Working On Two Fronts

Every single time I promise myself I am going to cut back, going to relax, take a little more leisure time, I look back after a few days and realize that I’ve done the opposite. In theory I am relaxing right now, working on my degree course and steering clear of the Internet. But only in theory. Whilst I haven’t been posting here every single day – or anywhere else – as I promised myself a few weeks ago, I have been filling the freed-up time with other activities. One, as many may well have caught on, is the building of a new Internet shop which – also obvious from recent posts – is now fairly much finished. Well, as far as anything can be finished which should grow with time!

Aside from bringing everything from the old shop across to the new – with a little cut and paste here and there – I have also been looking at how to market the publications better, and the first thing which comes to mind is the appearance. It’s all very well having a copy of the cover on display, but that tells the potential reader nothing about the work, especially when the covers used as simple and clean as mine!

Photo Source: Viktoria Michaelis: smallpress-books

So today I gathered up all my resources, and borrowed a few requisites from friends, and worked on the appearance, the first impression for the five titles which are on the site. And I must say, it was a pleasure to finish! I have never been so frustrated with a camera as I was with the Canon EOS today. For some reason it simply did not want to auto-focus, and I spent a lot of time trying to hold the lens together – it slips when nearing vertical – and focus. I have small hands: it is not easy.

Regardless, after many, many trial and error shots I managed to get a few decent images for each of the books and load them onto the shop site. Each one is carefully thought through, and features something matching the work being promoted although they all have the same basic theme. The book is center of attraction, with other books, photographs, even an old German newspaper to enhance. Far more interesting than just a scan of the cover and, hopefully, attractive enough to boost sales too!

It’s not just the shop site, though, which needs my attention: social media, here we come! Well, no. As you know I’ve been on the social media wagon for a long time, so a lot of the things which happen are automated now. Google and Twitter? There’s a plug-in for that! My latest area of interest – which seems to be bringing something with it – is Ello. Other people link here from Pinterest, StumbleUpon and Tumblr: what more could I ask for?

Now, on with the work: new titles in planning!

Love & Kisses, Viki.

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