Female Police Suspense Series set in San Francisco?”

Option A emphasizes the title and author names with a large, crackly font set against a moody background. A red, blood-like substance drips down the image of a gray sky and tilted bridge.

Option B’s cover shrinks the font size but adds more text, along with the image of a woman caught in crosshairs and a twinkling nighttime cityscape.

Can you guess which one won?

Even authors who write about how to make decisions more effectively need assistance when making a decision about their book title ideas. One such author took the question to PickFu to find out which of two titles appealed the most to readers.

Option A reads, “The Decision Making Blueprint: A Simple Guide to Better Choices in Life and Work.” This title is concise and directly tells the reader what they’re getting.

Option B reads, “The Decision Making Blueprint: A Simple Guide to Effective Thinking, Smart Choices, and Better Results.” This longer title lays out in detail what readers will learn once they read the book.

Can you guess which one won?

It’s important to know how to write a medical book title that calls attention to itself. Titles are the first thing potential readers notice when they browse books. With nonfiction books especially, titles play a crucial role in marketing: unlike with fictional novels, readers want to know exactly what they’re getting.

One medical author created a PickFu poll to test potential titles for a nonfiction book about handling Alzheimer’s. The book aims to appeal to caregivers.

Option A is Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias: Coping and Caring. A BETTER Approach For The Caregiver. Option B is Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. A Better Approach to Coping and Caring.

Can you guess which one won?

Designing a book cover about a subject like postpartum depression can be tricky. You want to convey the seriousness of the disorder while also inviting readers to open the book.

One author used PickFu to create a round-robin tournament with three head-to-head matches to choose the perfect cover for her book about coping with postpartum depression. She tested exclusively from a female audience.

Option A’s cover is in black and white with an image of a woman in the middle. But instead of the woman’s upper body and head, you see a cloud of gray.

Option B’s cover, a soft purple, takes a slightly lighter approach: it features an upside-down pacifier in the center.

Option C resembles the cover of a young adult novel with large font reminiscent of handwriting.

Can you guess which one won?

The best memoirs aren’t vague self-help style books—they’re pieces of literature that take the reader into the memoirist’s unique experience. Memoir titles should reflect that unique experience.

One author created a PickFu poll that asked respondents which title would compel them to purchase the book. The two options had the same memoir title (Dream Take Flight) but a different subtitle.

Option A reads, “Dream Take Flight: One Woman’s Odyssey in a Homebuilt Airplane.”
Option B reads, “Dream Take Flight: One Woman’s Unconventional Journey to Self-Empowerment.”

Can you guess which one won?

Even though we’ve all heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover,” that’s exactly what most of us do. That first glance decides whether or not we pick up the book and peek inside. So it’s crucial that authors choose book covers that convince readers to do just that!

This principle applies to both physical books and ebooks. When nonfiction author Greg Cayea wrote a book to sell on Amazon, and he used a PickFu poll aimed at nonfiction readers to figure out which cover won them over.

Option A shows a traveler walking along a path that winds through a bright orange background. Option B shows the same traveler at the edge of a blue-sea beach.

Can you guess which one won?

If you’re a parent who also works, you know how hard it is just to survive some days. So when a book comes along promising to help you navigate a career, kids, and holding onto your self-love in the process, you’ll want to buy it. But which book cover designs will attract your attention the most?

One author created a PickFu poll with a special target audience — parents of 1, 2, or 3 children — to find out.

While both book cover designs feature the same photo, the layout is different. Option A has small orange lettering above the unframed photo and more orange lettering below. Option B chooses a bolder all-caps font, frames the picture in yellow, and adds a background to the author’s name and credentials.

Can you guess which one won?