The most appealing fiction book covers may come down to personal preference: color, typography, imagery. That’s why it’s smart to poll a group of dedicated fiction readers because you’ll likely get answers based on plot, setting, genre, character, and structure.

One author tested book covers on PickFu to a targeted audience of 50 fiction readers. Which of the two covers would make them want to buy the book more?

Option A shows a mysterious woman peeking through a fancy mirror frame. Red swirls (perhaps blood?) highlight the silvery frame.
Option B is completely different, with a flame illuminating an illustration of a woman. A cloaked person hunkers below the flame.

Can you guess which one won?

Some Christians grow up believing in Santa Claus, but many don’t. For Christians, Christmas tends to focus on Jesus instead of Santa. But what if the two were not mutually exclusive? After writing a book about Santa Claus and Christianity, one author tested his book title on PickFu. The author chose a target audience of self-identified Christians. What better crowd to judge?

• Option A: The Gospel of Santa Claus – Inspired by the True Story of St. Nicholas
• Option B: The Gospel of Santa Claus – An Inspiring Novel about the True Meaning of Christmas
• Option C: The Gospel of Santa Claus – The Story of St. Nicholas and a Father’s Love for His Children

Can you guess which one won?

What makes someone want to learn a new language? Is it the romantic nature of discovering another culture? A desire to communicate with a broader range of people? Maybe it’s a little bit of both. And when those language learners search for books to help them achieve success, they’ll want their desires reflected on the book’s cover. And the best method for testing covers for a book? PickFu, of course.

Author Frederic Bibard ran a PickFu poll to find out which of two covers would appeal the most to an audience of people who read 1-3 books a month.

Option A features a lot of text that tells readers what they’re getting. The illustrations on the cover depict iconic French symbols.

Option B eliminates all but the title and author text (and a ‘+ Audio’ insert to let people know they get a free audiobook, too). This less-crowded cover also features well-known French sites but presents them in a more whimsical way.

Can you guess which one won?

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?