Your book deserves content that looks as good as it reads.

These templates are (almost) ready to go, just swap in your colours, fonts, images, and book details and you're ready to post!

A few things to know before you jump in: These templates are free for your personal use, including your social media. However they can't be sold, redistributed, or shared as your own work. A Canva Pro account is needed to access all fonts, elements, and features. It is your responsibility to use these templates in alignment with Canva’s T&Cs.

Wanting something made just for you? I’d love to hear about it!

Instagram Templates
Author Banner Template
Something Custom

I’d love to see what you’re up to! Tag me @byrosemills on Instagram so I can cheer you on.

Brand Blindspots

AKA the most common mistakes I see authors making online.

Now you might be thinking… Rose, I’m an author, not a “brand”, do I really need this? The answer is yes. While you might not be building a brand in the way we commonly see it, you are still making brand decisions every single day. From how you show up visually on social media, to the design choices on your book cover. From how your voice carries from your stories, to your newsletters and beyond. And as a lifelong reader who has had their life changed by stories, I want as many eyes on your book as possible. So let's talk about what might be getting in the way…

  • If you can't clearly articulate who you are, what you do, why you do it, and who it's for, chances are readers aren't going to feel it on the other side of a screen (or page) either.

    Take some time to think about:
    Who you are as a person/author
    Why you write
    What makes you, you
    Who you're writing for
    How you want readers to experience you

    From the minute they land on your social media, to when they finish your book and rush to recommend it to everyone they know, what do you want that experience to be?

    This is your brand foundation and everything else gets SO much easier when you’re confident in this part.

  • You could be the best writer, but if you're changing colours, fonts, and visual styles more than you change your hair colour, it's so much harder for readers to recognise you.

    Cohesion and consistency = recognition. Recognition = connection. Connection = Readers who can’t stop talking about you.

    Take what you know about who you are and what you’ve written, and think about how you can tell that story visually.

    Nostalgic? Playful? Bold? Moody? Whimsical? Eerie?

    Do your colours, fonts and images actually match that?

    A Pinterest mood board is a great starting point, then build on that in Canva with a Brand Kit or Adobe Express to help you stay consistent.

    Another tip is stick to 3 fonts (1 for your headings, 1 for your paragraphs, 1 as an accent (usually this would be something cursive/handwritten/has a little more personality). And 3 - 5 colours.

    Think about the authors (or even the brands) that inspire you most. I bet you could spot their content mid scroll, that's consistency my friend.

  • Obviously we want your content to look hot. But the actual job of your content is to connect. And that comes down to design principles used on purpose like hierarchy, contrast and balance.

    Before you post (or design a cover, or create anything), ask yourself:

    • What do I want people to see first, second, third?

    • Is the contrast between colours and sizes actually legible? (Coolors is great for checking this.)

    • Does the design feel balanced and stable? And if not, was that an intentional choice?

    • Can this font still be read clearly at different sizes?

    • Have I left some empty space, or is everything fighting for attention?

    Pretty might stop the doomscroll. Purpose is what makes it memorable.

  • Your book cover is one of your biggest brand assets, and whether you like it or not, people judge a book by its cover.

    I always recommend authors do a shelf test. Would your book fit (but stand out) if it was on a shelf with the same genre? And if your books were sitting side by side, would they look like they belong to the same series?

  • I know this is a hot topic right now, but I want to be honest with you, not just a designer, but as a reader who’s always talking to other readers…

    Allowing AI to generate your brand, whether it’s the copy/captions, the cover/posts, we can see it from a mile away and we run in the opposite direction.

    What makes your book and brand special is you. Your voice, your aesthetic, your perspective. That's what readers come (and come back) for.

    Just something to consider.

With love, Rose.