Is it Cover or the Content that Sells the Book - Page 6

jrlewis · 06-20-2011, 12:13 AM

All I know is that when I improve my covers, I improve my sales. And when I improve my writing, I improve my reviews.

Xanthe · 06-20-2011, 02:18 AM

Reading Worldwalker's post on website designs brings to mind a pet peeve of mine: give me a tab labeled Books or Novels or Bibliography right on the first page of your website. Don't give me cutesy labels for what should be an essential part of your website. I'm visiting your site for one of two reasons - either I need to see a listing of your books or else I'm trying to find out if there is a new book coming out in the near future.

When you list your books, list them in publication order so I know the correct order to read them. If you wrote them out of sequence, then also give me a listing of reading order. Don't make me look at a grid of thumbnail images of the book covers and try to figure out if it goes from newest to oldest, oldest to newest, or just some random order.

So many times I just leave the author's website and go off to Fantastic Fiction's site and get the info there. Once I leave your site to do that, odds are good I'm not going to return to your site again.

Your website is your public face; spend some money on getting it designed properly. Don't let your friend who thinks he/she knows web design do it.

Andrew Ashling · 06-20-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Reading Worldwalker's post on website designs brings to mind a pet peeve of mine: give me a tab labeled Books or Novels or Bibliography right on the first page of your website. Don't give me cutesy labels for what should be an essential part of your website. I'm visiting your site for one of two reasons - either I need to see a listing of your books or else I'm trying to find out if there is a new book coming out in the near future.

When you list your books, list them in publication order so I know the correct order to read them. If you wrote them out of sequence, then also give me a listing of reading order. Don't make me look at a grid of thumbnail images of the book covers and try to figure out if it goes from newest to oldest, oldest to newest, or just some random order.

So many times I just leave the author's website and go off to Fantastic Fiction's site and get the info there. Once I leave your site to to that, odds are good I'm not going to return to your site again.

Your website is your public face; spend some money on getting it designed properly. Don't let your friend who thinks he/she knows web design do it.

Harsh

, but correct.

I think I did a few things wrong on my own site.

If you should have time to visit it, any suggestions to repair them?

I'm a poor indie who has to do everything himself.

(link in signature)

Thanks.

Jeff Rivera · 06-25-2011, 07:45 PM

Covers are definitely meant to be the attention grabbers, although are not necessarily the deciding factor for me when choosing a book. A book can have a fantastic cover but if I don't like the synopsis and the first few pages don't grab me, I won't read it.

DrLaurenceBrown · 06-25-2011, 07:58 PM

I'll admit I judge based on a book's cover. It's the first thing that draws me in. The first step is getting your book in someone's hands - that's the hard part.

CaraM · 07-11-2011, 10:16 PM

I think it's the cover and a killer blurb.

melaniejaxn · 07-12-2011, 11:51 AM

I'm a browser, a window shopper who rarely has a destination in mind. So for me, cover first-- otherwise I might overlook a book (unless it is the rare instance when I am after a specific author or title). Blurb next, but then the sample. The sample is what will sell the book since I read almost exclusively in e. There is only one book I bought in the last year that I didn't sample (end of decade long series).

06-20-2011, 02:18 AM	#77
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Reading Worldwalker's post on website designs brings to mind a pet peeve of mine: give me a tab labeled Books or Novels or Bibliography right on the first page of your website. Don't give me cutesy labels for what should be an essential part of your website. I'm visiting your site for one of two reasons - either I need to see a listing of your books or else I'm trying to find out if there is a new book coming out in the near future. When you list your books, list them in publication order so I know the correct order to read them. If you wrote them out of sequence, then also give me a listing of reading order. Don't make me look at a grid of thumbnail images of the book covers and try to figure out if it goes from newest to oldest, oldest to newest, or just some random order. So many times I just leave the author's website and go off to Fantastic Fiction's site and get the info there. Once I leave your site to do that, odds are good I'm not going to return to your site again. Your website is your public face; spend some money on getting it designed properly. Don't let your friend who thinks he/she knows web design do it. Last edited by Xanthe; 06-20-2011 at 12:33 PM. Reason: Edit to correct typo

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06-20-2011, 12:13 AM	#76
jrlewis SF/F Author Posts: 160 Karma: 349656 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Device: Adobe Digital Editions	All I know is that when I improve my covers, I improve my sales. And when I improve my writing, I improve my reviews.

06-25-2011, 07:45 PM	#79
Jeff Rivera Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: none	Covers are definitely meant to be the attention grabbers, although are not necessarily the deciding factor for me when choosing a book. A book can have a fantastic cover but if I don't like the synopsis and the first few pages don't grab me, I won't read it.

06-25-2011, 07:58 PM	#80
DrLaurenceBrown Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: none	I'll admit I judge based on a book's cover. It's the first thing that draws me in. The first step is getting your book in someone's hands - that's the hard part.

07-11-2011, 10:16 PM	#81
CaraM Guru Posts: 924 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle	I think it's the cover and a killer blurb.

07-12-2011, 11:51 AM	#82
melaniejaxn Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10308 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sierra foothills of California Device: Kindle	I'm a browser, a window shopper who rarely has a destination in mind. So for me, cover first-- otherwise I might overlook a book (unless it is the rare instance when I am after a specific author or title). Blurb next, but then the sample. The sample is what will sell the book since I read almost exclusively in e. There is only one book I bought in the last year that I didn't sample (end of decade long series).