I first discovered Miranda July when she was promoting her book No One Belongs Here More Than You in 2007. The book’s site broke pretty much every rule about what I would tell you are the best practices for promoting a book online. (I mean, it’s usually ill advised to design an entire site around writing on the top of your refrigerator with dry erase markers, photographing each message as slide, and making the user click through nearly 30 pages to read the whole message.) Yet, this site remains one of the most memorable, creative and clever book sites I’ve ever seen.
Category Archives: new + notable
Bel Air Bar + Grill
I recently migrated the site for Bel Air Bar + Grill from standard HTML to WordPress, and created a custom mobile style sheet for on the go customers. OH to dine there! Someday.
Russian Tea Time Site Launch
The site I designed for landmark Chicago restaurant Russian Tea Time launched yesterday. Celebrating with lunch with the owners tomorrow!
How Not to Be an E-Hole: An Online Etiquette Refresher (Plus: Free eBook Download!)
Written for BookPromotion.com, June 14, 2013
You know that saying that if you can’t find the asshole in the room, that it’s probably you? Well, the same logic applies to e-Holes. E-Holes are people who misuse, abuse, or annoy people through social media. And unfortunately, being an e-Hole is really easy to do. You may not even know if you’re being one.
Fan Mail from BEA
I love this piece of fan mail I received from a woman who attended our BEA panel. (cut and pasted below)
The seminar on “What’s Working Now” at BookExpo last Wednesday was one of the most lively of the entire event. As we left my husband said, “Those three women could take over the world” and I was in complete agreement. Your knowledge and direct no nonsense delivery–combined with great humor–made you, Lori and Katherine an impressive trio.
What’s Working Now: Search Engine Optimization, Author Platforms & New Social Media
Here’s the information for the panel I’ll be speaking on—What’s Working Now: Search Engine Optimization, Author Platforms & New Social Media— at BEA (with Lori Culwell, Brittany Geragotelis and Katherine Sears). We will be speaking from 1:00 – 1:50 May 29th in room 1E11. I hope to see some of my favorite book people at the show!
Finding Time for Social Media
Written for BookPromotion.com: May 17, 2013
There’s no question: networking with readers and media via social media is an essential piece of modern self-promotion. But it is also time-consuming. Many clients tell me that they feel completely overwhelmed (and turned off) by the different platforms to master, the time involved, not to mention the sustained (and earnest) communication with total strangers.
When you break it down by platform, and make it a habit, the entire process is much more palatable. There are a lot of articles available with tips for how to grow your audience and following via social media. This article tells you how to keep them with your content.
Best Practices for Book Trailers
Written for BookPromotion.com: May 10, 2013
Book publishing continues to find its way in a world increasingly addicted to screens. In a case of if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, video trailers have become a crucial part of a book’s marketing strategy. Following are some exceptional book trailers found in different genres, and a look at what makes them stand out. Some of the following trailers were made on a budget, others slickly produced. All provide a look into the book in a changing world of promoting books.
How Users Read Online article for BookPromotion.com
People don’t read the same way online that they do in print. In this article for BookPromotion.com, I break down how users process content online. Then I offer some tips for modifying your writing for this audience.
How to Get Great Work from Your Designer: Article on BookPromotion.com
Pretty much anyone involved in publishing—authors, marketing, publicity, sales— is going to be working with a designer at some point. Whether you’re talking book covers, promotional materials or Web sites, eventually words must assume a visual form.
When creatives from two different disciplines converge, there can often be a communication breakdown. I’m a designer who works frequently with authors. Allow me to help demystify this Venus vs. Mars relationship and help you get the best work from your designers—saving you time and money along the way.