DIY Book Forum

Nic,

My first instinct is to create an post binding book along the lines of a high-end scrapbook.

You can stack large heavy bond paper and drill through the book block along the spine. Then, use metal posts to lock the pages together.

You can include the cover when you bind and let the posts show as decorative elements or you could bind the cover afterward and use it to hide the posts. All depends on the look you want.

Just a quick thought for something to explore.

Andrew

Books are our companion in every stage of life. Some people like books so much that they spend hours and hours reading it. In books, it is not only the content that matters, outer covering and print of the book also play an important role in bringing compliments to it.

JayKay,

I checked out the link to your publications and you have some excellent work. I flipped through the first collection of Selected Watercolors and really liked what I saw.

Are you distributing printed copies of these publications? If so, where are they available?

Thanks for sharing your work,

Andrew

Most book promotion websites I come across do a very poor job of actually selling books. They have beautiful artwork, videos with the author, glowing testimonials, maybe even a sample chapter. What is missing...

...an order button!

Okay, in fairness, the order button is usually there. It is just buried at the bottom of the page in an inconspicuous place. There may be little or no visual attention given to it.

In my experience, the reason for this is that writers love their work but don't like selling. So, they become timid when it comes to asking people to actually give them money and buy a book. But, it is possible to build a website that is optimized to make sales without turning into a late night infomercial pitchman.

Here are the basic rules:

 - Use the F-Shaped reading pattern to your advantage
 - Make all images into links
 - Keep things as simple as possible

The F-Shaped Reading Pattern

Eye-tracking studies have shown that most people in the western world read a web page starting at the upper-left corner and read down and across in pattern that looks like the letter F. All of your most important 'calls to action' (that's the marketer's term for asking people to do something like buy your book) should be located in this area.

Images - Attention (and Mouse-Click) Magnets

The next most important place for reader attention is images. Images of faces are guaranteed to be seen. It is human nature. So, use images to draw attention to important information. Also, people click on images regardless of whether they were intended to be links. Take advantage of this tendency by making sure your images link to something (every image of your book cover should be an order link.)

Simplicity and Focus Get Results

Your book's web page needs to stay focused. The goal is to build interest and sell a book.

You can see an example of a website built using these techniques here:

www.GoEasybook.com

This page is very simple and plain looking, but it works. Visitors click on the order links and buy the product. It is based on some solid research into web and e-commerce design. Use it as a starting point for your book site.

What have you done with your book promotion website that has been effective for generating sales?

Andrew

Before posting in this or any other forum or thread, please make sure you have familiarized yourself with the forum rules.

This forum is unique. Self-published authors are free to create a post and promote their books here - with a few restrictions.

The restrictions for posting here are:

• One Post Per Book Title (Hardcover, Paperback, and e-book additions should be grouped into one post.)
• Self-Published Books Only and Only List Your Own Titles (no affiliates posting links)
• No Adult Titles, Books Promoting Violence, or Books that Teach Illegal Activities

Any posts violating these terms will be deleted at the site publisher's sole discretion. Repeated or egregious violations will result in violator being removed from the site.
Please respect the community and follow the rules. Otherwise, we may have to be a bit more aggressive managing the site.

Now, let's have some fun and get out there and start building an audience for your writing.

DIY Book Forum Staff