Author: Steven Oliverez
Date:   06-30-05 15:08

This is more of a "writing for a website about a book" question than an actual book writing question. Yes, I'm another one of those slush POD authors, and so I have to do all of my own publicity. Also, I don't want to pay $800+ to have a website designed, so I've made the following on my own:

www.stevenoliverez.com

If anyone has the time to look it over and comment about what you think it needs, please let me know. The first chapter of the book is available... should I have more samples of the writing, more links to other places, more pictures? Any suggestions are welcome (simple to advanced - if you have search engine tips, those are great too).

Of course, if you just want to check out the book, that's fine by me.

Author: Lit. Gal
Date:   06-30-05 16:03

Steven -- site looks good. Just a couple of suggestions. On the author page why not make your e-mail address also a link so that people can click on it an write you an e-mail on the spot. Alson, once I moved into your first chapter there was no convenient way to get back to your home page. If I was on page 3 I had to back out using my "back" browser tab. There ought to be a "return to homepage" link so that if I read 5 pages and want to buy the book I can zoom right back to that Amazon link. Best of luck.

Author: Mya Bell
Date:   06-30-05 16:08

If you make your email address a mailto: link, you will be deluged with junk mail spam. It's better to do a perl contact page or to encode the email address so that humans can figure it out and spambot harvesters can't.

--- Mya Bell

Author: jill smith
Date:   06-30-05 16:34

Sorry, but since I am on webtv I can't download and got two blank pages for the chapter 1 and 2. I liked your website page and would be interested in reading what you have on the website for Chapter 1 and 2. I tried a place where you need to do advertising and pay for books and I didn't make the grade. I would prefer to stay with an Agent who does all the advertising and sells you as an author.

I had two websites for me at Delphi and Tripod but since I don't have a working computer it was sorta plain. You have your picture and e-mail address, perhaps you could have other pages where you have your bio, your other works and more photos you care to share with others. I think it looks pretty good to me. I guess I am easy to please.

Jill Smith

Author: Stephanie glen
Date:   07-03-05 08:14

Steve:

Something to bear in mind: a professional web site designer should not only DESIGN your site, but they should optimize your site for searching and work with you on getting your site listed on google and yahoo. This could make a difference of several thousand book sales.

My hubbie does this for a living. I'm not exactly sure the ins and outs of it, but I do know that he knows what to put in the site to get it 'hits'. I sold artwork for a while, and he redesigned my website. My income increased TEN-FOLD after he made those changes.

There are so many gazillion websited out there that yours is in danger of being buried, ranked at the bottom of the search engine heap.

Good luck on your project, though I would advise you don;t DIY!

Stephanie