Build a better eBook store! - Page 2

Direct Ebooks · 10-21-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Search feature is very important. Make it real easy to use.
=X=

We are definitely going to make the search feature more open in the next few weeks.
We are also looking at reducing the image sizes to make browsing faster.

Can I ask what exactly you meant by a firefox search? Thanks.

DaleDe · 10-21-2009, 11:44 AM

I added you to our wiki. One improvement would be to make the images clickable as well as the text under the image.

JSWolf · 10-21-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direct Ebooks

Hi again.
I did actually change this on your recommendation yesterday! Its showing up my end - maybe you're looking at an older cache?

thanks for the suggestion!

I do see that you have changed it in some places, but not all. Take a look at Special Offers and you'll see what I mean.

AnemicOak · 10-21-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

One improvement would be to make the images clickable as well as the text under the image.

I agree. I kept clicking on covers to view the books info.

Hellmark · 10-21-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Instead of listing books as PDF encrypted, you have them listed as Adobe Digital Editions. ADE is NOT a format. It's the software from Adobe to view these PDF. Fixing this will save a lot o user confusion as to ePub or PDF.

ePub is a format, but it is good to include what type of DRM is being used as well. Not all ePubs have the same DRM, or any DRM at all.

Crusader · 10-21-2009, 02:38 PM

Ok, here's some thoughts from me.

Use smaller thumbnail images of the books (both in dimensions and filesize)
List the price underneath the thumbnail and make the thumbnails clickable.
Add the option for someone to view books by list, without having to wait for all the thumbnails to download.

JSWolf · 10-21-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

ePub is a format, but it is good to include what type of DRM is being used as well. Not all ePubs have the same DRM, or any DRM at all.

For right now they do say ePub encrypted. But I see where you are coming from given that ePub will have a second DRM in early 2010.

phenomshel · 10-21-2009, 03:00 PM

You know how the Real Estate market relies on "Location, location, location"? Well, for ebooks it's "Selection, selection, selection!" And I don't mean Project Gutenberg or Google books. Those just inflate numbers without adding "new" content to your site. Get on those publishers, and get their authors on your site. In this game, the best selection wins out even over price. If you're the only one who has the book, guess where I'm going to buy it? If you can get Donna Andrews, you'll have a customer for life in me!

fugazied · 10-21-2009, 06:02 PM

Just one technical thing. Some of your book covers are loading slowly on the site due to a technical issue with the CMS. When you add a book it should be creating a small version of the image as well as a medium and large version (for use in different purposes).

It looks like it's using large uploaded images just scaled down in the web browser. So your web guys need to fix that.

=X= · 10-21-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direct Ebooks

We are definitely going to make the search feature more open in the next few weeks.
We are also looking at reducing the image sizes to make browsing faster.

Can I ask what exactly you meant by a firefox search? Thanks.

Sorry I couldn't recall the exact term, I meant a "Browser Search Plugin"

This is a post from Zero9 who wrote a bunch of plug ins for each of the major eBook stores.

Essentially it allows a user to search your website without having to visit it first. This is great because it is much faster to search for a book this way. The search result will however end up in your web site.

Quote:

I threw together a quick Firefox/IE search plugin for BooksOnBoard, and zelda_pinwheel asked for one for Fictionwise. I found a broken one in existence, so I fixed it and updated the icon.

You can get it here (chose the one by Zero9 with the title "Fictionwise (Title Search)"):
http://mycroft.mozdev.org/search-eng...ictionwise.com

Direct Ebooks · 10-23-2009, 12:55 PM

Hi Guys.

Great suggestions that have all been noted and will be acted upon. If anyone has any questions about the retail side of things or need help, please let me know.

As a thank you to everyone who posted, I'd like to give you all a Mobileread exclusive 30% discount for our site www.directebooks.com until midnight Monday. Use this code at checkout A1NY9VL65W to get a further 20% off all titles which are already discounted 10%.

Thanks again and I'll be talking to you soon.

P.S feel free to share the code! (I'll pop it in the special offers section too!)

www.directebooks.com

paulawolves · 11-26-2009, 06:22 AM

any good paranormal romance would be cool

Direct Ebooks · 11-26-2009, 08:05 AM

Hi Guys.

Thnaks for all the previous responses. We have made some changes thsi week which should help a lot, with many more to come.

You can now click on the pictures to access info on teh book
In a search result, the picture, price and file type now appear, not just the picture.
We have opened up our search function so that it will return results related to your search terms, not just title/author.
You can search by your preffered file/format type
The Special offers section is now searchable.
We simplified our forms to make it easier for international customers
We are integrating paypal as a payment method

There are more to come, but once again, a heartfelt thanks for all your help!

calvin-c · 11-26-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weedfreak

I could not find a search by price, I always search by price as anyone that charges more than about 3 $/€/flavian poble beads per book is basically ripping of readers.

Setting an upper limit that should be charged for all books is basically ripping off authors/publishers/sellers. Make that 'charges more for an ebook than a discounted hardcover' and I'll definitely agree. I might even agree if you make it charges more than a paperback-when the book is available in paperback.

calvin-c · 11-26-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direct Ebooks

The final price charged is the euro amount displayed. This is converted by your card into the equivalent US amount, so often you will get the ebook cheaper than advertised!

Some cards (many? many of mine, at least) charge a conversion fee so being able to pay in my 'native' currency would avoid that. Of course if all it does is make you pay the conversion fee then maybe it wouldn't be worthwhile-but if you're able to work a deal with your bank to avoid it then it would be beneficial to your (non-European) buyers.

10-23-2009, 12:55 PM	#26
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Thank you! Hi Guys. Great suggestions that have all been noted and will be acted upon. If anyone has any questions about the retail side of things or need help, please let me know. As a thank you to everyone who posted, I'd like to give you all a Mobileread exclusive 30% discount for our site www.directebooks.com until midnight Monday. Use this code at checkout A1NY9VL65W to get a further 20% off all titles which are already discounted 10%. Thanks again and I'll be talking to you soon. P.S feel free to share the code! (I'll pop it in the special offers section too!) www.directebooks.com Last edited by Direct Ebooks; 10-23-2009 at 12:59 PM.

11-26-2009, 08:05 AM	#28
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Changes Hi Guys. Thnaks for all the previous responses. We have made some changes thsi week which should help a lot, with many more to come. You can now click on the pictures to access info on teh book In a search result, the picture, price and file type now appear, not just the picture. We have opened up our search function so that it will return results related to your search terms, not just title/author. You can search by your preffered file/format type The Special offers section is now searchable. We simplified our forms to make it easier for international customers We are integrating paypal as a payment method There are more to come, but once again, a heartfelt thanks for all your help!

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10-21-2009, 11:44 AM	#17
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	I added you to our wiki. One improvement would be to make the images clickable as well as the text under the image.

10-21-2009, 02:38 PM	#21
Crusader Space Cadet Posts: 1,180 Karma: 4030536 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Africa Device: Sony PRS-T1, Cybook Opus, Kobo Glo	Ok, here's some thoughts from me. Use smaller thumbnail images of the books (both in dimensions and filesize) List the price underneath the thumbnail and make the thumbnails clickable. Add the option for someone to view books by list, without having to wait for all the thumbnails to download.

10-21-2009, 03:00 PM	#23
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	You know how the Real Estate market relies on "Location, location, location"? Well, for ebooks it's "Selection, selection, selection!" And I don't mean Project Gutenberg or Google books. Those just inflate numbers without adding "new" content to your site. Get on those publishers, and get their authors on your site. In this game, the best selection wins out even over price. If you're the only one who has the book, guess where I'm going to buy it? If you can get Donna Andrews, you'll have a customer for life in me!

10-21-2009, 06:02 PM	#24
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	Just one technical thing. Some of your book covers are loading slowly on the site due to a technical issue with the CMS. When you add a book it should be creating a small version of the image as well as a medium and large version (for use in different purposes). It looks like it's using large uploaded images just scaled down in the web browser. So your web guys need to fix that.

11-26-2009, 06:22 AM	#27
paulawolves Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: none	any good paranormal romance would be cool

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