Posts tagged ‘design’
Self-Branding: What Your Web Site Says about You and Your Book
Authors, and perhaps especially self-published authors, can have a difficult run after production of their books is complete, mostly because, just when you thought you were done, then comes the necessary marketing.
Simply put, in order to sell books, you have to sell yourself. Just like a book cover can catch a reader’s eye, so too, your Web site can attract new fans and audiences to your work, but what kind of Web site is going to attract the right people? It’s a good question, and one that has no easy answer, but the truth of the matter is: without a creative and straightforward Web site with compelling content, your book might go unnoticed for a time in various Internet circles.
There are, however, a few questions you can ask yourself when designing your own Web site (or hiring a third party to design one for you) that may help:
What type of book are you marketing? Fiction? Poetry? Inspirational? Christian? Perhaps a children’s book? Whatever type of book you’ve publish, the genre and content of it will definitely affect how you market and subsequently how you build your Web site. For that matter, you need to reveal the specifics of your book on your site right away–on the homepage–not only to keep visitors interested, but to increase your keywords for Internet searches as well.
What is the primary thrust of your marketing plan? Are you approaching the media with press release and follow-up calls? Are you planning a book tour in the near future? Are you selling your book in local or regional bookstores? Whatever the main push of your marketing strategy is, you’ll want to reflect its importance on the main page of your Web site.
What information do people need to know? Obviously, people coming to your site are interested in the content of your book; but if you’ve only posted vague information about the formats, prices or materials within your book, you might not convert a reader into a customer. Hence, the importance of drafting compelling copy that tells your visitors exactly why your book is so valuable and worthy of being purchased beyond all doubts.
How can readers get your book? Okay, so maybe you’ve convinced them to buy your book, but you still have to make the process of actually ordering a copy quick and easy for them. If ordering a book is too complicated or buried in other material, a potential customer may be dissuaded and leave your site. So be sure to post links to your Book Ordering page, or offer visitors a simple way to order your book on your site.
Long story short, your Web site is an important aspect of your marketing campaign, and as such, it requires a great deal of forethought and planning when developing if you’re looking to keep target readers interested and convert them into customers.
This is Justin, blogcasting from Wordclay, signing off.
Wordclay Launches New, Improved Cover Design Wizard: Take the Poll & Provide Helpful Feedback on Our Online Publishing Program
That’s right! Wordclay has given the cover design wizard a complete overhaul, so our authors can now layout their covers as well as test different styles and themes with even better, more accessible online design tools.
But building and maintaining a free self-publishing company is work that is never completely finished, and that’s the reason we need your help. By simply logging in to your account, uploading a manuscript and testing our cover wizard, you can submit the informative feedback that keeps our company evolving.
Remember too, if you don’t have an account with Wordclay, registration is easy in addition to being free, and we never distributed your contract information to any other company, so you can be certain annoying spam and unwanted e-mails are never a problem.
So if you can spare 15 minutes and help us reshape the future of publishing, log in to your account and test any many design tools, themes and cover layouts as you desire. Once you’ve formed an opinion, take our simple poll (located below) and perhaps even submit a comment about your experience.
We’re always looking to improve our program and services, and here’s your chance to ensure that our company grows to meet your specific publishing needs and desires. Thanks again for your participation!
Angry Villagers Burn Books: E-book Zealots Versus Sentimental Booklovers
Earlier this week, Computerworld Blog posted an article entitled “Clueless book publishers miss huge opportunity,” which adamantly predicts that the growing convenience of e-books and development of e-reader technology like Kindle and the Sony Reader will soon render physical books obsolete.
Undoubtedly, e-books and e-readers have opened new areas of publishing and marketing for all genres of books, but does it necessarily follow that the printing of books is doomed to dust as a result of this digital boom?
For me, the question is not one of the merits and benefits of digital content. Of course online content has given us more convenience learning information and accessing entertainment. In fact, I found the Computerworld article online, but I could have easily read the content on an iPhone as well.
Instead, I believe the question concerns the value of the physical book, whether our hardcover or paperbacks will truly become obsolete, relics of an out-of-print past. In order to look deeper at this issue, however, we’ll need to address a few fundamental questions about the concept of the book itself and the publishing industry at large.
What’s the value of a book?
Of course there’s huge value in the content of books. Otherwise why would you search out and order particular books, by specific authors, talking about the topics or stories that interest you? And obviously, that content translates (and should translate) to a digital format. But is that the end of a book, its content? Why wouldn’t we dispose of them after reading then? Why would they decorate our house? Why would communities like BookCrossing exist if not for the demand and interest in the physical book?
The simple answer is: a book is more than its content.
For starters, a book’s design, especially when it comes to art books, children’s books and novels with nontraditional formatting like House of Leaves, can have unique, experimental layouts that are just as compelling as their content at times. (more…)
Outshine the Competition: Rainbow Authors Accepting Submissions for Book of The Year 2008
Greetings, Earthlings,
Wordbot here, announcing the exciting new opportunity for GLBT writers and self-published authors.
From now until November 30th, Rainbow Authors, a GLBT online self-publishing company, is accepting submissions for their first annual contest, RainbowAuthors.com Book of the Year Award – 2008.
To enter, simply visit RainbowAuthors.com, and then complete the publishing process by November 30th. Basic publishing is free, and there’s absolutely no cost necessary to submit to the competition for a chance to win.
Entering is simple. Once you’ve published your title with the help of Rainbow Authors and Wordclay’s comprehensive do-it-yourself publishing wizard, send an e-mail with your contact information and a 250 word synopsis of your book to: contest@rainbowauthors.com.
By December 15th, fifteen finalists will be chosen from all participants, based on the strength of their book synopsis. Each finalist will then be requested to send via e-mail the first three chapters of their book for judging.
From the fifteen finalists, five will be selected on January 10th to submit a complete copy of their manuscript. Finally, one winner will be chosen and announced on March 1, 2009, based on the following criteria:
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Originality: Does the book have a good hook?
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Writing Quality: Does your book keep readers with good writing?
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Editing Quality: Is the book edited, free of typos and grammar mistakes?
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Cover Design: What level of quality was put into the cover?
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Back Cover Text: Is the synopsis compelling and clean?
Winning Authors:
The grand prize winner will receive 10 free copies of their book, as well as a professional press release distributed to selected gay media, announcing the book’s selection as Rainbow Author’s Book of the Year – 2008. Additionally, the winning title will be promoted on RainbowAuthors.com and GayBookStoreOnline.com. The four runner-ups will each receive a free copy of their book, and a special mention on RainbowAuthors.com for their participation in the contest.
As a one of many who share a unique, diverse, yet united experience, your story deserves to be heard. Visit Rainbow Authors today for more info on GLBT self-publishing and the chance to showcase your work as the Book of the Year.
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Behind the Scenes: Chip Kidd Discusses New Releases & Book Design
Recorded at the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival in Seattle, The Sound of Young America recently posted an interview with the infamous Chip Kidd, an accomplished designer who has created book cover for authors like Michael Crichton, David Sedaris, Cormac McCarthy and innumerable others for more than 20 years.
Listen to Kidd discuss his design experience working within traditional publishing as well as his experience writing comic novels, The Cheesemonkeys and The Learners.
<<Chip Kidd by The Sound of Young America>>
For more information about Kidd and his recent releases, check out Good Is Dead.
The Point: Getting professionals to help design a catchy, engaging and relevant book cover can earn authors both the sales and recognition they deserve.
Blog Announcement: Beloved Wordclay Blogger Passes the Publishing & Book Marketing Torch
Greetings, Earthlings,
Wordbot here, and today Wordclay has authorized the publishing announcement of our new blogger, 1000 Chimps.
Unfortunately, with a saddened bio-mechanical heart, this robot regrets to report that Jenn must step down as a Wordclay blogger. Of course, her posts on book formating and her interesting publishing scoops will be missed.
But things aren’t all bad – we’ve managed to recruit another Wordclay employee to take her place. Matt and his crew of 1000 Monkeys at 1000 keyboards will be accepting the torch this coming Thursday. So be sure to look for design tips and publishing news from him in the future.
This publishing robot had a chance to visit the hardworking monkey at their desks, pecking away at their computers. When asked if they were excited about posting on the Wordclay blog, they simply turned and quoted Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost, saying, “I post from love…”
Please join me in thanking Jenn for all her wonderful blogging insights, and give a warm welcome to Matt and his 1000 Monkeys, who are certain to provide some valuable publishing tips and marketing advice.
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Introducing Wordclay’s New Cover Service: DIY Cover Conversion
Greetings, Earthlings,
Wordbot here, and today Wordclay has authorized this publishing robot to announce our new cover service.
Wordclay and its professional publishing staff have done it again. Since beginning the development and adaptation of our free online publishing software, we have always remembered the author’s desire for control. Now, you can control your cover down to the last detail with Wordclay’s DIY Cover Conversion Service.
But what exactly is the DIY Cover Conversion service?
Good question. Where before your publishing options were limited to the free template cover you could easily design using the publishing wizard, now you can e-mail us the print-ready PDF of your cover, which we’ll promptly submit to our printers. This way, you can control every detail about your new book’s cover. From the back cover text to the images on your front cover to the placement of your author photograph, you choose the best representation for your publication.
What’s the catch?
No catch. Honestly. Would a robot like me lie? If you have the design experience and you can design your own cover using InDesign or another comparable program, simply follow our cover dimension guidelines, leave room for your barcode (should you purchase the Wordclay ISBN and Channel Distribution) and e-mail us your final copy in a PDF form – it’s that easy.
So what does it cost?
Base cost is only $25.00, which guarantees that your personalized cover is linked to your book and title. As you’ll read in the service description, there may be an added fee should your file need tweaking. Say the spine is slightly off because of the page count, or perhaps your trim lines need to be nudged a certain direction – our designers are happy to help. But we have to cover their time, so you may experience an extremely small markup. Or you can always make the adjustments yourself. Contact a costumer representative with your file and the tentative page count of your publication in order to ensure your cover is picture perfect.
What will you need for the Cover Conversion service?
All you need are your images and your design expertise. Of course, your images have to be original, or you have to possess the permission to use them for the cover of your book. Wordclay may ask about these permissions, so we can avoid claims of plagiarism. But if you’re submitting your own artwork, artwork you have express permission to use or artwork that you’ve bought, you’re in the clear. Simply lay out your cover per our guidelines, PDF that sucker and send your finished cover our way.
Are there other options?
Sure. You can always upgrade to a custom cover design and contract one of our illustrators to design a specific cover to your preference. Or you can purchase Stock Cover Art, submit a jpeg or tiff file that contains original artwork (for which you have the permission) and have our experienced designers incorporate the image into your elegant cover design for you. That’s what Wordclay is about: Options!
For more information, feel free to contact a customer service representative via Live Chat or e-mail. Or simply leave a question in the comments box below. After all, as our newest video states, we’re not out to get you. We just want to provide the best online publishing service out there today!
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How High Can You Count? An Innovative Video Experiment Calls for Submissions
Browsing one of my favorite Web sites, The Internet Movie Database, for information on Joss Whedon’s new TV series for the Fall, I stumbled upon a link at the bottom of their home page.
There’s a guy, Adam Box, takes his inspiration from Kyle MacDonald’s book, One Red Paperclip, and the non-profit organization The 1 Second Film, not to mention some random guy who collected pictures of sheep from around the world. Considering all this, Box decided to put together a film project for his family—specifically his daughter—and called for submission.
Called Counting High, numbers from 1 to 123,465 will each get their own frame in the film. And everyone who participates in the project gets their very own number to design as they please, in whatever medium they choose.
My number’s 23. Which I’m totally loving—it’s prime, figures somewhat extensively in Lost lore, it’s sort of round—it’s just a cool number.
But I can’t, for the life of me, figure out what to do with it. I could paint it, I could sculpt it, I could choose a font and have large black text on white paper…I could have my hapless co-workers form the numbers on the floor of the auditorium and take a picture. Hee, hee.
The ways in which I can use this number are endless so, I’m having trouble focusing. And, really, with 25 frames per second, the chances of anyone seeing my number and being profoundly affected by its design are pretty low. It’s not about any single number, is it? It’s about the effect of the whole, all 123, 456 numbers.
So, if you want a number, visit Count High, read the background behind the project and e-mail Adam your request for a number—I think he still has a ways to go. Maybe I’ll get “23” tattooed on me somewhere, take a picture of it and use that as my submission. Problem solved!
-Jenn
