Comments on: About Those Pretty Blogs http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Kristi Holl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4029 Kristi Holl Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:02:08 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4029 Just a comment about FrontPage: it's easy to use, even for a technophobe. It's easy to update. And they have great free tutorials online that literally talk you through the process as they help you set up pretend little web pages during the tutorial. I put off learning it for a whole year while it sat on my computer, and it wasn't worth the fear and trepidation I invested in learning it. Turned out to be fun actually! Just a comment about FrontPage: it’s easy to use, even for a technophobe. It’s easy to update. And they have great free tutorials online that literally talk you through the process as they help you set up pretend little web pages during the tutorial. I put off learning it for a whole year while it sat on my computer, and it wasn’t worth the fear and trepidation I invested in learning it. Turned out to be fun actually!

]]> By: Zara http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4031 Zara Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:08:11 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4031 Hi Randy, First thing I do every morning-after feeding the cats-is to read your blog. I'm still in the synthesis stage of constructing an historical novel. I am intimidated by all of this publicity/marketing stuff so I've been paying close attention to your blog. Printing out: I started a Word document to contain information you post on web marketing. I copy the pertinent text of the blog, then paste into the Word document. Word is already formatted with margins, etc. To print out you have a full page of text without large white spaces. Thanks for your inspiration and technical knowledge. Zara Hi Randy,
First thing I do every morning-after feeding the cats-is to read your blog. I’m still in the synthesis stage of constructing an historical novel. I am intimidated by all of this publicity/marketing stuff so I’ve been paying close attention to your blog.

Printing out: I started a Word document to contain information you post on web marketing. I copy the pertinent text of the blog, then paste into the Word document. Word is already formatted with margins, etc. To print out you have a full page of text without large white spaces.

Thanks for your inspiration and technical knowledge.

Zara

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4032 Pam Halter Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:18:56 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4032 Don't you think it makes a difference what you put on your website depending on what you write? I'm a children's writer, so my graphics are a little more colorful and fun. However, if/when my middle grade fantasy comes out, I'll design a site more in keeping with the audience. Don’t you think it makes a difference what you put on your website depending on what you write? I’m a children’s writer, so my graphics are a little more colorful and fun.

However, if/when my middle grade fantasy comes out, I’ll design a site more in keeping with the audience.

]]> By: Rob Eagar http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4034 Rob Eagar Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:01:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4034 Hey Randy...enjoying your great discussion about "pretty" websites and blogs. As I work with authors and speakers across North America, I find that a person's mindset has a big effect on the quality and growth of their writing. For instance, if an author really wants to grow their career, they must be willing to "invest" in themselves and how they present their message to the world. A big problem with a lot authors that I know, even the successful ones, is that they choose to do everything on a "shoe-string" budget. Now, I agree that it's crucial to keep your expenses under control. However, it's just as important to put forth a professional image to your target audience. As humans, we are visual creatures. So, if someone creates a barebones or cheap-looking blog and website, then it can make it hard for customers to take an author seriously. It's like you're sending a signal to the world, "I care more about saving money, than investing in myself and looking like a professional." Believe me, content always trumps graphics..you must offer real value for any book or message to sell. But, it's also important to "package" your message professionally, which establishes more credibility with your audience. It's hard to take someone seriously if they look "homemade." There's nothing wrong with saving money on a website or blog, but make sure that it looks professional enough to save your career. Hey Randy…enjoying your great discussion about “pretty” websites and blogs. As I work with authors and speakers across North America, I find that a person’s mindset has a big effect on the quality and growth of their writing.

For instance, if an author really wants to grow their career, they must be willing to “invest” in themselves and how they present their message to the world. A big problem with a lot authors that I know, even the successful ones, is that they choose to do everything on a “shoe-string” budget. Now, I agree that it’s crucial to keep your expenses under control. However, it’s just as important to put forth a professional image to your target audience.

As humans, we are visual creatures. So, if someone creates a barebones or cheap-looking blog and website, then it can make it hard for customers to take an author seriously. It’s like you’re sending a signal to the world, “I care more about saving money, than investing in myself and looking like a professional.”

Believe me, content always trumps graphics..you must offer real value for any book or message to sell. But, it’s also important to “package” your message professionally, which establishes more credibility with your audience. It’s hard to take someone seriously if they look “homemade.”

There’s nothing wrong with saving money on a website or blog, but make sure that it looks professional enough to save your career.

]]> By: Ted http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4035 Ted Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:01:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4035 Quote: "...when she did a “search” for it, it wouldn’t come up on Google. I don’t know if she tried some of the other search engines or not. A ministry site that can’t be found is of little value! She called a tech, and got such an involved answer that she finally thanked him and hung up. What can she do? Randy sez: If you email me privately with the URL of the web site, I’ll look into it and see if I can come up with a reason why Google is not indexing it. I have solved puzzles like this before for my friends. There is always a reason." Will you make this answer public, please? Quote:

“…when she did a “search” for it, it wouldn’t come up on Google. I don’t know if she tried some of the other search engines or not. A ministry site that can’t be found is of little value!

She called a tech, and got such an involved answer that she finally thanked him and hung up. What can she do?

Randy sez: If you email me privately with the URL of the web site, I’ll look into it and see if I can come up with a reason why Google is not indexing it. I have solved puzzles like this before for my friends. There is always a reason.”

Will you make this answer public, please?

]]> By: Karla http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4036 Karla Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:25:29 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4036 Instead of printing out your e-zines, I save them in a file. I copy and paste them into a google document and keep them all in a folder online. That way, I never loose them if my computer crashes -- which it has done several times in the past 12 months. (Saving for a new one.) I also keep the e-mail in one folder just for you. Don't you feel special? Instead of printing out your e-zines, I save them in a file. I copy and paste them into a google document and keep them all in a folder online. That way, I never loose them if my computer crashes — which it has done several times in the past 12 months. (Saving for a new one.) I also keep the e-mail in one folder just for you. Don’t you feel special?

]]> By: Katie Hart http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4039 Katie Hart Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:36:28 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/02/13/about-those-pretty-blogs/#comment-4039 One suggestion for printing out the ezine - paste it in Word, select all text, and place in two columns. Fiddle with the column width, text size, and margins until the text fits properly, and print! One suggestion for printing out the ezine - paste it in Word, select all text, and place in two columns. Fiddle with the column width, text size, and margins until the text fits properly, and print!

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