I'm fiddling around with the thought of getting a proper website. I have figured out the technical solution and what host I'd like to use, but what about design? Personally I don't like sites that are overloaded with images (and don't get me started on flash or audio - gah!).
Also, I'm designing it myself since spending a ton of money on a custom website when I have absolutely nothing to sell yet seems a little stupid. I'll go with a free template and change things around a little to customize it. But I'm no wonderful graphic designer - in fact, I'm probably too stupid to use Photoshop even if I had it - so that means I won't even have a spectacular header. I'll make one, but I can't manage fancy.
So I'm thinking about keeping it very plain, almost stark, in colors and layout. It also seems appropriate since the projects I'm working on are so very different from each other. It's hard to find a common denominator. It's not like I'm all historicals or have an obvious theme like fantasy or paranormals. I'm not even consistent in mood or themes.
I have no idea how it'll turn out. If it looks awful, I'll soon be bleating for a designer to come help me, but then at least I'll know any money I spend is absolutely necessary because I'm a total idiot.
What are the key essentials for you in a website? What kind of design and color settings do you like?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
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4 comments:
Black text, clean background, must be easy to read. Great content / no typos and grammatical errors everywhere.
I'm really not that picky. :) (And no lurid pics since sometimes it sucks to have inappropriate pics pop up when I'm using a public computer, etc.)
I like to know a little about the author. Not a five page bio, but just a little something. I like to know what they have published, what's 'coming soon', and definitely a printable list of books. It's so nice to be able to download a list and see exactly what my fave authors have out there along w/ ISBN numbers so I can look up their backlist on Amazon or wherever :)
As far as design, I don't really care as long as it's not busy and it reflects the tone of the author. Like Nadia said, clean background, and also, the font should be easy to read. I hate it when an author uses fancy, cursive type font. Oh, and no freaking videos please! It slows down the download time and I'd rather read a brief blurb about the book than watch a video. Hope this helps a little :)
Thanks.
I don't really know what my tone is - maybe I should ask someone else? No frills could probably describe it, I think, so a clean layout seems appropriate for several reasons. My current idea is very simple in color, mostly gray-white-black. Plan B is white-red-black.
I'll keep that book list in mind for when I'm published! But for now, I was thinking separate sections for bio, current projects, research and blog - with easy to find navigation links. Personally, I can't stand light text on dark background so dark text on light background and a nice, easy-to-read font is a must.
Lurid pics aren't really me, but I might have some inappropriate language. Any videos would be posted in a separate section, if I have any, so not to cause trouble for slower connections.
This was a great help!
And I'll do my best to stay away from grammatical/spelling errors, but great content feels a little daunting. I'll do my best to rise to the challenge! :)
Great content = up-to-date info on your books, etc. You don't have to do anything super fancy.
As for typos, etc. I know sometimes things happen, and I usually ignore blog comments, etc. b/c most people don't proof their comments, but if I see too many typos and other errors on their main page, bio page, book pages, etc. I'm gonna start to wonder.
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