Is It Worth Doing Your Own Book Cover

[aimee]

I’m preparing to self-publish my first novel, and I’ve been debating my options for the visual side. I’m curious if I can actually design a book cover that will appeal to readers and fit my genre. I’ve seen plenty of online tools and templates, but will a DIY cover truly compete with professional ones? How much does cover quality influence sales and engagement, and are there cases where designing it yourself is acceptable?