tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post2145826883909212..comments2023-07-01T07:31:28.450-06:00Comments on LDS Publisher: HELP ME Find Your Books!LDS_Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15053645600240124892noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-44099144232401827632010-11-02T16:54:10.928-06:002010-11-02T16:54:10.928-06:00Check out the website link included below. It prom...Check out the website link included below. It promotes a new, nonfiction book published by CFI. The site contains many of the features you suggest and much more. <br /><br />www.becomethasachild.comLauriehttp://laurieos@juno.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-15695025789979204972010-10-28T12:23:39.912-06:002010-10-28T12:23:39.912-06:00No worries, Kent. I'm pretty much always ripe ...No worries, Kent. I'm pretty much always ripe for misinterpretation.Wm Morrishttp://www.motleyvision.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-86864363825076761482010-10-28T11:18:27.929-06:002010-10-28T11:18:27.929-06:00Wm. I apologize. Actually, I didn't think that...Wm. I apologize. Actually, I didn't think that you had the wrong idea, just that some readers might misinterpret what you wrote.Kent Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05893161961963720939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-32795722129965656742010-10-27T14:53:51.428-06:002010-10-27T14:53:51.428-06:00Kent, I hadn't thought of listing dimensions, ...Kent, I hadn't thought of listing dimensions, page count, etc. That's a great idea, and I updated my website to include those stats, except the shipping weight. Looking at the numbers, I think someone just tossed numbers in there...<br /><br />Thanks for the great post, and the shout out! Oh, and to do a shout out of my own, I think this blog is one uses great aesthetics for a free site: http://rachaelreneeanderson.blogspot.com/The Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04147933102399332633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-33328582424345700572010-10-25T17:47:53.396-06:002010-10-25T17:47:53.396-06:00I think my blog is on track. I Googled myself and ...I think my blog is on track. I Googled myself and found my author's blog as the first entry. From the first page on my blog you can see a picture of my cover, links to where it is sold and a link to my books. It's a free blog and nothing fancy, but check it out if you want!<br /><br />www.maggiefechner.blogspot.comMaggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017081528751539437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-58135167158184474752010-10-24T13:32:47.692-06:002010-10-24T13:32:47.692-06:00I'm a non-fiction writer, but I think all of y...I'm a non-fiction writer, but I think all of your advice here applies. I'd love some feedback on my site, "Dear Bro Jo" (http://www.dearbrojo.blogspot.com) and Facebook fan page.<br /><br />Best of luck to all,<br /><br />- Bro Jo<br />aka: Dave Johnston<br />dearbrojo@gmail.comBro Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525964417706399553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-19448462235419115422010-10-23T08:03:54.587-06:002010-10-23T08:03:54.587-06:00Yes, that's what I'm saying. Thanks for pu...Yes, that's what I'm saying. Thanks for putting it that way Marsha.<br /><br />And not necessarily that people are "more likely" to come from social media rather than Internet searches, but that good visitors, potential and current fans are more likely to come in via social media links/referrals.<br /><br />Case in point: Google is still the largest referrer to A Motley Vision. But Twitter and Facebook bring in many more visitors now than they did even just 10 months ago. And the visitors that come in via Twitter and Facebook spend significantly more time on the blog and visit more pages per visit.Wm Morrishttp://www.motleyvision.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-45055680727642272982010-10-23T01:26:18.877-06:002010-10-23T01:26:18.877-06:00Isn't William saying that referrals to an auth...Isn't William saying that referrals to an author's website or blog are now more likely to come from social media, rather than from Internet searches? I don't see him disagreeing that some kind of site is necessary to provide the book facts, once interest is piqued.Marsha Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389060049107102815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-80568717649211452612010-10-22T23:52:57.887-06:002010-10-22T23:52:57.887-06:00I agree with what you've said. I've review...I agree with what you've said. I've reviewed books for authors and can't even find their website or blog to find out more info about them or to link to them in the review. <br /><br />I think you can find me in 3 clicks--no, I'm not the doctor :). <br /><br />As far as posting the first chapter, what's your opinion of posting the prologue? My next book is due out in January and I can't decide if I should post the prologue, the first chapter, or both.Rebecca Talleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01969923131001170254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-7341389280336745202010-10-22T18:46:31.904-06:002010-10-22T18:46:31.904-06:00Good points. I'm in the process of building my...Good points. I'm in the process of building my website because my first book comes out in March, so it's nice to have good models to look at.Melanie Jacobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02489615939726209573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-42114693852113798812010-10-22T12:45:42.179-06:002010-10-22T12:45:42.179-06:00I don't know why you and Kent misunderstood my...I don't know why you and Kent misunderstood my comment, but just to be clear: all I was saying is that you may not need to stress too much about breaking the first page of Google search results when someone types in your name because more and more the quality traffic to your blog or website comes from link referrals as opposed to search results. Search is still very important, but it's not as critical as it once was.<br /><br />That said, the other thing you should do is secure a domain name (which doesn't necessarily have to be your author name, depending on what's available) and then even if you aren't working with web hosting and setting up your own site, associate that domain name with your blogger or wordpress.com blog. That's a fairly easy thing to do, it's inexpensive, and it makes you and your blog/site look much more professional. For example, here's how to do it with blogger: http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=55373<br /><br />Although my recommendation (especially if you are an already-published author) is that you pay for web hosting and a domain name and get a web host that comes preinstalled with WordPress and use that to build your author site. There are other ways to do that, but that's the easiest way to do it that is most likely to a decent end result.Wm Morrishttp://www.motleyvision.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-58704596803435891242010-10-22T11:48:44.234-06:002010-10-22T11:48:44.234-06:00*squints* Ah, yes, you did mention first chapters...*squints* Ah, yes, you did mention first chapters. Still, a little extra nagging, um, I mean urging never hurt anybody, right?Melanie Goldmundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00270135660110676225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-28780157574948303022010-10-22T11:38:14.383-06:002010-10-22T11:38:14.383-06:00Oh, wait, Melanie. I already did talk about sample...Oh, wait, Melanie. I already did talk about sample chapters on that post. One of those days...:sLDS_Publisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15053645600240124892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-91017046740091481522010-10-22T11:37:28.168-06:002010-10-22T11:37:28.168-06:00And yes, Kent. Back in the days of browsing a book...And yes, Kent. Back in the days of browsing a bookstore for something good to read, some of that info wasn't quite as needed. But today, when people purchase a lot online, or they want to buy local and need the ISBN so that it can be a special order, it's vital!<br /><br /><br />And yes, Wm, twitter, facebook and forums are a good place to get fans. However. You can't twitter a sample chapter, and your facebook posts get lost over time. No one is going to go waaay back on your wall history to find info about your book. That's why you need a static place for that info--like a blog or website.LDS_Publisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15053645600240124892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-11966278972361515512010-10-22T11:34:06.944-06:002010-10-22T11:34:06.944-06:00Yes, Melanie! I intended to include that in the po...Yes, Melanie! I intended to include that in the post and just forgot it. I'll add it now. Thanks for reminding me.LDS_Publisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15053645600240124892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-25861179548516226862010-10-22T11:31:43.791-06:002010-10-22T11:31:43.791-06:00I hope I'm not alone in urging this,
but along...I hope I'm not alone in urging this,<br />but along with your website or blog, don't forget to put up the first chapter of your book (of all of your books, if you have more than one.) I know I'm more likely to buy a book if I can check out the author's style first. Along with the blurb, the first chapter can also be a powerful hook to reel in the readers.Melanie Goldmundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00270135660110676225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-57518268564856542132010-10-22T10:20:09.045-06:002010-10-22T10:20:09.045-06:00I should add that while Wm. may be right that sear...I should add that while Wm. may be right that search is declining in importance, having a website or blog in which you can add a lot of content about your book or books is still vitally important, because you need to give the visitors you get via "twitter, facebook, other blogs, web forums, etc." someplace to go for more information.Kent Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05893161961963720939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-88752444630557692862010-10-22T10:12:06.601-06:002010-10-22T10:12:06.601-06:00LDSPublisher, your basic point is exactly right. T...LDSPublisher, your basic point is exactly right. Too many authors (and especially self-publishers) and even many publishers simply don't provide the information about their books that the industry (and worse, the customers) want.<br /><br />I can't tell you how many times I've run into books that didn't include basic information like: <br /><br />* the book's price<br />* ISBN<br />* # of pages (or # of words, if it is an ebook)<br />* physical dimensions (height, width, thickness, weight)<br />* subject<br />* setting(s)<br /><br />I'm sure somebody will claim that some of these aren't necessary because the reader doesn't care. Perhaps that is true. BUT, often the bookseller does care (dimensions and weight, for one thing, make a difference if you have to ship the book). AND, your book also looks deficient if every other book provides that information!!<br /><br />I'd also plea for mentioning that the author is Mormon or what is Mormon about the text. Too often the best works of literature written by LDS authors go unnoticed because the author doesn't think it is relevant, or worse, because the author is afraid.Kent Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05893161961963720939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-47607435072044066832010-10-22T08:50:20.638-06:002010-10-22T08:50:20.638-06:00Depending on what your name is, you may want to do...Depending on what your name is, you may want to do a variation of your name or even a pseudonym so that you don't have the issues Michael did. <br /><br />Although the importance of search is waning as a driver of quality traffic to websites/blogs. The best fans come via twitter, facebook, other blogs, web forums, etc.Wm Morrishttp://www.motleyvision.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25573541.post-11331977019453435722010-10-22T08:27:06.211-06:002010-10-22T08:27:06.211-06:00It's especially challenging if there is someon...It's especially challenging if there is someone else with your name with a strong internet presence. It took me months to overcome the Danish handball player, scuba instructor, and ANOTHER author (whose name ends in "son" instead of "sen") and start showing up on the first page of searches. After a year of effort, I've finally got a blog/website that is registering! <br /><br />http://michaelknudsenauthor.comMichael Knudsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05640030735263279057noreply@blogger.com