tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post5007697078067127920..comments2023-07-18T04:32:44.951-04:00Comments on The Thrill Begins: Get the Skinny on Website Design and More by Madeira JamesCathyPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-78561715838649077622011-04-09T20:16:56.686-04:002011-04-09T20:16:56.686-04:00Very interesting post. I just finished getting my ...Very interesting post. I just finished getting my website up. I like Facebook, Twitter, website postings and I know it helps authors boost their visibility, but I worry that it is eating into my writing time.Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-37929411418389484182011-04-07T20:32:49.196-04:002011-04-07T20:32:49.196-04:00Hi Joelle, yes, I do think I would probably build ...Hi Joelle, yes, I do think I would probably build two sides to one site. I like doing that anyway -- it's fun to tie the two together, making it obvious through some facets of the design that it's the same author. And then you build a portal page which combines the two in some intriguing way...<br />:)Maddee Jameshttp://www.xuni.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-62000498596457610012011-04-07T18:25:48.775-04:002011-04-07T18:25:48.775-04:00Hi Maddee -
I love this post. It is always inte...Hi Maddee - <br /><br />I love this post. It is always interesting to hear conversations on author branding and websites. Of course, my question is - what would you recommend an author do if they have two completely different kinds of books they are writing - light and funny vs dark and suspenseful? Do you recommend the author have two different sections of the websites - one for each style? <br /><br />Thanks for the great info! It is much appreciated!Joelle Charbonneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13608552691748018256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-83249013216247285502011-04-07T18:13:29.466-04:002011-04-07T18:13:29.466-04:00Don't I just have the nicest clients (and almo...Don't I just have the nicest clients (and almost-clients:) in the world?<br /><br />Rochelle, thank you. It was such a joy to work with you. And then spending time with you at LCC - a treat!<br /><br />Tracy, I do hope we get to work together sometime down the road. I'm not going anywhere. :)<br /><br />Alma, I've been really working on trying to do as much for my clients as possible. You guys have enough to juggle as it is without having to try to figure out all the various details of sites and branding, etc. I help as much as I can. Plus I'm a stickler for keeping things up to date. And your site was great to work on -- so atmospheric. Can't wait to read your book!<br /><br />Very funny Carla. ;)<br /><br />Like I said in the main post, I love that authors have many website designers to choose from, and I hope we all do well by all of you. I can't really imagine working for a better group of people than authors -- I have a GREAT JOB!Maddee Jameshttp://www.xuni.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-22072464010158214672011-04-07T17:19:48.308-04:002011-04-07T17:19:48.308-04:00Psst, Alma--don't tell Maddee, but she's w...Psst, Alma--don't tell Maddee, but she's worth MORE!Carla Buckleyhttp://www.carlabuckley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-10159262135509772862011-04-07T14:54:46.068-04:002011-04-07T14:54:46.068-04:00Hi Maddee,
Thanks for joining us here today. Your...Hi Maddee,<br /><br />Thanks for joining us here today. Your work is simply fabulous. I have to add to Brad, Carla and Al's praise. <br /><br />You are a joy to work with, and very kind when things don't go as planned for an author. Perhaps someday we'll get together on that website design!<br /><br />Tracy :)Tracy Marchhttp://www.tracymarch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-59967159779035941092011-04-07T14:49:21.347-04:002011-04-07T14:49:21.347-04:00Great post and excellent advice from a real pro wh...Great post and excellent advice from a real pro who is more than a designer. Maddee took my vague design concepts and brought my site to life. I happily testify to her expertise! <br /><br />I hope every writer finds a web designer to suit their voice and reflect their taste. Yes, it's up to the author to keep the site active and alive but a great designer is a true partner in the process. And a friend. Maddee helped me create an online presence well before my novel was sold and we continue to work together on the road to release and beyond. <br /><br />Thank you for sharing your expertise here today, Maddee! You're the best.Rochelle Staabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08700362801884548978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-34661929027831157782011-04-07T11:41:18.435-04:002011-04-07T11:41:18.435-04:00Oh my gosh, three clients all so sweet! First, Tra...Oh my gosh, three clients all so sweet! First, Tracey, thanks for inviting me -- this is fun! <br /><br />Brad, I know I've mentioned this before, but my favorite praise we got when we finished your site (thanks Sophie!) was that it made you "look like bad news on a silver platter" - love that. My goal is always to make the site fit the author -- and working with the author to attain this is by far once of the most fun and rewarding things I do. All my clients -- including Brad, Carla and Al -- are so wonderful to work with. <br /><br />Carla, you hit on one thing that I hear a lot and that I really appreciate -- that my sites are recognizable as xuni.com sites even though they each fit the author. One thing with yours that is interesting to note is that we both liked the original rendition, but when your paperback came out and we updated the design to fit, we liked that one just as much. While I don't at all think it's necessary to change the design for every book, sometimes it's just right. And it sure was for you!<br /><br />Al, yours was so great to work on because we took you from technologically challenged to truly professional -- and though the quality of your writing is of course more important, the professional design of your site gave you that extra edge you needed. And you picked out such great images -- they (and you!) were fun to work with!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by, everyone!<br />maddeeMaddee Jameshttp://www.xuni.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-72343889363027818412011-04-07T09:48:31.980-04:002011-04-07T09:48:31.980-04:00I'm one of those people whose original website...I'm one of those people whose original website was designed by "a cousin who didn't know what they were doing," except it wasn't my cousin, it was me. And if you know how much technology hates me, you can imagine the result.<br /><br />But Maddee worked with me to get the absolute perfect website and I can't tell you how many compliments I've received on it since. Not only is she the best at what she does, Madde James is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet!<br /><br />(End of commercial #2 - but she really is the best)Al Leveronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09875867178918970838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-33369160472772506842011-04-07T08:21:56.306-04:002011-04-07T08:21:56.306-04:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Maddee! You...Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Maddee! Your websites are instantly recognizable by their beauty and ease of maneuverability, which is exactly what I wanted for my website. I'm very lucky to have you as you my website designer.<br /><br />One thing I learned in working with you is that it's important for an author to launch their site four to six months in advance of their publication date, so that booksellers, reviewers, librarians, and publishers can access info about your book and help get the buzz going. <br /><br />Brad's right--Maddee IS a genius!Carla Buckleyhttp://www.carlabuckley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-59299270403717073622011-04-07T07:58:25.539-04:002011-04-07T07:58:25.539-04:00I'd like to officially second everything Madde...I'd like to officially second everything Maddee said. You'd be amazed the impact a professionally designed website has. And if you want the best in the business -- both in terms of the beauty of the design, the quality of the site, and the bang for your buck? Look no further than Maddee James.<br /><br />(Okay, okay, end of commercial... but, seriously, she IS the best).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011399615565681742.post-37101429908687794752011-04-07T06:31:37.710-04:002011-04-07T06:31:37.710-04:00Hi Maddee,
Thanks so much for sharing your though...Hi Maddee,<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on website design and promotion in general. I never knew that updating your website on a regular basis increases your search engine rankings. I'll have to find some way of tweaking it over the next year until my debut is released. :)<br /><br />TraceyTracey Devlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06893860773314837424noreply@blogger.com