Glossary
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S&H
Part
I
Printed Book
Family History
State
Part II
E-Book
Genealogy & History
Fiction
Part III
Non-Book Items in our Catalog
Other Sections
(May include Printed Book, E-Book and Other)
New
Additions
New
Reprints
Gift Services
Online
Order Form Links (SCL)
A Little Bit About
"Free" Marketing
Book/Author Website or Web Pages
Back to:
Press Releases |
Book/Author Events |
Other Tips
There are several different things you can do to help sell your book. Below are several sales strategies that you can use for any type of book.
Paid
Advertising | Direct Mailing
Low cost/no cost suggestions on how to keep subscribers to periodicals.
See Also
Electronic Marketing and E-Zine Archives
Free or Expensive?
What does it cost to have a website? You are probably already paying for web space and don't even know it. Most dial up and high speed providers package web space into their fees. While the address may not be www.mynewbook.com, what do we expect for free. The address (Universal Research Locator or URL) is generally the service providers address with your username added in such as:
www.neok.com~ccorner
(Grand Lake, OK area provider - now defunct address)
or
www.geocities.com/carriescorner
(geocities is a free service provider powered by yahoo)
You can also pay to have your own address (domain). This can be done a number of different ways, including contracting with a web designer to do the site as well as getting your domain set up. An example of the current address for the "neok" URL above is:
Addresses can be important if people are looking for you or your book and don't remember a lot about it. There are several free service providers such as Geocities and Angelfire, but the commonly add extra ads to the site and restrict you from actually selling anything on the pages.
Easy How-To
For those who work in Microsoft Word, prepare what you want on your web page. Next, with each file, save as web page. The web page(s) are ready to load online. If you have MS FrontPage, you have much more control and it's easier to manage a multi-page site.
Basic Design
Try to keep your page size down - size means load time - remember that not everyone has high speed connections. Think of each page as a separate element or "chapter" of your site. Some basic pages (any category may be multiple pages) you may wish to have include:
-
About the author, publisher, etc.
-
About the book(s)
-
Press room
-
Ordering process
-
FAQ - frequently asked questions
-
Contact information
-
Book index
-
Color photos to supplement black and white in book
-
New and updated information from book
As your site grows you may wish to add:
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Site index/map
-
Privacy policy
-
Guarantees
-
Returns
-
Search engine
-
Submission request
-
Guest book
-
Book/author specific calendar
-
Electronic newsletter or e-list (through groups.yahoo.com is an example)
As the site grows in page count, remember to build a good hyperlink structure. The best site in the world can be frustrating if no one can get around (navigate) in it. A on-site search engine can be helpful, but don't depend on it for all navigation. Take a look at how websites you enjoy are laid out and plan accordingly.
Marketing the Marketing
The best website in the world won't do much good without traffic. The days of "if you build it they will come" are over - the web is just too big now. That said, you can use many of the same easy marketing ideas listed for your book to get your website out there. In addition, make it a destination, be sure there are extras on the site that make people interested in spreading your address through word of mouth. Even if it is just copies of all current family vacation photos - it's extra free content someone will enjoy.
For more suggestions
on this subject and more, order our book:
G550-$10.00 WRITING Family
History Or Genealogy For Pleasure and Profit, by The Gregath
Publishing Company, *updated* 2007. ISBN: 0-944619-00-2, 8½x11",
softbound book, 126 pages, suggestions & examples of all facets of your project
for the typist and/or computer user.
Also available on disk. | SCL
Also we suggest:
Guerrilla
Marketing for Writers - 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work
> Home Page > Book Preparation Tips > Marketing > Free Advertising > Websites
