12.
Re: Hello Everyone Nov 2, 2007 1:59 PM
in response to:
Cheryl
You must know Ron Pramschufer. In my mind, he's the role model to emulate in your business -- head and shoulders above anyone else. I don't know anyone who understands self-publishing and the POD business better. Ron's website contains a wealth of clear and accurate information, as well as frank and helpful advice to aspiring authors. He gives away his knowledge freely, and I think that's what draws new authors to him and his POD services.
Most people who think they have a book in them, as well as those who need to publish for professional reasons, will search the web for options. Therefore, the first impression your potential clientele will have is your website.
On your site, the filmstrip theme and graphics doesn't seem to match the business you're in, and the main text on the middle of the home page is an apology that suggests you had a plagiarism issue. I'm afraid that many visitors would exit right there and move on to the next search hit. You indicate that your purpose is to help aspiring authors, but compared to Ron's site, there is not much information that does that. With options like CreateSpace available to authors, I think you may have to provide more of the help you describe up front as an enabling force to help new authors get started. As I navigated the site, I had to constantly keep closing pop-up ads (on the page where your policy states that no pornographic material will be accepted for publication, guess what kind of pop up appeared?). When I clicked on the published and coming books, I was taken to external sites with more pop-ups that advertised all kinds of other things. All that may be annoying or and confusing visitors, and it projects an unprofessional image.
My intent is not to be harsh, but to honestly answer your question about how you might turn the attention you're getting into more revenue. I'd start with the website.
Best of luck to you!
