Comments on: Five Above-the-fold Shoulds for your Author Website

By: Matthew C. Kriner

Matthew C. Kriner — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:42:01 +0000

I was searching for digital photography tutorials when I found your site. Excellent post. Thank You.

By: Indexed By Google

Indexed By Google — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:19:25 +0000

InterestingI’ve considered the plainly simple ways Google thinks. The issue is that even though Google looks at your page multiple times, it still takes a tonne of due work on your part in order to get a site to become “relevent” to Google. I guess this just adds to my knowledge of search engines!

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:05:03 +0000

LOL! Well, I wonder what made us pop up in your search! Glad you enjoyed the post.

By: Aceo Art

Aceo Art — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:09:13 +0000

Hi there, I found your blog via Google while searching for first aid for a heart attack. Interesting post. Nice site.

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:22:06 +0000

I am just learning about small screen stuff myself, so I have no comments about it at this time. It’s a brave new fast-changing world.

By: Cait London

Cait London — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:39:55 +0000

Pati, my upgrade to SiteSpinner software allows for 2 views, one website and an small screen for mobiles. Basically, you subtract elements from the larger view to get down to the mobile view. Could you please address the small screen, iPhone issue?

BTW, I’ve been using their software for a couple years before, called WebEngine and is it great. I haven’t done the upgrade yet, but the support and software has been good.

Thank you.

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:29:49 +0000

My dear husband (who is my vigilant first reader) points out two errors in my original post:

“cudos” should be “kudos”

and “availalble” is misspelled.

To help you understand the second of these errors, visit

http://madgeniusclub.blogspot.com/2009/02/space-availabel.html

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:26:04 +0000

Maggie – What studies were those? I’d be interested to read them.

I didn’t put fast-loading in my top 5 because I consider that a must for any website. You’re right to raise it as an important issue, though. Some of the sites I visited in my survey had heavy graphics or flash that took a long time to load. One even had a video that auto-loaded on the home page. These things can really slow down the home page load, and you’re absolutely right that many visitors (like me) won’t have the patience to wait for them. If you have a cool trailer that you want to include on your site, it’s better to put a link to it rather than having it start automatically from the home page.

Another thing I don’t like to see on the home page (hmm…new blog topic?) is a splash screen with no information. These usually have a link that says “enter here” or some such, which you have to click to get to the real home page. Not a good idea to make your visitors click on a link before you even tell them anything about yourself. (Yes, I have some customers who insist on doing this, but I don’t recommend it.)

One site that had such an entry page was for an erotica author. This was their “must be 18 to use this site” screen. I can understand the need to do that, but in this case I’d still like to see the author’s name/book cover/photo on the entry page, above the fold.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:26:33 +0000

I have to agree with Laura on this one. I have read studies based on actual user testing that suggest that the author photo is not necessary above-the-fold. I agree that your photo should be on your site, but in the area bio area. That’s where people who want to know the person behind the books will look.

Something you didn’t mention in your top 5, but I think should be included– your page needs to load quickly. People can’t get to info on your latest book, your bio, or your blog if the page doesn’t load before they click away….

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:45:42 +0000

I disagree, Laura. I developed these criteria based on my own visits to dozens of author websites, and on comments I heard from other visitors.

Far from being vain about their appearance, most authors tend to err in the opposite direction. It goes along with being an introvert (which many writers are), thinking no one is interested in your appearance, or wanting to hide behind the potted palm and just watch the world go by.

You’re absolutely entitled to your privacy, and I’m not going to point a rifle at you, either. However, I have reasons for recommending a photo on the home page.

Yes, the writing is what you are selling–but on your author website you are also selling your personality to some degree, and that includes your physical appearance. Websites benefit from displaying a photo for the same reason that printed books benefit from including an author photo. Readers feel more connected to the author if they can look at their picture, and that connection can lead to the reader remembering your name the next time they see it in the bookstore.