How To Include A Cover In Your Kindle EBook

I was recently asked, "Where does the cover go in my Kindle ebook?"

Actually there are two answers to that question. The Cover image can go:

1) In Amazon's Digital Text Platform and,

2) At the front of your ebook.html file.

Since your cover is in two separate places, there is not a conflict because one is used to sell your book in the Kindle ebook store and the other is so the reader can see your cover when they open your book in their Kindle eReader.

Is it absolutely necessary to add a cover image to the front of your ebook?

No, but it does enhance your reader's experience.

A Cover image is just like any other image in your ebook.html file so it uses the same code. For instance, let's say your Kindle ebook's title is "Conspiracy" and the cover image name is ConspiracyCover.jpg. So this is how the html code is written. Please take out the space after the

So let's discuss what this code means.

tells Kindle where your book should open.

If you don't put in this code, your ebook will start at Chapter 1. Which means if you have your cover, copyright information and a prologue before Chapter 1, your readers will never see this information. That's why placing the code before your image and the closing code after your image is so important.

Don't put the start code in and you could get reviews from ticked off readers which will hurt your sales.

; is used in the Kindle even though it's deprecated for websites. The Kindle uses very basic html so it's okay to use the center code. As the name suggests, your image is centered in any eReader that has Amazon's Kindle software on it.

Your cover image should be in the same folder as your ebook.html file along with both table of content files when you build your.PRC file. And yes, Amazon does recommend your ebook be a Palm Resource Code (.prc) file if you want your ebook to look just the way you want.

You should definitely make your cover in Color because the Kindle might show it in grayscale but the other devices (i.e., iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones) are all in color.

Besides, you want to use the same cover when you self publish in Amazon's Digital Text Platform.

You're competing with thousands of ebooks in Amazon's ebook store so make sure your cover is great looking (meaning readable) in both the large and thumbnail size.

Judith Tramayne's passion for the last 13 years is helping Authors self-publish ebooks. Her "Kindle eBook Course" has 18 videos and 7 image-filled PDFs shows how to EZ-ily make a Kindle ebook. Visit www.agoodread.com