Q&A: Why isn't my book's cover image on Amazon?
QUESTION: How long does it take for a book's cover image to show up on Amazon.com? I'm having trouble getting it to appear, and am wondering about resolutions, fixes, etc.
ANSWER: One way to get a cover image on your book's detail page immediately is to upload an Amazon "customer image." You'll see a link for "share your own customer images" on the left of your book's detail page, just below the box where your cover image should appear. Click the link and follow the instructions to upload a cover image. You can also upload an image of the back cover here. (Theoretically you could upload your table of contents too, but the image quality displayed won't be good enough to make the text legible.)
After you do that, contact your publisher and let them know your cover image isn't being displayed properly and you had to substitute a "customer image." Complain once a week to your publisher until they get it fixed. The image provided directly from your publisher will appear much sharper on Amazon's page. When it appears you can delete your "customer image."
Another consideration is Amazon's "Search Inside the Book" program. If you participate in Search Inside, the cover image you submit through this program will ultimately be the one that is displayed on your book's Amazon detail page.
Until last year, Amazon required publishers to mail a physical copy of your book to be scanned for inclusion to Search Inside. It was supposed to take "four to six weeks" but usually took much longer before the book was processed. Now, however, publishers can upload a PDF of your book and cover. This process goes much faster because it's automated. The last time I uploaded a book a few months ago, it was up and running within three weeks.
Sign up for Search Inside here and complete the agreement. Once you're accepted you'll receive an Amazon "Seller Central" account, and that's where you'll upload your PDF.
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ANSWER: One way to get a cover image on your book's detail page immediately is to upload an Amazon "customer image." You'll see a link for "share your own customer images" on the left of your book's detail page, just below the box where your cover image should appear. Click the link and follow the instructions to upload a cover image. You can also upload an image of the back cover here. (Theoretically you could upload your table of contents too, but the image quality displayed won't be good enough to make the text legible.)
After you do that, contact your publisher and let them know your cover image isn't being displayed properly and you had to substitute a "customer image." Complain once a week to your publisher until they get it fixed. The image provided directly from your publisher will appear much sharper on Amazon's page. When it appears you can delete your "customer image."
Another consideration is Amazon's "Search Inside the Book" program. If you participate in Search Inside, the cover image you submit through this program will ultimately be the one that is displayed on your book's Amazon detail page.
Until last year, Amazon required publishers to mail a physical copy of your book to be scanned for inclusion to Search Inside. It was supposed to take "four to six weeks" but usually took much longer before the book was processed. Now, however, publishers can upload a PDF of your book and cover. This process goes much faster because it's automated. The last time I uploaded a book a few months ago, it was up and running within three weeks.
Sign up for Search Inside here and complete the agreement. Once you're accepted you'll receive an Amazon "Seller Central" account, and that's where you'll upload your PDF.
---------------
If you like my articles, click the orange button to subscribe:
Steve Weber is author of Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors
posted by Steve Weber at 9/17/2007
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