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| Web Design & Promotion Workshop - June 28, 1999 |
dyjay - when does this
party get started?
Ninna - Cissy, hoping
to get an insight to creating a page like the ones I enjoy browsing thru,:-)
Cissy - Pretty quickly,
drjay.
dyjay - kewl
Cissy - What's everyone's
level of expertise in Web Building?
SaraR - okay, do
you want a quick intro and what we hope to get out of this?
Cissy - That'd be
nice, Sara :-)
Lainie - I'm still
really new at web building
SaraR - I am Sara
R in Dallas, TX. I have designed web sites (on paper) and directed programmers
or coders. Now I need to develop my own
Ninna - I intend
to save todays session and refer to it, to learn from it and to be inspired,
knowing there are others out there, like me.....in the learning process!
Lainie - 'm having
trouble publishing to web
Cissy - do you have
a site yet, Lainie?
Helene - logged on.
- Mon Jun 28 8:57pm EST
dyjay - Is this an
HTML only course or one dealing with use of programs such as Front Page?
Cissy - Hi, Helene
Lainie - yes, I have
two sites. I've built them
Ninna - I'm comfy
on the net, but a novice at web page development. BTW, I live in Australia,
but am in Florida as my hubby works here. heard about tonite from my daughter
who saw your promo on RRAL list serve. *whew* :-)
Helene - I am learning
all i can to make my site
Cissy - primarily
HTML and a few related codes, drjay, but we have Frontpage guru in our
midst - direct those questions to Sara. :-)
RedApril - logged
on - Mon Jun 28 8:58pm EST
Cissy - Welcome back,
RedApril.
Ninna - welcome Red
April! nice nick~
RedApril - I have
two sites, plus one I was commissioned for
Cissy - Well, maybe
I should start by saying that probably the most important thing I can teach
you tonight is that it's not so important what you know about web design
but that you know where to find information (more)
RedApril - I am intermediate
I guess, and hoping to pick up tips to improve my building capabilities
Ninna - Lainie, what
s/w did u use to build yr sites?
RedApril - Thanks.
Cissy - I'm sure
we won't be able to hit all the questions tonight, but we'll try to the
majority and at least leave everyone with an idea of where to go to find
the rest of the answers.
Cissy - What sites
do you have, April?
Ninna - *nods* agrees
with Cissy~
Korillian - logged
on - Mon Jun 28 9:00pm EST
Helene - Okay, I'm
ready to learn. Go ahead and cram my brain full of info.
RedApril - Jennifer
Archer, new Leisure author
Cissy - Welcome,
Korillian
RedApril - own, and
one for my RWTP chapter
Ninna - *lol* @ Helene....yepppers
same here~
Cissy - Okay, someone
lob the first question--
Ninna - Where do
you begin, Cissy?
RedApril - How can
you create original Backgrounds?
Cissy - With finding
web space, Ninna. You need to have a place to host your site
Helene - My word
program has a template to build a site, but it doesn't act like doing a
simple page. What do i do first?
SaraR - But you also
have to know what you are going to use as an editor, cissy
Cissy - April, I
use Paint Shop Pro to create almost all of my backgrounds. I use different
brush techniques or textures and then use the program to create a seamless
image that will work for a background.
Ninna - *nods* oic.....&
can that be on one's own Computer?
Cissy - Word isn't
a very intuitive program to use for web design, Helene. I'd recommend getting
a very basic HTML editor, or even using the one that comes with Netscape.
lainey - logged on.
- Mon Jun 28 9:04pm EST
RedApril - Oh. :)
lainey - sorry, I
was booted
RedApril - I use
netscape composer
RedApril - I was
booted too, earlier
Cissy - Not unless
you can use your computer as a web server, Ninna, and that can be a real
headache. You want to find a web server to host it. There are a number
of free ones out there, as well as some really low cost ones. Writerspace
is one *bad grin* but of course, there are others
Cissy - I think if
you don't post from time to time, it will time you out
RedApril - does it
have the capabilities to create nice backgrounds? I get the feeling it
doesn't
Ninna - What is it,
that comes with Netscape?
SaraR - so, should
we discuss HTML editors? Because they are all so different and require
different levels of expertise.
Helene - Netscape?
Went to the free download site. which one is the one I need?
Korillian - I use
Word to create my pages, but I'm pretty comfortable with HTML.
RedApril - Netscape
Composer
SaraR - If you use
Netscape, you need the Communicator suite -- composer
Cissy - You can't
really use composer to create backgrounds, April. You'll need some sort
of graphics program. On the other hand, there are a lot of sites online
with pages of free backgrounds you can choose from.
Ninna - Cissy, it
seems.....once this page goes down.....I lose the info typed here.is there
a way I can save this whole session?
Ninna - Thanks, so
I have composer by default?
Cissy - I use a little
editor called HTMLed, but it's best for people who are comfortable with
coding. I love it. Sara, what do you use?
Cissy - Ninna, I
will be posting a transcript of the workshop online at Writerspace
RedApril - I am learning
html in spite of myself, but am more comfortable with the composer and
the cut and paste methpod for certain html sections, like my webring info.
SaraR - ah, I use
a combination <G>. Frontpage 98 for the whole site
lainey - where did
you learn to code in HTML?
lainey - I'm using
FP 98, too
SaraR - notepad to
do the quick and dirty fixes -
Ninna - Thanks, Cissy
:-) !
SaraR - Composer
when I am on someone else's computer and need to do a fix
Lainie has timed out.
Cissy - Trial and
error, Lainey. And it helps to know code even if you use a high-end editor
- helps in finding and fixing problems. There are a number of really good
HTML tutorials online I can point you guys to
SaraR - I took a
free course on the net -- back in 95
Cissy - I use composer
a lot for quick fixes/edits that I want to do on the fly
Helene - Do i need
to learn HTML or is this part of any program i use?
SaraR - there is
a really good tutorial
Cissy - Oh yeah,
and I took a couple of workshops
lainey - I usually
cut and paste, and I only know <blockquote>
SaraR - gets you
through the basics
lainey - ut I want
to take classes - are the online ones good?
SaraR - it is on
the CERN site
Cissy - It helps
to learn it, Helene. It's difficult to become proficient at web design
without it. But it's not strictly necessary if you have a heavy duty HTML
editor
lainey - yes, please
point ustowards the tutorials
Cissy - WebMonkey
and Idocs have to of the best tutorials/reference sheets online
Helene - Heavy duty
editor? What do you recommend for a newbie at all this?
Cissy - I'll point
you guys to a links list I've put together before we get out of here.
lainey - I've used
HTML Goodies on line a couple of times
Cissy - Helene, I'd
recommend going to a couple of the HTML tutorials online and reading the
basic introductions to HTML so that you get a grasp of the concepts involved.
That will help tremendously.
Helene - It sounds
like some of you are way ahead of me.
Ninna - what is web
monkey, and Idocs?
Cissy - Me too, Lainey
SaraR - and I would
suggest signing up for Daily Dummies HTML <G>
Cissy - They're a
couple of web design reference sites, Ninna. They have tutorials and online
reference sheets.
Cissy - Is that a
listserv, Sara?
Cissy - It's really
not tough to learn, Helene. Don't get discouraged.
Ninna - oic.......is
there such a list serve? daily dummies HTML...?
Helene - Where do
i find daily dummies. sounds like my kind of place.
SaraR - it is at
the znet site
Ninna - *lol* or
was it a joke? *g*
SaraR - one of those
daily tips
Cissy - drjay, are
you still with us?
lainey - is daily
dummies a web site?
lainey - is daily
dummies a web site?
lainey - is daily
dummies a web site?
Ninna - oic......znet.
Cissy - zdnet is
another good place to find information
dyjay - watching
and eating
SaraR - logged on.
- Mon Jun 28 9:13pm EST
Ninna - *lol* and
mine too, Helene.... :-)
Cissy - have we handled
the questions on the floor? Who's next?
SaraR - there is
a daily dummies for FrontPage as well
SaraR - I find the
FrontPage and the HTML very good
Ninna - how does
one join the daily dummies....
Ninna - yes, thanks.Cissy.
Cissy - do you have
a link, Sara? I'll add it to my links page
SaraR - well, if
this was my machine <G> I would have it bookmarked, however I am borrowing
my dh
Helene - Soo, I find
a place to explain basic HTML. Then what? Do I need to decide on a background?
How do I do just putting the stuff up with link buttons, etc.
SaraR - try searching
for Daily dummies
Cissy - send it to
me later, and I'll add it to the links
Cissy - Maybe we
should talk a little about good design?
SaraR - personally,
the best design is one on paper first so you know what you want to do
Ninna - Okies....ta
Sara
lainey - I want to
make my own buttons -- do I have to use photo house?
lainey - I want to
make my own buttons -- do I have to use photo house?
Helene - Thanks SarR,
good start.
lainey - I want to
make my own buttons -- do I have to use photo house?
Cissy - I agree.
You should never start the design process in your HTML editor
lainey - I mean I
want to put my text on buttons
Cissy - A number
of graphics programs will let you create buttons, Lainey. I use Paint Shop
Pro.
SaraR - always remembe
SaraR - always remember
that graphics load slower and that some people, gasp, don't have music
on
Ninna - yes, cissy...buttons
and all, please post the relevant links...leave nothing out. I've made
a webpage on WBS, but they had everything there, so all I need to do was
type in inmformation.
Cissy - One problem
I see with a lot of websites it that they are just this one loooooooong
page that you have to scroll endlessly down. You want to keep material
easily accessible on the screen always
SaraR - so you don't
want to overload your site
Helene - My soon,
the computer nut, says to put the graphics toward the end so people don't
get bored waiting for it to load. Right?
Cissy - I would recommend
NOT including music in your site if you have a choice
RedApril - I have
heard that although music is neat, it isn't always a good idea as it take
longer to dowwnload
lainey - why no music?
SaraR - you don't
need lots of graphics if you design your page well
Cissy - that's sometimes
hard to do, helene. You might want a title graphic at the top of the page.
But you want to keep them compressed enough that they don't take forever
to load
Ninna - *nods*
SaraR - the shape
of the text can be very appealing
Cissy - Here's a
good tip. Go to the most popular sites online: Yahoo, Amazon.com, Ebay,
etc. Look at how they lay out pages and use graphics. They use them sparingly.
SaraR - cause if
the person doesn't have sound, the whole page blows up sometimes or won't
load at all
Helene - This is
fu. i realize my typing needs work. Sigh.
RedApril - I like
the way Jill Barnett's is so streamlined, BTW
Ninna - ~is listening~
Cissy - *smiles*
Thanks, April
Helene - Okay, Start
with a simple banner. then what?
Cissy - You want
some kind of navigation bar. Either across the top of the page, down the
left side or somewhere easily accessible.
RedApril - How do
you insert text INTO a banner? I thought with a textbox, but I guess I
am doing something wrong.
Helene - will the
program tell me how to do this navigation bar? What do ineed to put on
it?
Cissy - It's better
to have five or six pages linked to your index page than to put five or
six pages worth of material all on the front page
Cissy - Most banners
are graphics, April. You'll use a graphics program to make the text part
of the image itself
SaraR - amen
Cissy - Helene, you'll
put links to the different parts of the site on your navigation bar.
Helene - Link to
first page things like bio, excerpt from bbok, next book, link to another
site?
Cissy - Yes, exactly.
That sort of thing
RedApril - I am new
at using borders, etc and would like to have some of my pages have the
navigation to the side. Do I create a table that resta over the border
to the side?
SaraR - also remember
that you should have a cohesive design
SaraR - that is repeated
on each page so the user does NOT get confused
Cissy - Yes, you
could create a table with two columns, a thin one on the left with your
menu buttons and a wider one on the right with your content
lainey - can you
explain cohesive design?
SaraR - you want
them to navigate easily, not to waste time figuring out how to get out
of there
SaraR - do you use
amazon.com?
Cissy - she means
that you want your visitors to know where everything is on your site, no
matter what page they're on. They always know where the "home" button is,
where the links to other pages are, etc.
RedApril - Cissy--It's
good I am on the right track\
SaraR - notice that
each page is laid out the same
Cissy - so you create
your pages on a sort of template, that keeps your main objects in the same
place on each page
Helene - do you mean
put the navigation bar on each page?
SaraR - the banner
across the top is the same no matter where you are
lainey - yes, I use
Amazon, but it looks so "busy" to me
Ninna - You mean
like an index, on one side of the page, within a border?
Cissy - I've tried
to do something similar at Writerspace
SaraR - yes, always
use the same navigation bar
SaraR - it looks
busy but it is effective
SaraR - and millions
use it daily
Cissy - You can,
Helene, yes
SaraR - yes, cissy
has at writerspace
Helene - Okay, I
think i'm catching on the the basic design.
dyjay has timed out.
SaraR - don't make
the user depend on the BACK key to go backwards
SaraR - never ever
know how they got to your site, but you want them to stay
Helene - How do you
avoid using the back key?
Cissy - Also, don't
include *too* many links outside your site. It's fine to have a single
page for them. But you don't want to constantly invite your visitors to
leave. :-)
SaraR - navigation
keys or buttons on every page
RedApril - I create
on each individual page on the RWTP site a link back to the contents on
the first page
Melinda - logged
on. - Mon Jun 28 9:28pm EST
Cissy - by having
navigation buttons on your pages that will lead through through the pages
of your site
Cissy - Hi Melinda.
Welcome!
SaraR - right, cissy
and april and you want them to explore your site
Melinda - Hi!
SaraR - remember
that the web is NOT linear
SaraR - people do
NOT go in a straight line
Ninna - *wonders*
Can I join writerspace?
Ninna - hi Melinda!
Cissy - and if they're
going to be bouncing around, you want them bouncing around in your site.
Cissy - Absolutely,
Ninna. :-)
Helene - So the idea
is to make it eeasy to jump around, but stay?
SaraR - yes, cissy,
or in one of your other sites <eg>
Cissy - but because
you've got good content, not because they're lost!
Cissy - Exactly,
Helene!
SaraR - true, so
true
Ninna - is getting
the general idea, yes.i'd like them to browse thru my page if they were
here....
lainey - you mean
we can't just trap them in our site?
lainey - LOL
SaraR - the best
thing to do is to design groupings on your site
Cissy - Melinda,
jump right in with any questions.
Melinda - Cissy,
could you define "good content."?
SaraR - little blocks
so to speak
Cissy - lol, Lainey,
now there's an idea!
SaraR - then you
can navigate among the blocks
Helene - Is there
a limit on how many pages are used?
Ninna - how does
one join, Cissy?
Ninna - *lol8 @ Lainie
Cissy - For an author,
I'd say "good content" is information on all books she's published, links
to information on ordering the books, information about upcoming releases,
perhaps excerpts and links to order the books once the excerpt has hooked
me, etc.
RedApril - Now, how
about getting people to youer site in the first place? I utilize webrings,
Yet don't believed in too many because I get aggravated when I reach a
page that has only webrings and I can never find the original page I was
looking for.
SaraR - no limit
on pages <G> Helene
Cissy - Ninna, can
you stay a couple of minutes after the chat? I'll give you the basics.
Helene - Blocks of
good contents? Explain, please
SaraR - as a user
good content is anything that makes a user stay, read and tell others about
the site <G>
RedApril - I put
a webring section in my Contents so visitors have a choice to use them
or not
lainey - how do we
get a lot of traffic?
Cissy - April, I'll
be honest. I'm not sure how effective web rings are.
Ninna - I know what
u mean, april.....
SaraR - talk and
good links from other sites will get them there
Ninna - Ok, Thanks,
Cissy, :-)
lainey - I have several
web rings but not too much traffic
SaraR - something
amusing or something that appeals to a human
Cissy - There are
quite a few ways to increase traffic. The best way is to be connected to
site with a lot of traffic.
lainey - any suggestions?
SaraR - and it has
to change frequently -- daily is best but almost impossible unless you
host an active BB
lainey - define amusing
and appealing?
Melinda - What about
contests? I',m running a name that tune contest that's doing pretty well
in bringing people in, yet someone posted to one of the loops that in contests
you should offer the book as a prize, but ask questions that the person
can only answer by reading the book, thus encouraging purchase. Any comments?
lainey - isn't that
subjective?
Cissy - You also
want to make sure that every site that lists Romance Authors lists YOU
too...
Helene - I can get
a link to my chapter, my publisher, RWA, who else is important/
RedApril - I am naturally
drawn to sites that have technical articles about writing. I also like
to know right away when my fave author's next book is going to be out
Melinda - Make that
SHOULDN'T offer books as prize
lainey - I heard
not to use our book as a prize as readers may not buy the book in hopes
of winning it
Ninna - ah, Melinda!
Cissy - Contests
are a great idea, Melinda. The contests I sue with my author sites have
generated a lot of new hits.
lainey - I put a
contest on my page and no one's signing up
SaraR - first question
-- who do you want to visit your site?
lainey - what types
of contests work well?
Cissy - I think that's
hooey, lainey & Melinda! *g* People love a shot at a free book. Just
don't offer your most recent one
SaraR - that is DEFINE
YOUR CUSTOMER
lainey - I want readers
who buy a lot of books!
SaraR - second, ask
what they want
SaraR - third, give
it to them!
lainey - Cissy, I
only have one book out so far.
Cissy - You have
to get the word out, Lainey. Promos on romance listservs are one good way.
lainey - two more
are coming, but not available
Helene - Sounds like
basic marketing strategy.
lainey - two more
are coming, but not available
Melinda - Ah, that
makes sense, but if you have only one or two out--like I do--one out now,
the one I'm running the contest on and another coming August. I have to
offer what I have, though I notice some are giving tee shirts and mouse
pads--good ideas those, but costly . . .
lainey - so I can't
do that yet
SaraR - but you need
to do your promotion as soon as you conceive your next book <G>
Ninna - I like too
visit a site that has nice visuals...& maybe a kinda poem or card I
can fwd to my friends on ICQ, or something I can download & fwd to
ppl, like a screen mate or a game.....or maybe a pretty picture or graphic....
SaraR - silly ideas,
in my opinion
Melinda - Screen
mate?
SaraR - Melinda,
you want people to BUY your book
SaraR - or at least,
TALK about your book
Melinda - Yes, Sara,
and . . .
lainey - I'm going
to every free romance/reading site I can find and promoting
SaraR - and a mousepad
isn't selling your book
Cissy - Lainey, you
might want to have a slightly different sort of contest, then. Something
that encourages your site visitors to at least read your book excerpt.
lainey - how can
we promote as soon as we conceive a book?
Ninna - yes, screen
mates....great stress busters...esp at work.
lainey - before it's
out?
SaraR - interesting
article on that on Publishers Weekly site today
Cissy - Lainey &
Melinda...where are your websites?
Helene - I'll bite,
what's a screen mate?
lainey - at members.aol.com
SaraR - yup, they
mention several (more than ONE) who promoted even before they sold it
lainey - but I'm
getting a site at www.gate1.net.
Ninna - Lainey....you
can maybe provide a peek at part of the first chapter or something, and
have a contest for the title of the book!
Melinda - logged
on. - Mon Jun 28 9:39pm EST
Cissy - It's always
important to get as much buzz going about a book before it's published
as possible
SaraR - yup
lainey - I'm so busy
promoting the book that just came out and now have to start on the other
3
Melinda - That was
weird and away I went. Anyway my site is www.melindaruckerhaynes.com
lainey - I have Ninna
Ninna - I'll send
you a screen mate if you like......my favourite are sheep & oranges,
but we can talk about it afterwards.
Cissy - I want to
say this carefully, so it doesn't sound like a sales pitch - one really
important thing is to associate yourself with an online community that
has a built-in visitor base
lainey - my site
is http://members.aol.com/chinara
SaraR - now, I personally
like having a postcard (virtual) of the book cover
Melinda - Lainey,
I can relate to the busy promoting. I never dreamed it would take this
kind of time. I'm contracted out to 2004 to deliver 9 books, and yet it's
the promoting that really, really does it for me right now.
SaraR - that a visitor
could send from your site
Melinda - Ninna,
yes on the screen mate, please.
lainey - I'm working
on a second site now, but neither is letting me post changes
Ninna - That sounds
lovely, sara..:_)
Cissy - So a place
like Writerspace with a number of authors attached. Or, to be fair *g*
a place like tlt.com of sff.net or eclectics.com -- someplace with built-in
visitors is helpful
SaraR - and cissy
is right, who you associate with is VERY IMPORTANT
lainey - Ninna, can
you send me a screenmate too ? I'd like to see it. chinara@aol.com
SaraR - catching
the breeze from the biggies <G> is mucho importante
Melinda - 'Splain
"associate with."
Cissy - logged on
- Mon Jun 28 9:42pm EST
SaraR - I keep trying
to sell Cissy on it (the postcards) but she ignores me <G>
Helene - Ninna, me
too helered1@juno.com
lainey - I have an
author's page at TRC (The Romance Club) and should have a page soon at
Word Museum
RedApril - can I
post my sites here?
SaraR - and you also
want to make it easy for a user to "send your page" to their friends
lainey - don't they
just click and drag on the heart to send pages?
Cissy - Well, you
can go to Writerspace or to Eclectics or SFF.net and see immediately a
list of writers with sites there. It helps to have your site some place
that readers naturally congregate online :-)
Ninna - sure, Lainie.
lainey - or is that
only on aol?
Cissy - April, if
your site isn't housed at Writerspace you can post a link to it on our
links page.
SaraR - most people
don't know that Lainie
lainey - thanks Ninna
SaraR - and that
is only on AOL for the heart
Melinda - Ah. Thanks.
I'm on a couple of those Eclectics, soon to appear at Word Museum, etc.
:.))
lainey - they don't
know what Sara? TRC or Word Museum?
RedApril - Thanks,
Cissy
Cissy - I don't ignore
you Sara, I put it on the list with the other 10,000 things I need to do
around here. *g*
SaraR - go read an
article at abcnews.com and you will see a little selection on the sidebar
to send the article you are reading with a message
lainey - you mean
the heart trick? all my friends do <G>
Cissy - Also, know
where the romance readers bulletin boards are. Talk to them there too.
Helene - Thanks for
all the info, everyone. I have to go.
SaraR - how to send
a page to another person in email, Lainey
Helene - logged off.
- Mon Jun 28 9:45pm EST
RedApril - is Writerspace
a free or a fee place?<G> To have a webpage there? do you have to be
published?
Ninna - NP, helene.
lainey - my books
are all ebooks so far, so how much money should an ebook author spend on
promotion?
Cissy - Okay, what
haven't we talked about?
lainey - in terms
of web pages, how many different places do I buy space at?
lainey - will it
really help to sell a lot more ebooks?
Melinda - Ooo, Lainey,
good question, but wouldn't that depend on the author, time, funds, etc.?
Cissy - You can do
a lot of online promoting without spending a cent, lainey. Listserv posts,
bulletin board visits, contests at your sites, etc.
lainey - if I were
to get more author pages at eclectics or writerspace or romancing the web?
lainey - I've been
doing the listserves and bulletin boards
Ninna - Cissy, I
would really like to save this....or get the link from you, for this evenings
session. :-)
lainey - of course,
Melinda... I guess... I'm so new at this
Cissy - Lainey, I'd
only buy space at a single site. Have one central location for your website.
Then post links to it on ever romance site that has a links page
lainey - my box is
so full of emails from all the listserves I joined so I could promote
Melinda - Tell me
about the bulletin boards, please. Listservs I do, but I was told about
"news groups." What are those?
lainey - I hate to
open my email anymore. I can't keep up with it
RedApril - I must
go.Thanks, have a good night
lainey - so what
I have now is sufficient?
Cissy - No problem,
Ninna, I'll post a transcript
SaraR - nite april
Cissy - Glad you
could come, April
Ninna - Thanks, cissy!
Melinda - I hear
that about the email. Jeez, 150 a day and digests it toooooo much. Makes
me want to run and hide because I have a problem saying no . . . .
Ninna - Nighters,
april.
Cissy - There are
a lot of bulletin boards where romance readers hang out. Writerspace has
one, TLT does, several others.
Cissy - It gets pretty
intense, Melinda. that's for sure
lainey - what is
TLT?
Cissy - Lainey, what
do you have now. I'm sorry; I've forgotten
SaraR - advice from
someone with over 700 messages per day
Cissy - the Literary
Times
SaraR - <g> besides
delete?
lainey - I thought
200 a day was a lot?
SaraR - read it once
a week fast like watching the synop of a soap opera
lainey - what do
I have now? I'm not sure whayou mean
SaraR - they repeat
so much
Cissy - you learn
to filter and delete!
Cissy - You asked
if what you have now (in terms of web space) is sufficient.
SaraR - and you have
to build a reputation on yourself not your work to gain credibility on
the listserv
Ninna - So are you
ALL published writers of books?
lainey - I am
Melinda - Sara, could
you explain that further--reputation building?
SaraR - no, I am
a buyer of NEW books <G>
Cissy - Not I. I'm
just a lowly web designer *g*
SaraR - not a UBSer
<G>
Cissy - and buyer
of books
SaraR - no one will
listen to you if you just post your promos
SaraR - you have
to participate in a basic way
lainey - I wish I
had time to really chat and get to know all the listserve members, but
I work full time and have 5 kids, too. time is very limited
Melinda - Ah, yeah.
You have to read others' posts, have opinions, teach a little, right?
SaraR - people have
to feel like they "know" you
SaraR - that they
have a relationship
lainey - I really
hear you Sara, and yet, I'm hardly getting any sleep
Ninna - Great, Cissy,
*lol* so u the hand that rocks the......thought process!
SaraR - for authors
it is tricky, you don't want to have too many opinions so that you turn
off people
lainey - Im not sure
how to do all this
SaraR - you can do
it in 2 hours per week
Ninna - WoW , lainie,
I'd say you do a great job!
SaraR - you can even
do it in a one day period
lainey - not that
Idon't want to try
Melinda - It's a
fine balancing act to be sure. I try to keep it light, find a post I can
relate to, have some experience with and then post.
lainey - since I
started promoting, it seems I'm online all night every night till midnight
or after
SaraR - some marketing
advice (yeah, I am a marketing type <G>)
SaraR - look at the
ones that have made a following on the lists
SaraR - Jo Beverley,
Mary Jo Putney, Stella Cameron
lainey - which EXACT
lists do you recommend Sara? can you tell us how to join?
SaraR - they all
have bigger bases because they use the net effectively
Korillian - logged
off. - Mon Jun 28 9:54pm EST
Cissy - You don't
want to knock yourself out, lainie.
SaraR - they also
do NOT post daily
Melinda - Lainey--Yeees!
That's the way it is. I keep wanting to schedule everything down to the
last minute, to feel like I've got csome control, but I keep chasing the
clock. Then there's the writing. Oh. My.
SaraR - they do it
in spurts
SaraR - go digest
if you can
lainey - I know Melinda.
What's writing? I've hardly done any since I started promoting
lainey - but if I
don't write, I won't have more to sell
Melinda - I'm on
digest on all the romance lists.
SaraR - logged on.
- Mon Jun 28 9:55pm EST
lainey - I go digest
when it's available, but some of my loops don't have it
SaraR - sheesh
Cissy - which ones
don't have it, lainey?
SaraR - then, lainey,
use filtering and do it by subject
Cissy - you get kicked,
Sara?
lainey - I may have
to give up some listseves that don't have digest
SaraR - you don't
even have to read every digest ... so many people repeat the same message
Cissy - I filter
all my listservs into a single folder and sort by subject within the foler
SaraR - yes, cissy,
are you trying to shut me up?
Melinda - Okay, then,
for the most bang for a listserv buck--which?
Cissy - There's RBR,
RRA-L, AAR, RW-L, READ, ... what am I forgetting?
Ninna - Cissy, I
host on an Australian web community, and we often have topic chats, 7 live
chats & interviws with Authors, I think it is a good idea, & exposure
for writers to meet with chatters in such a room.....rather than ans emails
individually?
Cissy - Sara, I wouldn't
dare *g*
SaraR - RNF and a
whole bunch of new ones on ONELIST
Melinda - I'm on
those plus OZ paranormal, my chapter LERA, Panlink, EPIC, SWP, you name
it,eeeeeeeeeek.
RedApril has timed out.
lainey - I think
I'm on aar rw-L
Ninna - In fact,
I have won a book in one such chat, and because the chats are moderated,
they are controlled so to say so the stupid ques do not get posted.
SaraR - yes, but
remember you want to separate the readers from the writing help lists
lainey - true, but
lots of times, people don't change subject lines and post something important
lainey - Ninny, can
we look at your web community?
Cissy - I think so
too, Ninna. Actually, I think a mixture of forums is really helpful. There's
advantages to the different types of communication
SaraR - when I was
on AARlist <G> i read one digest a day to get an idea of the topics
lainey - how dowe
get author interviews and chats with you?
lainey - or do we
have to be australian?
SaraR - pick and
choose
lainey - I'm on EPIC
and recently SWP, too
Cissy - By the way,
starting in the next month or so Stella Cameron is going to host a series
of writers workshops here
lainey - And I'm
in the FTH (online RWA) and an RWA list I just joined, and tobeez and dreamweavers
SaraR - any last
questions for me? I gotta do a dog walk <G>
SaraR - like you
care, right?
lainey - thank you
Sara
Ninna - sure, its
at ninemsn.com.au it is the web community for Australia's largest commercial
TV stn.
Melinda - Stella
does a good job. Isn't RBR sorta her list, hers and Jayne's?
Cissy - One cool
thing with RBR is that you can be on the "index" list. With it you only
get a list of the subject lines. Then you can go online and read the ones
that interest you
Cissy - nah, it's
sorta mine *g* but I let Stella play there :-)
Melinda - Bye Sara,
thanks!
Cissy - We care deeply,
Sara
lainey - nice chatting
with you. thanks for the wonderful information
Melinda - Is it?!
Well, you clever girl, that's a nice list. Nice people.
lainey - take care
of that puppy!
SaraR - logged off.
- Mon Jun 28 10:03pm EST
Cissy - Thanks, I've
been enjoying it too. We have a really great group
Cissy - Okay, so
what haven't we covered?
Ninna - No, you don't
have to be, I had my OWN Travel chat till few weeks ago, can't keep up
here..I
Ninna - Cissy, I
think this is a great meeting place for exchange of ideas.I've loved being
here!
Melinda - I also
have to go. I have to inform some lucky fellow on Ebay that he is the high
bidder on a computer my son is selling. My son jumped off for NZ today,
leaving Mom to tie up the loose ends. Thanks Cissy. Bue, Lainey, Ninna.
Cissy - Thanks, everyone
for coming. You can find some helpful links at http://www.writerspace.com/designlinks.html
