Your input: How to update this site to reflect that fact that I’m now pimping two books
September 14th, 2008
Hi there. It’s 4:30 a.m. and I am doing that awful “not sleeping” thing that I’ve become so good at these past couple of years. And I’m thinking about the fact that I desperately needed to update this site two months ago to reflect the fact that I am now whoring two anti-cubicle books. In other words, I need to make room in the nursery for baby #2.
Here are a few of my favorite author websites:
MaryRoach.net
NoOneBelongsHereMoreThanYou.com
OffbeatBride.com
While I don’t have Mary Roach’s budget, Miranda July’s dry-erase-tastic stove, or Ariel Meadow Stallings‘ drive to scour the web for the most gorgeous photos ever and Ning-ify the whole beautiful thing, I do have some ideas about small features and static pages I’d like to add to this site. As well as a WordPress coder who’s willing to help me.
But I’m stumped on the header art. The site will continue to be called “The Anti 9-to-5 Guide” (which is also the name of my first book) because that’s what everyone knows it as. But I think the header art needs to change so it doesn’t look just like the first book. Maybe just a cute font or something. Possibly even with a new image (me in bunny slippers?). What do you kids think?
I’m also torn about whether to give each book its own “about the book” and “stuff the media has said about me” page or lump both books together on those respective pages. I really like how Mary Roach’s site — though not a blog — devotes a few static pages to each book: brief synopsis (+ a bevy of “buy now!” buttons), media raves, excerpts, and tables of contents. I’d love to do a slightly less extensive variation on this approach, but I worry about having too many static pages on a blog. Is there such a thing? Or maybe it’s okay to have as many static pages as I want, as long as I don’t have a dozen different tabs at the top of the site and limit it to a simple few. Would love to know what you all think.
Finally, I’m not sure I should keep — and have my coder tweak — the WordPress theme I have now (Blix) to make room for these new pages, or start fresh with a new theme. Maybe the flexibility of the code in the template will dictate that. But if anyone has any experience with one way being better than the other, I’d love to hear it.
I’m also curious to know if people prefer one sidebar or two, one flanking each side of the page. I’m torn. Sometimes I think two sidebars is too dang busy looking. Then again, it’s a great way to fit in more fun links. Maybe I just need to go back to bed.
UPDATE on 10/1: Just want to say thanks again to everyone who emailed and commented with input and kickass ideas. I kind of have a plan now (better late than never, eh?) but don’t want to bore you with all the details, as this isn’t a Design 101 blog. But I did want to say that I found another author site I love: HeyMarci, the site of writer Marci Alboher. I love how well it integrates all the different facets of her work: her career book, her New York Times column and blog, and the teaching, speaking, and mentoring she does. Plus, I love the site name. Fun.
Entry Filed under: Book
12 Comments Add your own
1. Rebecca | September 14th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Banner: I would do a fun picture with a new font treatment on the title The Anti 9-to-5 Guide.
Sidebars: I would keep it simple and keep only the single sidebar, unless you’re open to a wider design, like 960 pixels, and then that would better accommodate two sidebars.
Navigation: I would keep the navigation as is (besides change BOOK to BOOKS) and then use design elements like icons or colors to separate out the different book events, media, etc.
I hope this helps! I do have some experience with WordPress, so email me with any questions.
2. Michelle Goodman | September 14th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Thanks, Rebecca. It would certainly be easier to keep the pages I have. As for emailing questions, I just may take you up on that — thanks!
3. Liz | September 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Here’s my suggestions for you:
Change yr “book” link to “books” and from there have 2 links going to a page each of your books with synopsis, “buy now” etc.
If its in your budget to have a all new theme made, go for it (i make custom themes if you want a quote) But, if you wanna save a little, stick with what you have an maybe just tweak the color scheme and header image.
I love the idea of the bunny slippers, or some other illustration idea!
i agree w/ @ Rebecca, you only should use a 2nd sidebar if you’re going to change themes and your new one is wider, or a liquid design (that’s where the size of the site changes to always fit in the browser window)
But weather you have 1 or 2 you should most definitely add a couple things to the sidebar. #1 a photo of your new book and announcing it the NEW book and a link to buy it! #2 a feed for your upcoming events! (since they promote the book)
OK, those are my web marketing 2 cents. If you want to talk more about this, or are looking for a “WordPress coder” or designr to make all this happen, drop me an email.
4. Katy | September 15th, 2008 at 4:16 am
i am afraid i don’t have much specific advice to offer other than to say i have liked mary roach’s website since SPOOK. it’s fantastic. i must also agree that a single sidebar is a way better idea than having two.
perhaps to solve the book problem, you could do as others suggested and make it plural with a drop-down menu. i don’t think it’s bad to have static pages highlighting the books.
5. Toni | September 15th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Because it’s a blog-folio that has to serve for both books, I’m not offended by seeing the static pages devoted to each book.
I like the idea of seeing you, your dog and the bunny slippers!
I think the color scheme of the blog will work for both books, so it’s cool to leave it be.
HTH!
6. Michelle Goodman | September 15th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Thanks, again, folks. These are all great suggestions. I really appreciate the input and look forward to rolling out the updates in the next couple weeks or three. xo
7. Michelle Rafter | September 16th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Sorry, I’m no help whatsoever, just had to say thanks for pointing me to Miranda July’s Website. She’s a genius.
8. Jenni | September 17th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
definitely only keep 1 sidebar. i like how your blog is easy to read, so i feel like i’d be too distracted with 2 sidebars.
9. Lelia King | September 18th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Michelle,
I would treat each book as a separate piece to consider, so two separate pages. Only one sidebar necessary in my opinion. Keep the main page of the site as clean as possible, and it is always fun to have an updated header!
Good luck!
Lelia King
10. Michelle Goodman | September 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
thanks again for all the responses, people! i really appreciate it!
11. Laura Kimball | September 24th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
How about a banner that says: My So-Called Freelance Life, from the author of ‘The Anti 9-to-5 Guide’? That would speak to both projects!! And then revise the navigation as in the other suggestions. Unfortunately the domain, michellegoodman.com is taken otherwise I’d suggest moving towards that as your main website and having anti9to5guide.com automatically link to the new website that’s specific to your writing, blogs and books. That way people can still find you and you’ll start to brand yourself as an author who has more areas of expertise instead of just one.
12. Michelle Goodman | September 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am
thanks for the good ideas, laura.i own michellegoodman.net. and i like the idea of keeping the blog name as is, since so many people know it as this and call it this all over the web. but yeah, i definitely plan to build out michellegoodman.net later on.
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