Quick Update on ThirdScribe

A lot has been happening on ThirdScribe over the last couple of weeks, and we're working hard on finishing the network for the Beta Launch. In light of all of this activity, I wanted to tell you what's been tested and finalized so far.

Quick Summary: ThirdScribe is a social platform for readers and authors to connect online. For Authors, it has the benefit of making their online marketing efforts immensely easier and more cost effective. For Readers, it makes following authors and discussing books online a lot simpler and much more fun. ThirdScribe is free for anyone to join, but an author account has an annual fee. If you want to learn more about ThirdScribe, I encourage you to visit our About and FAQ pages.

Now, on to the update!

What's Tested and In Place
ThirdScribe, being a complete social system, has three parts: Social Network, Author Blogs, and Book Pages. Here's how everything stands as of last night:



Social Network
- All basic social network functions are up and running. This includes the ability to make a profile, post text updates, post media updates (photo, link, video), make friends, send messages, like posts, favorite posts, etc.
- Write Book Reviews (including ability to post video reviews or link to other blogs for full review).
- Share ThirdScribe network posts outside the network via Twitter and Email
- Sync user feeds with Facebook, Twitter, RSS (including tumblr), and LinkedIn
- Find, join, participate with Book Pages
- Activity Stream Filters
- Sitewide Forums
- Sign-Up process
- Book Index with Genre/SubGenre highlights
- Author Blog Index with latest posts



Book Pages
- Book Creation Process (cover art, description, details)
- Individual Book Forums
- Individual Book Social Stream
- Book Reviews (ThirdScribe, GoodReads, and Amazon)
- Book Events Calendar
- Book Sales Links
- Related Books (By Same Author, In Same Series, Top in Sub Genre)
- Book Details (credits, publisher, contributors, review information, excerpts)
- Multiple Author Support



Author Blogs
- Website creation process
- Site Framework (responsive to mobile)
- "Enter Once" Framework (data transfer)
- eNewsletter System
- Support System (submit support tickets, support ticket tracking, FAQs)
- Follow by Email
- Ability to patch in external RSS feeds
- Syncronized to ThirdScribe Network
- Advanced SEO embedded in post/page creation
- FAQ capability
- Add Forums to sites
- Data importers (Blogger, tumblr, and WordPress)
- Multiple Post types (standard, image, link, aside, quote)
- Forms, Polls, quizzes
- Create landing pages
- Writing Progress bar
- Social Media Sidebar Widget

*** Special note: Alpha testers have been using the Author websites for a couple of weeks now, and are really liking it. Just saying... ***

What's Next?
Obviously, our first priority is to continue work on the site and get it ready to launch. That being said, part of that process is to widen our Alpha testing and bring in a few more people to use the system -- we'll be announcing that opportunity in our next newsletter, so stay tuned!

When do we think we'll launch? Not to be blunt, but we'll launch when we're ready and not before. We're doing all we can to get this done and out in the world. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, ask a question , or contact us .

And now, back to work!