This is the prime era of self-publishing, when writers choose an independent path to publish their book without wearing the compromising mask with traditional publishers. However, it’s a universally acknowledged fact that with the craving for independence, people have to risk everything from their financial investments to their patience to find a genuine agency like White Magic Studios for the end-to-end self-publishing services. Writers chosen by traditional publishers usually don’t have to invest their time or energy in finding book cover designers or book illustrators for hire, as the agency decides the final cover or the illustrations they would like to add to the book.
Here, let’s explore certain things to know before buying book illustration services—
Know the trend
Being a self-publishing writer, if you think your new manuscript deserves mingling up with some attractive illustrations, then find the service providers offering satisfactory book illustration services and have already contributed to quite a few bestsellers from the same genre.
Day by day, the art of designing illustrations for both children’s and adults’ books is changing. The present time is witnessing more use of retro and pop art influences and minimalist styles with more single lines.
Children’s books are incomplete without the colourful illustrations. Even if you are intrigued to add a few pages of illustrations to your recently written book for adults or young adults, you also need to hire proficient book illustrators UK, ensuring on-time services at affordable prices.
Potential of the illustrator
Before buying any product, when you check the quality of it, similarly, before buying an illustration service from any professional, you must check the portfolio showcasing their former works. Besides, it will be a plus if this person has already contributed his or her illustrations to various bestsellers.
You should also focus on their temperament and behaviour towards the client. Make sure you get to work with an illustrator who will understand your expectations and will obey your guidance while etching the drawings.
Where to find a book illustrator?
This is a big question! And you must know the answer to where to find genuine illustrators, and that is the agency helping you publish the book on Amazon or whichever format you choose. Despite the agency, you can find affordable illustrators at Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer.com, etc., where they provide freelancing services at affordable costs. After interviewing them and checking their portfolios, hire the professional. You can even ask for a test or a demo to understand whether this person will be the perfect choice for your job or not.
Get help to promote the book via omnichannel marketing
The illustrator, besides working on the book illustration design for the book itself, can also support you with promotional activities. They are ready to go the extra mile for you to design posters or sample illustrations that can be used for omnichannel online and offline marketing. Even with the online marketing team, if you have one, the professionals can gel well and support the promotional services against the price they quote.
Support online ad campaigns for the book
With AI or software services, the illustrators are quite useful for online ad campaigning services. If you are targeting readers to buy the book online, then you have to run email campaigns, followed by social media ads and PPC ads for sure.
Their services are equally significant to maximise the review promotions on platforms like Amazon and other online book-selling platforms, including both eBooks and hard copies. Their insight into the trending animated cover designs and mixed media illustrations, or the much-talked-about pop art illustrations, can be excellent to pull the potential buyers organically. Work on infographics to drive more readers, and it is only possible with gripping illustrations despite compact content.
Compare the rates before hiring
Now focus on the pricing, and in this context, comparing the rates of the professional illustrators will be a significant step that you should take to follow the strict budget. Many new illustrators are looking for doors of opportunity to unlock so that they can showcase their creative potential to the world. Despite working with experts in the industry, allowing the newbie might also be cost-effective, besides boosting their career!
Be open to a test drive
Test driving is not only necessary before buying a vehicle, but equally important when you are about to appoint a professional to work for your new business as a team. After discussing your project with the shortlisted candidates, ask them for a demo sketch. Choose the one that drives you, and only after understanding that this person is also getting you to that point, while sketching the illustrations.
Illustrators are the alter egos of the writers. So, if the team of an illustrator or the individual professional and you, as a writer, gel properly, then this teamwork will create more bestselling books in the future.