Marketing your books can be tough, but designing your ads doesn’t have to be. BookBub Ads has an image design tool built into the ad setup form, so you can create simple and effective ad images in moments — whether you’re new to advertising, unsure about how to create your own image, or just want to quickly test variations on ad copy with a target audience.
Our five templates offer a variety of layouts and background options, but all include the key elements you need to create an effective ad: a book cover; clear, readable text; and space for a call-to-action.
Read on to find twelve examples of ads designed with the BookBub creative tool that earned great click-through rates (up to 10%!) — and twelve tips for how you can use this tool to quickly create ads that get readers to click.
Visit the ad form to try out each template as you go through this post!
1. Promote a great deal
If there’s one thing readers love, it’s a discount — and the free price point is a great incentive to start a new series!
2. Build credibility with award-winning status
A genre-specific award can tailor your ad specifically to those readers likely to be a good fit for your book.
3. Draw readers in with a compelling hook
Already wrote a punchy description or tagline for your book? Repurpose it in your ad to intrigue potential fans.
4. Showcase the value of a box set
A box set image instantly communicates the volume of content included in your offer. Promoting an extra-long audiobook? Share the length in your ad copy.
5. Compare your book to popular media
Lean on readers’ existing knowledge of popular franchises to capture the attention of your ideal audience.
6. Entice new readers by advertising a first-in-series
Entice readers into exploring a brand new world by advertising a first-in-series.
7. Call out an excellent narrator
Great narration is an important part of the listening experience for audiobook listeners — let them know when you’ve got the best.
8. Highlight a beloved genre trope
Calling out popular tropes lets you communicate instantly in shorthand with readers who know what they love in a book.
9. Drum up pre-release excitement with existing fans
Reach existing readers with preorder messaging to drive early sales ahead of release day.
10. Add urgency to a limited-time sale
BookBub readers love a deal — if you’re promoting a discount, make sure it’s clear in your ad image.
11. Add social proof with review counts
Promoting great ratings can lend credibility to your book and pique readers’ interest (it’s a tactic that BookBub editors use to write Featured Deal blurbs!).
12. Reach readers on their favorite retailers
If your book is available in a subscription service, let those readers know they can dive right in.
As you can see from the examples above, the BookBub Ads creative builder makes it easy to incorporate proven best practices for driving clicks on your book ad campaigns. Bookmark this list of tips for future reference, and head to the ads setup form to start designing your own clickable ad images!
- Include an exciting deal price
- Communicate urgency with words like “Now,” “Today,” or “Limited time”
- Advertise a new release or preorder
- Compare your book to a similar author, book, movie, or other piece of popular media
- Communicate the value of a box set or extra-long audiobook with a 3D cover image or runtime
- Add first-in-series or completed-series status to hook new readers
- Include popular tropes or themes that appeal to readers in your genre
- Add social proof with quotes from reader reviews or blurbs from fellow authors
- Boost credibility with accolades like bestseller or award-winning status
- Communicate the book format
- Specify the retailers or subscription services where the book is available
