Suggestions for SEO book website?

[pohaver]

My first book should hit the "streets" early next year. How important is it to have a good SEO website to promote the book? My POD service does not have that as an option. Any suggestions regarding a book website is appreciated. I am not very savy with the web tech stuff, so I would need something that is a visual editor too.

[the bunny hugger]

The easiest way to get started is to buy your domain and use it for a blog. You can build up a fixed website as you have a book list and reviews etc to put on it.

[escritora]

Here's one (http://pedrosardinha.com/download/SEO-MadeEasy.pdf). You don't have to buy the product the ebook recommends. Just follow the free advice.

[James D. Macdonald]

Have a site that people want to go to for reasons other than your book. Make it interesting/useful for something other than your book.

Google on science fiction bookstore (or fantasy bookstore, for that matter). My page is your top hit. Google on jump kit. My page is your top hit.

But be aware that hits don't equal sales. Generally speaking, POD books start out behind ten to nothing, bottom of the ninth, two out, no one on, with two strikes against them and a curve headed for the plate.

[Medievalist]

My first book should hit the "streets" early next year. How important is it to have a good SEO website to promote the book? My POD service does not have that as an option. Any suggestions regarding a book website is appreciated. I am not very savy with the web tech stuff, so I would need something that is a visual editor too.

I'm not sure you understand what SEO means; it stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's a partly half-witted set of assumptions about how to get a Web page listed in the first few results when a user does a search on Google or other search engine.

It doesn't translate to sales. It's mostly useful for people who want to sell ads.

The key is to have something to say and to say it in an interesting and reader-friendly way. This stuff might help:

http://helpmeblogger.com/news/writing-seo

[SouthernFriedJulie]

I'm not sure you understand what SEO means; it stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's a partly half-witted set of assumptions about how to get a Web page listed in the first few results when a user does a search on Google or other search engine.

It doesn't translate to sales. It's mostly useful for people who want to sell ads.

The key is to have something to say and to say it in an interesting and reader-friendly way. This stuff might help:

http://helpmeblogger.com/news/writing-seo

Exactly.

If you're just making a big ad, don't make a website. Set up an Adwords account and optimize it.

[StumbleRum]

It doesn't translate to sales. It's mostly useful for people who want to sell ads.

Um, have to disagree with that one sorry. I have several websites that are SEOed for certain keywords and make many sales.

It might be difficult to makes sales for a novel, but if your book is about How to Build a Chicken Coop and you rank number one for "how to build a chicken coop" then you are almost certainly going to make a few sales, even with a poor website.

[Medievalist]

For what value of "Sales"? Seriously, a trade publisher can sell 10,000 copies of a book in a day. Selling five copies a week is underwhelming in the extreme. Moreover if you are writing to sell a product you are creating an ad.

[StumbleRum]

It really depends how hard core you go. That Tim Ferris guy who wrote a book called the "Four Hour Work Week" used his website and blog as the basis of his marketing campaign and spent a bunch of time at the top of the New York Times best seller list. (Attrocious book, but incredible marketing campaign).

Is his website a big ad? Yup. Not really sure what you're getting at there - almost every website, including this one, is a big ad for something. :)