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Help Me Choose a Platform Cover (Round 1)

This seems to be “cover week“ here on my blog. A few days ago, you gave me your input on a new, revised cover for my e-book Creating Your Personal Life Plan. The input was invaluable. You saw things I didn’t see and helped me more clearly identify my target market. Thank you.

4 Cover Choices for Platform Book Cover

I need your help again with my new book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. (Curious what a “platform” is? I blogged about it here.) I am finishing the manuscript up now. Thomas Nelson will publish it in April 2012. It includes everything I have personally learned in building my own platform. I can’t wait to share it with you.

The book will be presented to the Thomas Nelson sales team in a few weeks, so I really need your help in choosing a cover design. The covers in the poll below represent my four favorites out of the ten they submitted.

What do you think? Which cover do you prefer?

So, which of the these new cover comps do you prefer? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Posted on October 6, 2011

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  • William Coker Jr

    I like #2. The shifting image of “PLATFORM” speaks to an underlying theme that I sense from the title & subtitle.

  • http://messywifetobetransformed.blogspot.com/ Venus

    I chose option 1.

    My opinion on:
    #2: the title is not easy to read although I understand the idea of it.

    #3: this was the first one that catch my eyes. But given that all the others are red, it is not difficult to see why. And I kind of suspect it may be the reason that this one is “ahead” in the poll. The reason I did not choose this one in the end though was that it reminds me of elementary school teachers trying to get the kids to line up. Not the kind of impression that I think you would like your readers to have.

    #4: It reminds me of those loud speakers in schools. Feels kind of old. At a glance, it also looks like an engineering or college math book.

    So back to 1. I honestly do not like the red. It felt “loud”. But I like the conversation box. 
    I keep thinking, if there is a way to put many of those boxes crowded but blurred in the background, then your title in one large and clear pop in the front that gives you a sense of tranquility. It might be nice. 

    Just my opinion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1453890794 Beth K. Vogt

    None of the covers grabbed me. Sure, red is a power color. And white words on a red background is striking. But none of the covers “sold” me on the book. Of course, based on your name alone, the book’s a seller. So, get your name up on the top of the cover.

  • guest

    This is easy.  #3 is the only one.   You get the idea without even reading the words.   #1 is too small – does nothing to grab my attention.   #2 is too distracting.  It gives the impression of an earthquake or feeling unbalanced – not unnoticed or unheard.    #4 is not as bad as #1or 2 but if the megaphone had not been in #3 – I would have thought the small circle in #4 was a button.   

  • Kbcollege09

    Option #2 was my favorite choice because it is so creative and does make the reader notice the cover.
    Option #1 is too dull and a little opaque.
    Option #3 is way overused and only stands out because it is viewed along 3 other RED options, rather than a red cover next to other white or gray covers.
    Option #4 immediately confused me because it reminded me of something else… which then came to mind as the Pokemon pods that Burger King used to sell in DROVES when the toys were popular.
    Love the color Red to draw attention (which is Color Theory basics), and the ingenuity of a ‘platform’ on the page – Option #2!!!

  • http://blog.rumorsofglory.com/ Lucille

    I don’t like the one with the squiggly words. It irritates me. I like the last one with the speaker on it. 

    Simple is best. 

    I make my decisions quickly, trying not to think too much. 

  • Daniel

    Option 3, loudspeaker

  • Samuel Eatmon

    In my opinion, the first 2 aren’t as visually appealing.

    The 3rd looks the best, but the megaphone seems a bit much.

    The 4th is my pick if you lose the little speaker icon and that phrase, “get noticed in a busy world.”

    It seems enough to me to just have the step-by-step line.  And maybe a platform is worth putting on the cover instead?

  • Jim Horton

    Option 1 is too “empty”
    Option 2 is hard to read, like the platform is shaky.
    Option 3 seems to be yelling in my face like an authoritarian (think police, fire, rescue)
    Option 4 with the vibration from the speaker reverberates with me the most. I also like the red / white color breaks, very clean.

  • Neil

    This was an easy one to pick… option 3: megaphone… Besides being interesting, the design communicates clearly and quickly what the book is about. If these were 4 books side by side on a bookstore shelf, I would pick up #3 first.

  • Alycia

    I was first drawn to number 4, but when I went back and looked at them again; number 3 seemed more appealing. More for the eye to look at.

  • http://tonychung.ca tonychung

    Here’s an edited version on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsIfntfLYPI

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      Thanks, Tony.

  • http://www.davidfmckee.com David McKee

    I see that Option 3 is “winning” this race, but #4 still seems better to me.  3 has too much bullhorn and not enough of the Title and Author, which 4 does very well.  I don’t see why you can’t combine the two ideas:  replace the speaker image with a bullhorn image (or something similar) so that you convey the visual: being heard over the crowd noise; and still retain what is most important:  title (and, maybe more importantly, subtitle/description) and author.  All that said, I agree with Jim Horton, below.  I prefer the #4 cover as it is, with the speaker graphic and the red/white color fields.  Very nice.

  • Isaiah J Hendricks

    I really like option number 3.

    thanks for the emails, really appreciate them! such a help!

  • Jim Danielson

    Definitely number 4 for me. Professional, interesting, but mostly because it would catch my eye in a “noisy” bookstore.

  • http://twitter.com/robertpierce Robert Travis Pierce

    Michael, I can’t say I love any of them (#4 looks the best of the three to me). Here’s my design take: https://skitch.com/rpierce/f67q1/hyatt-platformcoveridea (sorry, couldn’t help it :) .

    I do think you should pick up the three benefits of a platform from your article on the cover (Visibility, Amplification, Connection); the current tagline doesn’t resonate and seems phonetically awkward to me.

    I can’t wait to read the book!

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      Thanks, Robert. I appreciate you taking a stab at it.

  • http://teenidentity.com Tasra Dawson

    Definitely #4. I probably wouldn’t even pick up the other 3 covers. Particularly #3 is unappealing to me because of the megaphone which often carries a negative connotation of me yelling at you, rather than sharing, teaching, helping. That’s not what you do, so it doesn’t seem to be a good fit. Plus, it’s a bit old school. 

    The design of #4 keeps me looking at it… I read the title, the subtitle, the description, then your name… then because of the way it’s designed I went back up again. That’s what a good design does… leads your eye and keeps it on the cover.

    I have to admit I didn’t get #2 at all. Maybe it’s because it was smaller and online, but I missed the “platform” and just didn’t understand why the text looked that way. It wasn’t until I saw that others had voted for it that I looked closer and saw. So, in a bookstore it might do better if you can see the distinct ledge, however so much of book buying and interest happens online, you really want something that absolutely is clear to the viewer.

    That’s my two cents. :)

  • Wayne Anson

    I maybe a little late opening this but it was a hard chose between Option 2 & Option 3. 

    I like the color and arrangement of Option 2 but the graphic makes me crosseyed when less than full size.  lol

    Option 3 – if people think it is you with the bullhorn (my first mindless response) then it’s an immediate turn off.  Otherwise it is clear, easy to read, etc. Perhaps if the graphic barely included the top of the shoulders, a touch of the hands, and the top of the tie it would change that first response.

    Option 1 has too much empty space.

    Option 4 – I like the graphic for communication and the red color but it needs a border around your name to help tie it all together.

  • Connie

    #1  gets your attention with the lightning bolt and color. #3 get attention with the megaphone. I also believe that the name of the Author is very important and it stands out in number 4.  I would choose number 4, because one of the first things I want to know is, who’s words are these.

  • Karen

    Hi, Michael.  I like #3 best; after that, #4.  BUT I found #1 boring, and #2 makes me feel dizzy and queasy just looking at it.  (Apologies to the designer… just my reaction.)  Thanks. 

  • Mariana

    sorry, voted for # 3 but none of these really appealed to me… kind of old looking… in the sense that it makes me think of outdated stuff… how about the windows volume design (like in the lower right of your screen…)? I think you’ve got to consult with a very good graphic designer… these 4 choices were not very clever… sorry, again!

  • http://krissiwyss.wordpress.com Krissi

    I see by selecting my faves for this & your Life Plan that I do not choose with the majority. And I still think I’m right :)

  • Marlene Molewyk

    I chose cover 4. However, I would actually vote for cover 3, if two changes were made:

    1) Show some portion of the person’s head, because he appears to be headless! Perhaps a side profile of the person speaking through the megaphone. Or maybe two people (male and female), each with a megaphone, competing to be heard? Or maybe the man standing in a crowd of people who are all shouting and looking frustrated, but he’s the only one with a megaphone, from which the title emerges?

    2) The suit and tie look way too stuffy. Have the person wear something more casual.

    Hope this helps!

  • DawnF

    I keep going to back #3, but then I just look at the megaphone instead of the words…    The coloring is great though.   I realize that you are a man and the image would convey that you are the one talking through the megaphone, but would it be best to avoid a specific gender on your cover?  Perhaps some women would overlook your book because they might think it’s male-focused??  It’s just a thought…

    I have to say I like #1 ~ my eyes are immediately drawn to the wording.  I wonder though if you could pull your name out of the word box and place it centered at the top to help alleviate some of the overcrowding of all of the words.

    All of the covers are fab though!

  • Anonymous

    After seeing the results of the survey (so far) and reading some of the comments, I definitely went against the flow and voted for #1. I like the red dominating the front cover with the conversation bubble in the corner, your eye is drawn immediately to the title words. 

  • Anonymous

    #1 is the best b/c the lack of a cover and when most people expect a cover it will get noticed. 

  • http://thebookangel.com Renee

    I didn’t vote for any of them.
    # 1 with the info crammed in a corner = someone is scared and tentative to speak up
    #2 comes across that a platform is wobbly and crooked, subtitle is important and waaaay too small
    #3 SCREAMING thru a megaphone = no connection = old paradigm (am sure that’s NOT what this book is about)
    #4 Your name name is going to sell the book. This one shows it the best. And the rest of the cover is boring.

    Robert Travis Pierce has come up with the best ones for both your books this week. Please consider hiring him. (I have no connection to him other than a fellow commenter here.)Mahalo for the opportunity to chime in.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t really care for any of these covers. Option 2 is the only one that conveys any idea of a platform, but it doesn’t give the visual context to overcome the optical illusion that it could be an overhang as much as a platform. None of the options really speak to the idea of being heard above everyone else. You might try something like this: http://petersondesigns.net/hyatt-platform-01.jpg.

  • Apollojetick

    Hopefully something about being unique will be a point you make in your book.  That being said, please don’t do number 3.  Everyone is doing that one…in honor of Steve Jobs “Think Different”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Laura-Krämer/100001481863376 Laura Krämer

    I voted for #3: it caught my attention the best and communicated what you are hoping to–even before I read the title itself. It just works.

    #1: Felt like an old marvel comic feel
    #2: No. I don’t know why–but definately not “it”
    #4: probably my 2nd favorite. It’s very minimal.

  • Rajiv Bhagwat

    #3 is too loud, don’t like the load-hailer in my face.
    How about modifying #4 to split “Get Noticed” “In a noisy world” in 2 lines? (Note it is not “Get Noticed In” as in #3.

  • http://dmbaldwin.wordpress.com/ Dave Baldwin

    My option is two. However I’m an old gomer so it’s good you put the age option in the poll. That gives you an idea about how the younger people are thinking. 
    Thank you for including us in this process.
    Blessings,
    Dave

  • http://www.sundijo.com Sundi Jo Graham

    Option #3 seems to be more You and what you represent. It goes well with your blog layout. 

  • http://twitter.com/annieteich annieteich

    Anyone who knows you will pick up your book whatever the cover. If your goal is to reach a broader audience, then Cover #3 is the best choice. Everyone relates to a megaphone and the words and the image work together seamlessly – one reinforces the other.

  • Samvjr

    I like the way that “Platform” really pops out in #4, and seems to immediately my grab attention and pull me in. The bending in #2 is a cool effect, but it takes a moment for my brain to process “Platform” and I seem to get hung up on that processing. #3 would be my second choice, but I find I’m getting stuck in the bullhorn image. I just really like the way #4 pops and immediately grabs my attention and draws me to the rest of the copy on the cover.

  • Landa

    Option 3… It’s much more visually communicative of the subject…  I love red, but the other books seem a bit *too* red… and I look away instead of taking the time to soak up its subtitles and “spirit”.  

    Can’t wait to read it!

    • Landa

       I also liked Carlo’s contribution below.

  • http://beckfarfromhome.blogspot.com/ Beck Gambill

    This is fun! I like #1 but it seems a little plain, I don’t care for #2, I really like #4 but all I could think is Cambell soup label. I like the mega phone image and voted for #3.

  • Byron Spradlin

    Byron Spradlin here, Mike:  What a great way to get input.  Did you use Survey Monkey?  Great to receive your blog !!!  Keep it up.

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      Byron, yes I do. Survey monkey is great. I also use PollDaddy for somethings.

  • Deborah3498

    Number 3 is the one that stood out for me.  I like the cover very much. The theme of the cover would make a reader curious to see what was inside. In Roget’s Thesaurus the word curious also means to be inquisitive, an eagerness to know.  This is what this cover says to me. 

  • Dan Lunt

    The job of the cover is to get people to pick the book up and look inside. How aesthetically pleasing it might be is irrelevant if it doesn’t stand out. To me, options 1, 3 & 4 are clones of the thousands of other business books already on the shelves. Option 2 has a 3-dimensional aspect to it that grabs my attention and implies a platform at the same time. It might make me dizzy but I’ll probably notice it and pick it up.

  • Med1212

    I think No 4 has a little more visual impact but the title “Platform” doesn’t tell me anything. I think the title should be “Getting Noticed in A Noisy World”

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      The word “platform” is the buzz word in the publishing and music world.

  • http://twitter.com/gullchasedship Peter Scholtens

    I’m sorry, but none of them send the message that title does, resulting in disjunction.

    A platform is a soapbox, and none of the title pages imply that in anyway. Change the title (Be Heard?) or change the graphics.

  • Bryan Klobe

    I chose #4.  The cover looks modern and the Title is in a prominent place.  The cover grabs my attention and i know what the book is about with a quick glance.  #1 looks too plain.  #2 is my second pick.  I like the way that “Platform” is imaged but it took a second for it to sink in that it was a platform.  #3, which seems to be the favorite, is my least favorite.  To me it looks like something from the 70′s. 

  • Becky Deuel

    Maybe it was because the white cover stood out against the three red covers.  Among other books, one of the red ones may have had more impact.

  • TheSingingNurse/Dawn Ginese

    I chose # 4, but was not really crazy about it. My 1st thoughts of a platform would be someone getting ready to jump off a diving board into the blue waters of a swimming pool… or maybe a cannon ball in mid flight. How to make the biggest splash and be noticed…Love your blog and advice. Dawn

  • Vonabell

    I believe the mega phone is a great word picture …the red title pops ..  which is important  if you were just perusing books … the imagery works…

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  • Guest

    Okay well I voted for 4 because it seem visually simple yet felt “complete”.   However I did not feel that any of the covers really sent me the message or at least what I perceived to be the message: “GET NOTICED”!  I really see the cover as needing to send the message that an organization or individual is standing out from the noise.

    To me highlighting the “loud effects” or other “noise” is highlighting the problem not the solution.  So one options would be a busy back ground that fades in comparison to a highlighted but simple foreground or a cover that shows the noise being silenced by a clearer “Vision/Focus”

    Good Luck!

  • Dan

    Hi Michael, I’m a book designer so I find this idea of putting covers on your site for people to react to an interesting activity. I’ve seen you mention that it’s such a subjective thing (picking your favorite cover) I’m wondering if it gives you any clear answers. As a cover designer I’ve had authors do this and the comments usually come back and ad more confusion to the process. With your experience in publishing though I’m sure you recognize those possibilities. So I guess I’m writing hoping that someday you might write a post about what you gain / get from this process of having people vote for your covers. I’d be interested in reading it. BTW, my vote is for #4 but I don’t think you’ll go wrong with any of them. Thanks for doing what you do with this blog.

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      Thanks, Dan. The process was hugely helpful. My readers saw things that we didn’t. As a result, we were able to make changes that I believe really helped deliver the best cover possible.
      Personally, I would never yield control to “the crowd.” In other words, this not simply a popularity contest. Instead, I let the crowd inform the decision-making process, but still make the ultimate decision myself.
      Hope that helps.

  • http://magneticverb.com/ Jay Thatcher

    Because 3 are red and one is not, your numbers might be skewed by the effect choice sets have on decision making. Subconsciously, it’s like saying which one stands out, causing more to pick the non-red cover because of the choice set. Here’s an article that I did not write and have no association with, but it’s an interesting article. http://uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2011/02/the-nature-of-choice-sets-and-their-affect-on-decision-making.php

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