Kerry Allen

KNOWN ISSUE: The text-shrinkage problem should be resolved now. I had the DPI for my monitor set at the higher rate, which was making the text appear bigger to me than it actually was.

If you’re having the opposite problem now and getting huge, overlapping text, it’s probably because your DPI is set at something other than the default 96. I can suggest two solutions for you, since I have to accommodate the majority of viewers:

1. Reset your DPI to the default of 96. In Vista, this is accessed through Control Panel -> Personalization -> Adjust font size (DPI) (which is in the left-sided bar below Tasks). Systems other than Vista… I just don’t know.

2. Adjust the text size in your browser to “Smallest” (in IE, View -> Text Size -> Smallest) which comes closest to reproducing the intended layout. You may have to first go into Tools -> Internet Options -> Accessibility and check “Ignore font sizes specified on web pages” to get the change to take effect.

I’ll build a parallel site for 120 DPI users if there’s a huge outcry, but it’s not at the top of my priority list right now.

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I have laboriously collected from the internet a list of reader advice for creating an effective author web site. I have tried to implement as many of these qualities as possible into my beta site. Feel free to visit anytime and find fault. Anything that can be improved (broken links, poor visibility, tooooooo slooooooow, whatever) before it becomes important is a good thing.

Following is the reader advice I have collected. If you have additional suggestions, please share them in the comments section.

Technical

• Searchable plain text. At the top of the page, something like “This is the official web site of romance author Kerry Allen” not only makes sure the reader knows what she’s looking at but helps search engines locate the site.
• Ease of navigation. I assume this means links are obvious in meaning and readily accessible from every page.
• Keep it narrow. Not everyone has a wide monitor, and having to constantly scroll from side to side is too much of a hassle to bother with. If you must go wider, put the link sidebar to the right so it’s the only thing cut off and requiring scrolling to see.
• Update regularly. Always have the most current info about new and upcoming releases. Blog at least twice a month. New “bonus” material every month or so.
• Google Analytics. Less obnoxious and more informative than a hit counter, runs in background, and free. Keeps track of what links are active, where visitors are located, etc.

Appearance

• Dark print on a light background
• Solid color background or minimal design
• No funny fonts (difficult to read)
• One or two fonts at most (too many look sloppy)
• No tiny fonts (also difficult to read)
• No flash (animation is distracting and slows loading)
• No splash page (get visitors right to the meat of your site, no introduction necessary)
• Links neatly arranged in a sidebar
• Most recent available book (all info) featured on home page

Page suggestions

• Biography. Picture often encouraged. (Tough luck!)
• Book list. Call it a Bibliography if you want, but don’t put the link right next to Biography, in that case. Section should include cover shot, release date (and reprint date if applicable), publisher, retail price, ISBN, description, excerpt, reviews, quotes, links to sellers. If part of a series, make chronology clear. Provide a printable list for taking to the bookstore. Make the most of this page in particular! Don’t show a bunch of covers and expect the reader to click one to get that book’s info, then go back and click on another one to find out about that book, etc. A lengthy excerpt can be opened with a click, but everything else should be right there.
• Excerpts. Make them substantial, 2-3 chapters, 50 pages or more.
• Event calendar. Include book release dates, guest blogging appearances, interviews, book signings, anywhere you’ll be in person, on the web, or in print.
• Contact. E-mail, mailing list signup, RSS feed.
• Blog.
• Contests. Everybody likes to win free stuff.
• FAQ.
• Trivia. Commentary on inspiration for story, deleted scenes, foreign covers, interesting research, mention works in progress to whet the appetite for future releases and get the buzz started early. (I have a comic!)
• Links. Sites you think READERS might be interested in. Authors do have a tendency to gravitate toward writer- and industry-oriented things that don’t interest most readers.