Erin’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2017)

Erin’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Good job!

Really cool idea, especially since Amazon supports html tags.

Eldon wrote: "Many thanks to my newest GR friend Erin for all her help on sorting out my website troubles.

You're the best Erin!!"

*Fistbump!*
Absolutely ANYtime :)

Nicole wrote: "I will add that Ingram Spark books are also available for Amazon Prime POD ordering."

Is this similar to/better than BookBaby?

I'm glad you brought this up. I notice that now Amazon instantly asks you if you'd like to create a paperback when you publish your Kindle title. My thought was why bother when there's Createspace? It turns out that if you use Amazon for paperbacks you, as the author, do not get a price break on your own orders. You pay full price and shipping. Who would willingly use Amazon for paperbacks over Createspace? But Amazon owns Createspace so it makes even less sense. My husband thinks Amazon will start phasing out Createspace and people will use Amazon for paperbacks by default. I agree with him. Ive often thought Createspace was too good to be true.

Eldon wrote: "Erin wrote: "Hi Eldon. I'd love to try and help if I can. Email me here: [spoilers removed]"

That's awesome Erin!! I'll be in touch :)"

Happy to help!

R.L. wrote: "Lmao he got me too. I have to say I was like "nooooo" when I saw the title but I was still hopeful lmao"

Lol, right!

aw damn lol it sounded so awesomely bad I was going to hate-read it with a glass of wine :)

Hi Eldon. I'd love to try and help if I can. Email me here: (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

I may need a vhiropractor because my jaw seriously hit the floor! Good one, Ruth :)

Carole wrote: "You are so sweet Erin. Maybe we can list ebooks on this thing in the hope that some institutions do use them??"

*blush* At 88 pages I don't think my novella will turn heads - but after book three I'm doing a boxed set! Glad to help defray costs in teh meantime though :) This is really cool!

I don't have a book but I want to donate $10 also - email: (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

Are you using wordpress.com or wordpress.org? I'd be more than happy ro help anyone with any wp issues if I'm able. Please message me here or email me here: (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

Challenges
I need to know within 3 seconds of landing on your page that you are an author and what genre you write in. There should be some visual element to let you know you've come to the right place.
Your name is much, much too small. There is an entire psychology behind fonts that will help you make your site building choices work well for you. Also the general text is very small. 14 and 16 are better for scannability.
More scaled visual elements with less text is a great way to keep visitors' attention.
You are asking people to sign up for your mailing with a promise as opposed to an incentive. You could offer the first chapter of your current book as a sign-up bonus or perhaps a 2000 word bit of flash fiction or a character "diary" from your story. Anything but offer something. I am guilty of this as well but am working on that lol.
Your opt-in should pop up on exit or at least 30 seconds after arrival because no one has a reason to know/trust you yet.
Your blog page should have excerpts instead of the complete article. That is a lot of excess scrolling for someone to read a post near the bottom. Unless someone is wildly curious or very dedicated they will only read the first two or three posts. A title and excerpt is a better way for people to easily scan the page and click on the ones they are most interested in and then proceed to the full article.
What I love
Your interface is clean, well organized and professional looking. It's easy to navigate and great on the eyes.
The easygoing tone and banter of the site lets your personality shine through and gives people a chance to get to know you.
Your site loads quickly and is responsive on mobile devices.
I certainly can't tell this is your first author site! Great job :)

R.L. wrote: "What you could do is put out a request on social media for the people who read your first books. Then ask if they are interested in an ARC but they have to had read AND reviewed your prior work. If..."

It's against Amazon guidelines to require a review by giving out an ARC. You can only give out ARCs and request a review. Fo every 10 I give out I know I will only get 3-4 reviews. That's just the nature of the beast lol.

My email: (view spoiler)[eldanielsromance@gmail.com (hide spoiler)]

Kay I sent you a message wrapped around a friend request lol.

I am so proud of all of you, especially Alexis! I will post on my twitter (I don't have fb) and I apologize in advance because I have so few followers :(

Carole wrote: "More like a Long Island cutie- no callouses haha- married with two beautiful littles."

lolol - for shore!

Carole wrote: "The wee one is 6 foot 2 and 190 pounds. The boyo was six week premature but has since made up for lost time."

Day-um. He sounds like my Montana rancher! Preemie bairn who definitely grew up - jinxies!